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DANCE NATION

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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

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.



Inside Look

 

2022 SEASON

Join us for our 5th season of innovative work featuring fresh and energetic voices—four plays with the power to entertain, challenge and fearlessly reflect our world. Welcome back to the theatre.