Hot Feet is a jukebox musical

Jukebox musical

A jukebox musical is a stage or film musical that uses previously released popular songs as its musical score. Usually the songs have in common a connection with a particular popular musician or group — either because they were written by, or for, the artists in question, or were at least...

 featuring the music of Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...

, a book by Heru Ptah and was conceived, directed, and choreographed by Maurice Hines

Maurice Hines

Maurice Hines is an American actor, director, jazz singer and choreographer.Born in New York City, Hines began his career at the age of five, studying tap dance at the Henry LeTang Dance Studio in Manhattan. LeTang recognized his talent and began choreographing numbers specifically for him and his...

. The musical opened on Broadway at the Foxwoods Theatre (then the Hilton Theatre) on April 30, 2006 and closed on July 23, 2006.

Hot Feet is about a beautiful young dancer whose dream is to dance on Broadway. When she puts on a pair of magical red shoes, they begin to take control of her fate. This story is a modern retelling of The Red Shoes

The Red Shoes (fairy tale)

"The Red Shoes" is a fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen first published by C.A. Reitzel in Copenhagen 7 April 1845 in New Fairy Tales. First Volume. Third Collection. 1845....

, a fairy tale

Fairy tale

A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...

 by Hans Christian Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...

.

Production history

Hot Feet premiered in Washington, D.C. at the National Theatre

National Theatre (Washington, D.C.)

The National Theatre is located in Washington, D.C., and is a venue for a variety of live stage productions with seating for 1,676.Despite its name, it is not a governmentally funded national theatre, but operated by a private, non-profit organization....

 on March 6, 2006 and closed on April 9. Directed and choreographed by Maurice Hines, the cast featured Allen Hidalgo, Ann Duquesnay, Keith David, Michael Balderrama, Samantha Pollino, Vivian Nixon, and Wynonna Smith. The show received mostly negative reviews from critics. The original production was two hours and forty-five minutes in length.

A slightly different incarnation of Hot Feet began previews on Broadway on April 20, 2006 after being delayed twice to allow Heru Ptah more time to rework the book, which was brutally criticized by the Washington critics. On April 30, 2006, after only a 10 preview period, the musical finally opened on Broadway. It received harsh reviews, with the talkinbroadway reviewer calling the show a "nuclear meltdown of a jukebox musical". The USA Today reviewer wrote that the show "isn't a disaster" but that she was disappointed".

Due to poor ticket sales, the musical closed on July 23, 2006 after 12 previews and 97 regular performances. A cast recording was never produced.

Musical numbers

Act I

• Overture - The Band
• "Hot Feet"† - Louie
• "In the Stone" - The Band
• "Rock That/Boogie Wonderland" - The Band and Lead Vocals
• "When I Dance" - The Band and Lead Vocals
• "Dearest Heart"† - Mom and Kalimba
• "September" - The Band and Lead Vocals
• "Turn it into Something Good" - The Band and Lead Vocals
• "Ponta de Areia" - The Band and Lead Vocals
• "Thinking of You" - The Band and Lead Vocals
• "Mighty, Mighty" - The Band and Lead Vocals
• "Serpentine Fire" - The Band and Lead Vocals
• "Fantasy" - The Band and Lead Vocals

Act II

• "Louie's Welcome"† - Louie
• "Getaway" - The Band and Lead Vocals
• "Dirty" - The Band and Lead Vocals
• "After the Love Has Gone" - The Band and Lead Vocals
• "Can't Hide Love"† - Victor
• "You Don't Know"† - Mom and Victor
• "Kali"† - Mom
• The "Hot Feet Ballet" - The Band, Louie and Lead Vocals
  • "Intro"
  • "Hot Feet"
  • "Let Your Feelings Show"
  • "System of Survival"
  • "Saturday Night"
  • "Africano"
  • "Star"
  • "Faces"
• "Kali Reprise"† - Mom
• "Mega Mix" - The Band and Lead Vocals
• "September" - The Band and Lead Vocals
• "Shining Star" - Full Company
• "Gratitude" - The Band and Lead Vocals

† Indicates new songs and are sung onstage. All other songs are sung offstage by live background band vocalists.

Original Broadway cast

• Vivian Nixon
  Vivian Nixon
  Vivian Nixon is a dancer who recently made her debut on Broadway as Kalimba in Hot Feet. She is one of two children of former NBA star Norm Nixon and dancer/choreographer/producer/director/actress Debbie Allen. She was named after her grandmother Vivian Ayers-Allen. Her aunt is actress Phylicia...
  
   - Kalimba
• Michael Balderrama
  Michael Balderrama
  Michael Balderrama is an American choreographer, Broadway dancer, and producer. He lives in Manhattan, New York, and has had residency there for almost 10 years. Michael has worked with people such as Michael Jackson, Vanessa Williams, and many more. He was born and raised in the state of Texas,...
  
   - Anthony
• Keith David
  Keith David
  Keith David Williams , better known as Keith David, is an American film, television, voice actor, and singer. He is perhaps most known for his live-action roles in such films as Crash, There's Something About Mary, Barbershop and Men at Work...
  
   - Victor
• Ann Duquesnay
  Ann Duquesnay
  Ann Duquesnay is an American musical theatre actress, composer and lyricist best known for Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk, which earned her a Tony Award.-Biography:...
  
   - Mom
• Allen Hidalgo - Louie
• Brent Carter
  Brent Carter
  Brent R. Carter is an American professional poker player from Oak Park, Illinois who has won two World Series of Poker bracelets. He now lives in Treasure Island, Florida.-Poker Career:...
  
   - Band Vocalist
• Keith Anthony Fluitt - Band Vocalist
• Theresa Thomason
  Theresa Thomason
  -Musical career:Thomason reached the airwaves with Fresh Enuff, a popular club single and a winning performance at the Apollo Theater in New York City. She toured Europe for over 10 years, performing in over 150 European cities. She remains a featured artist with the Paul Winter Consort at the...
  
   - Band Vocalist
• Samantha Pollino- Emma

External links

• Internet Broadway Database listing
• Playbill listing
• UPI Article