Meet the Cast of Stayin’ Alive, our 2024 Show

Performed in many local community theater productions. Professionally at retirement venues and senior centers. In the courtroom reality show, EYE for an EYE. She sings, dances & does funny voices ( Betty Boop!). Studied with celebrity coach Gleni Tai & Broadway legend Betty Buckley. Performs with the Ms.Texas Senior America Cameo Club. In the Follies since it’s FIRST year! The only things which make her happier are her kids, Sally & Eddie Glass. Taught school for 23 years…so nothing scares her

Singer/songwriter/guitarist. President of the Spectacular Follies Board.
Serves on boards of 4 other not for profit corporations. Founder of North American Scrabble Players Association and its Foundation for Youth Literacy.
Met wife, Carla, on the tournament Scrabble circuit. 3 children; Kendall (35), Faith (14), Henry (10). Performs regularly at various locations with BYO Musicians (a not for profit comprised of business-people who like to make music and give back) and at Sammons Center for the Arts.

MEMBERS: Jill Rumbley Beam, Cenia Bowen, Phyllis Deluke, Debbie Dutton, Barbara Frank, Lynn Lish, Margie Horton, Valerie New, Madonna Nuckolls, Liz Thomas

The Class Act Tap Company proudly celebrates 38 years of volunteerism and 13 years of performing in the Follies. Class Act was founded in 1986 and is a service organization of 30 women who serve North Texas by giving tap dancing shows free-of-charge. The age range of the members is 55 to 86 with an average age of 70. Class Act has received many awards over the years from veterans’ groups, civic organizations, the media, and the Mayor of Dallas. The members typically give over 100 performances a year and perform at a wide variety of venues and for many groups, including veterans, seniors, corporations, charities, schools, and churches. With a wide repertoire of “glitzy” costumes and “pizzazzy” dance routines, they customize their shows for specific groups and occasions including many during the Christmas season. They invite you to visit their website at http://www.classacttap.com for more information.

It all started when I was around 5 years old. My father was a drummer, for whom or what I can’t remember. I used to sing when he played. As I got older my family broke up, and mom and I ended up down on the southern coast. I was in elementary school in Ocean Springs, MS when I was asked to play Santa Claus in the school play. I asked why me? I was very tall, very lanky, just not seeing myself as the Santa type. The response was because you can memorize the entire script. Thus went my first acting debut.

We ended up in Huntsville, AL. Because mom worked all the time, I went to after school day care. The owner’s name was Mrs. Tucker. I remember one day she told my mother that she loved taking me with her when she ran errands. She explained “I’ll turn on the radio and David will sing to every song that is played. He is such a joy to listen to.”

And like most boys my age, I decided that I wanted to be a football star. So, I tried out for the school football team. Well, I did make the tryouts, but after about a week, the coach asked to speak with my mother. Apparently, I was big enough, but my feet outgrew my body that year and I was not very coordinated and kept tripping over them. The coach conferred with my mom that he was concerned I may injure myself or others. (When I tripped, I took one or two others down with me). So that was the end of my football aspirations. The next day I was enrolled at Ms. Madeliene’s School of Dance. Needless to say, she cured my coordination issues, and in turn I learned some gymnastics, tap and moving with grace and poise. I took a lot of grief from classmates when they discovered where I went after school 3 days a week, but I only had to put up with it on my days off, and Mrs. Tucker would keep me out of sight when she could. I did get the honor of preforming with Mrs. Tucker’s daughter, Julie. I had such a crush on her, and I got to lift her repeatedly, so I was a happy young man. But then Ms. Madeliene dressed me up as a penguin and put me out in front of all the girls on stage. I was silently humiliated, but I led the dance as I was taught, and the show was a big success. Ms. Madeliene and I also shared the same birthday, so every time I came to class I was greeted at the door with a hug and “There’s my birthday boy.” It was awkward, but I learned so much, specifically how to put one foot in front of the other.

We eventually ended up in Memphis, and I would ride my bike down to Beal Street and hang outside the bars and sing with the bands there. When I was 15, my mother passed, they could not locate my father, so I went to live with my grandmother (mother’s side) in California.

Well again the humiliation and persecution started. Picture a boy with an incredible southern drawl, now 6’ tall, size 13 feet, and most of my sentences started with “May I please”. I don’t think a day went by where I didn’t receive some kind of grief. When the hazing turned physical, I joined the choir, both at school and at church. Most of the peer pressure subsided shortly after that.

I ended up getting A GED and entering the USAF at 17. I had an aptitude for electronics and mathematics, so I scored high on all their tests.

After fulfilling my obligation to the government, I bounced around trying to find where I fit in life. After several years of attempting to be part of something musical, I started feeling that maybe I didn’t have what it takes to be a vocalist. You see, the band thing never worked because it would never fail, we’d get member(s) who either drank too much, was hooked on something, or couldn’t refrain from bad relationships. So, I discovered karaoke. Karaoke means “Empty Orchestra.” Now armed with a band I can call 24 hours a day, who didn’t get sick, drink too much or just have issues that prevented us from performing, I set out to entertain the masses.

After 35 years of walking into various establishments and trying to “WOW” the crowds, I met Marcie Baker, who is an outstanding entertainer in her own right. She introduced me to the Spectacular Follies. From there I’ve met a lot of kind and thoughtful people, but Dee Meece is primarily responsible for me being allowed to entertain you today.

This is my rookie year, so I’m still learning who everyone is and remembering their names. I want to thank everyone who has helped me get this far. If I do entertain you, then express it. If you feel thanks are necessary, then please thank these people who I could not have done this without:

God, the father, the son, and the holy spirit. He gave me this instrument and keeps me supplied with the courage to use it.

Dee Meece – The woman brave enough to put me on a stage.

Marcie Baker – For thinking I was worthy to join this fantastic organization.

The entire board, cast and tech crew of the Spectacular Follies, You ARE the greatest and without you all, none of this would be possible.

Lisa Whitehead – I know there have been days I made you cry, but you are still the one who keeps me sane and within the bounds of reality. I love you.

Bryan McDaniel – Who always found whatever song I needed for whatever reason. For always having a spot for me on the list.

My grandmother, Charolette “Sharky” Hulme. Who rescued me, gave me a home, and helped me pick up the pieces when my whole world came crashing down.

And last, but never least or forgotten…
My mother, Linda Joanne Feaster. No matter the odds or situation, you always found a way to make my days the brightest they could be. Thank you for teaching me manners, politeness, and respect. My life is in God’s hands, but you are the one that put me there. Thank you, because of you I am.

I have been singing all my life. Grade school choirs to college choirs and church choirs. I was in several Evenings on Broadway, a regular at the Farmersville Opry, and sang with a jazz band. I started a singing group, the Choristers, that specialized in period music, and traveled to historical events. This is my first big spring show, after being in the 2023 Christmas show.

Ex board member, has been associated with the Follies for over 10 years. Has performed for over 55 years somewhere or another at churches, weddings, funerals, Plano Civic chorus, The Heightsmen quartet, and Spectacular Follies. Will be 72 yrs of age in July and hopes to keep singing as long as he is breathing. He and Rhonda attend First Baptist Richardson, have 3 wonderful adult kids and 3 glorious and beautiful grandkids of whom they are intensely proud. Owners of First City Chemical will be celebrating 50 yrs marriage in August. Freds social life has largely revolved around church and community volunteering for myriad organizations and schools in Richardson. Involvements include, Church deacon, YMCA Indian Guides (AKA chief Crazy Lips), Follies Board, Odyssey of the Mind, Berkner choir booster club president, Exchange Club, various sports coach with his kids, sponsor of church youth activities, Sunday school leadership with singles and young marrieds, Choir president plus stuff he can’t remember now! One accomplishment he is proud of is being cast as first tenor in a modern oratorio of Saviour and Passion and performing live television in Latvia as well as several churches in the Dallas area. Most proud achievement is his children who have made him proud all of their lives. Thanks babies!
I love you! Dad.

Marjorie (Kiwi) Cutler (Dallas Tap Dazzlers) – earned a B.S. in mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh in 1967 initiating a 25-year career in Information Technology sandwiched around 6 years teaching math at R.L. Turner High School. At age 60 she slipped on a pair of tap shoes embarking on the adventures and privilege of 19 years with the Dallas Tap Dazzlers plus the honor and fun of performing in all 13 productions of the Spectacular Follies!

Melanie, a Dallas native, was 7 years old when she started dancing for a local studio. After years at the studio, she transitioned to high school dance, competing as part of the Lakeview Centennial Sweethearts and earning one of the top spots as a Lieutenant. She continued dancing at Kilgore college eventually transferring and graduating from Texas State receiving her BBA in Accounting and her CPA license.
After being a public accountant for a few years, Melanie’s first child was born, and she became a stay-at-home mom, homeschooling all three of her children through high school. In 2002, while homeschooling, Melanie operated a dance studio in her home with her business eventually outgrowing the space. She merged her home studio with The Dance Movement, the biggest dance studio in North Texas, where she taught tap, ballet, hip hop and jazz for the next 13 years as well as co-directed the Impact competitive dance team. As part of Impact, she choreographed hundreds of dances, productions, and won multiple awards throughout the years. She also took class from So You Think You Can Dance choreographers like Mia Micheals, Tyce Diorio, and Wade Robson to name a few. While at the Dance Movement, Melanie received her certification in Cecchetti Ballet 1 and 2.
Melanie is passionate about dance which led her to teach and choreograph dances at her church, at a local trafficked women’s ministry, Restored Hope, and perform for Prestonwood’s Gift of Christmas show annually. Since 2012, Melanie has been dancing and is captain with Fenton’s Dance Factory ‘Ftroop’ adult competitive hip hop team in Plano. Melanie remains active teaching Zumba at local gyms while working part-time at a Dallas accounting firm. Although always busy, she enjoys spending time with her husband of 30+ years, her adult daughter and adult sons, plus her new baby granddaughter.