Each version tells of a father trying to figure out why his 12 children’s shoes are worn to shreds by morning. The book and the play, Brothers of the Knight, were adapted from the Brothers Grimm fairytale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Part acting coach, part mom, Allen’s authoritative yet nurturing tone was palatable because most of her commands included her trademark expression of affection “honey.” Her style inspired cast and crew to work harder at their jobs.īrothers of the Knight is based on the children’s book by Allen of the same name and the stage play co-written by Allen and Grammy-award winning singer, James Ingram. Just a day earlier, Allen cautioned actors to speak slower, stagehands to wait for cues before moving scenery and sound technicians to start music sooner. Gone were the glitches from the technical rehearsal the day before, as the touring, lead cast members blended seamlessly with the hometown performers and crew of Brothers of the Knight. Touring and local casts of Brothers of the Knight give unified performance

Once the performance of Brothers of the Knight began the audience, brimming with friends and family members of local entertainers, continued cheering the leaps, spins and synchronized dance moves of the mostly pre-pubescent cast.

They thanked their sponsors who include jetBlue, which will provide free airfare for the cast member’s flights home, and Motown founder, Berry Gordy, who underwrote 100 tickets per show for enlisted military and participants of the Boys and Girls Club. Allen promptly took the microphone away from him and playfully chided him for promising to reimburse money.īut they both seriously reminded the crowd that The Debbie Allen Dance Academy, a non-profit organization, was presenting Brothers of the Knight. Nixon, executive producer for Brothers of the Knight, was so confident that the audience would like the production that he said if they didn’t like the show he’d personally give their money back, but if they liked the show then they should support the financially struggling production by telling people about it and buying souvenirs. Brothers of the Knight Illiustration By Kadir NelsonĪward-winning choreographer, Debbie Allen, and her husband, former NBA All-Star, Norm Nixon, opened the first of four high-energy performances of their new musical, Brothers of the Knight, Thursday night at the Merriam Theater, in Philadelphia.

Brothers of the knight by debbie allen