I Remember Harlem

An African American song and dance man whose deferred dreams of stardom have culminated as a shoe shine man!

Book, Music and Lyrics by Lee Summers and Kevin Ramsey.

5 men / 2 Women

I Remember Harlem premiered at the Milwaukee Repertory theatre starring Harold Nicholas of the legendary Nicholas Brothers in his farewell stage performance. Sharing the original cast was Tony Nominee, Ted Levy. I Remember Harlem was later produced by The Arkansas Repertory Theatre to critical acclaim. This tap dance musical was further developed led by Tony Winner, Andre DeShields.

I Remember Harlem starts at the funeral of Maxey, a sixty-five year old song and dance man whose deferred dreams of being a star culminated in his owning shoeshine stand next door to the World Famous Apollo Theatre. Beloved by his community, yet pressed against a backdrop of a gentrified Harlem, we meet those who mourn him most, mainly his estranged son Wellington – and the surprise funeral attendance of the mystical Dr. Rhythm – a master tap dancer.   In a maze of father/son revelations, I Remember Harlem climaxes into a story of healing and the reclaiming of America’s first indigenous art form – a syncopated celebration of tap dance.

Arkansas Repertory Theatre Cast of “I Remember Harlem” formerly “If These Shoes Could Talk”