Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams

Terrence McNally’s funny and poignant play Dedication or the Stuff of Dreams is about a drama teacher named Lou Nuncle (Nathan Lane) who runs an amateur theater company in a strip mall in upstate New York with his professional and domestic partner, Jessie (Alison Fraser). The couple becomes fixated on acquiring the town’s old playhouse as a space for a new children’s theater and must persuade its eccentric and wealthy owner Annabelle Willard (Marian Seldes) to let them have it. Terrence’s work is a celebration of theater, making the case for why it still matters.

How I got involved with this is simple – Nathan called me. The cast was in rehearsal and they needed a dance section for one of the scenes. I picked up my phone and I heard Nathan’s unmistakable voice saying, “I need you to come down to choreograph a number for me and Alison.” So I hailed a cab and went to Primary Stages.  

I had a lovely time creating a dance for Nathan and Alison to Jerome Kern’s “Make Believe”. And I was thrilled to play a small part in the world of these theater luminaries.

I got to make a fuss over Terrence McNally, bow down to Marian Seldes, and dance with Nathan again.

It was a sweet gig!