INCITATION TO THE DANCE
2027-01-22 20:00 - 23:30, 2027-01-23 20:00 - 23:30, 2027-01-29 20:00 - 23:30, 2027-01-30 20:00 - 23:30, 2027-02-05 20:00 - 23:30, 2027-02-06 20:00 - 23:30, 2027-02-12 20:00 - 23:30, 2027-02-13 20:00 - 23:30 (Asia/Kolkata) and 8 more dates | Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, California
World Premiere Comedy: Incitation to the Dance at Theatre West
HOLLYWOOD, CA – Prepare for a “sexy, dark gay comedy” as Theatre West presents the world premiere of Incitation to the Dance. Written and directed by resident playwright Michael Van Duzer, the production runs from Friday, February 13, through Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Part of Theatre West’s prestigious Writers-in-Residence Series, the play explores the volatile dynamics of a long-term couple whose world is upended by a provocative intruder. Combining sharp verbal battles with intense, stylized choreography, the stage becomes both a mental landscape and a literal battlefield for its three central characters.
A Trio of Conflict
The story follows Malcolm, a film historian obsessed with “homoerotic coding” in 1940s Film Noir, and his partner Asher, an unemployed dance instructor struggling with depression. Their precarious balance is shattered by Finn, a young man whose blend of candid sexuality and menace forces the couple into a dangerous game of physical and emotional confrontation.

Michael Gabiano as Malcolm

David Mingrino as Asher

Casey Alcoser as Finn

The Creative Vision
Playwright/Director Michael Van Duzer brings a rich background in both theater and opera to this production, having previously helmed works like The Man Who Saved Everything and Edward II. Produced by Bryan Siu and Dina Morrone, Incitation to the Dance promises to make audiences “laugh, blush, and maybe want to dance” while tackling mature themes with frankness and wit.
