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Faith Dane

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BIO

Faith Dane, sometimes known since her second marriage as Faith Crannitch but legally simply Faith since 1983, was an actress, musician, artist, and perennial candidate for elected office in Washington, D.C.



Dane was a resident of Washington, D.C., but grew up and spent much of her life in New York City; she also lived in the United States Virgin Islands for much of the 1960s. She was married twice; first, in the 1960s, to attorney Russell Johnson, a former attorney general of the U.S. Virgin Islands, who first encouraged her to run for office, and second, in 1983, to Jude Crannitch, an artist originally from New Zealand.

Dane played the bugle-tooting burlesque stripper Mazeppa ("Once I was a schlepper, now I'm Miss Mazeppa") in both the original Broadway and film versions of Gypsy. When Gypsy was revived on Broadway without her, she sued, claiming she'd created much of the characterization of Mazeppa herself; though the suit was unsuccessful, producers developed a “Faith Dane clause” in actors' contracts granting rights in any creative work actors do developing their character to the production.

Dane was a candidate for the Virgin Islands Legislature in 1964 on an arts support-based platform. She raised funds for various school art programs there, including St. Dunstan's Episcopal High School. After moving to Washington in the 1980s, she was a candidate for mayor as an independent in 1990, 1994, and 1998, garnering 110, 423, and 430 votes, respectively. In 2002, she ran in the Democratic primary for mayor and received 1,084 votes. On each occasion, she ran on an arts-based platform.

She was an unsuccessful candidate for the D.C. Statehood Green Party nomination for Shadow Representative in 1992, receiving 34% of the vote to Paul McCallister's 52%, and was an independent candidate for Delegate to Congress from the District of Columbia in 1996, receiving 2,119 votes.

In 2010, she ran for mayor in the Statehood Green primary, winning with 40% of the vote in the face of only write-in opposition. In the general election, she received 1,476 votes. She ran for mayor again in 2014, winning the Statehood Green primary with 47%, again with only write-in opposition. In the general election, she received about one percent of the vote.

Dane died at a nursing home in Washington on April 7, 2020, at 96.

STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1959
Mazeppa


News


Faith Dane, Original Mazeppa in GYPSY, Has Passed Away at 96
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 14, 2020

The Washington Post has reported that Faith Dane, the actress known for originating the role of  Miss Mazeppa in Gypsy, passed away on April 7 at age 96.
BWW Review: WIG OUT! at Studio Theatre
by Jenny Minich - Jul 19, 2017

Director Kent Gash charges the space with electricity and ardent, sincere emotion. Gash asks a lot of his cast in an intimate setting; Wig Out! is a physically immersive experience.
Photo Coverage: Inside the BROADWAY BEARS XV Grand Finale!
by Genevieve Rafter Keddy - Mar 20, 2012

The 15th and grand finale edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS, the annual auction of handmade, one-of-a-kind, theatrically costumed teddy bears, raised a record-setting $198,300 on Sunday, benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Broadway lovers and teddy bear collectors came together yesterday, March 18 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill (237 West 42nd Street) for one last time to bid on - and bid adieu to - museum-quality bears representing legendary theatrical characters and autographed by the stars who made those characters famous. The cumulative fundraising total for the 15 editions of THE BROADWAY BEARS auctions is a remarkable $2,048,427. The previous fund-raising record was $170,000 set in 2002.
Photo Coverage: Laura Osnes, Nick Adams, et al. at BROADWAY BEARS XV
by Genevieve Rafter Keddy - Mar 20, 2012

Broadway lovers and teddy bear collectors came together on March 18 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill (237 West 42nd Street) for one last time to bid on - and bid adieu to - museum-quality bears representing legendary theatrical characters and autographed by the stars who made those characters famous. The cumulative fundraising total for the 15 editions of THE BROADWAY BEARS auctions is a remarkable $2,048,427. The previous fund-raising record was $170,000 set in 2002.
TV EXCLUSIVE: BroadwayWorld Bids Farewell to BC/EFA BROADWAY BEARS Benefit; Inside the Final Event!
by Jessica Lewis - Mar 19, 2012

The 15th and grand finale edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS, the annual auction of handmade, one-of-a-kind, theatrically costumed teddy bears, raised a record-setting $198,300 on Sunday, benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. BroadwayWorld on hand and brings you an exclusive look inside at the farewell event.
BROADWAY BEARS Sets Record $198,300 in Sales
by Kelsey Denette - Mar 19, 2012

The 15th and grand finale edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS, the annual auction of handmade, one-of-a-kind, theatrically costumed teddy bears, raised a record-setting $198,300 on Sunday, benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
BC/EFA Presents Final Broadway Bears Benefit Tonight
by Jennie Mamary - Mar 18, 2012

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS presents the 15th and grand finale edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS tonight, March 18, 2012 at 8 PM at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill on West 42nd Street. THE BROADWAY BEARS is an annual Broadway auction of teddy bears dressed in museum-quality outfits based on original costumes and created by acclaimed designers..
BC/EFA Presents the Last Broadway Bears Benefit, Mar. 18; Bryan Batt & Lorna Kelly Host
by Jessica Lewis - Mar 8, 2012

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will present the 15th and grand finale edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS, the annual Broadway auction of teddy bears dressed in museum-quality outfits based on original costumes and created by acclaimed designers on March 18, 2012.
Photo Flash: Broadway Bears 2012 Preview!
by Harmony Wheeler - Mar 8, 2012

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS presents the 15th and grand finale edition of The Broadway Bears, the annual Broadway auction of teddy bears dressed in museum-quality outfits based on original costumes and created by well-known designers.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Faith Dane been in?

Faith Dane has appeared on Broadway in 1 shows.

How many West End shows has Faith Dane been in?

Faith Dane has not appeared in the West End.

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