Curtain & Cause

Stage Plays

Last Dance at the Starlite

They met here first. They’ll dance here last.

Last Dance at the Starlite poster: an older couple, in silhouette, slow dancing alone in a spotlight in an empty dance hall, chairs stacked on the tables around them, a caretaker leaning on a broom in the doorway, and a neon Starlite sign above the bandstand. The line reads: They met here first. They’ll dance here last.

Stage play with music · Now booking

The Starlite is closing for good, and its last night is a Valentine’s dance. Walt and Peggy met in this building almost fifty years ago. Tonight they sit at the edge of the floor and watch their whole life play out on it, arguing about what actually happened. The prom in a flooded-gym year. The college formal he was not invited to. The wedding, because where else. The skating years, and the years nobody talks about. Their daughter’s wedding, and now this. The music changes with the building, from crooner standards to the songs their granddaughter knows, played by whoever was on the bandstand at the time. The hall closes. They dance anyway.

  • Running time About 2 hours, plus an intermission
  • Audience All ages
  • When Any time of year; mid-January to mid-February is prime
  • Our actors 1 to 3 of our actors

Start a conversation

Any time of year, and made for Valentine’s season: mid-January to mid-February are the prime dates.

The music

This is a play first, with the music running through it the way it ran through the building: a prom band, a formal band, a reception band, a rink DJ, an event DJ, and a closing-night band, each one a spot for a local singer or group. Every song is performed by the band on the bandstand, and any song can be swapped for another of the same era, so each theater builds its own set list around its venue’s music license and its own community’s voices.

How your audience takes part

The audience is cast as guests at the closing-night dance from the moment the caretaker greets them, and he changes the room in front of them between eras, complaining the whole way. Dedication cards are collected at the door and read aloud. The kids and young at heart in the audience are called up for a snowball dance. The whole room sings the place out at the end.

The details

VenueA school auditorium, a theater or a church, with space in front of the stage or in the aisles for the snowball dance.
Sound and lightsRun by your venue’s technician, with a Sound and Lighting Manager from your team as the link.
Your castAbout twelve acting roles, cast through open auditions or a local theater partner, plus the six music spots for local singers or groups.
MusicYour own set list, built around your venue’s music license. We walk you through any music licenses your venue needs.

The full package

The Curtain & Cause package

You get

The script and 1 to 3 of our actors. We can also bring the entire cast. Ask for details.

We consult

From the first board conversation to the wrap report.

The Production Playbook

Written for this show: the step-by-step guide your volunteers follow from the first board meeting to the last thank-you letter. It covers the budget, sponsorships, tickets and marketing, with every form already drawn up and a one-page description of each volunteer job.

What’s in a Playbook

The production fee

A guarantee of $2,500 to $4,500, depending on how many of our actors you want, or 20% of ticket sales, whichever is greater.

What it costs, in full

Thinking about Last Dance at the Starlite for your fundraiser?

Start a conversation

See all the shows