Jennifer DiNoia, Vishal Vaidya, and More Join American Dance Spectacular 2017

Broadway stars from Wicked, Mamma Mia, Groundhog Day, and Cats along with choreography by Al Blackstone of TV's So You Think You Can Dance will bring the most iconic dances of the 20th Century to The Ridgefield Playhouse stage for one night only. Ridgefield Magazine Broadway and Cabaret Series presentsAmerican Dance Spectacular on Sunday, October 22 at 7pm. In this tour de force, you'll take a journey through decades of dance - including the Charleston, Lindy Hop, Disco, Hip-hop and more - performed by Broadway's hottest dancers with Broadway vocalists backed a live band. Dance fans will be dazzled by this brand new show created and directed by Daniel C. Levine ("Mamma Mia!, "Les Miserables"). The cast includes Jennifer DiNoia (Broadway's WICKED (Elphaba), MAMMA MIA!), Vishal Vaidya (Broadway's GROUNDHOG DAY), Daniel Gaymon (Broadway's CATS), Alexa Green (Broadway's WICKED), Zoje Azeke, Olivia Cece, Melissa Hunt, Chloe Davis, Connor Scwantes, David Paul Kidder, Khori Petinaud with music direction by Bryan Perri (Broadway's "Wicked"), book by Susan Batten (Lifetime TV's "Showing Roots"). Groups of 20 or more can also participate in an exclusive Q&A with the cast before the show! Make it a great night out with dinner and a show - visit Bareburger (38 Danbury Road, Ridgefield) and enjoy a complimentary glass of house wine or draft beer with your entrée when you show your ticket!

Daniel C. Levine, Artistic Director of the Broadway and Cabaret Series at The Ridgefield Playhouse, just received an award for a dance show he conceived and created right here at the Playhouse and then brought to Princess Cruises. Produced with Stephen Schwartz, "Born to Dance" and its creator Daniel C. Levine, just won the Magellan Award -the Gold medal for Entertainment on a Premium Ship brand. The award is given by Travel Weekly magazine.

Daniel first presented "Born to Dance" (then called "Gotta Dance") at The Ridgefield Playhouse in 2015 to sold out crowds. He then followed it up in 2016 with "Dancin' Broadway," which also sold out, and now, coming up on October 22, is his latest dance show creation, "American Dance Spectacular." This show again brings in some of the most acclaimed dancers currently on the Broadway stage, as well as the choreographer from the hit TV show "So You Think You Can Dance," however, this time Daniel takes us on a journey of dance in America. From the Lindy Hop and the Jitterbug to Disco, Vogue-ing and Hip Hop, it's an exciting fantastical adventure of various dance genres created in the United States and the shows that brought them to the masses.

Al Blackstone is a New York City-based director, choreographer, and educator and the recipient of the 2011 Capezio A.C.E. Award for Choreographic Excellence. While working mostly in musical theatre, his passion for contemporary and jazz dance enriches his unique approach to storytelling. Al has created new work for So You Think You Can Dance, The Fire Island Dance Festival, Broadway Bares, BC BEAT, Pace University, University of the Arts, Juilliard, and Marymount Manhattan College. Additional credits include Oklahoma! (Music Theater of Wichita), Crazy In Love (a new musical by Kooman and Dimond), Born To Dance (Princess Cruise Lines), and the opening numbers for BCEFA'S Easter Bonnet (2013/2014) and Gypsy of the Year (2015/2016). Most recently, Al created choreography for the original off-Broadway musical, The View Upstairs, currently running at the Lynn Redgrave Theater in downtown Manhattan. He is the director of Marquee at Dancerpalooza and is currently on faculty at the Broadway Dance Company.

The Ridgefield Playhouse and Ridgefield Magazine Broadway Cabaret Series also includes upcoming performances with many more Broadway stars - including Vanessa Williams In Concert on November 4, Jane Lynch: A Swingin' Little Christmas on December 2, Debbie Gravitte's Big Band Broadway on February 3, and Bebe Neuwirth on April 14 - to just name a few!

For tickets ($60), call the box office at 203-438-5795, or visit ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a non-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.

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