BWW Guest Post: Magie Dominic Pens Obituary About DAMES AT SEA Director Robert Dahdah

Robert (Bob) Dahdah, a prolific writer and director who was a major contributor to the creation of Off-Off Broadway theater in the 1960s and continued writing and directing for over fifty years, died on February 6th at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, where he was under hospice care. He was 89. Mr. Dahdah was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on March 8, 1926 to Lebanese parents. The family moved to New York City when he was a child and they lived in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan.

By the very early 1960s Mr. Dahdah was writing and directing plays in venues in New York City, and in particular Off-Off-Broadway. In 1966 he directed what would become an iconic Off-Off Broadway musical, and one that would be forever famous for starring a very young actress, Bernadette Peters, in her first New York play, "Dames at Sea".

"Dames at Sea" was first presented at the tiny Caffe Cino on Cornelia Street in New York City. The Caffe Cino, a small caffe theater operated by Joe Cino, is considered the birthplace of Off-Off Broadway and operated from 1958-1968. Mr. Dahdah wrote and directed and starred in several productions there. "Dames at Sea" was approximately forty minutes long and was a take-off on everything pure and innocent. It ran for three months to over-packed houses. The room was officially full when two people were seated on top of the cigarette machine. It was the longest running show in Caffe Cino's history and probably the longest running show in the history of Off-Off Broadway at that time.

On February 8th, 2016 at Broadway.com Ms. Peters said regarding Mr. Dahdah's passing and his production of Dames at Sea - "He was a terrific director and basically got the show on at the Cino and imbued it with love that transported over the little postage sized stage right into the audiences hearts"

Earlier, in a July 15, 2006 interview for Legends of Broadway, Ms. Peters said - My first summer away from home, I did summer stock in Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania, and I met a choreographer there who worked at the Caffe Cino. When I got back to the city, he called me and said, "We're doing this show at the Caffe Cino, and I think there's a role you'd be right for. Will you come in?" I remember thinking that I had to find the Caffe Cino. Because it was on Cornelia Street, which is one block long, and I had to find that. When I got there, Helen Hanft was on the stage doing [Tom Eyen's play] "Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down" for her relatives who were in town that afternoon. That's where I met the director, Bob Dahdah, and everybody else. I don't remember if I sang - I must have. Anyway, I took on the role, and I had the best time in my whole life. The audience was so great I couldn't wait to change and get back onstage to say my lines."

The following year Mr. Dahdah collaborated with the writer and actress Mary Boylan, with whom he frequently collaborated, and together they wrote the book and score for the musical "Curley McDimple", a spoof of Shirley Temple movies. Mr. Dahdah also directed the production. "Curley McDimple" was produced in 1967, Off-Broadway, and Bernadette Peters starred in the production. It ran for over 900 performances.

Mr. Dahdah directed plays by several New York playwrights including early works by Lanford Wilson, Robert Patrick, and Robert Heide. In addition to writing and directing he was also an actor and appeared in small roles in a number of major films including The Godfather and Three Days of the Condor.

Mr. Dahdah was a veteran of the Second World War. He is survived a nephew Robert Dahdah, a niece Rea McKay, and an extended family of friends. He was preceded in death by a sister Margaret, and two brothers Raymond and William.

I have many personal memories of my friend Bob Dahdah but my most cherished memory is that he was forever a courteous and supportive friend, and an honorable and true gentleman in a business where those traits are not always a given. An April tribute is being planned in New York City. Details will be announced at a later date.

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