I don't know if it's a "best."..but Forget about the Boy from Thoroughly Modern Millie is so fun..and the tapping typists number (name??) was so clever. They hold a special place in my memory...
The lastest touring production of White Christmas , the number I Love A Piano was thrilling to watch , such a great tap number
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
Express Yourself from Billy Elliot - the original I saw in London with Billy and Michael and the oversized wedding dress. I did not like the number as much when it came to Broadway and they eventually changed the London show as well. Paled in comparison.
I'm extremely partial to Step in Time from Mary Poppins. When Gavin Lee went up that proscenium and tapped across the ceiling it elevated the number from good to great. I was in a production of the show this past fall and we couldn't fly Bert (our theater wasn't equipped for that) and it definitely loses a little "something" without that minute or so. But it's still great if it's done well.
Stro created the perfect number in this: She kept on building and building, topping herself with each section, until the audience had no choice but to stand and clap.
Glittergrrl said: "It's been awhile, so I can't remember what it was called... but I loved the tap number in Noise/funk, in which Savion had his back to the audience and there's voiceover explaining the evolution of tap and he performs the various styles as they're being explained. He kind of morphs one into the next. It was truly incredible.
YES! I just got goosebumps remembering that number. Especially when he went into Jimmy Slyde and just went across the stage. It was amazing.
STEEL PIER opens their second act with a great tap number on top of a plane with the ever perky Kristen Chenoweth and choreography courtesy of Susan Stroman.
I never saw A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL (and I may be the only person in the world that doesn't go ga-ga over the 24/7 airing on TBS each Christmas...never got into the movie). Anyway, I did enjoy the Tony's performance from 2013, with Caroline O'Connor and the kids. It's not all tap, but it's a fun number (and includes the "regrettin' a...shoot your retina" lyric I referenced in another thread here on BWW).
I was bummed to get the recording from its pre-Broadway run and find this number was not included. I assume it was added later for B'way rather than purposely omitted from the recording.
Anything Goes and Blow, Gabriel, Blow are still some of the most exhilarating tap numbers for me. Utter showstoppers.
Forget About the Boy is another one. It's so full of spunk and life!
A Musical is so much fun, all of the references and the choreography are perfect.
King of New York, what list wouldn't be complete without this one? My favorite part is when Katherine starts to tap, the actress playing her always find a way to make it unique.
Step in Time is also great! The very thought of Mary Poppins, Jane and Micheal, and the chimney sweeps tapping is iconic.
Her tin-pan alley style of tap is beautiful, flashy and difficult to make look effortless. I was always in awe of the last portion of 'I've Got Rhythm' in Crazy For You when she had her chorus do 30 consecutive wings after an already-long number. Brilliant. And the audience would leap to their feet nightly.
As mentioned "I Got Rhythm" from CRAZY FOR YOU was spectacular, but also "I Can't Be Bothered Now" was just a great old school tap dance
But my favorite is any tapping Gregory Hines did in JELLY'S LAST JAM, "That's How You Jazz" is the one you kind find on video, but he also does a solo Jam near the end of the show that's just brilliant.
"He wants to know who cares. I care you stupid fool we all care..." John Wilkes Booth (Assassins)
TWO from white Christmas although although one is from stage and the other is on screen. "I Love A Piano" is my favorite. I was in this show and I still remember the choreography. The other is "Choreography" from the movie. Seeing Vera Ellen dance is magnificent. Also, 1+1=3 from Side Show (revival version) is a hilarious and amazing song.
dereketter said: "TWO from white Christmas although although one is fromstage and the other is on screen. "I Love A Piano" is my favorite. I was in this show and I still remember the choreography. The other is "Choreography" from the movie. Seeing Vera Ellen dance is magnificent. Also, 1+1=3 from Side Show (revival version) is a hilarious and amazing song."
So envious. You can dance and you work on bway. Congratulations. Seems to me the only thing more thrilling than watching a great tap number is being able to actually do it!