Cheers to the crew!

This post is from Ali Bill pictured here as the real Ali Bill! 

I can't believe the season is over! I know I'm no longer with my crew, and I know I'm not living out of my suitcase any more, but I still feel like at any moment, I will have to pick up my bag and get in a van going to who knows where! The excitement is still there. And I am still so happy to have been a part of Season 9.
This program has taught me so many things along the way. I am more willing as an artist to do whatever necessary, to make something work as long as it touches the audience. I am more willing to teach, and actually have a desire to do so! I have a deeper understanding of what being an artist is, and know that my dream or goal will change as I grow older, and that is okay.
I am still going to live and work in the hustle up in New York, at least for a few more years, until I decide maybe California is better for me. Or Chicago, Texas, Europe, etc! I can be happy performing anywhere as long as I'm passionate about my project.
This project has changed me in to a more willing, passionate, positive artist, and for that I am truly thankful. I hope that feeling never leaves me. And as long as I have good people on my side, I know it never will. Cheers to the crew!

Under the Surface

This post is from Cameron MacManus, pictured here in the purple cap as Alexander in Open Dream Ensemble's production of Big Shoes. 

Today, we performed at The Stokes Opportunity Center, a vocational day program for mentally handicapped adults, for around 20 students.  It was one of our most unusual performances (very little in the way of props and costumes), and also one of the most playful and spontaneous.  Prior to our rendition of Big Shoes, we were treated to some great performances by the students and got to collaborate with then on some short plays.  The whole day was great fun, but there were so many layers of meaning under the surface.  I think that is true for every interaction we have had with students and teachers this season.  Whether or not we are aware in the moment, there is so much more information imparted beyond the words and the actions in Big Shoes or in our lesson plans. 

We enter schools as a certain kind of ‘other’ that many students may have not seen in person.  As such, we are showing students new possibilities of how to perceive the world, work with others, and explore abilities without fear of negative judgements.  I like to imagine that there are a few students at every school we go to that decide to dedicate some part of their lives to the pursuit and enjoyment of the arts, and that all acquire a wider view of the world and all the possibilities in it from having met people who can give a face and a name to the term ‘artist’. 

I feel so lucky to have been a part of this cast and playing a part in telling this story.  Now it’s off to other projects: writing big band jazz music, practicing for auditions, and building a teaching studio.  I’m excited to have the necessary time for these pursuits, but I’ll miss this fantastic cast, the long van rides, the load-in and outs, and the thousands of unforgettable moments in the classroom that make up an Open Dream Ensemble season.  Long live the Open Dream Ensemble!

Residency Wrapup!

 This post is from Marissa Byers, pictured here as Deepish in Open Dream Ensemble's production of Big Shoes. 

We left Asheville today after completing our final residency at Claxton Elementary. It's hard to believe that a whole season of working in the classrooms is over. We're all pretty exhausted, but there's a truly bittersweet air hovering over us. I'm left with images of all those faces with smiles and admiration in their eyes, all the chaos and magic of creativity and the hilarious and offbeat comments... Oh the things kids will say. Mr. Wiley was an exceptional teaching partner, and I couldn't be happier about the work we did together. Despite the fact that we're both still very much kids at heart and in physicality, we managed to integrate the academic material from the lesson plans into the classroom. It was satisfying and just plain fun.

Now we have two weeks left of the season, and we're just traveling around performing Big Shoes. It's a different kind of connection with the students, but equally as fun and meaningful. There's nothing quite like the sound of roaring laughter coming from a room full of hundreds of kids... knowing that it's a response to us, a stellar ensemble made of talented hard workers who exemplify mad respect and impeccable teamwork.

Knowledge and Confindence

This post is from Wiley Basho Gorn pictured here as Gordy in Open Dream Ensemble's production of Big Shoes.


We just finished our final week of teacher artist residencies. I felt the most confident in the class room and working with my teaching partner that I have all season and now it's over. I think there's something really beautiful about that feeling. The strive for knowledge that only comes at the end of the journey, often when you least expect it.

Because of the residencies my animal impersonations have skyrocketed as has my knowledge of earthquakes and volcanoes. My favorite moments were the times I showed and played my violin for the class. It's an instrument I've had

I'm looking forward to the next two weeks of tour life but I will always hold a place in my heart for the residencies.

since I was in 4th Grade and it's interesting to think back to that time, especially since we're teaching kids that age. I just recently found out the history of where Myla (my violin) was made and her age. I love sharing that knowledge and explaining vibrations through the strings and body.

Having Fun

This post is from Open Dream Ensemble Artistic Producer and General Manager, Rebecca Nussbaum. 

Recently I was asked to compare the current Open Dreamers to casts from past seasons.  While there are some obvious answers, the one that seems to most shape how well they work as a team and respond to each other is this: they have fun. 

Take a look at the photos from yesterday afternoon's preshow and you'll see what I mean....

Precious Moments

This post is from Ali Bill, pictured here as Emily in Open Dream Ensemble's Big Shoes. 

Hello ODE followers!
These last couple of weeks have been overwhelming in the best sense of the word. We have traveled up and down this beautiful state and I've seen beauty that can only come from the southeast. It's just making it harder and HARDER to have the desire to leave here and go back to the Big Apple...

Our last residency in Charlotte was one that I will never forget. Just so everyone knows, we perform “informances” on the last day of five-day residencies, however we only had a four day residency at this particular school, so we didn't have time for one. However, the imagination and artistic ability that these children had was mind blowing!

On our last day, right before we hand out our book-marks, magnets, and flyers, the students and supportive teacher told us they had something for us, too. They formed in to three groups, thanked us for all that we had taught them, and proceeded to perform their own informances!!! I was blown away that not only did they learn the correct curriculum, they rose to the occasion and in their very own time, put together these skits with dialogue and movement. Our job had surely been done :) This is by far the most rewarding job I have ever had. And I will never forget those precious moments.

XO
Ali

Kind of Moment

This post is from Chesley Polk, pictured here in his role as an Open Dream Teaching Artist. 

I know my previous blogs have been on a super positive note and so I thought I would and should use this one to discuss one of the more painful parts of this job.  You get great kids and you get troubled kids.  The thing with the "bad kids" is they aren't bad. In fact, they are usually so eager to participate that it becomes distracting from the over all lesson and so they have to be disciplined or put out.  It is heartbreaking because you know all they want is to get the answer right or be involved, they just haven't yet mastered the art of "quiet focus". (Which is truly an art).

I hate being the one to tell them to calm down or sit out because I'm always afraid it'll make them scared to participate in the future or that they'll feel their efforts to participate are unappreciated.  I struggled with how to handle this, if only for my peace of mind, and with one student I left feeling I did what I could do.  This student was so active, always raising his hand, jumping with excitement to be able to do what we were doing - but he was so active that it became distracting and he began to shout out answers, jump into the circle, etc. This, as you may imagine, makes teaching the remaining 24 students pretty difficult.  On top of that, it became clear to me that he was a ring leader of sorts. Whatever he did three or four other boys would do as well; including turning their backs from the circle. 

We had to punish him and show him that behavior would get him no where - but I couldn't get that uneasy feeling out of my gut.  A feeling that I have to say something. I pulled him aside on our last day of residency and looked him in his tear filled eyes and said, "hey buddy, you have some great ideas.  You are really truly smart and we saw you knew so much - BUT one of the tricky things you have to learn is patience and how to also be an active listener.  You are clearly a leader in this classroom.  What you do - others do. They look to you as an example. That is a big responsibility". I asked him if he could handle that.  I asked him if he could try to lead the class responsibly and set an example for the other kids.  He looked up at me, tears still flowing down his cheeks, and shook his head yes while flashing a small smile then hugged me all the way to the door.  It's such a scary thing sometimes, teaching children.  I can't help but feel pressure and a responsibility to not only teach the curriculum but help mold them into good people and at times it seems hopeless, but that little teary smile sticks with me and I know, if only for that day, he understood something and that's the kind of moments that make this job a treasure.