The Stardust Revue Marks 58 Years

The stage was dark and the curtain down in Edmond Town Hall's theater on Thursday afternoon.

But energy and anticipation bubbled throughout the waiting audience as the music was cued for The Lathrop School of Dance's dress rehearsal. When the curtain opened, light from the stage washed over the eager faces of dancers, proud parents and the staff who band together each year to put on Newtown's legendary annual show.

The Stardust Revue will be missing its brightest star this year. Virginia "Ginny" Lathrop, founder of the Lathrop School of Dance, died in November 2009, leaving behind her students, teachers and the school's director to carry on the legacy that Lathrop and her husband began almost 60 years ago.

After a tap-dancing career that took them from New York's Broadway to Truman's inauguration, Mack and Ginny Lathrop began the Lathrop School of Dance in 1951. This year will mark the 58th performance of the Stardust Revue at Edmond Town Hall.

Diane Wardenburg, now the school's director, met the Lathrops 50 years ago. She was enrolled in ballet class at 4 years of age and grew to consider Ginny Lathrop her second mother.

"My husband even asked Mrs. Lathrop's permission before he asked me to marry him," said Wardenburg, who is known as "Miss Diane" and whose husband is affectionately called "Mr. Diane" when he helps as House Manager at recital time.

Now living in Brookfield with her husband Joel and 11-year-old son, Wardenburg says The Lathrop School of Dance is different from other dance schools because "it's one big family."

Behind the scenes, "family" members return year after year to man the lights, narrate the dance numbers and cue the music.

Jerry De Luccio, who lends his voice as the Master of Ceremonies, has been helping with the Stardust Revue since 1979. Even after moving to Rochester, NY, De Luccio still travels down each year so he can narrate the show.

Parents are also part of the action. Mothers help backstage, and fathers wear security vests and make sure the dressing rooms and backstage areas are secure.

Born and raised in Newtown, Lynn Lewis, 38, began dancing 30 years ago. One of the eight dance instructors, Lewis started teaching in 1990 and remembers many years of dress rehearsals under Lathrop's guidance.

"There's a sense that something's missing," Lewis said. "Mrs. Lathrop's usually sitting up here (in the balcony) with me, so that's very hard. But she's around us in all the little things we do here."

Others also anticipate that the show will have a different tone this year.

"I think there will be a sadness, but we know Mrs. Lathrop's here in spirit," said Janet Flanagan, who has three daughters dancing this weekend. "She would want it to be the best show."

To honor Lathrop, the first act will close with the Stardusters dancing to Barbra Streisand's rendition of  "Smile (Though Your Heart is Aching)." Also, the printed program, which usually includes a welcome letter from Lathrop, will have a letter from the Lathrop dancing community to its mentor. And the stool near the stage curtain where the legendary dance teacher sat for each show will stand empty.

"We are trying our best to be positive," said Wardenburg. "For me, to have this opportunity to carry on what Mr. and Mrs. Lathrop started is a privilege."

For the future, Wardenburg is determined to maintain the school's tradition, while adopting some changes. She is adding adult and children's Zumba classes, as well as a yoga program.

"I love what I do; I never say, 'I've got to go to work today,'" she said. "You can't get down when you have 10 three-year-old girls smiling at you."

The Stardust Revue will have five performances at Edmond Town Hall on Main Street: Friday, June 4 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, June 5 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, June 6 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Friday's performance will benefit Danbury Hospital Department of Pediatrics; Sunday's 4 p.m. performance will benefit the Mack and Virginia Lathrop Scholarship for Newtown students.