| Tony-Award Winning Musical Ain’t Misbehavin Opens July 8 at Olney Theatre |
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| Entertainment Archive | |||
| By Edith Billups - WI Contributing Writer | |||
| Thursday, July 02, 2009 | |||
 The original album cover of Fats Wallers’ “Aint Misbehvin” Courtesy Photo“I am not looking to imitate Nell Carter,” Glover, 35, said. “The director, Devron Young, is encouraging us to bring our own interpretation.” The Tony-Award-winning musical about the life of composer, musician and comic Thomas “Fats” Waller opens at the Olney Theatre July 8 through Aug. 2 and will feature 30 of Waller’s songs. The play will feature renditions of “Honeysuckle Rose,” “This Joint is Jumpin,” “Black and Blue,” and “Cash for Your Trash.” For Glover, playing in a musical that takes audience goers back to Harlem’s Golden Age is “an opportunity of a lifetime.” “Prior to this show, I only knew that Fats Waller was a jazz pianist who was noted for his stride piano style and for his comedic performances. But after digging deeper, what I appreciated was the way that the Harlem Renaissance was evolving during that time,” Glover said. “Also, I learned that Waller was not afraid to take risks with his music, and his ability to improvise was remarkable. I was looking at a video of ‘Honeysuckle Rose,’ and you could see the artistry that he brought to stage.” Glover has been performing since she was eight-years-old.  Devron Young makes his directorial debut with the production “Ain’t Misbehavin” premiering at the Olney Theatre in Olney, Md. on Wed., July 8. Courtesy PhotoGlover, who grew up singing in the church, as an adult recognized her profession as a “gift and form of therapy.” Today, Glover remains active in her church. She is the director of the Johns Hopkins University Gospel Choir in Baltimore. “It gives me so much fulfillment. I see this as all a part of my vocation.” Young is making his directorial debut at Olney and hopes the audience will leave with a better understanding of the period. “With most musical revues, there isn’t a strong story line, but the actors really sing well. The Harlem Renaissance has such a rich history, and the music is timeless,” Young said. “When people leave, they will want to know more about the Harlem Renaissance and Fats Waller’s entertainment style. It’s one of those plays where you can come and forget the economy and just be entertained for two hours,” Young said. For tickets, visit www.olneytheatre.org.
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