Dance Nation (Tickets January 24, 2019 to February 10, 2019)
“As Ashlee, Blanchette has the toughest monologue, with highs and lows, peaks and valleys, and the actress hits every nuanced moment. Here is where the child and the adult come together, as Blanchette plays it, as she tells the world what she “m-f-ing” thinks of it in no uncertain terms. It’s a mind-blowing couple of minutes, to say the least.” – Michelle F. Solomon, “Florida Theatre On Stage”
Thinking Cap Theatre has become known for introducing South Florida audiences to bold, exciting new works, including the regional premieres of Young Jean Lee’s Straight White Men and Jen Silverman’s Collective Rage. TCTmaintains its reputation for cutting-edge theatre with the regional premiere of Dance Nation, Clare Barron’s celebrated new comedy about adolescent competitive dancers.
Dance Nation enjoyed its world premiere at NYC’s Playwrights Horizons in May 2018 followed by its U.K. premiere at the Almeida in London. With its finger-on-the-pulse-of- now themes, smart writing, and fierce, fearless style, Dance Nation captures the essence of the TCT brand and is, therefore, the perfect piece to kick off the company’s 9th Season.
Dance Nation’s accolades include the American Playwriting Foundation’s2015 Relentless Award (http://www.americanplaywritingfoundation.org/the-relentless- award) and the 2017 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize (http://blackburnprize.org).
Set in Liverpool, Ohio, Dance Nation centers on an army of pre-teen dancers with their eyes (mostly) on the prize: winning. Their mighty leader, Dance Teacher Pat (played by Carbonell Award Winner John Manzelli) shares a passion for dance that rivals that ofDance Moms’ Abby Lee Miller. Dance Teacher Pat is “making the future with dance!” If the troupe’s new routine “World on Fire” is good enough, victory (and an audacious 4- foot trophy) will be theirs at the Boogie Down Grand Prix in . . . Tampa Bay, FL! Thought-provoking, moving, and uproariously funny, Dance Nation is a play about budding dreams, growing up, and finding one’s soul in the heat of it all.
The cast of TCT’s Dance Nation includes some of the regions finest actors, including John Manzelli, Elena Maria Garcia, Jeanine Gangloff-Levy, Beverly Blanchette, Jim Gibbons, Bree-Anna Obst, Carol Sussman, Emma Rose Magner, Elizabeth Price and Jordan Patriarca.
Thinking Cap Theatre’s production of Dance Nation will be directed and designed by Nicole Stodard along with scenic artist Alyiece Moretto-Watkins; lighting designer Cody Basham; and choreographer Kevin Black.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Friday, January 25, 8pm
Saturday, January 26, 8pm
Sunday, January 27, 3pm
Sunday, January 27, 8pm
Thursday, January 31, 8pm
Friday, February 1, 8pm
Saturday, February 2, 8pm
Sunday, February 3, 3pm
Thursday, February 7, 8pm
Friday, February 8, 8pm
Saturday, February 9, 8pm
Sunday, February 10, 3pm (Closing)
RUNNING TIME: 1 hr 45 minutes + intermission
Tickets are $40 General Admission.
Beverly Blanchette 