Dreams

This concludes Open Dream Ensemble posts for 2009. Look for the next post in the second week of January 2010.

Thanks to all of our well-wishers and fellow dreamers for a wonderful year!

'Tis the night before Christmas so I now take time to share some images from Peril on the Red Planet (where, no doubt, Christmas will someday be celebrated). I wish everyone a holiday season full of wonder and sweet dreams!

Rebecca Nussbaum

Joshua Keeps Moving!

This is the eight and final installment on what the cast is up to post-Open Dream Ensemble Season Five. This post is from the always-in-motion Joshua Morgan.


I will be moving right to Washington, DC and then heading back to NY/LA for the rest of December. Come January 1st, Brian and I will be running No Rules Theatre Company full time. Our first show, Some Girl(s), opens March 4 at H Street Playhouse. As artists, it's literally month to month, sometimes day to day, in terms of our next job, so there's no real reason to go in to great detail about what we'll be doing for the next twelve months... but, if you are interested:

www.NoRulesTheatre.org

spaceonryderfarm.blogspot.com

joshuamorgan25.wordpress.com

Dia's Staying Warm

This is the seventh installment of next steps for the Open Dream Ensemble cast. This post comes from dancer Dia Dearstyne -- now residing in tropical Miami, FL!

What am I doing next? Well....I will be moving to Miami, FL to see what kind of trouble I can get myself into! I'll be moving in with my little brother who is in his last year of college for drama at the New World School of the Arts. And I will be helping one of my good friends and former UNCSA classmates, Ivonne Batanero, start to build up the Contemporary Dance community in Miami. I don't know how long I'll be there. Or what happens after that. But I promise you this, I will be dancing my heart out while I do it!

What's Next for James

This is the sixth in the series of posts outlining what the Open Dream Ensemble cast is up to now that the season is complete. This posting is from multi-talented musician James Stewart.

James Stewart will continue his work as Music Minister at Bethany Baptist Church and as a local educator. He also is involved in several creative projects, composing music for new works of musical theater. Soon James' life will change as he is applying to begin work on his Doctorate in composition.

Next Steps for Rose

This is the fifth installment of what the Open Dream Ensemble cast is now up to at the completion of the season. This comes from the ever active Rose Shields.

As the 5th season of Open Dream Ensemble closes, I have packed up most of my things in preparation to move back to Atlanta, GA. I will be auditioning for XCEL Talent Agency in Atlanta this coming weekend, so life will not slow down for me over the holidays. Once January rolls in for 2010, I will start substitute teaching again in Gwinnett County during my daytime and will be working with choreographers at Dance 101 in Atlanta in my evenings. I am looking forward to working with Charles Carr, Micheal McDonough, T. Lang, and other newer choreographers in the Atlanta area to continue the artistic explosion that has been taking place there in the last 5 years. I shall also begin to line up more dance auditions for cruise lines and dance companies for the winter and spring seasons in hopes to do some touring abroad. Wish me luck! I had a wonderful time working with everyone in ODE. It always an exciting adventure that teaches me something new every day. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of it for 3 seasons and perhaps there will be more in the future!

Brian's Next Moves

This is the fourth installment of the Open Dream Ensemble cast's next plans. This comes to us from actor Brian Sutow.

I will be moving to Washington, DC where I will be working as Co-Artistic Director of No Rules Theatre Company (along with longtime pal and collaborator Joshua Morgan). In March I will be featured in our first production, "Some Girl(s)" by Neil LaBute at the H Street Playhouse. Additionally, we are laying down the ground work to bring our productions from Washington, DC down to Winston Salem's brand new Hanes Theatre - so you may not have seen the last of us yet, Winston-Salem. In my free time, I have continued to write additional episodes of the web series, Assembly Required, which will hopefully go into production at the beginning of 2010. Additionally, Joshua and I are creating two original pieces for the 2010 Capitol Fringe Festival - a live stage show of Assembly Required, and the original musical, "Duets," and are working on spec scripts for Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. On top of all of that, I am searching for a day job that pays the bills. Oh, the life of an artist.

Kjerstin Makes Plans

This is the third installment from the Open Dream cast about what they are up to now that Open Dream has completed season five. This comes from the lovely Kjerstin Lysne.

Just a few short weeks after wrapping up Open Dream Ensemble's 2009 season, I will be relocating to the Washington, DC area where I will be working with choreographer Kelly Mayfield in her freshly forming company, Contradiction Dance. In addition to working with Kelly, I want to continue to create and perform my own work. My first venture (hopefully) being for the Capital Fringe Festival this summer. And in addition to this, I will be working towards my certification to teach yoga.

What's Next for Lauren

This is the second installment of post-season plans from the cast of Open Dream Ensemble. This comes from recent DC resident, Lauren Culpepper.

Once Open Dream closes Joshua, Brian and I are moving to Washington. DC!! We have lived together in Winston-Salem these last 6 months and will also be living together in DC! We got an apartment right in the heart of the city. You walk out the door and 2 blocks down the road is the Capitol! At the end of December, I start rehearsals for Orestes: A Tragic Romp at the Folger Theatre. It will open in February and we will also have a run in April at Two River Theatre in New Jersey. After that I'll be in A New Jerusalem at Theater J in DC that will rehearse and run May - July. I am very excited to start this new chapter in a totally new city with my best friends, but I will truly miss these wonderful last six months with Open Dream and the cast.

Peter Post-Open Dream

This first installment from the cast on what their plans are post-season comes from Winston-Salem-based flutist, Peter Shanahan.

Now that the Open Dream season is coming to a close, it is time to look forward to new projects and having time to develop and follow through with older ones. Since I'm staying in Winston-Salem and don't have any moves in the near future, going to rent a moving van and hauling boxes around is NOT, thank goodness, part of the plan. First of all, I really need to get my website (petershanahan.com) up and running. The web designer has almost completed the work, and I hope to have it ready by the end of January.

I have some concerts with the Winston-Salem Symphony and the Western Piedmont Symphony coming up, and I may actually have the chance to go back to the Southwest Florida Symphony for some concerts during the springtime. I'll be gearing up for another Open Dream Ensemble audition at some point too.

I teach about 12 flute students, and I'm looking forward to having more time to devote to them. I also volunteer to coach a flute choir for amateur flutists, and perform with Flutes on Fourth-- a semi-professional flute ensemble.

Also, I need to spend some quality time in my practice studio, working my flute "chops" to get them better than ever. While I always sound like a professional musician during the Open Dream season, my skills are really honed in by hours of practice for me to take on the most challenging pieces of the flute repertoire. I'd like to play a recital in early March.

Goodbye and good luck to all Open Dreamers, audiences, teachers, and students!

Peter Shanahan

Post

The Open Dream Ensemble active season has ended. But the work continues.

Plans and timelines are being made to launch season 6. Set and costume repairs are being considered. Auditions are being planned. Budgets are being outlined.

And while work goes on in the office of Open Dream, life and work continues for the cast of Open Dream.

These next days will bring updates from each of the cast members. A glance into their current projects and plans, ideas and desires. And as their lives and successes unfold in the future, we hope to bring you word of that as well.

Season Finale

This afternoon I met with the Open Dream Ensemble cast one last time as we loaded the set and costumes into the storage space. Open Dream Season Five is officially complete.

The conclusion of a season always causes me to pause and reflect -- and this has been a wonderful season in many ways. Foremost, the cast. This group of nine artists has shown tremendous dedication to bringing top-quality arts productions and residencies to youth throughout the southeast. Their professionalism and ability to go out day after day and make the same shows fresh and insightful is inspiring. Their dedication to the students in the classrooms where they have worked is wonderful. Without a doubt, these artists have left in their wake thousands of young people who are seeing the arts as enriching, rewarding, exciting, and accessible thanks to their interactions with the cast.
Thank you James, Rose, Peter, Kjerstin, Brian, Lauren, Joshua, Dia, and Haydee!

The writers and directors this season were terrific to work with and brought two new shows to life. From the first flight at Kitty Hawk to life on Mars – this has been a season that has covered some serious ground. Thank you Mollye, Shona, Brian, Isaac, Matt, James and Joshua!

The set and costume designers both came through with great products that fit our broad needs and narrow specifications. I cannot thank Ren and Travis enough for creating a great look for Open Dream Ensemble 2009!

Thanks always to the great women of the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts. Without their tireless support and assistance, Open Dream would simply cease to be. Margaret, Lynda, Suzanna, and Amanda – you have my unending appreciation.

Thanks also to UNCSA and the countless there people who have helped us this season and in season’s past.

Thanks to the panelists, the bookers, the venues, the arts councils, the granting organizations, the host schools, and the great students and teachers who have helped make this a positive and memorable season!

And, of course, thanks to the incomparable Steve D!

Art at its’ core is a communal effort and Open Dream Ensemble is fortunate to have such a robust community.

My gratitude to all named and unnamed -
Rebecca Nussbaum
General Manager

Reflections on the Season's End

This post is from the lovely Kjerstin Lysne. Kjerstin is a graduate of the UNCSA School of Dance and has been a member of Open Dream Ensemble for two seasons. It has been wonderful watching her develop as an artist and teacher through these two seasons.



Here I am again, at the end of another season with Open Dream- my second, and my final, season. I’m not going to miss those 5:00 am calls, and the long hours of driving, but I will definitely miss the steady paycheck…as well as my fellow cast members, from whom I have learned so much, and with whom I have had a blast working , playing, and getting to know over the past 5 months. I thank you for all the memories- they will be treasured. And thank you Open Dream- I have also learned many lessons through rehearsing, performing, and teaching with you over the past two seasons. You have challenged me, stretched me, and brought out so much in me that I never imagined existed. Your impact on me has been just as strong as that which we dare to hope to have on the kids we perform for and teach. My dreams have been opened and I now set out to accomplish them…

Rose's Final Post of Season Five

This post is from UNCSA School of Dance alumna Rose Shields. Rose is a third-year member of Open Dream Ensemble and most recognizable to audiences as the character of Abeona in Peril on the Red Planet.


Open Dream is almost done and my has it flown by! We just wrapped up the last 2 shows of "Peril on the Red Planet" for a great audience at Chestnut Grove Middle School. Will I miss the robot? Perhaps... but definitely not the air tight body suit. I think these last 2 shows of "Peril" were our best out of the whole touring season. Nothing beats the energy of a closing show. What I will miss most about ODE though is everyone in our cast, my second hilariously dysfunctional (but much loved) family. We survived all of the long travels minus a few bumps and bruises along the way (usually from loading/unloading the incredibly large set), and completed each residency with style. Thank you Rebecca for all of the hoops you jump through to make the season happen! One week of

Dream Machines and then on to new adventures!

On Location!

This post is from the currently-in-route-to-the-Outer-Banks Peter Shanahan. Peter is a UNCSA graduate from the School of the Music and a second-year member of the Open Dream Ensemble.

On Tuesday morning, the Open Dream Ensemble will perform Dream Machines at First Flight Elementary School right next to Kill Devil Hill in Kitty Hawk, N.C. The elementary school is only a few hundred yards from where Wilbur and Orville Wright managed to create and fly the world's first heavier-than-air flying machine! Since our play tells their story, and the story of those closest to them, I feel an amazing honor to perform the show right next to the spot where all of this history happened.

Just over a year ago, Open Dream performed another play at First Flight Middle School. The beginnings of Dream Machines were just coming about, but our cast knew that the show would be about the Wright brothers. Even back then, I had a secret desire to see the new show performed "on location!"

Now, after dozens of shows and six months of rehearsal and performing, that secret desire is is no longer secret. It will be among the most satisfying experiences of my artistic life!

Kitty Hawk, N.C. -- Here we come!

Final Week

Tomorrow Open Dream Ensemble begins the final week of performances for this season. This week includes two performances in Stokes County followed by five performances in Dare County.

By the end of this week, Open Dream will have performed over 60 times and spent 24 days in elementary school residencies across the state as teaching artists. Add to this over 7000 miles traveled, rehearsal time, teaching artist training, archive filming and being featured on the NASA/JPL series Martians, and it has been a wonderful and busy season.

Ah, but not to get ahead of myself -- there are many miles left before the conclusion.... and more will be reported here in the coming weeks!

Curtain Call

This is the final post from the wonderful James Stewart. James graduated with a Masters in Music Composition degree from the UNCSA School of Music and is finishing up his third season with Open Dream Ensemble.

Well, this season is coming to a close. This has been my third season on
the cast of the Open Dream Ensemble. After four original scores, five new
shows, a dozen residences, and somewhere around 200 performances, these
will be my last few days with the ensemble. It has been an amazing and
rewarding experience. I have enjoyed the challenge, the performing, the
writing, the students, and (believe it or not) the driving from one place
to another. But, there is one thing that I will miss most of all, and
that will be the cast. I appreciate every member of this ensemble, their
gifts, their personalities, their humor, their enthusiasm, and their
friendship. I would like to take this last blog post as a chance to thank
the cast, the management, and the producers of the Open Dream Ensemble for
the opportunity to be a part of something so unique and so important.
Thank you Peter for always being willing to hop into the van with me to
help load and un-load.
Thank you Brian for the talks on the long rides in the van.
Thanks Lauren, for introducing me to Radio-Lab (I can’t stop listening
to it!).
Thanks Joshua for making me laugh especially when I didn’t feel like
laughing.
Thanks Rose for faithfully assembling the glider over and over and over
again.
Thank you Kjerstin for always helping me set-up the percussion for Dream
Machines.
Thanks Dia for your constant optimism and smile.
Thank you Haydee for stepping in as you did, and for your listening ear.
Thank you Rebecca, for postponing a show so that I could go be with my
family in a time of need.
And thank you, Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts for making all of
this possible.

Brian's Final Post (for us)

This is the final post of the season from Brian Sutow. Brian is a UNCSA School of Drama graduate and soon-to-be-resident of Washington, DC. He is pictured above holding the "Flying Research." -- Truly, he does look better without the mustache.

I can't believe the season is coming to an end. When starting the season in July, it seemed like six months of acting work was an eternity, and I would never have to worry about finding a job or auditioning again! Well, while I am unfortunately going to have to go on the prowl for a job (in my new home of Washington, DC - Yes!) this season has been everything I had hoped it would be and more. I will particularly miss getting to work with this wonderful ensemble of people every day. Being on the road together can be tricky - potentially horrific - and this group of people has stayed fun, friendly and enjoyable the entire time. Fortunately, I think the friendships will last well beyond this six month season. Already we have found ourselves working together (or planning to) outside of Open Dream. Joshua and I brought Kjerstin up to DC to dance in our Halloween show, we have brought James on to help compose and arrange for our original musical that we're bringing to the Capitol Fringe Festival, and we're looking forward to using Peter in an episode of our webseries - and that's just what we've planned so far! But most of all, I will miss working with and performing for the kids. I've enjoyed my time with them so much that I've already applied for children's theatre jobs up in DC. So who knows... perhaps my journey with children's theatre is just getting started.

Rain Out

The rain in Winston-Salem this fall has been prolific. So much rain that Peter caught a fish "this BIG" just by standing outside....

But seriously, Open Dream Ensemble did, for the first time, have to adjust our schedule to fit in the rain. We had planned to perform outside this afternoon as part of our residency at Triad Academy but have moved the performance to Friday in hopes that we will have clearer skies.

Hopefully the rain will dissipate sometime tonight. Our schedule includes outdoor performances tomorrow and Friday. Fingers crossed for blue skies!

Welcome Back

This week Lauren Culpepper returns to Open Dream Ensemble after a month recuperating from hip surgery. Tomorrow she will resume the role of Katharine Wright at a performance in Charlotte. Lauren, a graduate of the UNCSA School of Drama, let's us know how she feels....

I am happily back with Open Dream for the final two weeks! I couldn't be more excited. This past month recovering from my hip surgery has been a rough one, but I feel ready to return as Katherine Wright in Dream Machines tomorrow. I must admit I'm a little nervous since I haven't had a chance to do the show in a month, so I'm going over lines and blocking tonight just in case. I really look forward to seeing the rest of the cast tomorrow and couldn't be more excited and grateful to be able to return and close the season with everyone. As for my post surgery recovery...things seem to be going just as planned. I can do pretty much everything except run and kick, etc. which is why Haydee is going to step in for the last two shows of Peril this week. I wish I could do it physically, but I'm also glad to have the chance to hang out with her and the rest of the team.

Glad to have you back, Lauren!

Dia / Diana

This post is from dear Dia Dearstyne. Dia is a graduate of the UNCSA School of Dance and a first-year member of Open Dream Ensemble.



Wooooops!
I was so excited for the weekend I forgot to write my blog! Sorry to all you avid readers, didn't mean to keep you hanging :)

Well, since I wrote last much has happened. I have been taking over the role of Diana in our show "Peril On the Red Planet" for the past month since Lauren had hip surgery. It's been such a treat! From hot pink leggings, to pig tails, adventuring with my BFF Abeona to defeating Zartok 3...I will miss it! But Lauren comes back after Thanksgiving and I'm so very happy to have my friend and roommie back!

I can't believe it's all almost coming to an end. Six months go by very fast when you're working as hard and as often as we do in ODE. I actually feel like I'm finally getting into a routine, where I have a good idea of how things are going to go from day to day, and I'm comfortable with my roles as a coworker and cast mate. Just in time for the contract to be over! But I guess that's how it goes. I'll be sure to enjoy every last performance, road trip, load in and out, and fit of giggles with my ODE family in these last weeks!

Staying Fresh

This post is from the insightful Brian Sutow. Brian is a graduate of the UNCSA School of Drama. He is pictured on the left as a Martian Cop in Peril on the Red Planet.

We are getting pretty close to the end of this wonderful season of the Open Dream Ensemble. It has been a fascinating, thought-provoking and inspiring journey so far, and I'm sure there are still a few more wonderful memories on the way before we finish. One thing that has been really interesting me lately has been how the shows have continued to grow since we started performing them. This is the longest run of a show I have ever performed. I was very concerned that doing the same shows for months on end might lead to them growing stale, or ideas growing tired. Fortunately, that has not been the case at all! Recently the shows have picked up new energy and steam, and some of the performances we have delivered this week have been the funniest, clearest and richest shows to date. It's nice to know that all of these months later there are new things to be mined, specified and deepened in our performances - and that we are keeping the show fresh and finding them (while of course upholding the integrity of the shows, and the directors' vision). Of course, what really keeps us inspired are the fantastic audiences we have been having. Their fresh eyes watching the show help to keep it fresh for us! Now I'd be curious to have an experience like Topol has had with "Fiddler on the Roof." What would it be like to play a role for years? Decades? I can only imagine the richness, insight and heart that experience could give to a performer.

BLOG: 11/16/09 From Haydee

This is our first post from the wonderful Haydee Thompson! Haydee is a drama graduate of UNCSA and has returned to Open Dream Ensemble as a third-year cast member.

Hello Dreamer Followers,
This is my first blog ever! This morning I woke up at 4am, pet my cat Lily, got out of bed, put on the kettle, got dressed, made tea (and a bagel), checked the e-mail, and packed my bag.
Bag Items:
script
water
thermos of tea
lunch
make-up
voice
pillow
Rose picked me up 50 minutes later to make our 5:00am call, meeting in the back parking lot of UNCSA (Egypt). We made it just in time. I hopped in the Ryder Van with James. On the drive we talked about a kid's birthday party he went to this weekend, with a petting zoo and it sounded like James had a great time! It is still dark an hour later when the road begins to wind up these great hills and there is a sign to Turn onto the Great Blue Ridge Parkway, what a treat. The Sunrise was a deep red and quite spectacular. There is nothing
like seeing morning break and I think how lucky I am to see it. I have seen some amazing sunrises, light and landscapes this month on the road with Open Dream.
Other great things I've seen this month:
smiling faces
teamwork
humor
strength
compassion
fortitude
friendship

41.5/25

This post is from Peter Shanahan -- seen celebrating in the photo above. Peter, a graduate of the UNCSA School of Music, is a second-year Open Dream Ensemble member. As you will read in the post, his sense of humor comes in handy when stuck on the road...


Open Dream has landed back on Winston-Salem's terra firma. While our most recent trip didn't include any actual flying, I'm sure all of us wished that we could pull back on the steering wheel, taking off into the clouds to avoid the 25 hours of driving we just completed.

The story goes like this:

Wednesday, November 11
9:00 AM Cast meets in Winston-Salem, NC and departs for Hundington, TN
10:15 Cast stops at Starbucks in Hickory, NC for much needed coffee and potty-break.
11:30 Detour due to a rockslide begins. Total closure of a major interstate highway.
2:30-3:00 PM Lunch break at Wendy's!!!
3:30 Pass through Knoxville, TN
6:00 (Approximate) Pass through Nashville, TN!
7:30 (Approximate) Begin traffic jam caused by terrible accident. Moved fewer than a mile in three hours.
8:15 Practical Jokes begin. Peter starts. Joshua ends.
8:45 Peter gets over the water w/lemon thrown at him and laughs about it.
9:30 (Local Time) Finally get to an exit and take a detour!!!
11:00 (Approximate) Arrive at motel in Hundington.

Thursday, November 12
6:45 AM Cast departs motel and soon arrives at the Dixie Carter Center!
7:00 Load in and set-up with lots of stage crew help. Thank you Dixie Carter Center!
9:00 Peril on the Red Planet showtime!
11:00 Peril on the Red Planet showtime!
2:30 PM EST Depart Hundington, TN with a full stomach!
2:40 Pick up my pillow left at motel.
Fast Forward......
8:45 Dinner break at...you guessed it: Wendy's!!! Yay!
8:50 James is accused of credit card fraud by the Hess/Wilco station manager.
8:55 James is found innocent by said manager. Whew!

Friday, November 13
1:31 AM Arrival of remaining pieces of cast at UNCSA campus in Winston-Salem, NC!

By my quick calculations, done while driving at 1:00 AM on Friday, that makes 41.5 Hours from start to finish, with 25 spent on the road!
41.5/25, a rock slide, a horrible accident, two shows on Mars, two Wendy's meals, and a trip ending on Friday the 13th.

What a trip! Yes, I'm convinced of it: we all wanted to have flying vans.

Role Call

Through the years, Open Dream Ensemble has been fortunate to have a number of talented UNCSA-trained artists as part of the team. Recent reflection has indicated there have been well over 40 people who have used their skills as cast members, writers / directors, composers, set designers, costume designers, lighting designers, interns and so much more. Our honor roll includes:
Kashanna Brown, Megan Cook, Matt Cowart, Lauren Culpepper, Dia Dearstyne, John Dillon, Tim Eulich, Molly Feingold, Amber Ferenz, Jonathan Gordon, Cara Hagan, Laura Hall, Juliane Harper, Jessica Hightower, Isaac Klein, Olivia Kohrman, Ren LaDassor, Chad Lynch, Kjerstin Lysne, Kelly Maxner, Mollye Maxner, Step Maus, Travis McHale, Heidi McIver, Joshua Morgan, Keith Nelson, Rebecca Nussbaum, Jennifer O'Kelly, Patrick Osteen, Cora Philips, Justin Poindexter, Harry Poster, Peter Shanahan, Karim Sekou, Mathew Smart, James Stewart, Brian Sutow, Kate Sutton-Johnson, Haydee Thompson, Colin Tribby, and Ryan White.

Thanks to everyone for their work through the years!

And, if I've somehow overlooked your name and it should be on this list, please let me know!

Four Shows in Two Days and a LONG Drive Tomorrow

Open Dream Ensemble performed Peril on the Red Planet twice yesterday at Southeastern Middle School in beautiful Stokes County. These were some of the first performances with Dia as Diana and they went well! To my knowledge there were only two moments that were a little less than smooth -- one of them when the bamboo staff of Demeter's robot (played by the lovely Kjerstin Lysne) cracked and the other when Dia had a slight slip in memory and got even more power from earth. Good going to all the cast for making the needed changes with two roles switching performers!

Today the cast had the opportunity to perform Dream Machines in at Kimmel Farm and Mineral Springs Elementary Schools in Winston-Salem through a grant from The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County and funding from the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools. Dream Machines is staying tight and Haydee in her seventh performance as Katharine Wright is playing the part with great familiarity and ease.

Tomorrow puts Open Dream on the road. The cast heads east to Hundington, Tennessee for two performances of Peril at the Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center there on Thursday.

Safe travels!

Welcome Back!

Now in her second week of working with us, it is past time to welcome actress Haydee Thompson back to Open Dream Ensemble. Haydee was a cast member in seasons 3 and 4 and has returned this season to replace Lauren Culpepper as Katharine Wright in Dream Machines as well as taking on the role of Demeter, and others, in Peril on the Red Planet.

Haydee is a wonderful actress and person. We are extremely fortunate that she was willing to step in on short notice and, literally, a few hours of rehearsal. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Busy Week

Open Dream Ensemble is currently in the middle of a week of performances, residencies, rehearsals and one meeting.

In the performances category, we just completed three performances of Dream Machines in Ashe County, NC elementary schools. Isaac Klein, co-writer and co-director of the show, was able to attend one of the performances yesterday and give notes to the amazing cast. On Friday, we will perform Peril on the Red Planet at the Montessori School of Winston-Salem.

In the residencies category, we are in residence at The Montessori School of Winston-Salem this week on Monday and Friday. We are enjoying a wonderful group of students and teachers at that school!

In the rehearsals category - we had one rehearsal on Monday afternoon for Peril (working on replacing Lauren with Dia in the role of Diana and on replacing Dia with Haydee in the role of Demeter) and will have another tomorrow morning -- this time, we hope, with a healthy Joshua.

Meeting - the cast and I will be meeting tomorrow afternoon to converse about Open Dream in general, the season in specific, and look into the possible future. We'll also be starting to plan our upcoming residency at the Triad Academy.

So, all in all, a busy week!

Ready Rosie

This post is from the ever-ready Rose. Rose, a graduate of the UNCSA School of Dance, is a third-year member of Open Dream Ensemble and great at being cheerful at 5:00 a.m.!


We had our first day at the Montessori School of Winston-Salem (Oct. 27) and the pace at that school is very different from that of regular public schools. It's interesting to come into a class that has a mixed age group. The 4th, 5th, and 6th graders being combined into one class makes it seem more like one big family. Also, we performed Dream Machines in literally a hallway at that school, and it never ceases to amaze me how our group accommodates so easily and quickly to make the show work in any size of space (as long as we have doorways wide enough for our work bench to fit through).

Now that I've had a chance to rest up over the weekend I can say I'm ready for those 5:00 in the morning call times. I'm seriously learning how to become a better morning person. It's really tough! I don't know how public school teachers do this 5 days a week for 9 months of the year!

Hippy's Update

While the Open Dream Ensemble cast is getting some well-deserved time off during these next few days, an update from actress Lauren Culpepper came in. Lauren underwent hip surgery on Tuesday. Here, in her own words, is how things are going...



Hello guys!
I hope you all are enjoying your much needed break this week...although I know that most of you are working extremely hard on your own projects. anyway, at the lovely Peter Shanahan's request, I am sending out a little "update" as to how I'm doing.
Surgery went well overall. The surgeon did everything he had hoped to do which including "trimming" down bone, removing cysts, inflamation, infection, repairing tears on the top and bottom of the labrum, etc. whew! Sounds like a lot but he acted like it was a normal routine to have all of that going on in this type of injury. I stayed in the hospital for a day and had a sweet 4 hour visit from Steve Davis : )...who doesn't love him?! He brought me a pickle lapel pin.
I was discharged yesterday with about 9 different prescriptions and sooo much instructions as to what I can/cant' do. Apparently this surgery is more meticulous than an entire hip replacement because I have to move in a very specific way as to not use my hip flexors. I can only put "20 lbs" on my left leg when I walk with crutches...(how I am supposed to measure 20 lbs I have NO idea..) The hardest part, I think is whats ahead with rehab. So far, I can't do anything by myself...I can't bathe, dress, get in the car, blah blah blah by myself. Mom has to wait on me hand and foot, literally, to make sure that I don't use certain muscles in my leg. I also have to wear white compression tights that go all the way up to my thighs every second of the day for a month....so sexy. The dog, Jesse, thinks all my new contraptions are the coolest thing but I'm able to succesfully protect myself from him by threatening to whack him with my spider crutches and hip brace. : ) I've been on lots of pain meds which I have recently refused to take as often because they make me feel like a zombie.
I am supposed to be on crutches for the next four weeks, but they're also telling me that this healing process is a speedy one...as in, hopefully I will be able to use the bicycle by next week!
Anyway, Thank you all so very much for your thoughts and well wishes...I can't tell you how MUCH it means to me. This is a huge challenge for me--all I love to do is take care of other people, and now I have to be completely dependent on someone else. But I will progress!!! And soon enough I'll be back with you guys.
Love you all...Haydee, Dia, Peter, Joshua, Brian, KJ, James, Rose, and Rebecca who are all working SO HARD to keep ODE alive without me...you rock my compression tights OFF!!

How did Lenior go??? Please don't forget about me here in SC and update me on everything whenever you can!!!
lots and lots and lots and lots of love,

Lauren

Until Next Month ....

This following post is from Lauren Culppeper. Lauren, a graduate of the UNCSA School of Drama, will be taking some time away from Open Dream Ensemble in the next weeks as she undergoes surgery and physical therapy. She writes more about this below....

This past week was definitely an eventful week! It felt like we were in the van for the majority of the time. Regardless, I wanted to soak in as much as I could because unfortunately I am going to have to undergo hip surgery next week, taking me away from the company for the month of November. This is truly an unfortunate occurrence that we all wish was not happening, but everyone has been incredibly kind and willing to help keep Open Dream moving along smoothly in my absence. The GOOD NEWS in all of this is we will have Haydee Thompson returning to the cast in my place! Haydee has been a member of the Open Dream Ensemble in years past and is very talented AND I hear that she's also a wonderful teaching artist as well. She is going to be replacing me in Dream Machines as Katherine Wright, and in Peril, Dia will be playing Diana and Haydee will be playing Dia's role of Demeter. Yesterday we had a brief rehearsal to make these changes and Haydee was able to easily make this transition...cause she's a pro! The cast and myself are so thrilled to have her on board, and I'm just jealous because I'll be stuck in rehab next month instead of getting to know her better!
So...hopefully the surgery will go as smoothly as we hope and I will be happily back in the game in December!!

Lights, Dog, and Home

This post is from the talented and very capable Brian Sutow. Brian is a graduate of the UNCSA School of Drama and a first-year Open Dreamer. Last night the cast returned from a week on the road that included stops in Florida and South Carolina.


What a week it has been! Tuesday we performed Peril on the Red Planet for approximately 2,200 fifth graders in Panama City, Florida. I think that is the largest (though not if you are counting by a cumulative group age) audience I have ever performed for. The show went quite well, and the kids really seemed to enjoy themselves. One scary moment occurred when the lights shut completely off during our first major set transition. We were supposed to have some red lights on stage to help us see as we maneuvered many heavy (and potentially dangerous) set pieces around the stage. Fortunately, we have been performing this show long enough to literally be able to do these transitions with our eyes closed...well, almost. Joshua found the dangerous set change to be so hilariously adventurous that he couldn't help but giggle as he finished his final move. Well, never being sure of what will happen next is one of the joys of live theater - it certainly keeps you on your toes. I do feel lucky to have an ensemble that works so hard to keep each other safe and happy regardless of the difficulties that come from setting this show up in so many incredibly different situations and environments.

Lauren's parents, David and Lisa, were nice enough to house us all when we were in South Carolina later in the week. I think everyone was grateful to have a delicious home cooked meal, as well as some attention from the family dog. We are all very grateful for their help and support.

I'm also grateful to be able to sleep in my own bed for a couple of nights. My memory foam mattress is just a wee little bit better than the beds at "The Buccaneer Motel."

Out and About

This post is from the marvelous Peter Shanahan. A graduate of the UNCSA School of Music, Peter is a second-year Open Dream Ensemble cast member. His fluting, singing, dancing, and acting skills are well utilized in both Open Dream productions. His navigating skills are well utilized when on tour....

One of the very best things about being in the Open Dream Ensemble is that we travel to many very interesting and beautiful places. I think I found a slice of heaven in Savannah, Georgia this week! If you haven't gone there, I would highly recommend it. Spanish moss is hanging from the many old trees, and the parks and monuments that decorate the city are very special. Everyone seemed to be riding bikes, going on long walks, or having a picnic in the park. That was on a Wednesday during the day!

Another stop for us was Panama City, Florida. Our hotel was right on the bay and there was a mini-private beach for us to get our feet wet. Nobody seemed up for a swim after they noticed the large oil storage tanks next door. Although, I did see some fish swimming happily in the water.

With the many, many long days we have with Open Dream it is so wonderful to be spending time with great people in gorgeous surroundings. Where to next???

Peril on the Red Planet Images

Some photos from Peril on the Red Planet.

Aulander, post 3

This post is from Dia Dearstyne (pictured as the yellow guard robot in Peril on the Red Planet). Dia is a graduate of the UNCSA School of Dance and a first year Open Dream Ensemble member. She is currently working diligently to learn the role of Diana in Peril which she will take over on November 2. -- But more on that in a later post.... For now, here is the most recent news from Aulander Elementary School in Bertie County, NC.

Right now, Peter and I are hanging out in the teacher's lounge of Aulander Elementary School in Bertie county, getting prepared for our last day's work. We just finished creating the costumes that go along with the most original machine we've helped build to date. The "Graduate from College Machine"! It's amazing how far a little construction paper, tape, and imagination can go.

This school is the smallest we've worked with in Residency this season and it's really been a treat. Not only is it slightly easier to manage a classroom of 14 vs. the 27 we've encountered at other schools, but it allows us as teaching artists to really connect on a different level. And at a school like Aulander where "Dream Machines" and "Peril on the Red Planet" are the first live theatre they've ever seen, that connection is really important.

This school has a really lovely set of teachers and staff. Included in that is their AWESOME dance teacher. Mrs. Joy Fipps is such a sweet little ball of energy and has gone out of her way to make sure the ODE cast has everything they need. She has even made us coffee every morning! (Thank you!!!!)

I know my ODE family and I have learned a lot this week from our experience here and I'm looking forward to seeing the debut performances of the students of Aulander Elementary School this afternoon!

Aulander, post 2

This post is from actress Lauren Culpepper. Lauren is pictured in the role of Diana in Peril on the Red Planet.

This week are in residency at Aulander Elementary School. I think this is one of the smallest towns I've ever been in. I was initially taken aback by the environment and level of poverty that I know these children live in, but I was amazed at how well behaved the kids were. It was clear doing Peril that the kids had not had a lot of exposure to live performances. And we heard through one of the teachers that the kids had been asking what "drama" was and how they could do drama. We asked them in class what the difference was between a play and a TV show or movie and quickly realized that we had to explain the difference to them. It was so beautiful to see how quickly they opened up and adapted to the things we were sharing with and teaching them throughout the week. I really felt like I grew very close to these kids and I wish we could stay longer at this school more than any other school we've been at so far because I think it's schools like these that Open Dream Ensemble needs to be doing residencies at. The kids are actually pretty comfortable moving because they have an amazing and passionate dance teacher! Mrs. Fipps has been incredibly helpful and kind to us throughout the week. Not only was she welcoming and supportive of the work we were doing with the students, but she ALWAYS participated, while also keeping a watchful eye on the kids and giving specific attention where it was needed. I think that the work we are doing with the students will really help the work that she's doing with them on a daily basis...over just this past week, we've seen them become much more comfortable with their own individuality and creativity and truly understanding what teamwork is.
I'm so glad to have had this week to spend with Aulander Elementary. I really believe in the kids and this school and the work that Mrs. Fipps is doing with them and I hope that ODE can return next year and for years to come.

Rewarding Residencies

This post is from the multi-faceted James Stewart. In addition to being a third-year Open Dream Ensemble member, James is a composer (yes, he wrote the music for Peril and along with Joshua Morgan team-wrote the music of Dream Machines), music minister, carpenter and daddy. (James is in the far right of the photo holding a sign stating "MARS").

Five days in Bertie county
Four groups of teaching artists from the Open Dream Ensemble
Three shows for the students, teachers, and communities
Two classes of amazing kids
One "informance" (informal - performance) that the students will share with each other on Friday afternoon.

The countdown is on and we are having a wonderful time at Aulander Elementary School in Bertie County, North Carolina this week.
This is the fourth week of residency work we've done so far this season and I have to say it is always a rewarding experience: to come into a new school, a new environment, to share our talents and then to spend time in the classroom having the students share their talents with us.
I am always impressed, always enriched, always rewarded.

Bertie County Residency

As this is being written, the cast is hard at work getting the set up and walking through Dream Machines. Tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. we will perform for the students of Aulander Elementary School in Bertie County.

One of the reasons this will be an interesting show is that Rose Shields will be playing the role of Katharine Wright rather than Lauren Culpepper. Lauren will take back her role later this week in the community performance. This should give the students an interesting point of comparison.

For now, we will soon sit down for some supper and belated birthday cake (Peter and James). We'll enjoy some conversation, listen to some stories, and hope to get some good rest before tomorrow arrives.

We look forward to out time at Aulander and will keep everyone posted throughout the week.

Shuford Elementary 3-day Residency

Today Open Dream Ensemble completed a three-day residency at Shuford Elementary School in Conover, NC.

The three days were pretty intense for the cast and included two performances, 30 classes, and one staff development session.

Needless to say, the students at Shuford are creative and fun, the teachers are supportive and helpful, and the principal is an enthusiastic proponent of the arts. Shuford has a lot of good things happening!!!!

I would also like to thank the cafeteria staff for being so accommodating to the many vegetarians in the cast.

Thanks Shuford for a great three days and I hope that we will return in seasons to come!

Also, thanks to the NC School of the Arts Fund for Catawba County Endowment for giving financial support for a portion of this residency.

Photo by Martin Tucker. Guard-Robot scene from Peril on the Red Planet

Joshua's World

This post is from the energetic and thin (yes, really!) Joshua Morgan. This is Joshua's first season with Open Dream Ensemble. He is a graduate of the UNCSA School of Drama.

We've just started up our third week of residency work. The kids are so appreciative of the work we're doing with them. They love these shows and have been more than willing to dive into all of the explorations we're asking them to participate in.

With that said, there were these two girls in this fourth grade class the other day who had raised their hands to be "musicians". Note...they rose their hands to be "musicians". They spent the entire 15 minutes we had as a small group complaining about how they wanted to be with the "dancers". They made snide comment after snide comment and completely shut down the other kids in the group. They said one too many things and I told them to get out and go with the dancers. I'm sure I was pointed because I was angry so they backed down and were relatively quiet for the rest of the class. I felt bad but I was more upset that they were ruining the experience for everyone else. I'm not one who deals well with a complete lack of respect for other people. It doesn't matter who you are...if you're demeaning an experience or someone, you shouldn't get any respect back. I just wonder to what extent we're allowed to put these kids in their place if they get out of line. I suppose it should be the teachers responsibility but they're not always around if they're working another group. Anywho, to make a long story short, I beat them. Just kidding! We've done three performances already this week and all have gone well. Oh! Except for the fact that Orville's shirt wasn't packed yesterday so I had to wear fellow ODE member Peter Shanahan's button down in place of it. I actually liked it better... Alright. Talk soon.

White Oak Elementary 3: The Beach, Birthdays, and A Beautiful Performance!

This post is from the vivacious and talented Dia Dearstyne. This is Dia's first season with Open Dream Ensemble. She graduated from the UNCSA School of Dance in the spring. The photos are from Dia -- lending her expert eye as her students prepare an informance and appearing with the cast.



Well, where to begin?
Our week at White Oak Elementary School in Carteret County was such a lovely experience! Mr. Peter and I had the great pleasure of working with 4 different classes, all of whom were smart and enthusiastic. It never ceases to amaze me what goes on in the minds of children...how free and unlimited their dreams are. We heard about how they wanted to be anything from a Marine Biologist, to a Broadway Star! From wanting to be "Buff", to wanting to be the wheel of a car! And there were so many more. Such minds! The highlight of this residency for me was getting the whole school into the gym to share what each class had worked so hard on all week. All those different machines! And to see each and every person working as a team...that's what it's all about. Bravo WOES!
On top of getting to work in such a cool school, we were are the BEACH! This is a challenging job, but who can complain when you're floating around in that sweet salty water? It was a great bonus to end a day taking pictures in the sunset and walking on the pier.
Did anyone mention we also had 2 birthdays on this trip? Peter and James both turned another year older! We celebrated by taking them to dinner on Thursday night. You guys should have seen how huge the portions were at this Italian restaurant! Most of us had to share :)
It's been nice to have a couple days off after all that excitement. I spent them doing random errands, getting a much needed massage, and stocking up on yarn so I can start knitting some scarves for my family back in NY! Tomorrow we get back on the road. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Until then...keep dreaming!
Dia D.

White Oak Elementary 2

This post is from second-year Open Dream Ensemble member and dancer, Kjerstin Lysne. In addition to her work with Open Dream, Kjerstin has busied herself with the lead role of a series pilot. Just back from a week at White Oak Elementary School, Kjerstin is having a quite weekend and wrote the following reflection.

What a week! A very busy, challenging week, but I can't imagine a better place in which we could have spent it. We just returned from a residency in Cape Carteret, where we were put up on Emerald Isle, almost directly on the beach. So when we weren't performing, teaching, or planning, I was soaking up the sun, swimming in the ocean, walking on the beach.
Other highlights of the week: Peter's birthday, James' birthday (happy birthday once again, boys!), and yesterday, our last day at White Oak Elementary School, which has served as reminder of the positive impact we are having on the young lives with whom we come into contact. If ever I doubt this again, I can just look at the seashells and the bag full of thank you notes and pictures given me by Mrs. Benson's 3rd grade class to remind myself again. Thank you to all the students and teachers of WOES for making this past week so wonderful!

News from the White Oak Residency

This post is from the multi-talented UNCSA School of Dance graduate, Rose Shields. For anyone who has seen Peril on the Red Planet, Rose is the dancing, acrobatic Abeona (pictured).

We have had a great time meeting all of the students and faculty at White Oak Elementary. What an energetic mixture of creativity they have! Brian and I have discovered new ways to keep our teaching sessions with the kids running smoothly and artistically. I think we work well as a team... Unfortunately, Brian has been fighting a bad cold to start this week, so I had to teach Day 2 without him (many of the kids said they hoped the "mustache guy" would get well soon). He still was able to pull off all of his roles in Peril on the Red Planet successfully despite barely having a voice... the show must go on! Did I mention we are staying in a place right beside the beach? Yesterday evening's winds made for some pretty impressive waves. I look forward to the rest of this week and harnessing more of the innovation at White Oak Elementary.

~Rose

P.S.- One of our classes is creating a "Flying stage machine" that includes students who will be Lights, Flying apparatus, special effects, and singers/dancers... this 3rd grade class is ambitious!

Ward Elememtary

This past week Open Dream Ensemble was in residency at Ward Elementary in Winston-Salem, NC. During the course of the week we performed two shows and taught 80 in-class residency sessions. While at Ward we worked with six 5th grade classes, six 2nd grade classes and four Kindergarten classes. The week was a great success and Open Dream Ensemble was warmly received and thanked by the many students, teachers and administrators of Ward Elementary.

For our part, we would like to thank everyone at the school for their hospitality and enthusiasm. We would also like to thank for RJR Foundation for their support in making this residency possible.

Tomorrow it's off for Cape Carteret, NC and White Oak Elementary! For this residency we thank the North Carolina Arts Council and the Kenan Institute for the Arts for their support.

Teaching Artist, part 4

This post is from the lovely and lively Lauren Culpepper. Lauren wrote this post on Friday as the teaching artist training was coming to a close and the cast of Open Dream Ensemble prepared to move into the second phase of the season -- performing and residencies.

What a huge week we've had! All week we've been doing Teaching Artist training. I had no idea there was so much that is required for the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Some of the things we learned were pretty tedious, but we knew it was ultimately leading to the goal of creating an awesome ODE "curriculum" to bring to the students. My teaching partner is James and, I think I can say this without the other members getting jealous because they'd probably agree with me, I am totally lucky to be with him! He really knows what he's doing and when we were creating our curriculum, he was able to help out with the logistics of the format, as well as collaborate on games and activities that we can do together.

I am a little apprehensive about teaching next week at Ward Elementary. I'm totally excited, but I really hope that all of the work and planning we've done translates to the classroom and the kids get it. I can't wait to meet these children and work with them. I wish I had this sort of opportunity when I was young. To have someone come in the classroom and give me a new way of thinking about art and goals and learning, and most importantly, to never be afraid of making mistakes. I truly feel that if I had someone implement that single idea to me as a child, I would be a different person today.

Well, we're officially heading towards the new leg of our journey here...just about to go on tour! yay!!! I think the eight of us work really well together and have created a wonderful working environment. We also play together really well, too!

Teaching Artist, part 3

This post is from the great Peter Shanahan. Peter wrote this mid-week and by this time has completed a wonderful, through set of lesson plans! Open Dream Ensemble begins our first residency of the season at Ward Elementary School in Winston-Salem tomorrow.

We're in the middle of working with A+ Schools fellow right now, with the purpose of detailing and strengthening our format for teaching residencies. These residencies take place throughout the fall every year and are a very important part of what we do. They allow us the chance to build something with the students that is so direct, so individually valuable; hopefully creating a lasting impact on the child.

Back to what we're doing to prepare ourselves for our many residencies: The teaching artist training is a mix of some of the most important, grueling detail work with the NC Standard Course of Study, combined with moments of sheer play and child-like joy as we plan out and act out our activities. The group has some very string returning cast members who can guide the process, and the inquisitive and completely fresh views of the new cast members brings new life and excitement.

Oh, and one more thing. I almost forgot to tell you!!!! How could I have done that? Here goes:

COFFEE AND COOKIES have been ESSENTIAL this week.

Teaching Artist, part 2

The following post is from Brian Sutow. In addition to being a talented actor and graduate of the UNCSA School of Drama, Brian is a quick study and delves into challenges without trepidation. Brian is pictured here as Wilbur Wright receiving Flying Research from Octave Chanute in Open Dream Ensemble's production of Dream Machines.

Teacher Artist Training is well under way and I'm having a great time and finding myself fascinated by many of the topics we are learning about and discussing. It is interesting to learn about the ways that a creative learning process is beneficial for children (and how it can help activate different parts of their brain). I became an artist in large part because I was interested in creating positive change in the world around me, so it is very satisfying to learn just how enriching a creative approach really is. I am greatly looking forward to the rest of the week. However, I agree with Rose, putting together those lesson plans looks like it's going to be kind of difficult -- eep!

Teaching Artist Training Week

Open Dream Ensemble is devoting this week to teaching artist training. Over the course of the week we examine current issues in education, school culture, classroom management, the theory multiple intelligences, the concept of process, the NC Standard Course of Study, lesson plan format, and teaching curricular goals through the arts (among other things). Tomorrow the cast begins putting some ideas down on paper for their upcoming residencies.

This post is from Rose Shields (the hula dancer in the photo). Rose is a third-year member of Open Dream Ensemble and a dedicated dancer and teaching artist.


Here come the Teaching Artist lesson plans! The creating process of it all is rather exciting; it's actually the typing out of each day's activities, materials, and goals that is most tedious. I love how the games and activities we come up with each year for the residencies are just as much fun (if not more) for us and the teachers as it is for the kids.

Some Down Time

Well, we did it! Last night Open Dream Ensemble performed Dream Machines and Peril on the Red Planet to a wonderful and enthusiastic audience at the Stevens Center. Today both shows were taped; Peril by a NASA/JPL HD filming team and Dream Machines by local film artists from Leading Edge Video.

The past two weeks have been full of long days and very little down time. Tech week (this week) was intense for cast, crew and directors alike. I want to send out a sincere thanks to the cast for their non-stop energy and positive humor. I also want to acknowledge the spectacular work of Travis McHale. Travis designed and built our set AND then helped us out by designing and running the lights in the Stevens Center this week. He is an absolute gem to work with and a rare talent.

Our directors Matt Cowart, Isaac Klein, and Mollye Maxner worked tirelessly to polish their shows and help with last-minute repairs and touch ups. You all amaze me and have my sincere gratitude.

Now, a week off for the cast as they have some well-deserved rest and pursue other projects.

The directors and Travis will shortly leave town for their next shows... to them, toi toi toi!

To all, a great big THANK YOU!

Much to do

Open Dream Ensemble has moved into the Stevens Center! Today and tomorrow we are teching our shows in preparation for Thursday's performances. (Yes, they are free and open to the public so make plans to join us as we celebrate our fifth season on September 3)!

This morning we had a 5:30 a.m. call to perform a series of live remotes on Fox 8. While one never knows what might happen on live television, we were surprised by the loss of the audio signal from the news desk a few times... but grateful that we were able to get the word out about Thursday's performances to a wider public.

Following the broadcast, the cast, crew, and directors put in a 5-hour tech on Dream Machines.

When I left the Steven Center this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. the 5-hour tech for Peril on the Red Planet was just beginning. It will run until 9:00 p.m.

Both shows are looking great! It is wonderful to have the opportunity to present them in a venue as beautiful and well-equipped as the Stevens Center. An awesome entrance for Peril is in the works and Dream Machines looks beautiful and dramatic with the lights provided by the expert eyes of Travis McHale.

Open Dream Ensemble is performing at the Stevens Center on Thursday, September 3. Dream Machines will begin at 6:30 p.m. and Peril on the Red Planet will follow after an intermission that will allow for stage and costume changes. Both shows are FREE and open to the public.

Article Link

Hello Readers,

Check out this article about Open Dream Ensemble from this Sunday's Winston-Salem Journal.

A Mom's Review

This guest post is from Linda Hutchinson. Linda is a mother of two boys and she and her sons participated in our summer review panel.

Go!! Transport yourself and the kids by plane, train, automobile, whatever gets you there – and enjoy family friendly, live theatre from the Open Dream Ensemble: “Peril on the Red Planet” and “Dream Machines”.

Both shows held the attention of my boys ages 10 and 5, especially “Peril on the Red Planet” with its facts about Mars, scene-stealing keystone cops, kung fu choreography, and Zartok 3 (the unseen killer robot). I really liked the occasional use of haiku. This is a story about teamwork, empathy, responsibility, courage and sacrifice but none of that gets in the way as13 yr old Diana tries to save the planet she loves. And her robot, Abeona sure can dance! Behold the power of the performing arts.

Even though “Dream Machines” doesn’t have a killer robot, we all still highly recommend it. It’s inspiring to watch how crazy dreamers with crazy ideas can change the world. Katharine Wright narrates the action as her brothers, Orville and Wilbur, keep trying to fly. In between Henry Ford (cars) and Octave Chanute (trains) remind us of other new ideas on the horizon. My boys liked the singing and the dancing and the progression of inventions that popped-up, and they liked it most when it happened at the same time. My favorite part was watching brothers help each other achieve their dreams.

Open Dream Ensemble is performing at the Stevens Center in Winston-Salem on Thursday, September 3. Dream Machines at 6:30 p.m. and Peril on the Red Planet at 7:30 p.m. Both shows are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Perviews and Tech

This post is from actress Lauren Culpepper. Lauren is a graduate of the UNCSA School of Drama and shows her versatility in the two Open Dream shows; in one she is Katharine Wright, intelligent and supportive sister to the famous Orville and Wilbur, in the other she is a 13-year-old whiz kid on a quest to save Mars.

Yesterday we concluded the bulk of our rehearsal process for Peril on the Red Planet. Its amazing to see the difference between Peril and Dream Machines. We really do have two wonderfully different musicals.
Last week we had two preview performances of Peril for two different schools. The kids loved it! It was so rewarding to feel their avid attention to the show and the connections they made with the play and characters. Our director, Mollye, watched the kids during both performances and said they were absolutely mesmerized to what was going on on stage. This week we'll be teching both shows at the Stevens Center. We're all very excited about finally putting both shows up together! It looks like its going to be quite an exhausting week, but certainly a rewarding one by the end of it all. Personally, I'm really looking forward to meeting these NASA / Imagine Mars folks! Sounds interesting!

Stevens Center performances, Thursday, Sept 3

Today the cast received a make-up tutorial from the amazing Michael Meyer and then prepared the set in the Stevens Center. We are in the Stevens Center all week. From Monday - Wednesday we are tech-ing Dream Machines and Peril on the Red Planet. Both of which will be performed on Thursday, September 3 at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively. The shows are free and open to the public so make plans to come and spend the evening with us!

Tomorrow we wake very early and return to the Stevens Center for a series of live remotes on the Fox 8 Morning News. Tune in to see us at 6:00, 6:15, 6:45, 7:15, 7:45 and 8:15 a.m.