Swing, Baby, Swing

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Swing, Baby, Swing! is a new musical inspired by the life and times of the original Lindy Hoppers and Miss Norma Miller, a woman who grew up in Harlem in the 1920’s to become known around the world as the Queen of Swing.  The piece is co-produced by Dance Houston and Dwight Baxter (Harold Prince’s Grind, Woman of the Year with Lauren Bacall, Bubbling Brown Sugar, The Wiz) with director Carla Earle (The Cotton Club, Chicago, Bubbling Brown Sugar) in honor of Mayor Sylvester Turner with music inspired by the legends of the Big Band Era Count Basie, Chick Webb, Louis Armstrong and Ethel Waters, and performed by the University of Houston Moore’s School of Music Jazz Band with musical director Henry Darragh.

Swing, Baby, Swing! is supported by the Ray of Sunshine Foundation, the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board, the Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Endowment, The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, The Humphreys Foundation, H-E-B, and individuals like you.  

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF:

Carla Earle

Writers: Dwight Baxter, Andrea Cody, Carla Earle

History Consultant: Sonya Lucas

“Swing, Baby, Swing” Lyrics: Norma Miller

CHOREOGRAPHY:

Robin Carlson, Andrea Cody, Susana Collins, Carla Earle, Jerry Foote Assistant Choreographers: Hindolo Bongay, Sydney Felton, Jeffrey Louis

DANCERS:

Joel Aguilera, Gonzalo Andre, Hindolo Bongay (dance captain), Robin Carlson, Veronica Carroll (Mama), Susana Collins, Leandre Douglas, Sydney Felton, Jerry Foote, Sabrina Gatson (Aunt Eunice), Geneva Gordon, LaKendra Howard, Darius Johnson, Silvanus LaToison (Will), Jeffrey Louis, Venishia Marthrel, Kierra McKay (Dot), Olivia Oliveras, Shamond Powell, Crystal Rae (Sweet Georgia Brown, narrator), Samantha Taborda, Kijana Wiseman (Ella Fitzgerald)

MUSIC:

Nazaret Castillo, Henry Darragh (composer, arranger, conductor, piano) Nicolas Diaz, Grace Estrada, Erik Estrada, Greg Goods, Fabian Ibarra, Rickey Harding (guest performer, gospel piano) Chris Kreger, Victor Mambru, Noe Marmolejo (trumpet), Matthew Mondragon, Julian Moolchan, Bret Ryan, Jordan Stephens, Chris Valero, Trenton Whitehead

COSTUMES:

Rita Brosh, Andrea Cody, Ginger Martinez, Maxine Silberstein

 

Photography by An Le and James Wiseman