Show dates: July 23-25, 29-31 and Aug 1 at 7:30 p.m., matinee July 26 at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets: Adults $18, seniors/students $15.

Location: Meroney Theater, 213 S. Main St., 704-633-5471 or www.PiedmontPlayers.com

Tony winning musical coming to the Meroney stage

The inimitable Thomas “Fats” Waller rose to international fame during the Golden Age of the Cotton Club and that jumpin’ new beat, Swing. Although not quite a biography, Ain’t Misbehavin’ evokes the delightful humor and infectious energy of this American original as a versatile cast struts, strums and sings the songs he made famous in a career that ranged from uptown clubs to downtown Tin Pan Alley to Hollywood and concert stages in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

The musical is a tribute to the black musicians of the 1920s and ’30s who were part of the Harlem Renaissance, an era of growing creativity, cultural awareness, and ethnic pride. It was a time when Manhattan nightclubs like the Cotton Club and the Savoy Ballroom were the playgrounds of high society and Lenox Avenue dives were filled with piano players banging out a new beat.

The original production opened in the Manhattan Theatre Club’s East 73rd Street cabaret in 1978, shortly thereafter transferring to Broadway at the Longacre Theatre. The original cast included Irene Cara, Nell Carter, André DeShields, Armelia McQueen and Ken Page.

Frank Rich, in his review for The New York Times, wrote “… Though almost bereft of dialogue, this musical anthology expands beyond its form to become a resurrection of a great black artist’s soul. Perhaps the key to the musical’s approach, as conceived by the director Richard Maltby Jr., is its willingness to let Waller speak simply and eloquently for himself, through his art but without show-biz embroidery.”

On June 12, 1982, NBC broadcast the revue with the original Broadway cast, receiving 8 Primetime Emmy nominations and winning 2 of the awards. A Broadway revival with the same director, choreographer, and cast as the original production opened in 1988 and ran for 176 performances earning a Tony nomination for Best Revival of a Musical.

In 2008, season two American Idol contestants Frenchie Davis, Trenyce Cobbins and winner Ruben Studdard starred in the 30th anniversary national tour of the show. The 30th anniversary cast recording received a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album.

In the Piedmont Players version, five triple threat performers (Tameka Brown, Brittany Currie, Wynn Durrah, Alexis Greer, and Tyler Smith) take the audience to the sometimes zany, sometimes sexy, always jazzy world of Thomas “Fats” Waller, whose intoxicating music will delight and energize as well as provide great insight into a vibrant time in American history and music.

“The show moves with the zing and sparkle of a Waller recording-filled with bright melodies and asides.” –The New York Times

“Ain’t Misbehavin’…is like an intoxicating combination of a dry martini and a dirty joke, savored over the sassiest Depression-era jazz.” -LA Times