The spirit of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920’s and 30’s comes to life on the Theatre Horizon stage this Spring with the production of the Tony Award winning musical revue, “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” With more than 25 songs, an ensemble of five, and a six-piece band, it’s a very unique look at the world of jazz from 100 years ago, featuring the work of Fats Waller among others. Black musicians and singers reshaped music with a new sound and this 1978 show put together by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horwitz ran on Broadway for four years.
The show is a tribute to Fats Waller who wrote many of the songs and performed all of them during his brief life. He performed regularly across the country and in Europe, before World War II (he died in 1943 at the age of 39).
Known for his songs “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and “Honeysuckle Rose,” he copyrighted over 400 other songs. This amazing ensemble on the Theatre Horizon stage sang many of them but also sang songs of the era that Waller himself played in his concerts. The women were dressed in beautiful sequined dresses. It was visual treat.
What was especially fun to watch was the easy rapport amongst the actors. Director Amina Robinson did a great job in guiding them to both subtle and not so subtle representations of their constant flirting.
Another aspect of the production that worked perfectly was the miking of the singers. Recently, I have been to a few musical shows where the miking was not adjusted so that you could make out the lyrics. But in this show, the band played softly enough so that you can hear the lyrics of all these wonderful classic songs of the Harlem Renaissance. And what singers they were! I can’t imagine anyone better. The friend who accompanied me and loves the show and has the CD of the original Broadway production, told me that the singers in the Horizon show were as good as those in the original Broadway production. One of them, Curtis Harris, was also a joy to watch with his flexibility and wild dance moves.
Kudos to Choreographer Eliana Pinckney for moving the singers about as they sang their songs as solos, duos, trios, and with the full ensemble. “The Joint is Jumpin,’ Black and Blue, You’re Driving Me Crazy, Ain’t Nobody’s Business if I Do, The Viper’s Drag “… I could go on and on. They were all great.
This not a musical in the traditional sense in that there is no thru story line. It’s review. It’s one song after another with little linking them except the time and place. But what a review!
“Ain’t Misbehavin’: The Fats Waller Musical Show” A musical revue with a book by Richard Maltby Jr. and Murray Horwitz with music by Fats Waller and others at Theatre Horizon, 401 DeKalb Street, Norristown, PA 19401, 610-283-2230, Ticket@TheatreHorizon.org Thru May 17, 2026.
Philadelphia Theater Reviews by Frank Burd 