Clare Barron’s Pulitzer Prize winning play, Dance Nation, premiered at Fells Point Corner Theatre in Baltimore City on February 13, 2026. Much of the play’s great success can be attributed to the standout performances of the ensemble cast consisting of J. Purnell Hargrove, Danielle Sumaryo, Barbara Hauck (BFA Acting,‘08), Eesha Gupta, Marcus King (BFA Acting, ’25), Meghan Stanton Ziccardi, Tash Hawkins, Laura Malkus, and Courtney Proctor.
Directed by Genevieve de Mahy and produced by members of the board, J.Purnell Hargrove and Laura Malkus, Dance Nation chronicles the journey of the plucky tween-aged members of a competitive dance troupe in Ohio as they navigate the challenges of puberty, friendships, and pressure, all while preparing for a major dance competition held in Tampa Bay.
Leading them is Dance Teacher Pat (J. Purnell Hargrove), the humorously stern instructor who runs his studio like the Navy. He does this in the hopes of building up the dancers for the competition that awaits them at their first stop, the Boogie Down Grand Prix.
As the play progresses, the audience gets more insight into the intertwining lives of the dancers as Dance Teacher Pat announces a new routine based on Gandhi. This leads to an ensuing conflict among the dancers as each of them vies for the solo role.
Amina (Danielle Sumaryo) is the star pupil of the group, struggling under the weight of perfectionism and feeling alienated from her friends, while Zuzu (Tash Hawkins) has hit a plateau due to performance anxiety, much to the chagrin of Dance Teacher Pat, which in turn causes her to struggle with her self-esteem.
The storytelling offers a balance of humor, vulnerability, and connection between the characters, as each actor brings fresh, bold choices to the table with a biting resonance that holds the audience captive.
Ashlee (Barbara Hauck) delivers a fiery and unhinged soliloquy of roaring self-affirmation, beauty, and rage, in all of its profane and outrageous glory. Courtney Proctor also carries the show through her portrayal of all of the moms of each of the characters. She acts as a voice of reason and calm throughout the cacophony, along with Connie (Eesha Gupta) and Luke (Marcus King), who bring a stark yet gentle contrast as the more grounded dancers in the studio.
While watching the play, the set and lighting design undeniably popped out to viewers. Designer Michael Vincent crafted a dance studio filled with colorful pastel walls, past trophies, and movable pieces. The set coupled nicely with the sound design and music provided by Charlie Viola, who concocted a varied playlist of 2010s pop, feminist punk rock, and contemporary instrumentals.
Viewers who grew up on shows like Dance Moms will love Dance Nation, which has received immense praise from critics such as Anne Valentino of The Maryland Theatre Guide. Valentino wrote, “The acting is superb, FPCT’s production puts the attention sharply on the content and the words these actors so authentically speak.”
Dance Nation runs through March 8, 2026, at Fells Point Corner Theatre, located on 251 S. Anne Street in Baltimore, Maryland. The show is aimed at adult audiences and contains explicit material and content that may be triggering. To request a full content warning, please email support@fpct.org. For more information and ticket purchases, please visit the website at fpct.org/dancenation.
Sylvia-Novella Underwood is a junior BFA Acting Major and Arts & Culture writer for The Retriever.
Contact Sylvia at kb56931@umbc.edu