Put & Take McCree, Maxie performer Theatrical Performance 1921-08-23 The Town Hall Tap, eccentric, legomania, Russian, acrobatics A colorful musical revue in two acts, 11 Scenes. Sketches by Irvin C. Miller. Music (and lyrics by Spencer Williams. Additional music by J. Tim Brymn and Perry Bradford. Staged by Irvin C. Miller. Opened 23 August 1921 at Town Hall and closed 17 September 1921 after 32 performances. The critics praised the nineteen-member female chorus (also 8 males). John Martin wrote that it surpassed any "chorus of white girls on Broadway this season or for many seasons past." The World wrote: "They never stop dancing..how can a girl croon a love song when she's gasping for breath?" (24 August 1921). The Globe: "After viewing the blase slouch of many of our Broadway queens, it is a relief to see..real snap and verve." ( 24 August 1921). The dancing star of the show who critics praised as "Maxie" was Maxie McCree, a former member of the Whitman Sisters Act, and gifted pioneer in various styles from straight tap, through legomania and Russian to acrobatic dancing. Performing Arts Encyclopedia http://www.loc.gov/performingarts Stearns, Marshall and Jean Stearns: Jazz Dance: The Story of American Vernacular Dance. New York: Macmillan (1968). Tap Dance America http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/tda/tda-home.html tda IHAS 151216 loc.music.tda.917