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