Highly Recommended Theater: AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ (Musical Theatre West at The Carpenter Center in Long Beach)

ONE OF THE ALL-TIME FEEL-GOOD MUSICALS
COMES TO THE CARPENTER CENTER

Ain’t Misbehavin’  is a sizzling celebration of Fats Waller’s music — songs that he made famous in a career that ranged from uptown clubs to downtown Tin Pan Alley to Hollywood and concert stages around the world.   This delightful revue conceived by Murray Horwitz & Richard Maltby Jr. evokes the humor and infectious energy of this American original to provide an evening of humor, romance and thrilling song and dance.

Now, the music of the Harlem Renaissance is coming to life at the Carpenter Center in Long Beach, presented by Musical Theatre West (MTW) in Long Beach for select nights October 18 – November 3, 2024. The 1978 Tony Award-winning musical, Directed and choreographed by  Paul David Bryant, and featuring an onstage 6-piece band with musical director William Foster McDaniel at the piano crankin’ out Luther Henderson‘s amazing arrangements and orchestrations.

The 1978 Tony Award-winning musical celebration is filled with hit songs by Thomas “Fats” Waller, the big-hearted, bigger-than-life impresario and international jazz pianist who helped create and define American swing, including “This Joint is Jumpin’,” “Honeysuckle Rose,” the comical “Your Feet’s Too Big,” the soulful ballad “Black and Blue,” and the title song among many others.

There are also songs written by others but recorded by Fats Waller, including “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter,” “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love,” and “It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie” among others from 1922-1943. The entire two-hour performance honoring his place in American music offers a joyful experience for all your senses, filled with humor, sexy banter, risqué double entendres, and a small but mighty cast, with each performer bringing their unique high-energy and talent to the stage. Eric B. Anthony, Marty Austin Lamar, Amber Liekhus, Fredericka Meek, and Chante Carmel are all triple-threats.

Adding to the immersive experience is the costume design by  Carina Holley, which draws inspiration from the intricate patterns and bold colors of the era, while incorporating modern elements for a timeless, elevated look. Garrett Ruiz, the wigs designer, further enhances the authenticity and style of the era. Together, the designers have captured the spirit of Black artists from the period, who used fashion as a form of self-expression while navigating societal challenges. The result is a visual spectacle that enhances the energy of the music and movement on stage.

This entertaining, emotionally resonant, scorcher of a show will touch your soul and get your feet tappin’ — and it will most definitely cure the blues as it transports audiences back to the jazz clubs of 1920s and 1930s New York. This is rightfully one of the most popular musical revues of all time, and some say it was the granddaddy of all jukebox musicals. This sassy, sultry celebration and the five dynamic performers promise an evening of exuberant, melodic, and humorous songs that encapsulate the many moods of this vibrant era.