Artistic Director Mark Yonally and Chicago Tap Theatre (CTT) present Sweet Tap Chicago Sunday, March 8 at 2 and 5 p.m. at The Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Ave. Sweet Tap Chicago is a celebration of Chicago musicians and music, with a live jazz sextet featuring rapper/singer/host Taylor Mallory and JC Brooks and tap dancing by CTT. Musicians and bands to be covered include Smashing Pumpkins, Chaka Khan, Curtis Mayfield and more. Doors open one hour prior to start time and the running time of the performance is one hour and twenty minutes including one intermission. Tickets are $30-40 and may be purchased at ChicagoTapTheatre.com, by calling 800-440-8539 or at the door the day of the performance, pending availability. Please see website for subscriber offers and group discounts for groups of 10 or more.
“Bringing tap dance to the jazz club is important to CTT, and I’ve been wanting to bring Chicago Tap Theatre to the Mayne Stage since the first time I saw a show there. I grew up tap dancing in the jazz clubs of Kansas City, and the connection between live music and tap dance has always been the root of my love affair with tap. This helps fulfill my young-artist dreams to make sure that even as CTT becomes associated with larger venues and grander shows, we keep one foot in the jazz club door,” Mark Yonally said.
He added, “Last year’s show was, in my opinion, one of the tightest 90 minutes of quality dance that we’ve ever presented. The challenge that we’re excited about this year is taking out a couple pieces and adding three new pieces that make the show even stronger!”
One of these pieces is going to be a brand-new piece from Chicago Tap Theatre dancer Sterling Harris, making his choreographic debut on the Chicago professional stage. Sweet Tap Chicago will feature choreography by Mark Yonally, Kirsten Uttich, Sterling Harris and Rich Ashworth.
Dancers for Sweet Tap Chicago! include Mark Yonally, Kirsten Uttich, Jennifer Yonally, Aimee Chause, Isacc Stauffer, Sterling Harris, Case Prime, Molly Smith, Heather Latakas, and Bailey Caves. New to the ensemble this year are Alison Calamoneri, Alexander Pasker and Zoe Lesser.
Musicians for Sweet Tap Chicago! Include Taylor Malllory (host, singer and music director), JC Brooks (singer and host), Kurt Schweitz (bass), Elisa Calson (keys and vocals), Bob Parlier (drums) and Corbin Andrick (sax and clarinet).
ABOUT CHICAGO TAP THEATRE
Founded in 2002, Chicago Tap Theatre is a growing and vibrant dance company dedicated to preserving the quintessentially American dance form of tap while taking it to the next level of creativity, innovation and quality. CTT performs exclusively with live music provided by some of Chicago’s finest musicians playing everything from Duke Ellington to David Bowie and many artists in between. Under the dynamic direction of master teacher and performer Mark Yonally, CTT has gained a loyal and sizable following in Chicago and continues to tour both nationally and internationally. Having pioneered the “tap opera” format, which tells stories with compelling characters and intriguing plots, CTT has used the language of tap dance, live music and narration to move Chicago audiences for over 17 years.
Artistic Director Mark Yonally and Chicago Tap Theatre (CTT) present Sweet Tap Chicago Sunday, March 8 at 2 and 5 p.m. at The Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Ave. Sweet Tap Chicago is a celebration of Chicago musicians and music, with a live jazz sextet featuring rapper/singer/host Taylor Mallory and JC Brooks and tap dancing by CTT. Musicians and bands to be covered include Smashing Pumpkins, Chaka Khan, Curtis Mayfield and more. Doors open one hour prior to start time and the running time of the performance is one hour and twenty minutes including one intermission. Tickets are $30-40 and may be purchased at ChicagoTapTheatre.com, by calling 800-440-8539 or at the door the day of the performance, pending availability. Please see website for subscriber offers and group discounts for groups of 10 or more.