The producers of Broadway's hottest hit announced today that Mary Murphy of FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance" will make her Broadway debut for one night only on Tuesday, December 22nd at 7 PM, when she "quicksteps" into the BURN THE FLOOR company at the Longacre Theatre. She will join the dance juggernaut that has taken Broadway by storm, breaking box office records and extending its limited engagement. The show, originally announced for a 12 week engagement, has been extended through January 3 2010. Mary Murphy will be partnered with ballroom champion Vaidas Skimelis.
Mary Murphy is best known for her enthusiastic and emotional judging style on "So You Think You Can Dance," gaining notoriety and earning fans as the "Queen of Scream." She is a US Ballroom Dance Champion and an Austrian National 10-dance and Ballroom Champion. In addition to owning Champion Ballroom Academy in San Diego, Mary is a partner in the "Chance to Dance" program in the San Diego area school district, helping provide dance classes to children unable to afford lessons.
BURN THE FLOOR is the electrifying Latin and Ballroom dance spectacular which opened this summer at Broadway's intimate Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). It is produced by Harley Medcalf, Joe Watson, Richard Levi, Richard Frankel, Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Raise the Roof One, Toppall/Stevens/Mills, Benigno/Klein, Caldwell/Allen, Carrpailet/Danzansky, Bud Martin, The Production Studio, Schaffert/Schnuck, and Carrie Ann Inaba by special arrangement with Dance Partner Inc.
BURN THE FLOOR has thrilled audiences in over 30 countries and was the first show of the new Broadway season. It opened in August and quickly broke the Longacre Theatre box office record and announced an extension to January 3 2010.
BURN THE FLOOR is created, directed and choreographed by Jason Gilkison. Its cast is composed of award-winning international dancers from around the globe and include Australian Ballroom and World Latin American champions. They collectively hold more than 100 dance titles. They are Henry Byalikov, Sharna Burgess, Artem Chigvintsev, Kevin Clifton, Sasha Farber, Jeremy Garner, Anya Garnis, Gordana Grandosek, Patrick Helm, Sarah Hives, Melanie Hooper, Pasha Kovalev, Peta Murgatroyd, Giselle Peacock, Nuria Santalucia, Mirko Sciolan, Sarah Soriano, Damon & Rebecca Sugden, Trent Whiddon, DamIan Whitewood, and Robin Windsor. The dancers are supported by two vocalists, Ricky Rojas and Rebecca Tapia.
Critics and fans around the world have raved about BURN THE FLOOR: The NY Daily News called it "athletic, sensual and rocket-fueled." Bloomberg.com called it "utterly theatrical" and NY 1 News said BURN THE FLOOR is "hot, hot, hot. Pulse pounding choreography. A two hour adrenaline rush featuring some of the best and best-looking ballroom dancers in the world."
