Tap-dancing legend will perform with ballet during Kansas City’s throwback May
Two of Kansas City’s premier performing arts companies are traveling back to the early 20th century this May, and Lonnie McFadden is happy he will be going along for the ride.
The legendary Kansas City entertainer will appear in the Kansas City Ballet’s production of “The Great Gatsby,” which will open May 8 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
No, the 70-year-old trumpet player/tap dancer/singer won’t be donning a form-fitting unitard and launching into a sauté. McFadden will perform what he calls “a tap-dance a cappella solo” built into this ballet version of “The Great Gatsby” by choreographer Septime Webre.
“At this point in my life and my career, knowing I had never performed with a ballet, I’m so excited for this,” McFadden said.
The Ballet’s season-ending production is based on the 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Opening the preceding week was “The Wizard of Oz” (drawn from L. Frank Baum’s 1900 children’s novel) by Kansas City Repertory Theatre.
Both are new productions or new to Kansas City.
Webre’s “The Great Gatsby” will feature live jazz accompaniment by Billy Novick’s Blues Syncopators and vocalist Eboni Fondren in addition to McFadden’s tap dancing.
“You’re dealing with the 1920s, of course,” McFadden said. “But it’s still great to see classical ballet and American tap and American jazz put together in this way. Because it’s like the blending of two completely different worlds.”
The “Gatsby” world is somewhat reflected at his Lonnie’s Reno Club, which evokes Kansas City’s jazz past. McFadden sings and plays the trumpet there in addition to tap dancing, which he said he first was paid to do when he joined his father onstage at the age of 7.
He learned the art of tap from his father, the equally legendary Jimmy “Pops” McFadden, who performed with many jazz greats.
“I grew up idolizing my dad and Sammy Davis Jr. and Count Basie,” he said. “I mean, I met these guys because of my father, and I always wanted to be one of them. Now, I feel like I’m living the dream.”
His dream come true also includes working with Kansas City Ballet dancers less than half his age. He said he has been “blown away” by their commitment and athleticism.
As for his own dancing, McFadden said he’s made concessions to the aging process.
“I don’t do the high jumps, the jumping in the air, doing the splits, the spins and jumping off of 6-foot stages, I don’t do any of that anymore,” he said. “… But the rhythm, it’s interesting, I think maybe what I’ve lost in speed and agility I’ve gained in nuance.”
Here is what you need to know about the early May performing arts openers in Kansas City.
‘The Wizard of Oz’
Who: Kansas City Repertory Theatre
When: 7 p.m. May 6-7, 8 p.m. May 8, 2 and 8 p.m. May 9, 2 p.m. May 10, 7 p.m. May 12-14, 8 p.m. May 15, 2 and 8 p.m. May 16, 2 p.m. May 17, 7 p.m. May 20-21, 8 p.m. May 22, 2 and 8 p.m. May 23, 2 p.m. May 24.
Where: Spencer Theatre, 4949 Cherry St., on UMKC campus
Noteworthy: Puppeteer Zack Garner will bring Toto to life. The music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. “Yip” Harburg are taken from the 1939 film, which won the Academy Award for best song for “Over the Rainbow.”
Tickets: $44-$84
Information: kcrep.org
‘The Great Gatsby’
Who: Kansas City Ballet
When: 7:30 p.m. May 8-9, 1:30 p.m. May 10, 7:30 p.m. May 16-17, 1:30 p.m. May 17.
Where: Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Blvd.
Noteworthy: This will be the largest-ever production at the Kauffman Center. … The Cincinnati Ballet performed this ballet by choreographer Septime Webre in November.
Tickets: $43.50-$158.50
Information: kcballet.org
Other shows
‘Don’t Touch My Hair’: May 6-24, Unicorn Theatre, 3828 Main St. unicorntheatre.org
‘Brigadoon’: May 7-10, Music Theatre Heritage, Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd., Suite 301. musictheaterheritage.com
‘Cactus Flower’: Starring Marilu Henner. Opened April 23 and runs through June 28, New Theatre and Restaurant, 9229 Foster St., Overland Park. newtheatre.com
