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cowers in front of
William before Emma stands up to him. Her speech, coupling the courtroom savvy of a seasoned professional with the vulnerability of a hurt child, is a powerful indictment against William for alienation of affection and loss of aid to dependent children. Ginnie tells William that things cannot continue this way. She demands that she should be just as in charge of the family as he is. William explodes and in a frightening display, pours out his deep-rooted anguish and self-hatred to the family ("William's Song").
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typical morning with Ginnie preparing breakfast and preparing for the day and Emma and Willie arguing ("Another Day"). Later that day, Emma returns home from school, angry at her parents and the world for underestimating and mistreating her ("Four
Strikes Against Me"). Ginnie's brother Dipsey Bates arrives for Willie's tap lesson. The kids urge him to tell stories about the old days when Ginnie, Dipsey and their late father Daddy Bates performed as a
167:
rehearsal and is uncontrollably drawn into the number, dancing with his uncle. The dancers are so amazed by Willie that they stop dancing and just let him perform. Excited by his nephew's potential, Dipsey rushes the boy home to tell his parents the good news. Dipsey's assistant Carole is left to continue the rehearsal. After the rehearsal, she reflects on her emotions for Dipsey ("I Could Get Used to Him").
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only about keeping her husband happy. Ginnie explains to Dipsey that
William was not always like this, and that there is still good inside of him ("I Remember How It Was"). She goes to Willie's bedroom and warily tells him about his audition the next day for Dipsey's show. Willie is overjoyed. Ginnie tucks him in for the night and sings to her son until he falls asleep ("Lullabye").
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Three weeks later, Willie still has not been allowed to dance. He goes to the playground where he is taunted for dancing by
Winslow, a local teenage bully. Emma arrives and defends Willie against Winslow, but she still admonishes him for dancing. Emma and Willie fight and complain about their parents
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Dipsey brings Willie back home and excitedly tells Ginnie and
William of Willie's raw talent. William interrupts, furious because Willie ran away and risked his life by going alone to New York City. Sensing his authority slipping away due to Ginnie and Emma's protests, William lashes out and forbids
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with his wife Ginnie and their two children: 14-year-old Emma, an outspoken, independent-minded, and overweight girl who wants to be a lawyer more than anything, and 10-year-old Willie, whom
William wants to follow in his footsteps. However all Willie wants is to be a tap dancer. The show opens on a
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Dipsey is rehearsing his dancers for an industrial show for a shoe buyers' convention. The performance has been designed to showcase Dipsey's dancing and choreographic talents with which he hopes to impress the producers of an out-of-town
Broadway tryout ("Fabulous Feet"). Willie arrives during the
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Willie auditions the next day and receives the part. Without celebration, Ginnie takes him and Emma to Dipsey and Carole's house to wait for
William and prepare for his reaction to the news. William arrives, and when Ginnie tells him the news, he is outraged. The family is speechless and nervously
190:
Ginnie comes to Dipsey's loft, confused and upset, not knowing how to cheer up Willie. Dipsey tries to convince her to let Willie try out for a role in his new
Buffalo show. Ginnie, knowing what the consequences might be, refuses. Echoing Emma's earlier sentiments, Dipsey accuses Ginnie of caring
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Willie has not danced for weeks and is miserable. During another breakfast in the
Sheridan household, an argument ensues, and William storms out. Emma accuses her mother of not asserting herself nor caring enough about her children. Ginnie accuses Emma of being exactly like her father. They fight
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Later, alone in front of Dipsey's building, William waits, not knowing what will happen. Emma joins him, and she and her father finally reach an understanding. Willie arrives and tells William that he is not taking the part in the show but still longs to be a dancer. Ginnie appears, followed by
154:
trio ("Class Act"). The number ends as William returns home from work. Finding his study in disarray. He coolly greets Dipsey, for whom he has little use as a 33-year-old dancer. Dipsey exits, leaving William to examine the children's report cards. He pays scant attention to Emma's exceptional
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Willie dreams a wonderful dream starring his grandfather, wherein the following day, Willie auditions for the show. The bug of finally being on a stage propels Willie into a fantasy in which he is surrounded by all of Willie's idols, the great dancers
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Willie from tap dancing and seeing Dipsey. Willie, heartbroken, runs out onto the terrace, and Dipsey follows him and comforts him, telling him he'll have to dance inside of himself ("Man in the Moon").
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Willie has gone to the playground to be alone, and Emma comes looking for him. This time instead of arguing, they connect and dream about a day they are understood by their parents ("Someday").
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184:. Dipsey has just given up hope when the phone rings telling him he got the job. Dipsey and Carole celebrate, with Dipsey finally succeeding in life ("My Luck Is Changing").
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before Emma leaves ("They Never Hear What I Say"). Willie expresses to Emma what dancing means to him ("Dancing is Everything"). Willie runs away to
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Dipsey, and they both make peace with William. They all compromise a little, but they will still remain together as a family ("Class Act ").
180:("Like Him"). Dipsey and Carole, now dating and living together, wait in their loft to find out if Dipsey booked the out-of-town tryout in
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praised the choreography and many actors' performances but saw the plot as "earnest plodding" and the music forgettable.
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grades, but he is so disappointed by Willie's poor grades that he grounds him and forbids him from dancing.
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As part of its "Encores!" program, New York City Center mounted a production running February 2-6, 2022.
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994:'The Tap Dance Kid' synopsis, song list and production at guidetomusicaltheatre.com
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Vaudeville, Old and New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America, vol. 1
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and ran until March 11, 1984. On March 27, 1984, it resumed performances at the
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Dance if It Makes You Happy — Willie, Dipsey, Daddy Bates, Carole and Dancers
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Dance if It Makes You Happy — Willie, Dipsey, Daddy Bates, Carole and Dancers
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924:. December 22, 1983. Retrieved November 24, 2006. (Subscription required)
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production, follow the same tracklist as the National Tour production.
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Note: Most productions following the National Tour, including the
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Class Act (Finale) — Willie, Emma, Ginnie, William, Dipsey
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Class Act (Finale) — Willie, Emma, Ginnie, William, Dipsey
935:"Stage Review:Tapping Out A Dance Story At The Pantages"
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as Willie. In 1984 Ribeiro's 10-year-old understudy,
896:(1 ed.). New York, NY: Routledge. p. 443.
124:. It was written by Charles Blackwell with music by
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Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
145:William Sheridan, a successful attorney, lives on
790:Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
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714:in April 1986 and Chicago, Illinois in May 1986.
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951:"'Tap Dance Kid' A Kick From Start To Finish"
725:directed, with choreography by Jared Grimes.
349:They Never Hear What I Say — Emma and Willie
252:They Never Hear What I Say — Emma and Willie
358:Fabulous Feet — Dipsey, Carole and Dancers
346:Class Act — Ginnie, Dipsey and Daddy Bates
261:Fabulous Feet — Dipsey, Carole and Dancers
249:Class Act — Ginnie, Dipsey and Daddy Bates
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918:"A Boy And His Dreams In 'Tap Dance Kid'"
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394:Tap Tap — Daddy Bates, Willie and Dipsey
340:Something Better, Something More - Dipsey
297:Tap Tap — Daddy Bates, Willie and Dipsey
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863:Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
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243:Another Day — Ginnie, Emma and Willie
337:High Heels - Dipsey, Carole, Dancers
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964:"'Tap Dance Kid' shuffles too much"
658:with musical staging and dances by
355:Crosstown — Willie and New Yorkers
258:Crosstown — Willie and New Yorkers
163:in search of Dipsey ("Crosstown").
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969:, (article synopsis), May 15, 1986
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118:Nobody's Family is Going to Change
81:Nobody's Family is Going to Change
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361:I Could Get Used to Him — Carole
264:I Could Get Used to Him — Carole
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984:The Tap Dance Kid
953:SunSentinel.com, April 11, 1986
385:I Remember How It Was — Ginnie
352:Dancing Is Everything — Willie
343:Four Strikes Against Me — Emma
288:I Remember How It Was — Ginnie
255:Dancing Is Everything — Willie
246:Four Strikes Against Me — Emma
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379:Like Him — Ginnie and Emma
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777:Best Book of a Musical
729:Awards and nominations
674:, Martine Allard, and
642:The musical opened on
37:1983 Broadway Playbill
702:with choreography by
500:Shahadi Wright Joseph
209:The Nicholas Brothers
940:, September 24, 1985
712:Miami Beach, Florida
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588:Notable replacements
97:New York City Center
567:Dewitt Fleming Jr.
116:based on the novel
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781:Charles Blackwell
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638:Productions
559:Alan Weeks
87:Productions
1003:Categories
879:References
872:Nominated
837:Nominated
822:Nominated
809:Nominated
784:Nominated
771:Nominated
762:Tony Award
723:Kenny Leon
700:Jerry Zaks
687:Frank Rich
531:Ben Harney
430:Character
205:Gene Kelly
152:vaudeville
747:Category
606:Dulé Hill
471:Dulé Hill
201:Bojangles
161:Manhattan
750:Nominee
644:Broadway
572:Winslow
445:Encores!
434:Broadway
417:Encores!
136:Synopsis
100:Encores!
92:Broadway
987:at the
753:Result
626:William
611:Ginnie:
599:Willie:
542:Carole
114:musical
16:Musical
900:
744:Award
407:
374:Act II
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277:Act II
175:Act II
79:novel
53:Lyrics
758:1984
741:Year
457:2022
454:1985
451:1983
329:Act I
238:Act I
141:Act I
112:is a
95:2022
90:1983
73:Basis
43:Music
898:ISBN
852:Won
799:Won
442:NYCC
64:Book
120:by
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