How Come Nit, Johnny performer Chapelle, Chappy performer Stinette, Juanita performer Cooper, George W. performer Theatrical Performance 1923-04-16 Apollo Theater A girly musical dark comedy in two acts, 10 scenes. Book by Eddie Hunter. Score (Music and Lyrics) by Ben Harris. Additional numbers by Will Vodery and Henry Creamer. Production staged by Sam H. Grisman. Dances arranged by Henry Creamer and Frank Montgomery. Opened 16 April 1923 at the Apollo Theatre and closed 19 May 1923 after 40 performances. Starring among others the beautifully costumed singing and strutting act of Chappy Chapelle and Juanita Stinette, the cast also included George W. Cooper (former partner of Bill Robinson), and the soon-to-be-famous jazzman Sidney Bechet playing the role of chief of police. The production featured one fine dancer of note: Johnny Nit, "who could do high-speed wings for hours and execute all kinds of taps sitting down." Nit seems to be the first Negro tap dancer to be recognized and celebrated as such by the Broadway critics from 1922 until Bill Robinson claims Broadway audiences in Blackbirds of 1928. Performing Arts Encyclopedia http://www.loc.gov/performingarts Tap Dance America http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/tda/tda-home.html tda IHAS 151216 loc.music.tda.918