Tappin' Thru Life - A Song & Dance Musical
Closed 1h 30m
Tappin' Thru Life - A Song & Dance Musical
82

Tappin' Thru Life - A Song & Dance Musical NYC Reviews and Tickets

82%
(67 Ratings)
Positive
94%
Mixed
2%
Negative
4%
Members say
Entertaining, Delightful, Enchanting, Refreshing, Absorbing

About the Show

New World Stages presents Broadway legend Maurice Hines's 'Tappin’ Thru Life,' a song and dance celebration of his career in show business.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (67)

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252 Reviews | 61 Followers
85
Clever, Delightful, Enchanting, Entertaining, Great acting

See it if You are a fan of the Hines brothers and tapping. Want to see old school meets new school. Like a show with class.

Don't see it if You don't know who Maurice and Gregory Hines were. Don't like tap.

183 Reviews | 41 Followers
85
Delightful, Entertaining, Enchanting

See it if You like tap dancing and great storytelling!

Don't see it if you're looking for something modern - this is an old time sort of show.

SNC
50 Reviews | 14 Followers
85
Dated, Entertaining, Delightful, Enchanting, Great staging

See it if you love tap dance, old-school music, and great storytelling by Maurice Hines.

Don't see it if if the "old school" nature of shows and performing is not your thing. Or if you hate tap dance.

114 Reviews | 40 Followers
85
Absorbing, Entertaining, Enchanting, Delightful, Quirky

See it if You enjoy amazing tap dancing, great stories about amazing stars, amazing musicians, and Maurice Hines (the king of charisma).

Don't see it if You want just tap dancing (wanted more), wish Mr. Hines had a better singing voice, don't appreciate nostalgia, or dislike musical standards

158 Reviews | 201 Followers
80
Delightful, Entertaining

See it if You are a fan of old Hollywood or the career retrospective type shows.. Mr. Hines is so charming and talented-- this show is like a big hug

Don't see it if You are expecting all out tap dance extravaganza

574 Reviews | 139 Followers
80
Entertaining, Must see, Resonant, Great staging, Delightful

See it if You like a good story well told, exciting big band sound & tapping, & an old pro doing what he does best, & stay to hear all women big band

Don't see it if You're spiritually dead

197 Reviews | 531 Followers
80
Entertaining, Dated, Happy, Old standards, Delightful

See it if You don't expect a plot, but enjoy a song and dance revue by a joyous, masterful entertainer with occasional autobiographical anecdotes.

Don't see it if You don't enjoy song and dance, or expect a play with plot.

71 Reviews | 11 Followers
80
Clever, Delightful, Entertaining, Resonant

See it if you enjoy tap dance and are a fan of either of the Hines brothers.

Don't see it if you enjoy a plot since the show is stories from Maurice Hines life.

Critic Reviews (61)

Lighting & Sound America
January 12th, 2016

"It's a lively tale, crowded with thumbnail portraits of many mid-20th-century show business greats...'Tappin' Thru Life' is pretty smashing, too, thanks to Jeff Calhoun's seamless staging and the fine work of his design team...'Tappin' Thru Life' is loaded with swing. Also, heart. Also, entertainment. I had a very, very, very good time."
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Talkin' Broadway
January 11th, 2016

"'Tappin' Thru Life,' is a weird show, and, let's face it, not a particularly good one. It combines the worst of late-night talk with the worst of supper-club cabaret...Hines does a lot of name-dropping, and, in isolated cases, makes them come alive...Much of the rest of what he does is cheesy to the point of artery-clogging...For his myriad abilities and virtues as a performer, Hines can't convince you that he's a writer, and that makes his life story rather unconvincing."
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CurtainUp
January 11th, 2016

"Though rather thin and heavily sugar-coated, his long career on club and theater stages and in movies provides plenty of celebrity name dropping opportunities with which to enliven and musicalize his reminiscences...'Tappin' Thru Life' never really sheds its Las Vegas variety act aura. Yet Maurice Hines' joy at being on stage is contagious enough to probably make the audience to enjoy this up close visit with a man born to entertain."
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TheaterScene.net
January 12th, 2016

"A pleasantly entertaining look at the personal and professional life of Maurice Hines...Although the all-dance finale feels a bit tacked on, it is also expected. This is after all a show about the life of a tap dancer...The life story might have been a bit less slick, the emotions deeper, but 'Tappin’ Thru Life' is still a delight, a portrait of a show business that no longer exists and, sadly, a tale of personal loss, as well."
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Theater Pizzazz
January 11th, 2016

"Maurice Hines sings and taps, with masterful showmanship…At the tender age of 72, those tappin’ feet, that seem to float on air, can do no wrong as he sings and dances his way through the heart and soul of a family act that made headlines for many years…If you love tap dancing and great tunes from the American Songbook, you’re gonna be very happy."
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Stage Buddy
January 13th, 2016

"Hines is an entertainer at heart, and 'Maurice Hines Tappin’ Thru Life' is entertaining the whole way through...Hines is a radiant presence onstage...In the only mild disappointment of the evening, Chekhov’s stairs never get used to their full potential, but the full ride of the evening was more than enough excitement and impressive tapping to make up for it. The show closes with all four dancers onstage, and a rousing standing ovation from the audience."
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Theatre Reviews Limited
January 14th, 2016

"Through a series of delightful monologues, Mr. Hines – through tap numbers and songs – highlights the places and the individuals that provided inspiration and opportunity…Mr. Hines is a skilled and gifted interpreter of song lyrics and provides his own thoughtful phrasing and vocal modulation...'Tappin’ Thru Life' is a well-crafted and well designed show directed by Jeff Calhoun that celebrates the life and career of Maurice Hines."
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Broadway Blog
January 11th, 2016

"My only words are ones of praise, awe, and admiration...The Off Broadway show flows effortlessly from one fascinating showbiz tale to the next. In true song and dance fashion, his stories are interspersed with fine standards, each accompanied by the impressive Diva jazz orchestra. As soon as this 15-piece ensemble begins to wail, the 'wow' factor skyrockets—and it only increases throughout the next 90 minutes."
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