MARK KENNEDY
AP Drama Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — The latest winner of TV’s “So You Think You Can Dance” has gotten an up-close-and-personal look at one of his prizes — a big Broadway show.
Ricky Ubeda, an 18-year-old from Miami, won the Fox TV contest show on Wednesday and by Friday afternoon met his future castmates in “On the Town” and watched a rehearsal.
He was greeted outside the Lyric Theatre by the company riffing on Toni Basil’s 1981 hit “Mickey,” singing instead “Oh Ricky, you’re so fine you’re so fine you blow my mind, hey Ricky.” He donned a white sailor cap in their honor.
In addition to a $250,000 prize and the dance title, Ubeda won an ensemble part in the musical, which opens next month. First he will tour with the other Season 11 finalists around the country.
On the TV show, Ubeda was asked to master many styles, including Bollywood, hip-hop and Broadway. “I’m really excited to be able to do actual Broadway on Broadway,” he said, laughing.
“On the Town,” which was originally choreographed by Jerome Robbins and later made into a 1949 film starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra, features the songs “New York, New York” and “Lonely Town.” In the show, three sailors on leave jump around the city looking for love.
Although his background is as a contemporary dancer, Ubeda said he’s confident he can make it on Broadway. “I’m not worried so much as really, really excited. I think it’ll be challenging, but, like anything, if I work at it a lot, which I will, I’ll be OK.”
___
Online: http://www.onthetownbroadway.com
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.