Special Focus on Continued Learning
Maintainin’ Rhythm The acclaimed revival of Crazy For You taps its way back into the West End later this year. One Editor Cameron Ball investigates how the cast and creative team plan to maintain elite levels of performance with considerations for health and wellbeing.
Charlie Stemp as Bobby Child & members of the company in Crazy for You at Chichester Festival Theatre
Photos: The Headshot Box, TBC & Johan Persson
Charlie Stemp
Richard Pitt
The levels of focus and fitness required to dance eight shows per week in the West End is challenging, and even more so when the show’s director and choreographer is Broadway powerhouse Susan Stroman. Her production of Crazy For You, originally seen in the West End in 1993, is the stuff of legend, scooping up Tony and Olivier Awards. It is this choreography that has been recreated 30 years later, first at Chichester Festival Theatre, and following stellar 24 The One Dance UK Magazine | Spring 2023
reviews, at the Gillian Lynne Theatre from June. Dance is at the heart of the show (who can resist tapping their feet to Gershwin’s classic tunes?) and so the pressure is on to not only meet Stroman’s exacting standards, but also ensure the cast’s bodies and minds remain in elite condition. Leading the cast as Bobby is Charlie Stemp, who after graduating from Laine Theatre Arts and performing in Mamma Mia! and Wicked, had his breakthrough with an Oliviernominated role in Half a Sixpence. Since then, he has been seen on Broadway opposite Bette Midler in Hello, Dolly! and most recently tap dancing upside down on the proscenium of the Prince Edward Theatre as Bert in Mary Poppins. He also presented to aspiring young performers at the U.Dance National Festival in 2020.
How does he feel about being part of this revival, and the ‘triple threat’ requirements of Bobby Child, leading the hoofers to explosive renditions of Slap That Bass and I Got Rhythm? “I’m so excited to be bringing such an iconic role back to the West End, especially with Susan Stroman’s amazing choreography”, he says. “This is by far the hardest dance show I’ve ever been in - I hope that I can do it justice!” As UK Associate Director and Choreographer, Richard Pitt is charged with ensuring Stemp and the cast do the work justice. For the past few years Pitt was Rehearsal Director for Tavaziva. He has a long history working with Susan Stroman, including on the original London production of Crazy For You, and more recently on The Scottsboro Boys
