DENNIS, MA – The Cape Playhouse is proud to present Ain’t Misbehavin’: The Fats Waller Musical, a glorious salute to one of America’s greatest musicians and to the music that is as fresh and sparkling now as it was over ninety years ago. Winner of the Tony Award® for Best Musical, Ain’t Misbehavin’ kicks off the Cape Playhouse’s 2023 summer season on June 7th with a ten-day run. This triumphant celebration of the life, times, and music of the legendary Fats Waller continues to dazzle audiences with its infectious energy and indomitable spirit.
Thomas “Fats” Waller rose to fame as part of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and ‘30’s with his jumpin’ new beat known as swing music. With his distinctive persona of both ebullient comic and musical genius, Fats remains one of music history’s most unforgettable forces. His influence can be seen in jazz greats such as Count Basie, Art Tatum, and Thelonius Monk, and the impact he left on the world of music is truly extraordinary.
At the helm is accomplished Director/Choreographer/Actor Lacy Darryl Phillips. At the age of nine Lacy performed in his first professional show Miss Moffat with Bette Davis. Under mentor Debby Allen, Lacy assisted and performed in several productions and later toured and appeared on Broadway in Raisin, Sophisticated Ladies, Bob Fosse’s Dancin’, Anything Goes, Sweet Charity, Me and Mrs. Jones, Play On, and Fosse. His most recent credits include Choreographer for Ain’t Misbehavin’ (California Center for the Arts), and Creative Director/Choreographer for Cherry House – The Play (Broadway Bound Theatre Festival on Theatre Row NYC).
“Although Ain’t Misbehavin’ is not a typical musical with a book or story, there is a through-line of stories woven together through vignettes and scenarios which are uplifting and enlightening and thought provoking,” Phillips explained.” My wish is to invite you on this journey with us back in time with a twist. Imagine a cinematic approach, or “film on stage” transporting you to an era when all the rules were broken for all the right reasons. The main thing to remember is that it’s all about the music!”
Longtime friend and now mentor to Lacy on this production of Ain’t Misbehavin’ is Grammy Award winner Ken Page who acted as the Production Consultant. Widely known as the voice of Mr. Oogie Boogie in the classic Disney/Tim Burton animated film, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ken is an original cast member of the Off-Broadway and Broadway production of Ain’t Misbehavin’. Ken has worked extensively in New York as well as London’s West End starring in Cats as the original Old Deuteronomy and in Paris for Ain’t Misbehavin’. Mr. Page made his Broadway debut in Guys and Dolls, as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the all-black revival which received the Theatre World Award. He is a recipient of the Theatre World Award for Guys and Dolls and the Best Actor Drama Desk Award for Ain’t Misbehavin’. Here is a word from Ken on what makes this show so special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVHZMfHPY50 Following Ain’t Misbehavin’ (June 7-17), the Cape Playhouse presents Sense and Sensibility (June 21-July 1), Jersey Boys (July 5-22), An American in Paris (July 26-August 12), Camelot (August 16-26) and Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (August 30-September 9). To purchase a 6-show subscription, a 3-,4-, or 5-show Flex Pass, or single tickets, visit www.capelayhouse.com
