Howard Blume, Founder of The Tapitalists, brings his newest work “A Tap of the Creature’s Curse” to the Nocturne Theatre in Glendale for three performances only Saturday, November 8 and 9, 2025. Featured among the list of talented performers is the legendary tap dancer Reggio “The Hoofer” McLaughlin and opera virtuoso Laura Parker. The press release states that this is a “presentation that brings together high-quality tap with a plot that incorporates subtle (and not-so-subtle) social commentary with comedy and suspense.” Tickets are on sale now.
Howard Blume performing in a former show – Photo courtesy of the artist.
Blume is the director, choreographer, dancer, and writer for “A Tap of the Creature’s Curse”. He grew up in a dance studio and began teaching dance classes at the young age of 14. But in addition, he is an award-winning journalist and staff writer at the Los Angeles Times. I had the privilege and honor to interview both Blume and McLaughlin for this article.
McLaughlin was the first to join the Zoom call and I learned a little more about his background. Born on the South Side of Chicago, McLaughlin started out performing tap on the concrete floors of the Chicago subways. Along the way he became friends with prominent tap dancer Jimmy Payne, Sr. who began mentoring the young dancer. In 1994 he met Ernest “Brownie” Brown, one of the co-founders of the renowned dance ensemble the Copasetics.
Reggio McLaughlin – Photo courtesy of the artist.
While performing a duet with Brown, McLaughlin was invited to create what became a flourishing tap dance program at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music, where he continues to teach and perform.
McLaughlin often trained in New York City and we talked about Chicago versus New York. “Chicago is my hometown and it has always been good to me,” he said. “When tap dancing began to resurface, I became valuable. People reached out and said, ‘Hey man, we have this show that we want you to do,’ a Cotton Club theme and all that.”
Reggio McLaughlin – Photo courtesy of the artist.
He first met Blume when Blume interviewed him for an L.A. Times obituary of tap dancing great Arthur Duncan in January 2023. The two hit it off. McLaughlin did a guest teaching stint at Blume’s L.A. Studio and then invited McLaughlin to become involved with “A Tap of the Creature’s Curse.”
Howard Blume joined us on the Zoom call and after all the introductions I asked him what the genesis was for “A Tap of the Creature’s Curse” because the poster for the show reminded me of 1950s grade B horror films. The wonderful poster and the show’s costumes were designed by Jessee Fish, who also taps at Blume’s studio.
Blume explained that there were, of course, many inspirations for the show and that he always has many ideas circling around in his head. “I’m also creating dance routines on an ongoing basis. Some of them are done with particular ideas in mind. Some of them are created on the spot and some are just dances to songs that I want to choreography.”
L-R Reggio McLaughlin and Howard Blume at the Nocturne Theatre – Photo courtesy of The Tapitalists Dance Company.
Blume’s repertoire also includes choreography from dance masters he has worked with. McLaughlin contributed choreography to the current show and he also improvises – dancing in the manner akin to a jazz musician improvising to a melody.
Gradually all these things come together and coalesce around an idea,” Blume said. “My background is not just in dancing, but in writing, literature and journalism.
In a later note, Blume mentioned influences for his Monster’s origin story, which include Godzilla. He also wanted to raise the question of whether his Monster is, in fact, a monster.
Blume also assesses other talents of his dancers. If there are skilled singers among them, he explores including that in in the performances.
Customizing roles for particular performers has paid off as members of the audiences often comment on how the roles seem perfectly casted. “The parts are for the people who play them,” he stated.
The Monster in “A Tap of the Creature’s Curse” – Photo courtesy of The Tapitalists Dance Company.
McLaughlin roars, he sneaks up on people and he dances. “I even go up into the balcony,” he said. Although McLaughlin has a colorful stylish wardrobe. “I’ve never danced in any kind of costume before, especially a monster costume.”
McLaughlin went on to say that performing in the costume has been a challenge. Blume said he is honored to be working with McLauglin who he says is a living connection to the tap masters of the past.
Blume was hesitant to explain too much about the plot for “A Tap of the Creature’s Curse”. He described it as a mystery set in the industrial city of Vermin, California which has a retirement facility called The Shady Deal Retirement Village for Has Been Entertainers and Public Officials. Next to that is the Last Chance Orphanage for Charming But Unnecessary Children, situated next to an abandoned theater. He added that people have started disappearing from the retirement community from attacks by a mysterious monster. The mystery has to be unraveled and the tap dance has to be part of both.
“A Tap of the Creature’s Curse” – Photo courtesy of The Tapitalists Dance Company.
“We hope that it is 95 minutes of pure entertainment,” Blume said.
The Tapitalists company was built out of performers at Blume’s studio in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. The studio is called Tap With Howard. It is entirely devoted to tap dancing although company member with other talents like baton twirling, singing or acting are then incorporated into Blume’s productions. The cast in this show is large as Blume strives to utilize the talents of those who are willing to work hard and achieve a professional level of polish.
Blume guarantees that the audience will see a lot of fun tap dancing. – and more. “Judging from the reaction from when we did the first version of the show last year, the show is very funny,” he said. Among those new to the cast this year is Laura Parker “a virtuoso opera soloist and wonderful actress as well, very funny, and she dances.”
Reggio McLaughlin, Howard Blume, and The Tapitalists in “A Tap of the Creature’s Curse” – Photo courtesy of The Tapitalists Dance Company.
Asked if there was anything else he wanted readers to know, Blume said that what his company does is fairly unique. There’s concert tap like Lynn Dally’s “Jazz Tap Ensemble and “Rhapsody In Tap” run by Linda Sohl-Ellison, and there is tap dancing in musical theater – all of which he loves. The Tapitalists goal is to showcase high-quality tap that tells a story.
“You don’t necessarily have to like tap or to be a tap aficionado to be entertained by coming to the show,” Blume said. “We hope that the tap aficionado will love it but also want to draw new people into the art form.
McLaughlin said that before the lights went down “before we even started the show,” he could sense “the anticipation from the people just sitting on the edge of the seat…really let me know that it was just magic. It has been an amazing experience,” he said, “out of the art form of tap with this wonderful story.
“A Tap of the Creature’s Curse” runs Saturday and Sunday, November 8 – 9, 2025 at the Nocturne Theatre in Glendale, CA. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit PurplePass.
To learn more about Tap Dance With Howard, please visit their website.
Written by Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Poster for “A Tap Of Yhe Creature’s Curse” – Photo courtesy of Howard Blume.
Jeff, this sounds wonderfully adventurous. McLaughlin is a friend so I would love to see this program and connect with him after many years. Someday. Now I know he is alive and well. Thank you for the write up. I follow your site often and have wanted to contribute to efforts and will do so this fall. You inspire dance afficianados to want to live in LA!
All the best to you.
Peggy Gaither Adams