Take The Lead

Playing March 29 - April 27, 2025 at Paper Mill Playhouse (22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, NJ)

BBB Contact: Chris Boneau  | Michelle Farabaugh | Colleen Donahue

Purchase Tickets

World Premiere
Take the Lead
March 29–April 27, 2025
Book by Robert Cary Jonathan Tolins
Music & Lyrics by Elliah Heifetz & Zeniba Now
Based on the New Line Cinema film written by Dianne Houston, by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures
Co-choreographed by Jennifer Weber Maria Torres
Directed & Choreographed by Christopher Gattelli

Set in the pulsating heart of New York City, Take the Lead is a joyful new musical based on the 2006 dance film that starred Antonio Banderas. This electrifying tale is the true story of Pierre Dulaine, a former professional dancer who, against all odds, brought the art of ballroom dance into New York City public schools. This world-premiere musical spotlights a dynamic fusion of ballroom and hip-hop in its music and choreography with a book by Robert Cary and Jonathan Tolins (Schmigadoon!) and a score by Elliah Heifetz and Zeniba Now with music production by !llmind. Take the Lead will be co-choreographed by Jennifer Weber (& Juliet) and Maria Torres (So You Think You Can Dance) and directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli (Newsies).

The cast features former 3LW and Cheetah Girls member Adrienne Bailon-Houghton as Arianna, Vincent Jamal Hooper (HamiltonThe Lion King) as Rock, Savy Jackson (Bad CinderellaOnce On This Island First National Tour) as La Rhette, Tam Mutu (Doctor ZhivagoMoulin Rouge! The Musical) as Pierre Dulaine, and Matthew Risch (Modern Family, How to Get Away With Murder) as Alan. The ensemble also includes Eric AscioneBrandon O’Neal BomerMegan Elyse FulmerGaelen GillilandDavid JenningsDillon LehmanNatalia Nieves-MelchorJustin O’BrienKevin Trinio PerdidoRyan RaffloerDeon Releford-LeeCristian “Chino” RodriguezKiki RodriguezJonalyn SaxerTatiana SeliverstovaSeQuoiiaGrace SlearSalome SmithStephani SosaChristian Whan, and Zoë Zimmerman.

The creative team also includes music supervision by Bill Sherman, music direction by Geoffrey Ko, and orchestrations and arrangements by Bill Sherman and Geoffrey Ko. Scenic design is by Paul Tate DePoo III, costume design by Jen Caprio, lighting design by Justin Townsend and Nick Solyom, sound design by Walter Trarbach, and hair, wig and makeup design by Earon Chew Nealey. The production stage manager is Molly Meg Legal and casting is by The Telsey Office