Sure, you "Ain't Misbehavin'" at holiday time, but what about the rest of the year? For an expert on not misbehaving year-round, what person could I talk to that would be better than Desirée Roots?

Roots has graced Virginia stages for decades and her exceptional voice has made her a consistent draw for cabarets, big band performances, and special appearances with groups like the Richmond Symphony. Not only is she a great performer, but she has become a knowledgeable and savvy non-profit arts administrator and she brings all of that experience to bear in our deep dive into this show that features the enduring music of Fats Waller.

"Ain't Misbehavin'" is a unique show - a jukebox musical of sorts before there was such a thing, but also a musical revue where the actors in the Broadway production would become the "characters" actors would play for all future production. There is only one other musical revue of its kind that ran longer on Broadway ("Smokey Joe's Cafe") so it is situated in a weird but fascinating niche in the Broadway canon.

Is "Ain't Misbehavin'" overlooked and underproduced? Or does it remain an underappreciated but still regularly staged show in the regional circuit? Desirée and I talk about all of that and more in this great conversation.

Check out my website at ChasingPhantom.net for more information about this show and associated video clips. And please reach out to me at [email protected] with comments, suggestions or cries of outrage!