Bruce Springsteen recorded "Dancing in the Dark" and Lionel Ritchie
recorded "Dancing on the Ceiling" but I'm not familiar with "Dancing
on the Piano."  I've never seen a production of "The Music Man" by
Meredith Willson (two L's in Willson) where the dancers danced _on_
the piano.

So Ms. Koch wants a functional player piano that is lightweight yet
capable of withstanding a nightly dose of pounding by clodhoppers?
To put it politely, that's wishful thinking!

I can understand them using a functional player piano with no dancing
on top, or a lightweight non-working piano modified to withstand
dancing, but to try and combine the two is foolish.  The production
company will need to hire a full-time piano tuner and technician to
handle the daily repair necessitated by this abuse!

My high school put on "The Music Man" in my sophomore year.  They also
needed a player piano, and someone mentioned that my dad owned several
players.  The high school borrowed one of his pianos for the production
but they still expected _him_ to move it to and from the school.

Fortunately, it was a newer building and there were no steps to go up
and down to move the piano backstage.  But as anyone who has moved a
piano can testify, it's still a hassle!

It will be interesting to see if Ms. Koch is able to acquire a player
piano that fulfills her needs.

Joyce Brite
Player Piano and Mechanical Music Exchange
http://mmd.foxtail.com/Exchange/

 [ I asked Joyce if the piano actually played a music roll during
 [ the stage performance.  She replied, "Certainly -- 'Columbia,
 [ The Gem of the Ocean', just as the script calls for!"  -- Robbie