The Nance Show Poster

The Nance News & Features

In the world of 1930’s burlesque, a nance was a wildly popular character, a stereotypically camp homosexual man, most times played by a straight performer. In The Nance, playwright Douglas Carter Beane tells the story of Chauncey Miles, a headline nance performer in New York burlesque, who also happens to be a homosexual. Integrating burlesque sketches into his drama, Beane paints, with humor and pathos, the portrait of a homosexual man, living and working in the secretive and dangerous gay world of 1930’s New York, whose outrageous antics on the burlesque stage stand in marked contrast to his messy offstage life.

This show is closed.

Performances ended on Aug. 11, 2013.

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About The Nance

What Is the Story of The Nance?
It’s 1937 New York: Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia is looking to clean up the city before the World’s Fair arrives, and his biggest target is burlesque. Enter Chauncey Miles (Nathan Lane) and the other stars of the Irving Place Theatre, who find themselves in danger of losing their jobs. Chauncey is a celebrated “nance” performer (a stereotypical gay character in burlesque) and unlike other “nances,” Chauncey is also gay offstage. When he falls in love with a young drifter named Ned (Jonny Orsini), his carefully constructed world begins to crumble. Douglas Carter Beane’s moving new drama follows Chauncey as he struggles to live as a gay man in a dangerous time.

Chauncey Miles on TV! Nathan Lane's Acclaimed Turn in The Nance Gets Filmed for PBS
News
Chauncey Miles on TV! Nathan Lane's Acclaimed Turn in The Nance Gets Filmed for PBS
Ouch, Simply Ouch! Nathan Lane 'Resting' After Injury Sustained During The Nance
News
Ouch, Simply Ouch! Nathan Lane 'Resting' After Injury Sustained During The Nance
Stage Greats Toast The Nance Director Jack O’Brien and His New Memoir Jack Be Nimble
Photo Op
Stage Greats Toast The Nance Director Jack O’Brien and His New Memoir Jack Be Nimble
John Lee Beatty Offers a Revealing Look at the Remarkable Revolving Design of Broadway's The Nance
Building Broadway
John Lee Beatty Offers a Revealing Look at the Remarkable Revolving Design of Broadway's The Nance
The Nance Tony Nominee Nathan Lane Pokes Fun at Growing Up Irish Catholic
Watch It
The Nance Tony Nominee Nathan Lane Pokes Fun at Growing Up Irish Catholic
The Nance Patron Takes a Tumble and Falls onto the Lyceum Theatre Marquee
News
The Nance Patron Takes a Tumble and Falls onto the Lyceum Theatre Marquee
The Nance Star Nathan Lane Jokes About His Theme Song and the Broadway Sweatshop on The Daily Show
Watch It
The Nance Star Nathan Lane Jokes About His Theme Song and the Broadway Sweatshop on The Daily Show
Secrets of Tony Nominees! What Was The Nance Star Nathan Lane's ‘Life-Changing’ Role?
Tony Nominee Secrets
Secrets of Tony Nominees! What Was The Nance Star Nathan Lane's ‘Life-Changing’ Role?
Squigs Goes Burlesque with Nathan Lane and the Cast of Broadway’s The Nance
Broadway Ink
Squigs Goes Burlesque with Nathan Lane and the Cast of Broadway’s The Nance
Jonny Orsini on His Passion for Performing and the Honor of Co-Starring with Nathan Lane in The Nance
Fresh Face
Jonny Orsini on His Passion for Performing and the Honor of Co-Starring with Nathan Lane in The Nance
The Nance's Nathan Lane and More Talk Heartbreaking Love Stories & Bawdy Burlesque on Opening Night
On the Scene
The Nance's Nathan Lane and More Talk Heartbreaking Love Stories & Bawdy Burlesque on Opening Night
Hi Simply Hi! Nathan Lane & the Cast of The Nance Celebrate Opening Night on Broadway
Photo Op
Hi Simply Hi! Nathan Lane & the Cast of The Nance Celebrate Opening Night on Broadway
Did Nathan Lane & The Nance Bring Our Word of Mouth Panelists to Laughter and Tears?
Word of Mouth Review
Did Nathan Lane & The Nance Bring Our Word of Mouth Panelists to Laughter and Tears?
Exclusive! From Stage Comedy to Personal Drama, Catch This First Look at Nathan Lane in The Nance
Show Clips
Exclusive! From Stage Comedy to Personal Drama, Catch This First Look at Nathan Lane in The Nance
Tony Winner Cady Huffman on Being 'Empowered' by Lena Dunham & Re-Teaming With Nathan Lane in The Nance
Q&A
Tony Winner Cady Huffman on Being 'Empowered' by Lena Dunham & Re-Teaming With Nathan Lane in The Nance
Gay Romance Takes Center Stage as The Nance, Starring Nathan Lane, Opens on Broadway
Curtain Up
Gay Romance Takes Center Stage as The Nance, Starring Nathan Lane, Opens on Broadway
Douglas Carter Beane Recalls How a Book, a Retreat & a Screen Saver Inspired Broadway's The Nance
First Person
Douglas Carter Beane Recalls How a Book, a Retreat & a Screen Saver Inspired Broadway's The Nance
Take a First Look at Nathan Lane & Co. in Broadway’s New '30s Burlesque Drama The Nance
First Look
Take a First Look at Nathan Lane & Co. in Broadway’s New '30s Burlesque Drama The Nance
Burlesque Drama The Nance, Starring Nathan Lane, Begins Performances on Broadway
Curtain Up
Burlesque Drama The Nance, Starring Nathan Lane, Begins Performances on Broadway
See Nathan Lane and More Talk About Why You'll Laugh and Cry at The Nance on Broadway
On the Scene
See Nathan Lane and More Talk About Why You'll Laugh and Cry at The Nance on Broadway
Cady Huffman on Reuniting with Producers Co-Star Nathan Lane in The Nance: 'He is the Best'
News
Cady Huffman on Reuniting with Producers Co-Star Nathan Lane in The Nance: 'He is the Best'
Nathan Lane, Cady Huffman and the Cast of Broadway’s The Nance Meet the Press
Photo Op
Nathan Lane, Cady Huffman and the Cast of Broadway’s The Nance Meet the Press
Exclusive! Nathan Lane & Jack O’Brien on Strippers, Laughs & the Love Story at the Center of The Nance
Videos
Exclusive! Nathan Lane & Jack O’Brien on Strippers, Laughs & the Love Story at the Center of The Nance
Tickets Now On Sale for Broadway Burlesque Drama The Nance, Starring Nathan Lane
Now On Sale
Tickets Now On Sale for Broadway Burlesque Drama The Nance, Starring Nathan Lane
Andrea Burns Warns ‘You’re Not Ready for Nathan Lane’ in Broadway’s The Nance
News
Andrea Burns Warns ‘You’re Not Ready for Nathan Lane’ in Broadway’s The Nance
Get a First Look at Nathan Lane in the Haunting New Poster for Broadway’s The Nance
Hot Shot
Get a First Look at Nathan Lane in the Haunting New Poster for Broadway’s The Nance
Producers Stars Cady Huffman and Nathan Lane Reunite for Broadway’s The Nance; Complete Casting Announced
News
Producers Stars Cady Huffman and Nathan Lane Reunite for Broadway’s The Nance; Complete Casting Announced
Lewis J. Stadlen and Jonny Orsini Join Nathan Lane in Broadway’s The Nance
News
Lewis J. Stadlen and Jonny Orsini Join Nathan Lane in Broadway’s The Nance
Nathan Lane Heading to the World of Burlesque in New Broadway Play The Nance
News
Nathan Lane Heading to the World of Burlesque in New Broadway Play The Nance
Nathan Lane Likely to Return to Broadway in Douglas Carter Beane’s The Nance
News
Nathan Lane Likely to Return to Broadway in Douglas Carter Beane’s The Nance
Nathan Lane Eyeing Douglas Carter Beane's New Play The Nance
News
Nathan Lane Eyeing Douglas Carter Beane's New Play The Nance
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