S75 - TAP! (or get out of the way) by Elissa Mautner - 3m, 4w, or more
posted by Jim Vogel at 12:07 PM
Aug 8, 2025
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7 Comments:
I loved it! It would really stir up some nostalgia for audience members, actors, dancers and anyone else who grew up in Minneapolis in the late 70s. Cast size need not be an issue because there is a lot of video to show the enormity of this event and the excitement it created. I think it would be a great show to kick off the season.
One might expect to see this at History Theater. As Jean says, it brings back memories to those of us who remember Minneapolis in those days. I attended the Center many times for productions at Cricket Theater (Equity company on the 8th floor which moved downtown from Northeast Minneapolis) as well as productions on the small 3rd floor stage. The major technical issue would be projection of images of Hennepin Avenue and especially of the parade. For those interested, I would encourage you to check out Beth Obermeyer to see the numerous things she has done as well as videos on You Tube of the parade.
I like the idea of this script thematically for our 77th season. It celebrates history of Twin Cities art scene. It is very light and celebratory. I don't love it as a script, I think it has some work - I am curious if the playwright would be up to doing some workshops of it. We would need tappers and choreographer. The dialogue reads like a musical - like they are almost about to burst into song at any moment, but they never quite do...I think it makes the most sense if dance numbers are worked throughout the script, maybe not just tap. I don't know if we would need to do the projections, I am not sure if they add or not. We could easily build a really interesting lobby display that gives the context for the real events and history. Overall, there might be something here, but it would need a very careful directing hand to either lean into the quasi-musical tone or to tone it down significantly. Definitately some opportunity to tie in partnerships with dance studios and Minneapolis theatre/dance history.
It’s a little schmaltzy, and overly narrative, but I really liked how local this feels, how it echoes the same talking points from today about the city being dangerous, and how it speaks of a community showing up and dancing together.
As for the projections, I think they are totally unnecessary. If I were directing it, I would consider something like having a small group of tap dancers show up with signs in transitions that indicate whatever you need to convey to the audience, vs. projections.
There’s a few lines about tap being “indigenously American” that made me cringe as it is not an indigenous genre but it is home grown so this seems like an easy script change to request.
Not high art, but I think we could sell it and it would be a fun challenge for our scenic designers to recreate 1970’s Hennepin Avenue.
I like that it is not just about dance — it’s about community, civic pride, and artistic perseverance. Which I really want to push for in Season 75
However - I do not like the play. I don't feel the energy that I want to from it and was bored during much of the dialogue that seemed dated. I think with a period piece it still needs to be engaging to modern audiences, and I don't think this is.
I don't think creating 1970's Hennepin Ave would be fun at all. The limitations of the TRP space don't allow for the skyscrapers or tall structure and the lower half of buildings are not engaging. I also hate the use of projections and don't think that this piece is right for TRP and what we want to be saying with our 75th season.
Potential is there but rushing to make this fit in the season is a risk not worth taking. Workshopping and adding it to a future season is a no brainer
I agree with several of the comments on here already. This is a fun piece that the local community would enjoy. I could see it having a strong musical theatre comedy vibe. But, I also agree that it could use some more work (especially the ending). If the playwright is will to work with us quickly, I am sure it could be an option for late in the 75th season. Otherwise, we could just keep it in the mix for the future.
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