The Nance
April 4 - 21, 2024
By Douglas Carter Beane
Directed by Nick Olcott
Step into the dazzling lights of 1930s New York City, where laughter, love, and the raucous world of burlesque take center stage in this extraordinary play with music. Douglas Carter Beane weaves a captivating tale around Chauncey Miles, a charismatic burlesque performer whose on-stage persona, "the nance," is as flamboyant as his off-stage life is secretive. Set against the backdrop of a changing society, where it is easy to play gay but dangerous to be gay, Chauncey grapples with the complexities of identity, desire, and acceptance. This Tony Award-winning play brilliantly melds humor and heart. A “funny but bittersweet portrait of a vanished era”. -The Chicago Tribune
Runtime: 2.5 hours plus one 15 minute intermission
Mask Required Performances:
April 13 - 7:30pm
Open Captioned Performances:
April 11 - 7:30 pm, April 12 - 7:30 pm, April 13 - 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm, April 14 - 2:00 pm
Audio-Described Performance:
April 21 - 2:00 pm
Community Conversations
Following The 2pm Performance
April 6, 2024: Meet The Designers
Join 1st Stage in conversation with the design team of The Nance about bringing this larger-than-life show to the stage.
April 7, 2024: Meet The Director
Join 1st Stage in conversation with Nick Olcott, Director of The Nance, about his vision and inspiration for crafting this show.
April 13, 2024: Meet The Actors
Join the actors for The Nance as they chat about their process, bringing these characters to life, and what the story of The Nance means to them.
April 20, 2024: Meet The Director of the Burlesque Hall of Fame (ZOOM)
Join Associate Artistic Director Deidra LaWan Starnes in conversation with Dustin Wax, the Director of the Burlesque Hall of Fame, as he speaks about the history and modernity behind the craft of burlesque. In person and on Zoom - sign up for Zoom here.
Accessibility
Meet the Team
-
Day Ajose
Joan
-
Natalie Cutcher
Sylvie
-
Sally Horton Imbriano
Carmen
-
Michael Innocenti
Efram
-
Patrick Joy
Ned
-
Michael Russotto*
Chauncey
Design Team
Nick Olcott^
Director
Jennifer Hopkins
Choreographer
Emilie Knudsen
Asst. Stage Manager
Jonathan Dahm Robertson+
Scenic Designer
Lorraine Ressegger
Intimacy Coordinator
Alberto Segarra+
Lighting Designer
Joe Walsh
Music Director
Neil McFadden
Sound Designer
Kendra Rai+
Costume Designer
Kasey Brown
Asst. Costume Designer
Olivia Martin
Asst. Director
Pauline Lamb
Props Designer
Sarah Usary
Stage Manager
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association
+Member of United Scenic Artists
^ Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society