At the conclusion of every season the dust settles, the energy shifts, and some quite moments of reflection are built into hectic schedules.
This Open Dream Ensemble season had some amazing occurrences, or little miracles. Hopefully these small events will lead to larger happenings as we build in seasons to come, but for now I am happy to ruminate and share some of the wonder.
When we began toying with the idea of a web series the logistics and realities of it were matters to be discovered. In the past year there was a lot of discovery, planning, feedback, writing, directing, cinematography, and ideas from a number of talented individuals. The wonder team of Brian Sutow, Joshua Morgan and Drew Wobler lead the way in helping Open Dream create the first web series for youth. And WOW, what a great web series The Adventures of the Open Dream Ensemble has turned out to be -- with nearly 6000 views to date!
Peril on the Red Planet returned to the stage for 50 performances and amazed nearly 13,000 youth in NC, VA, and CA. There were a few additions to the performance this season including an eco-rap by Jon, a tap-dancing robot by Julianne and a fight scene choreographed by Bryn. Of Bryn, a marine viewing the performance stated, “She’s fierce!” Nod. Yah.
Early one morning as the cast was on its way to a performance, one of our large vehicles backed into another of our large vehicles. Vehicle one kept driving, not realizing what had happened while the cast in vehicle two sat shocked in the parking lot. Thankfully, no injuries. Especially wonderful as the door Julianne was stilling next to was well dented in.
After FOUR seasons of performing every show, never having a sick day, and learning roles to cover for other cast members, Haydee succumbed to laryngitis and was out for a week of performances. The cast came through with Brandon learning the role of the pink robot, Tangent, overnight and Sonny switching from guard robot to “Deiter” in order to cover Demeter’s role and lines.
After a show in the mountains the stage steps collapsed under the cast during load-out. Sonny was well bruised and Jon injured in his Achilles. Coping well with a limping, gimpy Apollo, the cast quickly learned how to cover the transitions Jon was responsible for – and the audiences were none the wiser for it!
In the middle of the illnesses and injuries, we got word that our dual-citizen cast member was wanted by Homeland Security for paperwork gone wrong. A number of people, some across the ocean, quickly pulled together, figured out how to fix the problem, and thus we were able to keep IanBrian in the cast! Phew!
Our very own Brando showed he has a great sense of timing when he was able to rush to the Charlotte airport in time for our California flight – leaving Winston 20-minutes after the other cars but arriving at the same time! And that flight, by the by, was nearly empty so the Open Dreamers were able to enjoy a little quite sleep in route.
Meanwhile, the intrepid team of William and Steve DROVE the set from NC to CA. ROAD TRIP in a big big way. Safe throughout, no mishaps.
For years Peter has been talking about THE CHAIR. He had never touched or sat in THE CHAIR but carried pictures of it in his phone and spoke of it with a touching tenderness. The first night Open Dream was in Pasadena, he saw THE CHAIR, an Eames Molded Plywood Lounger from afar – through a window of a closed furniture store. During the course of the week, he returned to THE CHAIR and even had the opportunity to relax into its comfy contours. How happy he looks in the photo!
At a performance for the gifted students of Diamond Elementary in Santa Ana, the children chastised Diana for considering giving up and not taking responsibility. I stood in awe as the children in near unison started chanting, “Never give up!” and shaking their fingers at Diana until she made the right decision. Following the performance the Principal informed us that the school motto is, “Never give up.” It turns out that these bright and alert children were largely from families where the parents do not even have an elementary level education. Gumption.
This was the first season Open Dream had the opportunity to carry out a two-week residency. This was made memorable by the limitless hospitality of Benton Heights Elementary School of the Arts, (thanks!!!) and this was also the first time we created a quantitative assessment of a residency. The results: a 78% gain in test scores for the students Open Dream worked with in grades 4 and 5.
Perhaps the most amazing event occurred during a residency when a third-grader, known to her entire school as a “self-mute” verbally replied to the Open Dream Teaching Artists Haydee, Sonny and Ian. Needless to say, this astonished everyone and, we hope, has helped her move into a different realm of communication.
I continue to be awed and inspired by the work Open Dream Ensemble does. Short seasons have large impacts and the UNCSA-trained cast bring their best selves forward to put on show after show, smile through take after take, and instruct lesson after lesson. The dedication, professionalism, and grace of this season’s cast will remain a hope and beacon for seasons to come. Thank you Brandon, Bryn, Haydee, Ian, Jon, Julianne, Peter and Sonny. I am so grateful for the little miracles you pulled off over the 15-weeks you were the Open Dream Ensemble.
This post is written by Open Dream Ensemble General Manager, Rebecca Nussbaum.
