Lady Be Good

I think it’s clear that with Lady Be Good, you can see my love for jazz music and jazz dance, a truly American art form. It is my belief that jazz must continue to evolve with the times and quality of performers we have today, while always paying respect to the iconic history of the style. As creatives, it was our mission to celebrate both the past and the present when creating LBG (as we affectionately call it). I have always been inspired by the great jazz dancers, choreographers, and musicians that paved the way. It’s the reason I became a Broadway dancer before transitioning into choreography and direction of both film and theatre. Clearly I’m a fan.

With Lady Be Good I wanted to pay respect to all these elements and bring it into the present day, in style and tone. The female protagonist is running this spectacle, and the men are there in full support of her. It is a joyous celebration of her and each other. Our bartender, shy and brooding, an outsider, anchors the narrative.

Co-Director Pierre Marais and I really dig in deep to the “long shot” and make very limited cuts. This lets our stars’ exquisite technique and powerhouse performances shine through, the camera dancing right alongside the choreography. You could literally put this number right on stage. I hope Lady Be Good brings you as much joy as a viewer as it did when we created it!