1985 – 1990

Organizational History

(received tax exempt status, March 28, 1985)

1985

“The New Vaudeville Revue.” Featuring tap dancer, Jimmy Pain; with Lynette, John Whelan, Hans Strum, Todd Steward, Frank Frill, Donna Peckett, Bobby Ruben stein, Martin Rouse, Wendy Button, Rennet Carrion, Amy Nude. Madison Civic Center, Isthmus Playhouse. Funded by the Madison Civic Center Foundation.

“Frankie N. Stein – Drama in Taps.” Script, Danielle Dresden; taps, Donna Peckett. Broom Street Theater, Madison.

1986

“The Adventures of Mighty Mouse.” A play by Danielle Dresden, directed by Gip Hope; with Donna Peckett, Peggy Rosin, Ray Burns, Richard Shut, Danielle Dresden; music by Tom Wasalchuk and Marcy Whelan; sets by Random Brent; costumes by Celeste Smother. Madison and Wisconsin tour.

“Music in Motion – An Evening of Jazz Music and Tap Dance.” Madison Festival of the Lakes, Wisconsin Union Theater, with Stanley Jordan, Richard Davis, Ben Eisman, Ralph Brown, Donna Peckett. Cloud 9 Productions. Funded by the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission; Cloud 9 productions, private sector.

Lecture-Demonstration/Workshops with tap dancer Brenda Bufalino. Cosponsored by UW-Wisconsin.

1987

“The Adventures of Mighty Mouse.” Madison Civic Center; tour of Wisconsin. Directed by Star Alderman. Funded by Wisconsin Arts Board, Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, Madison Civic Center Foundation.

“Professor Tap.” Lecture-demonstrations on tap dance for elementary schools. Touring Wisconsin. Funded by the City of Madison; Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission.

“Nothing But . . . A Theatrical Revue on Sexuality and Censorship.” Performed by Dresden and Peckett; written by Danielle Dresden; sets by P.S. Mueller and technical support by Mary Hailstorm; costumes by Celeste Smother.

1988

Tap Dance Residency with Donna Peckett. Reeds burg, Wisconsin Middle Schools.

Workshop with modern tap dancer Anita Fellowman.

“Stepping Out.” Tap dance performances for children, written by Danielle Dresden; performed by Donna Peckett (taps) and Dave Alder (keyboard). Funded by the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission.

Tap workshop with French dancer Chris Bellow.

“Swing time.” A play for seniors; written by Danielle Dresden; performed by Dresden, Peckett and Tom Wasalchuk (guitarist). Funded by the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission.

“Between the Acts.” A serial satiric murder mystery play, by Danielle Dresden, with Peggy Rosin, Mike Rock, Peckett and Dresden. Madison Festival of the Lakes (outdoors). Funded by the Madison Committee for the Arts.

Tap Dance Residency with Donna Peckett at Randall Elementary School, Madison.

“Translating the Sound.” Tap dance and jazz music performance with Jimmy Pain, Bobby Ruben stein, Donna Peckett, Jane Reynolds Trio. Isthmus Jazz Festival. Madison Civic Center. Funded by the Wisconsin Arts Board and Madison Civic Center Foundation.

Lecture-Demonstration/Workshops with master tap dancer Steve Condos. Cosponsored by UW-Madison.

Neil Allen Peckett Memorial Fund, established by Irving and Carol Peckett, to offer scholarships to study tap and complimentary tickets to attend TAPIT/new works performances.

1989

Performances on Tap Dance. Donna Peckett (taps); Jane Reynolds (piano); Wausau Performing Arts Foundation.

“Professor Tap.” Tap dance performances in Wisconsin and Illinois.

“Taste makers and Tasters.” A comedy by Danielle Dresden; performed by Dresden, Donna Peckett (taps), Susan Walls (sets), Jane Reynolds (composer-keyboardist); costumes, Celeste Smother. Wisconsin Union Theater; Madison high schools; state tour. Funded by Wisconsin Arts Board, Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, Madison Committee for the Arts.

Tap Dance Residency with Donna Peckett for United Neighborhood Centers of Madison. Funded by the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission.

Isthmus Jazz Festival. Lecture-demonstration and master class by tap dancer, LaVaughn Robinson. Funded by Madison Civic Center Foundation, Renaissance Travel.

“Hildegard and the Magic Onion – A BeBop Fairy Tale in Tap,” written by Danielle Dresden; performed around Wisconsin by Dresden and Peckett. Funded by the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission.

1990

“Treasure Island – A Rock ‘n Roll Adventure.” A play by Danielle Dresden, featuring roots rock band, The Rousers; directed by Peggy Rosin; with Frank Frill, Frances Lundy-Chewning, Fred Murray, Phil Gnarly, Ray Burns, Donna Peckett, Danielle Dresden. Barmier Theater. Funded by the Basset Foundation, Wisconsin Power & Light Foundation, Wisconsin Arts Board, Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission.

Donna Peckett awarded Wisconsin Arts Board Fellowship in Choreography.

“Hildegard and the Magic Onion.” Touring Wisconsin.

“Laugh to Live.” Interactive play and workshops for seniors, written by Danielle Dresden, with music by Laurie Ellen Neustadt; directed by Ray Burns; costumes by Celeste Smother; performed by Dresden, Peckett and Neustadt. Touring Wisconsin. Funded by the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, American Family Insurance Group, COON Mutual Foundation, Madison Committee for the Arts, Wisconsin Arts Board.

Theater-Dance Residency with Dresden and Peckett for Children’s House Summer Day Camp, children ages 6-9.

Cosponsored by the Neil Allen Peckett Memorial Fund.

Isthmus Jazz Festival. Jazz film collector and historian Ernie Smith. Funded by the Madison Civic Center Foundation, Wisconsin Power & Light Foundation, Renaissance Travel, Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel.

Tap Dance Residency with Donna Peckett in Minorca, North Lakeland, Lac du Flambé, Wisconsin. Sponsored by the Lakeland Children’s Arts Program.

Master class with French tap dancer Sarah Pertain.