More memories from the Atlanta Charisma days…
Starr & Bobby
1987
Between 1919 and 1939, George White, the Broadway and Hollywood impresario, produced a series of shows and movies all of which featured Scandals in their titles. Otherwise known as a revue, these lavish and Ziegfeld Follies-like productions would string musical vaudeville acts together with a simple plot and doll them up with lots and lots of showgirls.
“Summer Scandals of 1977″ was the first show that Bobby Berkeley and I joined forces to produce, direct and perform in. Although the cast was small, just 4 of us, we sang and danced our hearts out to a collection of our favorite Broadway and vintage Hollywood Musical Movies’ tunes.
Fittingly, 10 years later for Atlanta Charisma’s final recital, we returned to our roots and presented “Southern Scandals of 1987″ at the historic, Art Deco style, Dancer’s Collective Theatre in Little Five Points.
Act I showcased all of our students in their jazz and ballet routines.
Ms. Starr & Mr. Berkeley joined the Broadway Babies on stage during the high energy production number to “Brand New Lover.”
The entire company was decked out in their new Rainbow costumes, with Starr & Bobby in their custom-made by my mom, Chevron Jackets & Fedoras!
The Scandals took over in Act II.
Chock full of vocals and dance routines to nostalgic tunes from the 1920′s, 30′s & 40′s like, “Nasty Man,” “Let’s Misbehave,” ” I Want To Be Bad,” “Jazz Baby,” “Off-Time,” “Yes, Yes,” and “Never Gonna Dance,” throughout the Act, many of our professional performing friends made guest appearances. And of course, Ellen, once again recreated her role of “Leading Lady!”
Our replication of “Bojangles of Harlem” from the 1936, RKO classic, Swing Time, starring Fred Astaire, was a labor of love and the highlight of this, our final recital.
In the movie, this tribute to hoofer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, has Astaire famously tapping with three giant shadows and partnering with 30 girls at once.
Our version featured 20 showgirls, including yours truly, Darling Donna, all of our senior line Broadway Babies, and professional dance colleagues by special invitation. We were clad in custom-made costumes, again by my mom, 10 of us in white and 10 of us in black. Bobby created the illusion of the shadow segment by bookending himself with Donna in black, stage right, and me in white, stage left, swaying in time with the music sporting our coordinating boas.
In addition to the clever and intricate choreography by Hermes Pan which Bobby reverently recreated and danced with such skill, the audience was also offered the rare delight of hearing him sing. With it’s saucy, 30′s-style lyrics and jaunty tune, “Bojangles of Harlem” was an ideal song to show off Bobby’s pleasing baritone voice. He was a triple threat, indeed!
“Berkeley’s Broadway Babies”
It was the most entrancin’ business, It’s what we called the dancin’ business,
Starr
