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Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  1w, 1m

"Thoughtful, razor sharp, charming, funny and genuinely moving" – Hollywood Reporter This extremely popular two-character comedy/drama has enjoyed tremendous
success both nationally and internationally since it premiered with Uta
Hagen and David Hyde Pierce.

Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    1w, 1m
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior

Details

Summary

This extremely popular two-character comedy/drama has enjoyed tremendous success both nationally and internationally since it premiered with Uta Hagen and David Hyde Pierce. 

Lily, an aging but formidable retiree, hires Michael, an acerbic dance instructor, to give her dance lessons in her condo in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida.  Antagonism between a gay man and the wife of a Southern Baptist minister gives way to profound compatibility as they swing dance, tango, foxtrot, and cha-cha while sharing barbs and intimacies along with the dance steps.  During the sixth lesson, Lily reveals a closely guarded secret -- she is terminally ill -- and Michael shares his greatest gifts -- loyalty and compassion.  As Michael takes Lily in his arms on their final meeting, they both transcend fear and mortality while the sun sets on their last dance.

History
Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks received its world premiere in 2001 at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. It received its East Coast premiere in 2003 on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre.
Cast Attributes
Performing Groups
LILY HARRISON - a lovely, well-dressed woman of 72.
MICHAEL MINETTI - an attractive man of 45 trying to look 35.
  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day
  • Setting Lily Harrison's condo in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media

"Thoughtful, razor sharp, charming, funny and genuinely moving" – Hollywood Reporter

"A joy to watch!" - The New York Post 

"A wonderful combination of comedy and bittersweet drama" – UPI

"As valuable as gold"- Miami Herald 

"A delight... Impossible to resist!" - Sydney Morning Herald

"Very moving. Very Human. Very Funny" – London Sunday Telegraph 

"Very funny.  Unanimously acclaimed!" - Der Standard, Vienna

"Explosive and Hilarious." – Melbourne Herald Sun  

"Standing Ovations!" – Variety

"Ingenious, tender, and very funny." - Galan, Madrid

"Positively moving.  Sweeps you away!" - Hatzag, Tel Aviv

"One of the greatest nights of theater I have ever seen.  You must see this show!" – Beverly Hills Weekly

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

Available Formats:

Authors

Richard Alfieri

Richard Alfieri was born in Florida, graduated from Yale University, and began his professional career in New York. He wrote the feature film Echoes and the novel Ricardo - Diary of a Matinee Idol. He produced the feature film Rescue Me and executive-produced the NBC film Fa ...
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