“For The Love of Tap”

[rating=5] If you love watching tap dancing, you will LOVE what I just experienced, Chicago Tap Theatre presenting their “welcome back to live theater”, “For The Love of Tap”. A wonderful expo to show us some extraordinary tap choreography and brilliant dancers. This was a special night at the historic  Athenaeum Center ( for thought and culture, has been added to the name). FYI- the building is going through some major changes, but the main auditorium/stage is comfy and with the wood they added for the “tap”, it was very effective.

The show or should I say performance was done in two acts and was approx. one hour and thirty five minutes with an intermission.

The first act had 6 numbers and the second five and a wild finale that was worth the ticket price on its own.

Most of us are used to big musicals have one or two tap numbers that grab our attention, often being show-stoppers. Shows like ” 42nd Street” make us see that tap is a special type of dance. These numbers are often show stoppers. When you see a production by Chicago Tap Theater it is different! The people you see on the stage are not the typical “chorus people/ensemble members” you see on the stages at Broadway In Chicago or our regional theaters. In fact, I was remarking to the person sitting behind me, they look like your accountant, your doctor, the nurse who takes your temp when you go to the doctor, your neighbor, the teller at your bank. THEY HAVE NO LOOK!

They also are not of any age group! In tonight’s show there were dancers of all ages and sizes and shapes, but man , could they tap dance! The numbers are choreographed to keep our eyes focused on the dance and the performers. Number like “Ain’t Misbehavin”” and “nature Boy” ( Sterling Harris is amazing).

There was a special number with a reading by Marc Smith and a dance by Mark Yonally (founder of the company) that will bring a tear to your eye.

Now you may be asking, “if this was a one night only show, why tell me in detail”?

Here is the answer!

This show will be released on Friday, March 4th a a streaming show on Vimeo and can be ordered at www.chicagotaptheatre.com/events.

anecdote: The first time I attended a Chicago Tap Theatre production ( in a much smaller venue), when the show was over, audience members changed into tap shoes, went on the stage and danced with the performers. I thought that was a special moment. To be honest, it seems like the entire audience wanted and felt like they could dance the night away. How about having shoes available to rent for an after performance lesson/experience? We rent shows for bowling, why not for tap dancing? A sponsor could be involved and who knows? Maybe a natural will be discovered! Food for thought!