Warm receptions

This post is from the outrageously talented William vonReichbauer, pictured here in his role as the Cobbler in Big Shoes!

October has been a very busy time for the Open Dream Ensemble. We have performed for a couple thousand elementary school children, conducted residencies at Meadowlark Elementary in Winston-Salem and University Park Creative Arts Elementary school in Charlotte, and have begun rehearsals for a special upcoming performance with the Winston-Salem Symphony in November. One of the most powerful experiences of the past few weeks, though, was a performance for students at Carter High School in Winston-Salem. Carter High School serves a student body with special needs and places an emphasis on preparing these students for life after high school. Although we did not have the opportunity to work with any of these students in the classroom, it was apparent from the stage that the range of special needs among these students is vast. Many students were in wheelchairs; some appeared catatonic, several wore bibs, some displayed severe physical deformities, while others did not appear to display any physical symptoms of their special needs. We did know, however, that each of them lives with a unique set of obstacles to getting through every day that most of us will never have to face. Prior to the show, we worried that some students would be particularly sensitive to loud sounds so we brought down the overall volume level of the show. However, we quickly realized that we would have to bring the volume up a considerable amount to be heard at all. Throughout the performance, we were greeted with a steady stream of vocal outbursts from the audience; sometimes in response to the action on the stage, many times not. At one point early in the first scene, I exchanged a glance with a fellow cast member: "how in the world are we going to get through this?" It was just so loud. And unrelenting. As the show progressed, though, we found it easier and easier to perform amidst the constant din from the audience; their genuine enthusiasm fueling us to give a bigger and bolder performance. All of the musical numbers ended to thunderous applause (one student in particular couldn't resist jumping up and dancing during every song) and the show concluded with one of the warmest receptions we have received, thus far. Being a performer involves outputting your skills and energy. Thank you, students of Carter High School, for inputting so much energy into your reception of our performance.