Steps in Time
The story begins in Philadelphia with singer-songwriter John Curtis and bandleader Christopher Tolomeo. Their band CALL ME CRAZY, a five piece jazz ensemble, has been seen in Philadelphia and New Jersey lounges, jazz cafes, outdoor concerts, dinner theater, and swing dances.
CALL ME CRAZY then produced Christopher Tolomeo's original musical comedy THE JINGLE MAN in the fall of 2007 at the Philadelphia International House as part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival.
Following the success of THE JINGLE MAN John Curtis looked to use dance more in CALL ME CRAZY productions. He and co-Choreographer Amy Smith created the CALL ME CRAZY DANCERS as a spin off from the band. The dancers accompanied the band in larger staged shows including the CALL ME CRAZY's big band review in 2008, and a recurring outdoor concert series in Union City, NJ. In 2011, the CALL ME CRAZY dancers launched their own show, DAYDREAMS, a 90 minute one act concept piece centered around dance, spoken word, and using CALL ME CRAZY's own original music. The dancers included guest dancers from local area schools Kicks Academy of Dance and the Institute of Dance Artistry in PA. The show played in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival from 2011 to 2012, and also appeared in the Capital Fringe Festival in 2012.
The 2012 show DAY FOR A DREAM played Temple University's Conwell Dance Theater during the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, continuing the DAYDREAMS concept. The show coincided with the release of Curtis' DAY FOR A DREAM cd, using Curtis' original songs.
2013 saw dancers present their new show ONE MORE SONG at Stage One in Wallingford, PA. The new show explored the role of dance in challenging times in our world. Curtis and musical collaborators Kevin DeYoe and Christopher Tolomeo wrote new material for the show, which continued the concept of merging dance, spoken word, theater, and original music. The show also included new choreography by Curtis and his wife, Wilmington, DE native Kara DeYoe Curtis, and Choreographer Amy Smith. The show featured special guest performances by Joan's Dance Studio in Upland, PA, Stage Lights Dance Studio in Newark, DE, Paul Klocke School of Dance in Aston, PA, and the Philadelphia-based Lady Hoofers.
The group presented their first Christmas show in 2014 at STAGE ONE in Wallingford, PA. THE SIGNS ARE EVERYWHERE: A CALL ME CRAZY CHRISTMAS put the group's own stamp on the tradition of holiday shows, featuring a tap dancing nativity and a dancer's treatment on A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
In December, 2016 the group launched their first NYC show, ON THE EVE, on Roosevelt Island at Main Street Theater & Dance Alliance. ON THE EVE paid tribute to the big band era, the Nativity, the 2011 tsunami in Japan, and the 2012 tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, all through the lens of a group of travelers waiting for the subway train to arrive on Christmas Eve.