I'm choreographing a high school production of ACL.

We're putting the show together, and it came up in rehearsal tonight that there's really no time for the following shoe changes to happen:

* Mike's tap shoes on for "I Can Do That" in the first act
* Ensemble's tap shoes on for the Tap Combination in the second act when *SPOILER ALERT* Paul falls down.

Currently, we're considering Mike changing into his shoes during the audition scene after he has danced and before Zach announces which boys will proceed. We're not sure when he can take them off. Perhaps he can sneak off during "And"? Or during "At the Ballet"? Or, does Mike keep his tap shoes on throughout the show in other productions? I can't seem to figure this out.

Our solution for the ensemble number in the second act is to drop the tap shoes entirely and refer to the scene as the "soft shoe". It's a decision I can live with, but I'm not happy about it.

Has anyone else dealt with this issue in their own production? How did you solve it?

Thanks!

-T

Mike doesn't wear taps for "I can do that." He performs it soft shoe. Taps are only on the recording.

As I recall, the cast didn't wear taps for the tap combination either, but I'll have to double check my script to be sure. It's pretty common to do a tap audition without wearing taps and doesn't require changing the script.

I didn't consider it that way. Thank you!

I'm playing Mike in a production of ACL right now...with tap shoes!

Usually, he does his number in character shoes, but sometimes they'll have him do it in tap shoes. I think the tap sounds make the number a lot more impressive.

Here's the secret:
I change into them during the opening while Zach is calling out the numbers of the girls who have made it through. Then I change out of them during "At The Ballet." I've asked audience members if they noticed, most people seem to not notice.


As for the Tap sequence with the whole group, no one wears tap shoes in that.