Image via JoJo Whilden for Netflix
The beloved Broadway vet Lori Tan Chinn (M. Butterfly, G.R. Point, Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen-NY stage debut), familiar to many TV viewers as Chang from Netflix’s Orange is the New Black, plays Mae in the Broadway-Bound World Premiere of Gotta Dance, based on the 2008 documentary by Dori Berinstein which tells the story of professional basketball’s first ever aged 60-and-older dance team, at Broadway In Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), December 13, 2015 through January 17, 2016. Opening night is set for December 28th. Produced by Dori Berinstein and Bill Damaschke, the musical is directed and choreographed by Tony winner Jerry Mitchell, and is scheduled to head to Broadway in fall 2016. Click here for tickets and more information.
The cast of GOTTA DANCE. Photo by Matthew Murphy
Lori Tan Chinn. Photo by Matthew Murphy
Miss Tan Chinn stars alongside Tony® Award nominee André De Shields, five-time Emmy® Award nominee Georgia Engel, Tony Award-winner Lillias White, television and film icon Stefanie Powers (in her Broadway debut), Haven Burton and Nancy Ticotin. The cast also features Murphy Cross, Joanna Jones (NBC’s “Sing Off”), Madeleine Doherty (Gigi), Tracy Jai Edwards (Legally Blonde), Diane Findlay (Fish in the Dark), Lenora Nemetz (Gypsy), Jonalyn Saxer (Honeymoon in Vegas), and Kay Walbye (Urinetown), along with Alexander Aguilar, Adinah Alexander, Sydni Beaudoin, Holly Ann Butler, Paula Caselton, Ari Groover, Colby Lewis, Lance Roberts, Elise Santora, Austin Scott III, and Virginia Ann Woodruff.
Miss Tan Chinn was featured Off-Broadway in The Primary English Class, G.R. Point and the King & I. Her regional credits include South Pacific (Arena Stage – recipient, Helen Hayes Award – Supporting Actress in a Musical, she has also been hailed by R&H enthusiasts, including Mary Rodgers, as “the definitive Bloody Mary”), Peter Sellars’ The Merchant of Venice (Goodman Theatre & European Tour). Seven seasons with the O’Neill Theater Center, plus 3 seasons serving as script finalist/ advisor to Artistic Director, Lloyd Richards. Recipient, 2nd Annual New Dramatists’ Charles Bowden Award, 2nd Annual Eugene O’Neill Theater Center/American Theatre Wing/Clarence Ross Fellowship. Some film credits: Mickey Blue Eyes, She-Devil, What About Bob?, Glengarry Glen Ross, Living in Oblivion. Television: ABC-TV’s “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific”, “Roseanne” (series regular, 2nd season), “Spin City”, “Law & Order”.
The ‘Gotta Dance Team’ – producer Dori Berinstein, DO40 members Lori Tan Chinn and Lenora Nemetz, moderator Richard Ridge and Nancy Ticotin at the Dancers Over 40-Diversity Event 2015: Can’t Stop the Music! Can’t Stop the Dance! Diversity All Around Us! on October 14, 2015 at St. Luke’s Theater in New York. Photo courtesy of Dancers over 40.
Gotta Dance brings together an all-star creative team that includes a book by Tony Award- nominee Chad Beguelin (Aladdin) and Tony Award-winner Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone), music by Tony and Emmy Award nominee Matthew Sklar (Elf) and lyrics by Tony Award-nominee Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde), with additional music by Marvin Hamlisch (an Emmy, Grammy®, Tony and Oscar® winner) and direction and choreography by Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots), with co-choreography by Nick Kenkel.
Lin Tucci, André De Shields and Lori Tan Chinn at ‘On Your Feet!’ at the Marquis Theatre in New York on November 4, 2015. Photo by Lia Chang
One remarkable dance team. One big chance. One small twist. You gotta be over 60. Gotta Dance is the incredible true story of ten determined dreamers who audition to dance at half time for a major NBA team. They have three things in common: they love to dance, they have something to prove, and they are all over 60. It isn’t until they make the cut that they find out they won’t be dancing tap, salsa or swing-they are going to bring down the house with a style that’s entirely new to them: hip hop. Gotta Dance is an original Broadway-bound musical about a group of ordinary seniors with extraordinary dreams as they battle prejudice, self-doubt and each other for a chance to bust a move at center court in front of 20 thousand screaming fans.
Murphy Cross, Lori Tan Chinn, Ari Groover, Lillias White, Madeline Doherty, André De Shields, Stefanie Powers, Nick Kenkel, Erich McMillan McCall, Virginia Ann Woodruff, Paula Caselton, Holly Butler at ‘On Your Feet!’ at the Marquis Theatre in New York on November 4, 2015. Photo by Lia Chang
The creative team of Gotta Dance reunites Mitchell with his Kinky Boots collaborators, including five time Tony Award nominee David Rockwell (Scenic Design), Tony Award-winner Gregg Barnes (Costume Design) and Tony Award-winner Kenneth Posner (Lighting Design), four-time Tony Award nominee Peter Hylenski (Sound Design), Tony Award-winner Larry Hochman (Orchestrations), Charlie Alterman (Musical Director), with casting by Telsey + Company/Craig Burns, CSA.
Cassey Kivnick, Murphy Cross, Lin Tucci, Lori Tan Chinn, Virginia Ann Woodruff, Jonalyn Saxer, André De Shields, Tracy Jay Edwards, Erich McMillan McCall, Nick Kenkel, Stefanie Powers, Elise Santora, Ari Groover, Paula Caselton at ‘On Your Feet!’ at the Marquis Theatre in New York on November 4, 2015. Photo by Lia Chang
The Pre-Broadway World Premiere of Gotta Dance is part of the Broadway In Chicago Fall 2015-16 Season Subscription Series. Tickets ($42-$102) can be purchased by visiting www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Group tickets for 10 or more can be purchased by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710.
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Lia Chang, Lori Tan Chinn and Garth Kravits at the 11th Annual 72 Hour Shootout World Premiere Film Screening at Village Cinema East in New York on July 25, 2015. Photo by Lia Chang
Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits
Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek. She is profiled in Examiner.com, Jade Magazine and Playbill.com.
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