The Nance

New Conservatory Theatre Center
25 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco

This critically acclaimed stage drama from Douglas Carter Beane delves into the life of Chauncey Miles, a gay burlesque comic in 1937 New York. Full of comedic burlesque performances, the equally raucous and poignant show -- hailed as "a bold, brave play" by Backstage -- contrasts Mills' acceptance for his hilarious onstage antics as "the nance," a stereotypically effeminate homosexual character, with his difficult existence offstage as an aging man looking for love and acceptance. Direct from Broadway, San Francisco's New Conservatory Theatre Center presents the regional premiere of The Nance, bringing big, new life to a time when it was easy to play gay onstage, but dangerous to be gay offstage.