DANCE NATION
***UPDATED DATES***
January 20, 2022 - February 5, 2022
Due to a rise in COVID cases, the opening of DANCE NATION will be delayed 1 week. As of now, previews begin January 20 and the official opening night is January 22. If you have already purchased tickets to a canceled performance, please complete the TICKET EXCHANGE form to change your dates. You may also call the box office at 713-344-1291
by CLARE BARRON
directed by SOPHIA WATT
HOUSTON PREMIERE
2019 PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST
2017 SUSAN SMITH BLACKBURN PRIZE WINNER
2015 RELENTLESS AWARD WINNER
Somewhere in America, an army of pre-teen competitive dancers plots to take over the world. And if their new routine is good enough, they’ll claw their way to the top at the Boogie Down Grand Prix in Tampa Bay. But in Clare Barron’s raucous pageant of ambition and ferocity, these young dancers have more than choreography on their minds, because every plié and jeté is a step toward finding themselves, and a fight to unleash their power.
QUOTES AND REVIEWS
“I WISH MY SOUL WAS AS PERFECT AS MY PUSSY.”
-Dance Nation
“A REFRESHINGLY UNORTHODOX PLAY THAT CONVEYS THE JOY AND ABANDON OF DANCING, WHILE ADDRESSING THE CHANGES TO BODY AND MIND OF ITS PRETEEN CHARACTERS AS THEY PEER OVER THE PRECIPICE TOWARD ADULTHOOD.”
-Pulitzer Committee
“I’VE SEEN THE FUTURE AND IT IS DANCE NATION.”
-Washington Post
“WHEN THEY HUDDLE AND CHANT THEIR TEAM’S SLOGANS, THEY SOUND AS PRIMAL AS STARVING COUGARS THAT HAVE SPOTTED NEW PREY. WHILE REHEARSING THE GANDHI NUMBER, THEY TURN INTO FULL-FANGED, EROTICALLY OVERCHARGED VAMPIRES.”
-NY Times
“IF YOU WERE EVER A 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL, CLARE BARRON’S DARING, RAW DANCE NATION WILL PROBABLY HIT YOU HARD […] IT’S A BRAVE, VISCERAL, EXCITINGLY OFF-KILTER BARBARIC YAWP OF A PLAY. AND IT GETS AT SOMETHING EXCRUCIATINGLY TENDER: THE BURDEN OF MODESTY ON YOUNG AMERICAN WOMEN.”
-New York Magazine
CAST & ARTISTS
ARTISTS
Playwright CLARE BARRON
Director SOPHIA WATT
Scenic Designer STEFAN AZIZI
Costume Designer JUAN SARACAY
Sound Designer GAGE BAKER
Production Stage Manager MADISON SUTTON
CAST
CALLINA ANDERSON Zuzu
ELIZABETH MARSHALL BLACK Dance Mom
GREG COTE Dance Teacher Pat
LISA FAIRCHILD* Sofia
ELIZABETH KEEL Mave
AVERY VONN KENYATTA Luke
ANJANA MENON Connie
SOPHIA MOBBS Amina
SHANNON UPHOLD Ashlee
* Member Actors’ Equity Association
Clare Barron, Playwright
RUNNING TIME
90 minutes, no intermission
CONTENT ADVISORY
We do not offer advisories about subject matter, as sensitivities vary from person to person. If you have any questions about content, age-appropriateness or stage effects (such as strobe lights or theatrical fog) that might have a bearing on patron comfort, please contact info@recroomhtx.com.
