My Vaudeville Man! (Original Cast Recording)

Karen Murphy and Shonn Wiley star in My Vaudeville Man!, the story of a boy born to dance and the mother who fought to keep him home! This “Pitch Perfect Musical” (NYTheatre.com), based on the life of legendary eccentric tap dancer Jack Donahue (played by Ray Bolger on film) and his mother who fights to keep her son off the wicked vaudeville stage, was the break-out hit of the 2007 NY Musical Theater Festival, tap-dancing its way into the hearts of audiences and critics alike — what Talkin' Broadway proclaimed “a tour de force” — as it made its way to its Off Broadway premiere at The York Theatre Company in November 2008. My Vaudeville Man! has a book by Jeff Hochhauser, music by Bob Johnston, and lyrics by Johnston and Hochhauser, based on Jack Donahue’s Letters of a Hoofer to his Ma. Music produced by Doug Oberhamer.

For more about the show and the making of the album visit myvaudevilleman.com.

Book by Jeff Hochhauser
Music by Bob Johnston
Lyrics by Bob Johnston and Jeff Hochhauser

Based on Jack Donahue’s Letters of a Hoofer to his Ma

Music Produced by Doug Oberhamer

“Just when you think that the fate of musical theater is doomed to Disney, along comes a refreshing and delight ful two character show called My Vaudeville Man! The center of the stage is left empty for Shonn Wiley to shine in his incredibly original and show stopping dance routines. “The Tap Drunk” should become a classic – bringing back the best memories of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. The show is ingeniously directed and choreographed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett.” - Talk Entertainment/Oscar E. Moore

“This two-character musical has plenty of charm, personable acting and great tapping from Shonn Wiley… Composer Bob Johnston and librettist Jeff Hochhauser, who collaborated on the lyrics, have come up with some impressive and well-devised songs. …My Vaudeville Man! gives him a nonstop opportunity to tap, and tap he does. Wiley has all the moves... The boy can dance. His second act spot, "The Tap Drunk," borders on astonishing as Jack taps through the night with a bottle of rye, descending into oblivion.” - Variety/ Steven Suskin

“For vaudeville and musical theater buffs, this gutsy little musical with a big heart pays a welcome and overdue homage to an entertainer who is now virtually forgotten. It boasts an original score with music by Bob Johnston and lyrics by Johnson and Jeff Hochhauser (who also wrote the book) that resonates with the lilting musical echoes that quaintly define the era.” Curtain Up / Simon Saltzman “Jack’s “Tap Drunk” number with imaginary foes is one of the show’s most enjoyable, as is the duet he sings with Mud while imagining her as a fellow vaudevillian.… Vaudeville’s charms are undeniable.” - New York Times /Claudia La Rocco

“My Vaudeville Man! is a valiant and tuneful first step in telling Donahue’s story. Hochhauser and composer and co-lyricist Bob Johnston have written Murphy two stirring musical soliloquies, powerfully delivered by Murphy in the second act. Wiley is completely winning as Jack and demonstrates that he's a terrific hoofer throughout, performing ingenious choreography that he created with director Lynne Taylor-Corbett.” - Back Stage /Andy Propst