Gregory Hines News

 The Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP), celebrating 25 years of creating community through American tap and contemporary percussive arts in world-class, innovative performance, education and outreach programs, welcomed 10-time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune at its 25th Anniversary Jubalee Gala. This special evening, hosted by WGN's Dean Richards, took place July 30 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago. Attended by 270 people, the event raised $212,000 from a combination of ticket sales, silent and live auction proceeds, table sponsorships and individual and corporate contributions.

The Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP), celebrating a quarter century of creating community through American tap and contemporary percussive arts through innovative performance, education and outreach programs, welcomes 10-time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune at its 25th Anniversary Jubalee Gala. This special evening, hosted by WGN's Dean Richards, takes place tonight, July 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago.

Tony Waag (Producer/Artistic/Executive Director/Teacher) founded the American Tap Dance Foundation (formerly known as the American Tap Dance Orchestra) in 1986, along with Brenda Bufalino and the late Charles 'Honi' Coles. From 1989-1995, he co-created and operated, with Ms. Bufalino, Woodpeckers Tap Dance Center which became a model for numerous tap organizations and tap studios worldwide creating, producing, and presenting various educational programs for adults and children year-round, as well as annual winter tap intensives with master classes, courses and workshops taught by leading International artists and master tap dancers.

FROM COMO TO HOMO - Juggling a Stage Mom, Gender Confusion and Tap! - written and performed by Lynne Jassem (comic, tap dancer, monologist, singer, physical comedian) - will have it's West Coast Premiere at the San Francisco Fringe Festival for a limited engagement, September 12, 13, 19 & 25, 2015 at Exit Theatre - Stage Left.

On Monday, June 29, ballet students from around the world started their first day of training at Princeton Ballet School, the official school of NJ's premiere professional ballet company American Repertory Ballet, at the school's studios in the Princeton Shopping Center. This is Princeton Ballet School's 33rd year of offering their Summer Intensive course, making it one of the oldest programs in the United States.

Everybody say, YEAH! The Canadian premiere of the Tony Award-winning KINKY BOOTS officially opened on June 28 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, after playing previews since June 16.

July 1 through July 31, American Repertory Ballet will be celebrating 'Nutcracker in July,' offering discounted tickets for Nutcracker performances at Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway and McCarter Theatre in Princeton. Additionally, ARB is celebrating the July kick-off of ticket sales for this holiday classic with community partners in downtown Princeton, who will be involved in ARB's social media contest. The contest winner will receive 4 complimentary tickets to Nutcracker at McCarter Theatre.

Today, June 12, 2015 from 12:00pm to 3:00pm at the Cherry Valley Country Club in Skillman, NJ, Princeton Ballet School, the official school of American Repertory Ballet, will host its second annual fashion show: 'Turn Out for Fashion.'

The Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP), celebrating a quarter century of creating community through American tap and contemporary percussive arts through innovative performance, education and outreach programs, welcomes 10-time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune at its 25th Anniversary Jubalee Gala. This special evening, hosted by WGN's Dean Richards, takes place July 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago.

The American Tap Dance Foundation's TAP ATTACK, an outdoor celebration in honor of National Tap Dance Day, will take place on Sunday, May 24 at Hudson River Park, Pier 45, NYC. Over 100 tappers - young and old, student and professional - will be dancing together in riffs and open jams marking the 26th anniversary of this yearly celebration of tap dance as an American art form and national treasure.

New Jersey Repertory Company, located at 179 Broadway in Long Branch, has announced the World Premiere of Closure by Richard Dresser for a limited engagement from June 25 through July 19, 2015. 

On Friday, June 12, 2015 from 12:00pm to 3:00pm at the Cherry Valley Country Club in Skillman, NJ, Princeton Ballet School, the official school of American Repertory Ballet, will host its second annual fashion show: 'Turn Out for Fashion.' All proceeds of this event will support the Princeton Ballet School Scholarship Fund. Before the Fashion Show, on May 2, American Repertory Ballet will participate in Lord & Taylor's 'Charity Day: Shop Smart Do Good,' supporting Women's Health in our community.

The Chicago stage premiere of Academy Award winning director Taylor Hackford's LOUIS & KEELY 'LIVE' AT THE SAHARA has been extended by popular demand through Sunday, May 17 at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 North Halsted Street. Hackford, best known for his films An Officer and a Gentleman, Against All Odds, The Devil's Advocate,.

Today, April 17, 2015 at 5:15 pm, American Repertory Ballet will host 'Dancing Your Way into College,' an On Pointe enrichment series event. This event will be held at ARB's Princeton studios, located in the Princeton Shopping Center (301 North Harrison Street, above McCaffrey's). This event is free and open to the public.

On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 5:15 pm, American Repertory Ballet will host 'Dancing Your Way into College,' an On Pointe enrichment series event. This event will be held at ARB's Princeton studios, located in the Princeton Shopping Center (301 North Harrison Street, above McCaffrey's). This event is free and open to the public.

A conversation with Tony Waag, Executive/Artistic Director of the American Tap Dance Foundation, in anticipation of their upcoming 'Rhythm in Motion' contemporary tap dance showcase in New York City, April 22 through April 26. 'Rhythm in Motion' presents forward thinking, groundbreaking tap dance choreography, 'shaking tap dance to its core.' Last year's 'Rhythm in Motion' included tap dance with video, computers, sound manipulating machines and electronically rigged platforms.

Continuing in a tradition of storytelling and music, Hershey Felder announces the star cast for the Chicago stage premiere of Academy Award winning director Taylor Hackford's LOUIS AND KEELY, 'LIVE' AT THE SAHARA.

Performances begin tonight, Friday, March 20 and run through Sunday, April 12. Press night is scheduled for Opening Night Friday, March 27. Appropriate for ages 17 +. As a concert production, there will be no live nudity, though documentary photographs of the original production will be projected.

American Repertory Ballet will present Firebird: Diaghilev Revisited at The Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg tonight, March 14, at 8:00pm.

Next spring, Tony Award winners Audra McDonald, George C. Wolfe, and Savion Glover will team up to collaborate on SHUFFLE ALONG, Or, The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, a musical about the events that led to the creation of the groundbreaking Eubie Blake-Noble Sissle musical Shuffle Along. Starring Audra McDonald as the 1920's star Lottie Gee, directed by George C. Wolfe -- with a book written by Wolfe -- and choreographed by Savion Glover, the musical marks the first time that the writer/director and choreographer will have worked together since their 1996 hit Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk. Previews will begin Monday, March 14, 2016. Opening night is Thursday, April 21, 2016 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street).