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.