Archive: Arts & Entertainment

The Hangar Theatre will present the world premiere of Mimi Quillin's play Dégagé (disengage) from July 20 until July 29, 2017. Blending jazz, ballet, and musical theatre dance styles with popular music, Dégagé (disengage) follows the story of The Dancer as she becomes the artist-in-residence in a hospice. Inspired by the patients and their unique stories, The Dancer comes to terms with her own artistry and humanity. Dégagé (disengage) will be directed by the Hangar's Artistic Director Michael Barakiva and choreographed by the playwright, Mimi Quillin.

Dégagé (disengage) is the first world premiere on the Hangar stage since 2011. Hangar's artistic director, Michael Barakiva, says he is "thrilled to present this never-before-seen work, fresh off the vine." Barakiva will be directing this piece alongside playwright and choreographer, Mimi Quillin (you might have seen the work of this dynamic duo in Hangar's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Form earlier this season). Quillin has been dancing since age five and has worked alongside some of Broadway's greatest choreographers including Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon. As a dancer and an actress, she has been seen on Broadway in the revival of Sweet Charity, Ragtime and Ain't Broadway Grand.

The play is inspired in part by Quillin's personal experiences. Having worked as an artist in residence at a hospice, the journal entries she kept about her experiences and the patients she met provided a launching point for this piece. A trio of dancers portrays the Dancer, her mother, and numerous patients throughout the course of the play.In the principal role of The Dancer, making her Hangar Theatre debut, is Wendy Waring. A seasoned dancer and actress, Waring has appeared in several Broadway shows and touring productions including Crazy for You, The Producers, and The Will Rogers Follies.

Joining Waring and playing all the ensemble roles are Stacy Todd Holt and Jose Useche. Holt also makes his Hangar Theatre debut in Dégagé (disengage). Among Broadway credits such as Big, The Producers, The Drowsy Chaperone, Elf, Rocky, and Something Rotten Holt has also served as associate choreographer for both Susan Stroman and Casey Nicholaw. Useche is a recent graduate of Ithaca College's Theatre Arts program, and was most recently seen there as Leonardo in Blood Wedding. Useche was last seen at the Hangar as a member of the 2015 Hangar Lab Company where he was seen in the KIDDSTUFF productions of Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and The Trojan Women as part of the Hangar Wedge series.

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