Smarty Sponsor: Open Dream Ensemble

By Guest Bloggers Linda H and Ann U


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. - LH

The Open Dream Ensemble, a professional multi-disciplinary children’s theater group, will premiere two new original plays on Thursday, September 3, at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the Stevens Center. Both shows are free and open to the public, and the audience is welcome to attend one or both productions.

Dream Machines: The Impossible Happens will be performed at 6:30 p.m. and tells the amazing story of the advancements in travel at the turn of the 20th century through dance, music and drama. Told through the eyes of the Wright Brothers’ sister Katharine, Dream Machines follows Orville, Wilbur and Katharine as they pursue their dream of flying. Dream Machines is geared to grades K-5.

Peril on the Red Planet will be performed at 7:30 p.m. and is set in the future and tells the story of 13 year-old Diana as she works to end famine on Mars. She reconstructs the machine that made human habitation possible on Mars and unexpectedly unleashes more problems. Her efforts to save life on Mars lead her on an important quest, during which she learns life lessons about community, responsibility, teamwork and sacrifice. Peril on the Red Planet is geared to grades 3-8.

The Open Dream Ensemble is a professional outreach program of the University North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) in Winston-Salem and is comprised of professional artists who trained in dance, drama, and music at UNCSA.

The Open Dream Ensemble is a project of the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts, which incubates projects that sustain artists at every point in their creative development through strategic partnerships that capitalize on visionary thinking in the arts. - AU

We hope to see you there!

Posted by Triad Smarty Pants at 5:00 AM