Stage Door Theatre Presents The World Premiere Of Kevin Black's TIME STEP MARCH

Time Step, award-winning Director/Choreographer Kevin Black's newest creation, will have its World Premiere at Broward Stage Door Theatre on March 30th. Black, along with Musical Director Ben Bagby have combined their talents to celebrate a unique American dance phenomenon. The production will run through May 6th.

The origins of the Time Step - that unmistakeable rhythmic tap combination - can be traced back to the Vaudeville era in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Dancers would repeat a 'time step', usually for six measures of music, and then perform two measures of improvised steps choreographed in the moment to set the pace of the music. A true mix of European Jig, Reel Steps, Clog, and African Rhythms, often spontaneously combined, this improvisation created an exciting new dance style. It was, some say, the creation of tap in America as a theatrical art form. The Time Step reached a peak in popularity in the 1920s and 1930s, when tap dancers began performing with large orchestras and needed a way to communicate tempo to the musicians.

Kevin Black, whose creativity seems to know no bounds, has created a brand-new show featuring the Time Step, along with other forms of dance including Irish Celtic, Flamenco, Stomp, and Clogging. The production will also feature numbers from the classic Broadway tap shows 42nd Street and Crazy For You, as well as tributes to Big Band Jazz performers such as The Nicholas Brothers, Swing Music, and Sing, Sing, Sing.

"This production is a true collaboration," Black explained recently. "Along with our amazing Musical Director and Arranger Ben Bagby, I have a cast and crew that has contributed so much to the show's development. Our choreography is most definitely a result of incredible teamwork - Allison C. Scott, Sebastian Goldberg, Ashley Bachner, McKayla Cephas, and Alessandra Torres have all poured their creativity, talent, and expertise into this show. It's a true labor of love, and I know our Stage Door audiences are in for a treat."

Black has assembled a multi-talented dream team to showcase the project. Along with participating choreographers Sebastian Goldberg and Allison C. Scott, he has cast Ariel Siedman-Wright, MacKenzie Cutcliffe, Nathaniel J. Washington, and Stephen Potter to interpret everything from Flamenco to Stomp. They will be joined by vocalists Sandra Marante and Matt Staley. Staley and fellow cast member Ariel Siedman-Wright will accompany the Celtic and Western sections of the production on acoustic guitar and fiddle.

Time Step's Set and Lighting Design is by Paul O'Donnell, who will also serve as the show's Technical Director. Costume Design is by Jerry Sturdefant, and Jose-Luis Ramos, the production's Stage Manager, will run the show's sound, lights, and projections: "One man in the booth!" Black exclaims.

Kevin Black is the owner of Kevin Black Productions, a global company providing entertainment to cruise lines, corporate events, resorts, musical theater productions and tours. Kevin's extensive cruise line work includes costume design, choreography, production, and direction on Norwegian, Saga, Royal Caribbean and Asuka Cruise Lines. Corporate clients include HP, Motorola, Muvico, and Giorgio Armani; tours include original works - Cirque style shows, as well as musical theater productions including La Cage Aux Folles, The Jazz Singer, Smokey Joe's Café, Funny Girl, Victor/Victoria, Cabaret, and Dreamgirls. Kevin's work can currently be seen at the Villa de Palmar Resorts in Cabo, Mexico. His most recent work includes Laffing Matterz at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts; 8 Track, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change and Rags at The Plaza Theatre in Manalapan, Florida; What's New Pussycat?, On The Radio, A Chorus Line, Promises, Promises, Pompadour, Evita, Tickling the Ivories, and Imagine, and Carbonell recommend Swing, Swing, Swing and Soul of Motor City at The Stage Door Theatre in Margate, Florida. He also recently directed and choreographed Spamalot, Tommy, The Rocky Horror Show, and Into The Woods for Entr'Acte Theatrix performing at The Crest Theatre in Delray Beach, Florida. Kevin is also the producer, director and choreographer of an original children's show, The Adventures of Bella & Harry, and the Artistic Director for CAST (Career in the Arts, School of Talent) located in Cooper City, Florida.

Ben Bagby was in the Original Broadway Cast of My One & Only and in the First National Tour of Dreamgirls. He is also a featured dancer in the "Blues Brother's Movie" and in the Movie "Eddie" starring Whoopi Goldberg. Choreography credits include television commercials for Levi's 501 Jeans, Harrah's Casino, and Mazda. He has performed on cruise ships for Royal Caribbean and Carnival, and in local productions of Aida, Chicago, Spelling Bee, Hairspray, The Life, Smokey Joe's Café, and West Side Story. He has recorded vocals for several indie record labels and is an acting and voice coach when he's not performing.

Time Step will run from March 30 - May 6 at Stage Door Theatre. The theatre is located at 8036 Sample Road, in Margate. Tickets for Time Step are $48. Group rates are available, as are student prices (with valid ID). Tickets may be purchased at the Broward Stage Door Theatre box office at 954-344-7765 or on line at https://www.stagedoorfl.org.

For more information about Time Step and/or Stage Door Theatre, please visit www.stagedoorfl.org, or contact Derelle Bunn Executive Producer/Artistic Director, at DerelleBunn@yahoo.com / 954-344-7765 or Carol Kassie (carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244).

Photo credit: Kevin Black

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