Anything is possible in ‘Take the Lead,’ new musical premiering at Paper Mill Playhouse

EVAN ZIMMERMAN FOR MURPHYMADE

Tam Mutu as Pierre Dulaine, center, and other cast members in Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of the musical “Take the Lead.”

Pierre Dulaine, most famous for teaching ballroom dancing in New York City public schools, was featured in the hit 2005 documentary “Mad Hot Ballroom.” And a character inspired by him, and bearing his name, was played by Antonio Banderas in the 2006 film “Take the Lead.”

Now, a new musical version of “Take the Lead” is having its world premiere at The Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn.

EVAN ZIMMERMAN FOR MURPHYMADE

Savy Jackson and Vincent Jamal Hooper co-star in “Take the Lead.”

I can’t say how much of the musical is true to what really happened when Dulaine began teaching in public schools, in the ’90s. (I assume that great liberties were taken.) But it is crucial to the musical that Dulaine (played at the Paper Mill by Tam Mutu, exuding Old World sophistication in this decidedly modern setting) gets through to the reluctant-at-first group of high school students he works with, by not being a typical ballroom dance teacher. He doesn’t insist that the students stick only to ballroom moves; instead, he lets them create their own hybrid of ballroom and the hip-hop and salsa moves they already know and love.

I say it’s crucial because one of the best things about the musical is watching the wild but also elegant moves these young actor/dancers pull off with exuberance and ease. Director Christopher Gattelli is also the choreographer but, significantly, experts in hip-hop dance (Jennifer Weber) and Latin dance (Maria Torres) helped out as co-choreographers.

The story, and the music, isn’t always as fresh as the dancing. Book writers Robert Cary and Jonathan Tolins stick to a plot we already know too well: File under “Unconventional but sincere schoolteacher turns around the lives of a ragtag bunch of teens.” And the songs, co-written by Elliah Heifetz and Zeniba Now, tend to be generic, though there are some sparkling moments, including the clever Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers pastiche, “Let’s Begin,” which is sung, and danced to, at a subway station.

EVAN ZIMMERMAN FOR MURPHYMADE

Cast members in “Take the Lead.”

The story begins with Dulaine losing his job and breaking up with his boyfriend Alan (Matthew Risch), and then arriving, by chance, at the fictional Drake High School, in New York. Harried interim principal Arianna (Adrienne Bailon-Houghton) needs an arts appreciation teacher, desperately, and ballroom dancing is close enough, so she offers him the job.

The students in his class include the sullen Rock (Vincent Jamal Hooper), who runs with a bad crowd, and the sweet, yearning La Rhette (Savy Jackson). They hate each other so much at the start that you just know they are going to end up as lovers; that’s just how this kind of story works.

Hooper and Jackson also show the most singing and dancing talent, though one-named actor Sequoiia, as Monster, is a graceful, charming standout as well. Monster is a goofy misfit who blossoms once he starts to dance, and falls in love with dance partner Caitlin (Grace Slear), a non-Drake student who is trying to escape the grasp of her overbearing mother Mrs. Buford (Gaelen Gilliland).

Also, Jonalyn Saxer — as Morgan, the rich-kid ballroom-dancing star who sneers at the upstarts — does a stellar job at making her character as dazzling and intimidating as she needs to be.

EVAN ZIMMERMAN FOR MURPHYMADE

Adrienne Bailon-Houghton with Tam Mutu in “Take the Lead.”

Pierre is a complex role. As a teacher, he knows when to be strict, and when to be flexible. The character is basically well-intentioned, but is called out for using the kids to further his own career. (He is angling for a job as the judge of a reality-TV dancing show, and keeps that from them). Though he is usually dignified, he does have a moment of silliness, trying out some of the hip-hop dance moves.

As for the show’s other main adult character, Arianna … Bailon-Houghton, a former member of the pop groups 3LW and The Cheetah Girls, has a strong voice and a commanding stage presence, but there isn’t much to the character. She is fiercely protective of her students, and stressed by the penny-pinching school administrator breathing down her neck (Mr. O’Hara, played by David Jennings), but that’s about it.

The story ends, as you might guess, at a big competition that all the kids dance at. But oddly, during the number that represents the show’s climactic moment — the Rock/La Rhette duet, “Don’t Get Too Close” — the dancing becomes secondary, and the music is emphasized.

So, to sum up: The dancing is exciting, and worth the price of admission; the story is formulaic; and the music is OK, but nothing more. And of course, everything comes with an uplifting message. At the opening-night show I attended, April 6, Mutu, as Pierre, got one of the biggest bursts of audience applause of the night when he declared: “I am a European homosexual teaching ballroom dancing to public school students in the South Bronx. Anything is possible.”
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After that opening-night show, Paper Mill’s producing artistic director, Mark S. Hoebee, took the stage. He thanked the sponsor of the show’s run, which continues through April 27, and then said: “The story you have just seen is based on the true life of Pierre Dulaine, who created (the organization) Dancing Classrooms and brought ballroom dancing into the New York City public school system. And his repertoire is still taught in that school system today. More than 700,000 students’ lives have been changed by this man, and he is here with us tonight.”

Dulaine, who is 80, had been watching the show from the audience, and took a bow.
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Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn will present “Take the Lead” through April 27. Visit papermill.org.

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