The Rubicon Theatre Company’s production of the musical Ain’t Misbehavin’ invites you to take a trip to 1930s Harlem, where nightclubs were brimming with lively jazz numbers, the American swing movement was on the rise, and the legendary Thomas “Fats” Waller rose to prominence as a jazz pianist.
As a three-time Tony Award–winning musical since its opening in 1978, Ain’t Misbehavin’ was described as “The Perfect Broadway Musical” by New York Magazine. As much as it might very well be the perfect show, Ain’t Misbehavin’, at its core, embodies a tribute to Fats Waller, along with the groundbreaking work he accomplished throughout the Harlem Renaissance and for the Black community, as he was a symbol of pride and expression for Black life and identity.
The musical, whose namesake reflects Waller’s 1929 release of the track “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” follows his life amid the backdrop of the 1920s-1930s jazz and swing era, from his rise to fame at age 18 to his life’s legacy of helping to create the swing movement with his unique “stride” keyboard style. Skirting from clamorous nightclubs to lively dive bars, Ain’t Misbehavin’ is a musical that not only transports viewers into life from another era, but also includes vivacious performances of Waller’s hit songs, from “Honeysuckle Rose,” to “Your Feet’s Too Big.”