| Never Gonna Dance | |
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| Music | Jerome Kern |
| Lyrics | Oscar Hammerstein Ira Gershwin P. G. Wodehouse Bernard Dougall Johnny Mercer Jimmy McHugh Otto Harbach Dorothy Fields |
| Book | Jeffrey Hatcher |
| Basis | FilmSwing Time |
| Productions | 2003Broadway |
Never Gonna Dance is aBroadwaymusical featuring the music ofJerome Kern. The musical was based on the 1936Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers filmSwing Time. Lyricists includeOscar Hammerstein,Ira Gershwin,P. G. Wodehouse,Bernard Dougall,Johnny Mercer,Jimmy McHugh,Otto Harbach, andDorothy Fields.
It opened onBroadway in 2003.
The musical opened on December 4, 2003 at theBroadhurst Theatre and closed on February 15, 2004 after 84 performances and 44 previews. It was directed byMichael Greif with choreography byJerry Mitchell, costumes byWilliam Ivey Long, lighting byPaul Gallo, and sets byRobin Wagner. The cast featured Noah Racey (Lucky), Nancy Lemenager (Penny),Karen Ziemba (Mabel) andPeter Gerety (Alfred J. Morganthal).[1][2]
John "Lucky" Garnett is a dancer in vaudeville. His fiancée's father does not think Lucky can make a living without dancing. Lucky is determined to prove that he can earn a living without dancing, and so goes to New York on a bet with his lucky quarter to make $25,000. There he meets and falls in love with Penny Carroll, a dance teacher. They enter a dance contest. Meanwhile, Penny's friend Mabel finds romance with a down-on-his-luck stockbroker, Alfred.
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Reviews were mixed. For example,Ben Brantley inThe New York Times deemed it a "pleasant" but "spiceless" production.[3] A review byMichael Feingold inThe Village Voice was more positive, citing a convoluted plot and some miscast actors, but praising the musical numbers as "reassuringly good".[4]
John Kenrick reviewed the musical forMusicals101, praising the choreography, costumes, lighting and scenic design: "Jerry Mitchell has turned out some effective dances, and the physical production boast period-perfect costumes by William Ivey Long, stunning lighting by Paul Gallo, and some striking New York sets by the great Robin Wagner." However, he noting miscasting, and "The second act spins out of control."[5]
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Tony Award | Best Choreography | Jerry Mitchell | Nominated |
| Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Karen Ziemba | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Choreography | Jerry Mitchell | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Orchestrations | Harold Wheeler | Nominated | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Choreography | Jerry Mitchell | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Karen Ziemba | Won | ||
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Production of a Musical | Nominated | ||