THE NEW JACK COLE DANCERS'
CLUB ACT
AN IMMERSIVE JAZZ DANCE EXPERIENCE
CLUB ACT at The Mastercard Midnight Theater 2024
The NEW Jack Cole Dancers' CLUB ACT is an immersive theatrical experience celebrating the electrifying legacy of jazz dance pioneer Jack Cole. Inspired by Cole’s legendary supper club performances, the show unfolds as a vibrant nightclub act featuring high-energy jazz and theater dance in Cole’s signature style—bold, virtuosic, and cinematic.
The production premiered to sold-out audiences in June 2024 at The Midnight Theater at Hudson Yards, earning roaring audience response and calls for MORE. Following a prestigious residency with the CUNY Dance Initiative, an expanded production is now headed for an Off-Broadway premiere this June, with a London transfer to follow.
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Jack Cole is one of the most influential figures in American dance—yet his name is largely unknown.
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Cole was the innovative choreographer who launched commercial jazz dance, shaped Hollywood legends like Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, and Betty Grable, helped ignite the career of Gwen Verdon, and changed dance storytelling across Broadway, Hollywood, and nightclub stages. However, his impact — and the multicultural origins of jazz dance — are rarely represented on stages today.
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​The moment for this change is right now. At a time when audiences are rediscovering immersive theatrical experiences and the roots of American pop culture, CLUB ACT revives the scintillating nightclub environment where Cole's iconic style of jazz dance first exploded into the mainstream.
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​Directed and choreographed by Cam Loeser, The NEW Jack Cole Dancers' CLUB ACT is the only performance venture of its kind—bringing Cole’s revolutionary style back to life for a new generation.
CLUB ACT Developmental Showing at The Little Theater 2026
Jack Cole & His Dancers at The Rainbow Room
WHY NOW?
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Before Bob Fosse and Jerome Robbins, there was Jack Cole.
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Cole revolutionized American theatrical jazz after studying dance traditions in India, the Caribbean, and Harlem’s social dance community, transforming these influences into a bold new stage language while preserving their cultural integrity. Today, CLUB ACT continues that spirit of authenticity.
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Our creative team includes African choreographer Angel Kaba and Bharatanatyam choreographer Ramita Ravi, ensuring that the cultural lineages embedded in jazz dance are represented with knowledge, respect, and visibility.
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The production also brings Cole’s work into the 21st century through:
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Diverse casting that reflects the global roots of jazz
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Collaboration across multiple dance traditions
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Gender-expansive casting, assigning roles based on movement essence—not gender.
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By honoring Cole’s groundbreaking process while evolving its values for today, CLUB ACT reconnects audiences with the true cultural lineage of American jazz dance.
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This project follows a wave of comparable dance-forward, simulatory productions (Buena Vista Social Club, Illinoise, Just In Time) that have shown strong audience appeal on Broadway, positioning CLUB ACT for future high-profile engagements, including a limited Broadway run at an immersive venue such as 'Circle In The Square.'
THE ACT
CLUB ACT transports audiences into a stylish jazz-era supper club, where dancers and musicians share the stage in a dynamic, immersive environment. The intimate venue and introspective nature of the work ensure that the immersive experience is powerful from every seat, whether onstage or in the proscenium.
Guests step into a world of live music, virtuosic theatrical jazz choreography, and vintage nightclub mystique, vividly experiencing the revolutionary style of legendary choreographer Jack Cole up close and personal.
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FORMAT:
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90 minute performance
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2 principal dancers, 8-10 company dancers
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5 person jazz band with a dynamic jazz vocalist
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Designed for intimate theatre and concert venues, cabaret and nightclub venues, university and regional houses
CLUB ACT Developmental Showing at The Little Theater 2026
EAST COAST WEST END
COLE JAZZ is hot off of a successful developmental residency through the CUNY Dance Initiative in New York, which culminated in a sold-out showcase at The Laguardia Performing Arts Center's Little Theater. The show received an overwhelmingly positive response from both audiences and industry folks. Riding that momentum, the company is ​gearing up for an Off-Broadway Limited Engagement of CLUB ACT in June of 2026, for 5 performances at Theater at St. Jeans.
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Investing in this project offers the opportunity to participate in an ongoing, scalable, and potentially lucrative production model. With its modular, tour-friendly design, we expect CLUB ACT to enjoy a long life, with recurring engagements in New York and internationally.
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With our audience track record and the material's broad commercial appeal, we anticipate the limited engagement to sell out. We plan to return to St. Jeans again later in the summer/ fall for another engagement with the same company to cultivate additional revenue and awareness.
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INVESTMENT STRUCTURE:
In an effort to keep the investment pool highly curated and strategically aligned, we are offering four (4) investment units to fully capitalize the production at $92,700 (covering full production and performance costs).
Our target minimum value for each unit is set at $20,000.
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While the Off-Broadway engagement is not intended as a recoupment vehicle, the New York run will function as the official launch platform for the production’s international life. The engagement is designed to position the work for subsequent opportunities including:
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Commercial transfer potential (London and Broadway)
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Festival and touring opportunities
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Commercial expansion
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Sit down/ limited engagements internationally (ie. Mumbai)​
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This investment attaches you to the core commercial vehicle of CLUB ACT, providing a stake in the broader licensing and revenue streams of the project. Investors will also receive right of first refusal for future separately capitalized productions and transfers, including London, Broadway, and international engagements. Upon request, an official profit participation breakdown will be given.​
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Theater at St. Jeans - Off-Broadway Engagement Venue
We are currently in conversations with Sadler's Wells to co-present CLUB ACT at either their new venue, Sadler's Wells East, or their Peacock Theater. Following the London premiere, the production is positioned to transfer to a West End venue such as 'HERE at Outernet.'
Launching in London offers a strategic advantage: lower production costs, openminded and adventurous audiences, and strong international visibility—creating momentum for a future Broadway engagement. Additionally, our long-term strategy leverages the show’s modular staging and scalable design, allowing it to travel easily between venues and cities. ​
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PROJECTED TIMELINE
JAN-FEB 2026
CUNY Residency NYC
2 weeks of funded rehearsals in New York City at the Laguardia Performing Arts Center through the CUNY Dance Initiative. Culminated with a sold out showing in The Little Theater.
JUNE 2026
Off-Broadway premiere of CLUB ACT at Theater at St. Jeans. 1 Preview & 4 Performances.
Off-Broadway Premiere
OCTOBER 2026
India Premiere
Premiere of CLUB ACT in India, licensed by Pia Sutaria in partnership with Indian theater owners/ producers in Mumbai.
FALL 2026
London Program
Our 3rd annual training program sponsored by Sadler's Wells. 3 week intensive followed by a 1 week Development and Research process with a select group of dancers.
WINTER 2026/ 2027
London Premiere
A premiere of CLUB ACT at Sadler's Wells East, a new theater space on the East Side.
FUTURE 2027
US Tour/ Broadway
A tour of CLUB ACT throughout the US/ West Coast, followed by a Limited Engagement on Broadway at an immersive venue such as Circle In The Square.
SHOW OUTLINE
PROLOGUE
The NEW Jack Cole Dancers​
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The space sizzles with energy as the company enters and the band strikes up a jazz standard. The company welcomes the patrons and share exciting bursts of movement together. A thrilling social dance gathering is born, the dancers bringing the space to life the more they dance together. The group forms a cypher, and various company members lead the group in expressing different cultural influences of this work. We see a rhythmic African soloist, a Bharatanatyam soloist, and a joyous Natya Swing trio light up the center of the dance floor. Our VOCALIST for the evening joins in the celebration.
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The spirit of COLE is among the company, driving the action. Our star, EVY, begins as a patron and throughout the prologue is enchanted and brought into the world. She and COLE share a playful and electric duet, before the company comes together and finishes with a exultant finish and a flourishing exit.
​SCENE 1. OJAI
The NEW Jack Cole Dancers​
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​The company performs a provocative group number to a heavy, groovy Big Band piece that layers in elements of the worlds Jack Cole explored, including African, Afro-Cuban, Indian, and Swing dance styles. We see these elements coalescing and living in harmony in the iconic Cole style.​
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EVY is seen exploring the group and the space, her curiosity peeked by this new world she’s stepped into.
​SCENE 2. DAWN
Soloist + Percussionist​
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Cole’s essence simmering in the vibration of the space, like a phantom or quiet memory.
The space is still. COLE crawls into the space as our percussionist plays a heavy swung rhythm on the djembe. COLE performs a cool, frenetic solo, feeding off the drum. A fiery warm spotlight encases the drummer and dancer. The start of a new era.
​SCENE 3. HEAT
Peacock 1​
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As COLE dashes offtstage, PEACOCK shoots out and launches into a charged solo, heating up the space with their electric energy. She flies offstage in a thrilling frenzy.
​SCENE 4. SOMEONE
Duet + Vocalist
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Ala Cole’s romantic duet for Marge and Gower Champion to 'Someone to Watch Over Me' from Three for the Show.
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After hours at the club. It is late and moody, the romantic limbo that exists only in the dead of night in New York City. A woman finds herself in the club, having wandered in from the street. She is torn between leaving and returning to her life, and moving forward. A stranger coaxes her to stay, offering her support and the promise of new possibilities. They gradually connect and the dance builds to a sweeping, passionate climax.
​SCENE 5. CINEMATIC
The NEW Jack Cole Dancers​
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An homage to Cole's Hollywood film and burlesque work.
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1. BLUES
Ala Cole’s ‘Beale Street Blues’ from The I Don’t Care Girl.
The ladies arrive one by one, flirting with the horn player’s sultry melody. There is heat between them all, an air of challenge and mystery, and they come together in a sensual demonstration of female prowess.
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2. HEATWAVE
Ala Cole’s ‘Heatwave’ performed by Marilyn Monroe in There’s No Business Like Show Business.
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A light bossanova kicks in and the ladies dance an easy Afro-Cuban groove, floating and snaking through the space as a unit.
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3. DIAMONDS
Ala Marilyn in ‘Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend’ from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
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EVY interrupts the group, stirring things up and flaunting for the ladies. COLE flies into space to join the group. The dancers flock around EVY, intoxicated by her, finishing with a bombastic theatrical finish.
​SCENE 6. HOW HIGH THE MOON
Vocalist + The Band​
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Our VOCALIST performs another upbeat tune with The Band. A DANCER walks in as the VOCALIST begins a scatting break. The two riff off of one another in a playful conversation.
​SCENE 7. STRUT OF THE PEACOCKS
Trio + Percussion​​
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2 female dancers, our PEACOCKS, strut across the stage, on the prowl for the FELINES, who they will later dance with in 'The Club Act.' They exude peacock energy, bird-like and carnal.
​SCENE 8. THE RIFF
Trio​
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COLE and two other feline dancers (our Feline energies) share a rowdy, high flying, athletic trio, filled with quick feet, jumps, splits, slides, cartwheels, and rhytmic grooves. An homage to The Riff Brothers, Gene Kelly & Fred Astaire, and The Berry Brothers.
The three slink through the space, break out into explosive dance breaks, and show off for one another in a playful challenge of strength and grace.
​SCENE 9. MS. EVELYN VAUGHAN
Evy Vaughan/ Female Star​
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A female tore de force 11 o'clock number paying homage to Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera, and other stars of the era. Filled with nods to old-school torch songs, burlesque, vaudeville, Can-Can, and comedic crowd work.
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EVY begins her act with a strip tease. Before she reveals herself, she stops and decides she would rather do something more personal. She has the BAND strike up ‘In A Sentimental Mood,’ serenading the crowd with her voice, all the while “absentmindedly” continuing her strip. This builds to a thrilling burlesque dance break, cheeky and vaudevillian, which buttons with EVY on the floor.
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EVY decides to go one steps further and she takes the microphone out into the audience and begins chatting with patrons. Her charm and humor romances us all. Before leaving, she breaks out into her wild Can-Can finish. Thanking the crowd, she leaves us with just her silhouette as she perches atop the piano.
​SCENE 10. AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'
The Band
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The Band plays a set as more food and drink is served to our patrons.
​SCENE 11. THE CLUB ACT
The NEW Jack Cole Dancers​
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The company dances a celebration of this legacy and Jack Cole’s nightclub acts. Our FELINES energetically heat up the space before our PEACOCKS, along with EVY, creep in and titillate the felines. The group comes together in a frenetic jitterbug that builds to a rapturous finish with a blackout.
​SCENE 12. SWAY WITH ME
Vocalist​
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The Pianist sings a groovy rendition of 'Sway' ala Denise King that builds into a flourishing, romantic tune. Our two dancers from SOMEONE burst into the space for a celebratory, sweeping pass that ends with a groovy, playful tease and send off.
​SCENE 13. HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGIAN
Vocalist​
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Our VOCALIST thanks everyone for joining and performs an earnest, hopeful rendition of the classic anthem, that finishes tender and quiet as the lights fade to black. We feel this could be the end.
​SCENE 14. THE JAM
The NEW Jack Cole Dancers​
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New possibilities. A groovy ensemble piece featuring the company engaging in a rhythmic, celebratory, humorous jam. ​
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1. THE JAUNT
A light piano melody brings the space back to life. The lighting is moody and hushed. The company, appearing as a group of seemingly strangers, are out for a jaunt. They connect and with the music, build to a joyous finish.​
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2. THE HULLA
The entire company joins and dances a celebratory hullabaloo, flying and strutting through the space, relishing in one another and the new possibilities ahead. An ecstatic finish. Blackout, leaving us with a fresh feeling of joy and freedom.
SING SING SING at Jazz Dance Conference West
"The tide is turning. Or, has it turned? With the arrival of The NEW Jack Cole Dancers, we see a return, for dance and choreography, to form, shapeliness, and stylishness. We see dancers taking measure of the space within; the space between each other; and the space their music lays down in hot syncopation. As part of a receptive audience at the 2025 Jazz Dance Conference West in Los Angeles, I watched the six-member troupe set the stage on fire in Cam Loeser’s “Club Act: Sing Sing Sing,” created in the style of the great Jack Cole. Try though I did to remain cool and removed, I clapped my hands raw, I shouted my head off. It’s that exhilarating."
- Debra Levine
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​Author, “Jazzed: Jack Cole and Twentieth Century American Dance" published by the University Press of Kentucky, early fall 2026