Swing! celebrates the music of the Swing era of jazz (1930s–1946), including many
well-known tunes by artists like Duke Ellington, William "Count"
Basie, and Benny Goodman. It received a nomination for the 2000 Tony Award for
Best Musical and other Tony awards. Swing! premiered in 1999 and closed in
2001, running for 461 performances.
Swing! combines high
energy dancing, singing, and acrobatics. There is no dialogue in the show, and
the story is told entirely through music and dance. The show tries to recreate
the swing style of jazz, which used large bands, fixed musical arrangements,
and solo-driven improvisations. Together with the development of the music,
various forms of swing dancing emerged, varying by geographic regions, such as
the Lindyhop or Jitterbug in Harlem or the Whip in Houston. There are also
story-driven numbers. The show includes music and dance styles from early
swing, West Coast, to other jazz styles, and even hip-hop (as shown as in an
all-male version of "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"). Some of the songs
have new lyrics, but most are well-known swing-era hits, including "It
Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)"; "Sing, Sing,
Sing", "Jumpin at the Woodside"; and "Boogie Woogie Bugle
Boy (of Company B)".
