Ain’t Misbehavin’

In This Program

• About The Play
• Director’s Note
• Company
• Song List
• Flavors of the Stage
• Lobby Gallery
• “Fats” Waller: Paying Tribute to a Legend
• What is a Musical Revue?
• Up Next on the Jewell Mainstage
• Print Edition
• More About Taproot Theatre

About The Play

Playing in the Jewell Mainstage Theatre

Ain’t Misbehavin’

The Fats Waller Musical Show

Created and Originally Directed by
RICHARD MALTBY, JR.

Conceived by
RICHARD MALTBY, JR. and MURRAY HORWITZ

Original Choreography and Musical Staging by
ARTHUR FARIA

Musical Adaptations, Orchestrations & Arrangements by
LUTHER HENDERSON

Vocal & Musical Concepts by
JEFFREY GUTCHEON

Musical Arrangements by
JEFFREY GUTCHEON & WILLIAM ELLIOTT

Originally produced by The Manhattan Theatre Club
Originally produced on Broadway by Emanuel Azenberg,
Dasha Epstein, The Shubert Organization, Jane Gaynor & Ron Dante

AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

Cast

(In order of appearance)

Armelia
Sarah Russell*

Nell
Erica Walker

Andre
Chandler T. Thomas*

Ken
Yusef Seevers*

Charlaine
Alexandria J. Henderson*

Understudies

Armelia & Nell
Sophia Mendez

Nell & Charlaine
Ania Briggs

Andre & Ken
Brodrick Santeze Ryans

Band

Piano/Band Conductor
Max Chastain

Drums
Jamael Nance

Trumpet & Trombone
Harlan Feinstein

Trumpet & Trombone Alternates
Kellyn Haley & Ben von Jess 

Production

Director
Bretteney Beverly

Music Director
DaNell Daymon

Choreographer
Jimmy Shields**

Vocal Coach
Aaron M. Davis Norman

Scenic & Sound Designer
Mark Lund

Costume Designer
Danielle Nieves***

Lighting Designer
Amanda Sweger

Prop Master
Jaiden Clark

Assistant Director/Choreographer
Sade Aset

Assistant Music Directors
William Shuler & Max Chastain

Stage Manager
Leila Cheung*

Dramaturg
Sonja Lowe

Setting

A nightclub in Harlem in the 1930s

Ain't Misbehavin' is approximately two hours including one 15-minute intermission.

Content Advisory

Contains suggestive language, theatrical tobacco-free electronic cigarettes, sound of gunfire & police sirens, and theatrical haze. 

*Appearing through an agreement between this theatre, Taproot Theatre Company, and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

**The Director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.

***A member of United Scenic Artists Local 829, the union representing Scenic, Costume, Lighting, Sound and Projection Designers in Live Performance.

Welcome, and thank you for being here!

This production of Ain’t Misbehavin’ arrives at a meaningful moment. As Taproot Theatre celebrates its 50th Anniversary Season, we are honoring five decades of storytelling, artistry, and community by lifting up a work that is rooted in joy, brilliance, and cultural legacy.

When Ain’t Misbehavin’ first premiered on Broadway over 40 years ago, it stood as a jubilant celebration of Black excellence and the enduring impact of the Harlem Renaissance. Built around the music of jazz legend Thomas “Fats” Waller, the show invites audiences into a world of swing, humor, and undeniable musical genius—while also reflecting the deeper truths of the Black artists who shaped American music in the face of adversity.

That celebration and sacrifice still resonates today.

At its heart, Ain’t Misbehavin’ honors jazz—not just as a musical style, but as a living expression of the human experience. Jazz values improvisation, individuality, and emotional truth. Each performance is shaped by the artist in the moment, never to be repeated in quite the same way again. It is this freedom—this honesty—that allows the music to reach us so deeply and to make us feel seen, connected, and alive.

Fats Waller understood that power. His music is playful, sophisticated, and irresistibly joyful—but it also carries insight, resilience, and soul. He welcomed listeners to laugh, to dance, and to think, all at once. His influence echoes through nearly every genre we listen to today, and his legacy reminds us that Black artistry has always been foundational to American culture.

This production is also a celebration of ensemble and community. Every performer contributes to a shared rhythm, a shared story, and a shared heartbeat. Together, this company embodies the brilliance of collaboration: individual voices coming together to create something greater than any one of them alone. Sound familiar?

As you watch tonight, we invite you to celebrate the joy, elegance, and extraordinary artistry onstage. Let the music move you. Let it remind you of where we’ve been, where we are, and the beauty of continuing to listen to one another, our history, and the truth carried in song.

Thank you for joining us in honoring the past, celebrating the present, and swinging boldly into the future. 

Bretteney Beverly

Cast

Alexandria J. Henderson
Charlaine
Alexandria is excited to return to Taproot after making her debut as Deloris van Cartier in Sister Act! Alexandria holds a BA in Music and is a graduate of the Atlantic Acting School’s inaugural Global Virtual Conservatory. Select credits include Lorrell Robinson in Dreamgirls, for which she won the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical Gregory Award, Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, and Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill. She is endlessly grateful to her support system for keeping her going!

Sarah Russell
Armelia
Sarah is grateful to return to the Taproot stage and spread some love and light in these difficult times. Past credits include A Night with the Russells: The Legacy of Us and Big Fish (Taproot Theatre), Lydia and the Troll (Seattle Rep), and Into the Woods and The Wiz (The 5th Avenue Theatre). Thank you to the Ain’t Misbehavin’ fam, Blink crew, and her family, who all inspire her every day. Enjoy the show! Matthew 22:37-39

Yusef Seevers
Ken
Yusef is a queer Detroit native, and a director, actor, and choreographer. He holds an MFA in Acting from Southern Methodist University and a BFA in Musical Theatre from Santa Fe University. He is grateful to his community and his mother and father for a foundation of love. Select credits include Elf The Musical, After Midnight, Waitress, Something’s Afoot, and Sweeney Todd (The 5th Avenue Theatre); Blues for an Alabama Sky (Seattle Rep); Black Nativity (Intiman Theatre); and Last Drive to Dodge (Taproot Theatre). @blackbassclef & yusefseevers.com

Chandler T. Thomas
Andre
Chandler is overjoyed to be making his Taproot Theatre debut, celebrating a decade as a local actor! Regional credits include Annie and Mamma Mia! at The 5th Ave Theatre; The Color Purple, Once on This Island, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Dreamgirls, and Hairspray at Village Theatre. Proud member of Actors Equity & IATSE Local 15. He sends love to his daughters, Ayanna, Amayah, and Ariyana! @chandler_t_thomas

Erica Walker
Nell
Erica is excited to make her acting debut at Taproot! She played Ms. Celie and Katherine Goble Johnson in 28 Days: Scenes, Songs, and Speeches That Make Us Proud, and is also a music workshop clinician specializing in vocal performance, stage presence, and expressive emotion. It is an honor to present to the audience a history full of joy and celebration in the midst of adversity. Thank you to the production team, cast, and crew for an enjoyable experience! Big thanks to every attendee for supporting this awesome show!

Understudies

Ania Briggs
Charlaine & Nell u/s
Ania is thrilled to be back at Taproot! Some of her favorite roles include Sister Mary Martin of Tours in Sister Act (Taproot Theatre), Maria in 9 to 5, and Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors (Village Theatre). Ania wants to thank her family, friends, and loving Husby for their support. As always, this one is for Michelle.

Sophia Mendez
Nell & Armelia u/s
Sophia is thrilled to join Taproot for the first time in Ain’t Misbehavin’. She has recently worked with Village Theatre in The Color Purple, and is grateful to extend her presence to Taproot. In addition to performing bookings and events through The Bash, Sophia has enjoyed working with the local theatre community. She is thankful for all her supportive friends and family that have brought her to this moment!

Brodrick Santeze Ryans
Ken & Andre u/s
Brodrick is thrilled to be a part of Ain’t Misbehavin’. Most recently at Taproot, he served as Assistant Director for A Raisin in the Sun. Other recent credits include Male Swing for The Color Purple (Village Theatre), This Bitter Earth (Seattle Public Theater), and Associate Director for The Last Five Years (ACT). He is incredible excited to join this cast and sends heartfelt thanks and love to his partner, BJ.

Band

Max Chastain
Band Conductor, Piano, & Assistant Music Director
Max is excited to be playing with Taproot for the first time. His recent work includes keyboards for Hunchback of Notre Dame at BPA, accordion/music director for The Spitfire Grill at Ballyhoo Theatre, and music direction for Edmonds College. Max enjoys cooking and listening to records in his free time. He would like to thank the rest of the band and production team for their support!

Jamael Nance
Drums
Jamael, a native New Orleanian, is excited upon his return to Taproot Theatre, performing in one of his favorite shows—Ain’t Misbehavin’ (and I ain’t either). At Taproot, he has played drums for Crowns and A Night with the Russells. Other musical theatre shows include Blues in the Night, Bubblin’ Brown Sugar, Sweet Charity, Cole Porter Tonight, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Mamma Mia!, Ella and her Fella Frank, and Welcome Home: A Holiday Concert.

Harlan Feinstein
Trumpet & Trombone
Harlan is making his Taproot debut in Ain't Misbehavin', bringing together his love of musical theatre and early jazz. A Boston transplant to Seattle in 2004, he's played hundreds of pits, including his recent performance of Threepenny Opera with Theatre Battery. Harlan has worked with Seattle Children's Theatre, Showtunes, Seattle Shakespeare Company, and Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society. Active on trumpet, horn, trombone, and tuba, he is thrilled to be a part of Taproot's 50th Anniversary Season.

Kellyn Haley
Trumpet & Trombone Alternate
Kellyn is thrilled to be making their Taproot debut in Ain't Misbehavin'. A freelance musician and performer, Kellyn has appeared in After Midnight, Six, Jersey Boys, and Kinky Boots aboard NCL cruise lines, and has backed artists like Sutton Foster, Adam Rapp, and Alice in Chains. Kellyn holds a DMA from the University of Oregon and an MM from the Yale School of Music. By day, Kellyn serves as an Adult Services Librarian in Redmond and Fall City. Enjoy the show!

Ben von Jess
Trumpet & Trombone Alternate
Ben is so excited to be playing in his first Taproot production! This is the 13th pit orchestra he has performed in. When not in the pit, you'll likely find Ben at the University of Washington studying music education. He is thankful to his uncle Greg for exposing him to jazz at a young age, and Harlan for bringing him along!

Production

Sade Aset (she/her)
Assistant Director/Choreographer
Sade, is a choreographer, director, and free-time astrologer in Seattle. She graduated with a BFA in Acting/Directing and minors in Dance and French at Pacific Lutheran University. Sade is grateful to be working with a collaborative, insprining team for her first production at Taproot. Recent credits include Songs for a New World (Village Theatre), Tin Cat Shoes (Washington Ensemble Theater), and RENT (Renton Civic Theatre). More of her work can be found at sadeasetcd.com.

Bretteney Beverly
Director
Bretteney serves as Taproot’s Associate Artistic Director. She recently directed A Sherlock Carol, The Importance of Being Earnest, A Raisin in the Sun, and Sister Act at Taproot. Bretteney’s favorite theatre credits include My Lord, What a Night, A Streetcar Named Desire, 'Night Mother, Grease, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Crowns, An Octoroon, Pride & Prejudice, Flyin' West, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Bus Stop, Macbeth, and A Woman of No Importance. Favorite directing credits include Everybody, Grease, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow is Enuf, R & J, Little Shop of Horrors, The Fantasticks, Crimes of the Heart, and Always… Patsy Cline. Outside of theatre, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her adorable pit bull, Boss Lady. She would like to dedicate this show to her dad; he would’ve loved it.

Leila Cheung
Stage Manager
Leila is always happy to return to Taproot.  Previous Taproot credits include being Dramaturg for A Sherlock Carol and Stage Manager for Murder on the Links, A Raisin in the Sun, and My Lord, What A Night. When she’s not in a theatre, you can find her in the water, living her double life as a mermaid. Enjoy the show!

Jaiden Clark (he/him)
Prop Master
Jaiden is a prop, scenic, and sound designer and a proud Production Associate at Taproot Theatre. His recent design credits include prop design for Till We Have Faces, Murder on the Links, and Taproot’s Road Company, as well as scenic design for Ingvar! A Musical Furniture Saga at Latitude Theatre and Hall of Horror at Dark Council Production.

DaNell Daymon
Music Director
DaNell is a musical artist who has specialized in vocal arrangements for over 15 years, overseeing performances such as Maafa, a theatrical musical about the Transatlantic Trade in the 16th century. He is also the Executive Director of his own organization, Greater Works, which made it to the regional finals of the 12th season of America’s Got Talent. Originally from Rochester, NY, DaNell has a rich background in the arts. Humbled by this opportunity to vocally manage the cast of Ain’t Misbehavin’, DaNell takes pride in precision and passion so the audience can embrace a heartfelt performance. danelldaymon.com

Karen Lund
Producing Artistic Director
Taproot was voted The Seattle Times Best in the PNW People’s Choice for Best Theater Company in 2024 and received the 2024 Gregory Award for Outstanding Performing Arts Organization of the Year. Recent directing work includes Taproot’s Murder on the Links, Always… Patsy Cline, and Lewis & Tolkien. Karen also recently directed Brigadoon at Village Theatre. She is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Union (SDC) and is a professional voiceover artist. Karen would like to thank her amazing family, Mark, Jake, and Hannah.

Mark Lund
Scenic & Sound Designer
Mark recently designed for Till We Have Faces, A Sherlock Carol, Murder on the Links, Always… Patsy Cline, The Book of Will, The Hello Girls, and Black Coffee at Taproot. Other design work includes Seattle Shakespeare Company, Book-It Repertory Theatre, and multiple award-winning short films. He has voiced many regional and national projects for T-Mobile, The North Face, the NHL, FedEx, Amazon, Super Smash Bros., and Starfox as Falco Lombardi. Love to Karen, Hannah, and Jake.

Sonja Lowe
Dramaturg
Sonja has a BA in Theatre from Seattle Pacific University and a MLitt in Dramaturgy from the University of Glasgow. Formerly an intern, Sonja has served on the Taproot staff in multiple capacities since she was first hired in 2010. She is currently the Literary Manager and Resident Dramaturg at Taproot.

Danielle Nieves
Costume Designer
Danielle is thrilled to be back with the amazing artists at Taproot. Her work has been seen in The Importance of Being Earnest (Taproot Theatre) and at The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle Rep, Union Arts Center, Village Theatre, The Old Globe, Dallas Theater Center, South Coast Rep, The Goodman Theatre, TUTS, Children’s Theatre Company, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, Writers Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and Cleveland Playhouse. Off-Broadway credits include PTP/NYC at Atlantic Stage 2. USA 829 member. daniellenieves.com

Aaron M. Davis Norman
Vocal Coach
Aaron is a multi-hyphenated artist, educator and activist originally from Compton, California. With a background in vocal performance and vocal health/technique, Aaron has been blessed to worked with incredible musicians across Europe, Canada, and the United States in many different genres of music. @aaronmdnorman.

Jimmy Shields
Choreographer
Jimmy is a performing artist and theatre maker from the PNW. His love for performing arts started at a very young age and has taken him across the US. As a dancer and choreographer, Jimmy has worked with Redd Williams, Emmy Award-winning choreographers Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo, Disney veteran Jon Jacobson, and famed Seattle choreographer Daniel Cruz. A performer at heart, Jimmy has been performing throughout the PNW for 30 years, most recently holding leadership roles with The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle Rep, Village Theatre, Taproot Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, and Tacoma Arts Live.

William Shuler
Assistant Music Director
William is a newbie to Seattle after a ten-year stint as a NYC-based music director, pianist, and conductor. Select credits includes Company (with Hunter Foster and Justin Guarini), The 25th Annual… Spelling Bee, The Rocky Horror Show, Guys & Dolls (with Lesli Margherita), 42nd Street, Buddy, Mamma Mia!, Once (Bucks County Playhouse), Pippin (2nd National Tour), The Marvelous Wonderettes and The Spitfire Grill (Penobscot Theatre Co), production casts for Norwegian Creative Studios, and others.

Amanda Sweger
Lighting Designer
Amanda is a lighting and scenic designer whose freelance work has taken her to Philadelphia, Chicago, Nashville, and Seattle. She earned her MFA from Northwestern University in 2011 and is now a tenured Professor of Theatre at Pacific Lutheran University. Her design credits include productions with The Second City, TimeLine Theatre, and Seattle Theatre Group. Amanda continues to find deep fulfillment in her ongoing collaborations with Taproot!

Equity

Actors’ Equity Association, founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers nationwide. Equity seeks to foster the art of live theater as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, working conditions, and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. #EquityWorks

Authors & Publishing

Murray Horwitz
Conceiver
Murray Horwitz is a writer, lyricist, and director. Productions include Ain't Misbehavin': Associate Director, based on his original idea & featuring songs with additional lyrics [revival, musical, revue] (August 15, 1988–January 15, 1989); André de Sheild's Haarlem Nocturne: Book & Direction [original, musical, revue] (November 18, 1984–December 30, 1984); Ain't Misbehavin': Associate Director, based on his original idea & featuring songs with additional lyrics [original, musical, revue] (May 9, 1978–February 21, 1982).

Richard Maltby, Jr.
Creator, Original Director, & Conceiver
Broadway: Conceived and directed two Tony Award winning musicals: Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1978: Tony, N.Y. Drama Critics, Outer Critics, Drama Desk Awards—also Tony Award for Best Director); Fosse (1999: Tony, Outer Critics, Drama Desk Awards); as well as Ring of Fire, (2006). With composer David Shire: director/lyricist: Baby (1983, seven Tony nominations); lyricist: Big (1996, Tony nomination: Best Score; also Dominium Theatre London 2019). With Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, co-lyricist: Miss Saigon (Evening Standard Award, London 1990; Tony nomination: Best Score, 1991); co-lyricist: The Pirate Queen (2007). Director: The Story of My Life (2009). Director/co-lyricist: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Song & Dance (1986 Tony Award for star, Bernadette Peters.) Off-Broadway: with David Shire: director/lyricist Starting Here, Starting Now (1977, Grammy nomination) and Closer Than Ever, (1989, two Outer Critics Circle Awards: Best Musical, Best Score; also Off-Broadway Alliance Award, Best Musical Revival 2013; and London Jermyn Street Theatre 2014,). Director: Just Jim Dale, (Roundabout Theatre 2014, Vaudeville Theatre, London 2015). Regional: Lyricist/conceiver, Take Flight (Menier Chocolate Factory, London 2010; McCarter Theatre 2012); book and lyrics, Waterfall (2015, Pasadena Playhouse & Seattle’s Fifth Avenue Theatre); Lyricist, new musical Sousatzka (2017, Toronto). Film: Screenplay, Miss Potter (2007: Christopher Award, best screenplay). Contributes cryptic crossword puzzles to Harpers Magazine. Son of well-known orchestra leader; Five children: Nicholas, David, Jordan, Emily, and Charlotte.

Music Theatre International
Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world's leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form.

MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 100,000 professional, community and school theatres in the US and in over 150 countries worldwide.

MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theatre, and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broadway Junior® shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students. Launched in May 2025, MTI's Broadway Senior™ musicals are geared and adapted for adult performers 55 and over.

Production Crew

Crew

Assistant Stage Manager – Natasha Thompson

Stage Management/Crew Swing – Sam Williamson

Directing Observers – Faryal Khan & Leah Lusk

Casting

Casting Director – Bretteney Beverly

Casting Associate – Pilar O’Connell

Costume Staff

Dresser – Fernando Rivas

Draper – Martha Mitchell

Stitcher – Scían Hayes

Wig Specialist – Jaclyn Deshaye

Wig Designer – Juliette Lewis

Scenic & Lighting Staff

Master Electrician – Aiyana Stephens

Scenic Carpenters – Garrett Dill & Jaime Tapia

Scenic Charge Artist – Mark Lund

Scenic Artists – Jaiden Clark & Garrett Dill

Light Board Operator – Yeram Son

Sound Technician – Marty Sisk

Sound Board Operator – Alexander Hume

Electricians – Matthew Ray & Amanda Sweger

Scenic Strike – Kenneth Bryant^†, Mike Egan^†, & Brien West^†

† All stage work performed by employees represented by I.A.T.S.E., Local No. 15.

Act 1

Ain’t Misbehavin’*
Music by Thomas Waller and Harry Brooks; Lyrics by Andy Razaf

Lookin’ Good but Feelin’ Bad
Lyrics by Lester A. Santly

’T Ain’t Nobody’s Biz-ness if I Do*
Music and Lyrics by Porter Grainger and Everett Robbins
Additional Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horwitz

Honeysuckle Rose
Lyrics by Andy Razaf

Squeeze Me
Lyrics by Clarence Williams
Handful of Keys
Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horwitz (based on an idea by arty Grosz)

I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling*
Music by Thomas Waller and Harry Link; Lyrics by Billy Rose

How Ya Baby
Lyrics by J.C. Johnson

The Jitterbug Waltz
Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr.

The Ladies Who Sing with the Band
Lyrics by George Marion, Jr.

Yacht Club Swing*
Music by Thomas Waller and Herman Autrey; Lyrics by J.C. Johnson

When the Nylons Bloom Again
Lyrics by George Marion, Jr.

Cash for Your Trash
Lyrics by Ed Kirkeby

Off-Time*
Music by Thomas Waller and Harry Brooks; Lyrics by Andy Razaf

The Joint Is Jumpin’
Lyrics by Andy Razaf and J.C. Johnson

Act II

Spreadin’ Rhythm Around*
Music by Jimmy McHugh; Lyrics by Ted Koehler
Additional Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr.

Lounging at the Waldorf
Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr.

The Viper’s Drag
The Reefer Song* (Traditional)

Mean to Me*
Music and Lyrics by Roy Turk and Fred E. Ahlert

Your Feet’s Too Big*
Music and Lyrics by Ada Benson and Fred Fisher

That Ain’t Right*
Music and Lyrics by Nat “King” Cole
Additional Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horwitz

Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now
Lyrics by Andy Razaf

Find Out What They Like
Lyrics by Andy Razaf

Fat and Greasy*
Music and Lyrics by Harry Porter Grainger and Charlie Johnson

Black and Blue*
Music by Thomas Waller and Harry Brooks; Lyrics by Andy Razaf

Finale

I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter*
Music by Fred E. Ahlert; Lyrics by Joe Young

Two Sleepy People*
Music by Hoagy Carmichael; Lyrics by Frank Loesser

I’ve Got My Fingers Crossed*
Music by Jimmy McHugh; Lyrics by Ted Koehler

I Can’t Give You Anything But Love*
Music by Jimmy McHugh; Lyrics by Dorothy Fields

It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie*
Music and Lyrics by Billy Mayhew

Honeysuckle Rose (Reprise)

Stop by concessions before the show to pre-order your intermission refreshments.

Taproot’s concessions menu features Pacific Northwest wine and beer, non-alcoholic beverages, and a variety of snacks, including specialty items chosen for each show.

Specials curated for Ain't Misbehavin' include:

• "Handful of Keys" Huckleberry Mule
  Huckleberry vodka, ginger beer, lime, and mint
• Gin is Jumpin'
  Gin, lemon, and honey
• Jitterbug Julep
  Lemon-limeade with mint (non-alcoholic)
• Misbehavin' Caramel Brownies
  (Mama Row's Caramel)

50^th Anniversary Specials:

Celebrate all season long with our 50th Anniversary Bubbles & Oatmeal Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookie (Lá Liath Bakery).

March 13–April 25, 2026

The Joint is Jumpin’: Photographs by Robert Wade

People have captured each other’s likenesses on film since the mid-1800s. Processes and materials have evolved, but our fascination with our own images remains eternal. Seattle photographer Robert Wade has expressed his fascination with the human image over the last six decades through portraits both posed and candid, in black-and-white and color, and in groups and individually. Throughout his work, Robert finds the heart of his subject and manages to surface a complex reflection of who we think they might really be.

The works in this exhibition were selected for their connection to music and its intrinsic value to us. In the same way that Ain’t Misbehavin’ honors Fats Waller and his connections to his community and humanity, the singers in Robert’s photos are presented with respect and admiration as they bring their lived experience to the stage of the Monterey Jazz Festival. Similarly, his image of Seattle’s own Sir Mix-A-Lot performing at Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park, reflects the photographer’s excitement for the artistry of the performer and the essential nature of the performance. 

In the tradition of 20th-century photographers like Gordon Parks, Robert Capa, and Elliott Erwitt, Robert Wade shows us our community in a way that makes us feel like we know them, like they’re singing to us, and like we all belong together. 

Robert Wade’s commercial photography has been published in magazines such as Art Forum, Art in America, The Seattle Times, SF Gate, and GQ. His nonprofit clients include Taproot Theatre where he typically photographs our Jewell Mainstage productions and annual Gala. His fine art practice has been featured in group and one-person exhibitions since the 1970s. The Seattle Art Museum recently added one of his early works to their permanent collection.

View more works by Robert Wade at Avery Barnes Gallery in Pioneer Square or online at robertwadephoto.com. Works in the exhibition are for sale unless marked by a red dot. Please contact the artist at robert@robertwadephoto.com to purchase.

—Gina Cavallo, Curator & Director of Development

By Sonja Lowe, Dramaturg

Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller (1904–1943) was an American jazz pianist and composer. Born and raised in New York City, Waller came of age in the midst of the Harlem Renaissance. He is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest talents in the stride piano style, an innovation that laid much of the basis for modern jazz piano. Waller was a popular recording artist and radio star in the 1920s–30s, touring internationally and achieving critical and commercial success in both the United States and Europe. Two of his best-known compositions, "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Honeysuckle Rose", were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1984 and 1999. Over the years, many biographers and music critics have paid tribute to Fats Waller’s singular genius, but all agree that words will always fall short:

Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Fats Waller Musical Show, was created as a tribute to this jazz legend of the Harlem Renaissance. The show seeks to convey both the joy and depth of Waller’s music, something that can never be adequately described but must instead be experienced. Conceived by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horwitz, originally staged by Arthur Faria, with music adapted and arranged by the great Luther Henderson, the original production won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1978 and has remained a Broadway classic ever since. The show’s creators made a point to walk their audiences through a variety of Waller’s compositions, ranging from the sheer exuberance of “This Joint is Jumpin’” (a song that captures the jubilant atmosphere of a Harlem “house rent party”) to the raw vulnerability of “Black and Blue” (credited as an early example of jazz music making a direct commentary on racism). 

In a synopsis written for Ain’t Misbehavin’, Horwitz wrote his own tribute to the life and legacy of Waller, saying, “Gargantuan is the word that most precisely describes Fats Waller. He was in every way immense and prodigious. His appetites and his talents were large and inexhaustible. His friend and teacher, [the great jazz pianist] James P. Johnson, once said, ‘Some little people have music in them, but Fats, he was all music, and you know how big he was.’”  

A musical revue is a collection of songs and dances usually constructed around a central theme. A musical revue doesn’t typically have a plot or central story, but is designed to immerse the audience into a unique world or time through music.

Ain’t Misbehavin’ is a revue that pays tribute to the great jazz composer and pianist, Fats Waller. It invites audiences into the buzzing nightlife of the Harlem Renaissance and lively glamour of 1930s jazz clubs. Pulling from Waller’s vast repertoire of recordings, Ain’t Misbehavin’ presents an evening of jazz that showcases his talent, both as a musician and as a comedian.

The musical journey progresses through songs that are joyful, soulful, silly, and sultry, building to a quiet climax where the artists are able to drop their masks as performers and offer a song that just “tells it straight”. It is this moment of truth that propels both the audience and the performers into the show’s rousing celebratory finale.

Murray Horwitz, one of the show’s original creators, wrote that “[while] listening to the joy and laughter of Ain’t Misbehavin’, we can revel in [Fats Waller’s] genius and say right along with him, ‘One never knows, do one?’”

Up Next on the Jewell Mainstage

Barefoot in the Park

By Neil Simon

They’ve just said, “I do,” but can their love handle five flights of stairs and a tiny New York apartment? A buttoned-up young lawyer and his free-spirited bride stumble into married life, eccentric neighbors, leaky ceilings, and romantic chaos. Full of wit, chemistry, and charm, this classic rom-com bubbles over with laughter and warmth. Love is messy—and that’s what makes it fun.

May 13–June 20

Early Bird tickets: $35

Make your purchase by May 13 for any performance on or before May 23.

Use promo code EARLY35 online* or by phone at 206.781.9707.

*How to purchase Early Bird Tickets: Select your performance date and time and find the promo code field located toward the bottom of ticketing page. Enter code before adding adult regular tickets to cart. This offer is only valid for adult regular-priced tickets in seat levels B and C for Barefoot in the Park performances. Cannot be combined with other discounts and is not valid on previously purchased tickets. Limit four (4) tickets per person

Youth & Teen Acting Camps

Registration open for summer!
For grades Pre-K –12

Whether you want to go behind-the-scenes or get hands-on experience acting, singing, and dancing, Taproot has the perfect camp for any theatre-loving student.

How has Taproot inspired audiences for 50 years?

The answer is simple:
you.

The generous support of patrons who celebrate live theatre and stories of hope impacts over 100,000 people each year—from Jewell Mainstage productions to Acting Studio camps and K–12 touring shows across Washington state. Make your impact today with a donation to honor the past 50 years and celebrate the next!

Thank you!

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Taproot Theatre Contributors

Taproot Theatre gratefully acknowledges the following for their generous support of our Annual Fund and Nolte Legacy Fund. This list reflects gifts made between April 13, 2023 and April 13, 2024. If you have any questions or would like more information about making a tax-deductible gift to Taproot Theatre Company

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