Dreamwell's War and Consequences

Dreamwell - For the last couple of years, Dreamwell has done "theme seasons," where every show relates to a common idea. In 2009, it was a "Season of Inciting Theatre." Their 2010 season, "A Taboo Bijou" was recently nominated for an Icky award for innovative theatre programming. Next we have their 2011 season, "War and Consequences," an exploration of works about the stages and effects of war, from situation room to home front to front lines. The January-through-July “mini season” transitions Dreamwell to a fall-to-spring programming schedule that follows the academic year.

“War and Consequences” kicks off with Last Train to Nibroc by Arlene Hutton, a love story set during World War II (and perfect for Valentines Day’s weekend.) The Associated Press calls Nibroc "…a gently charming little play, reminiscent of Thornton Wilder in its look at rustic Americans who are to be treasured for their simplicity and directness." They have planned a special performance of this show at the Oaknoll retirement community on February 14th.

The season’s April offering is David Hare’s Stuff Happens, a political (recent) history play exploring the often notorious events and decisions that led to the war in Iraq. With characters such as George Bush, Colin Powell, Tony Blair and Condoleezza Rice, this show is sure to spark discussion. The New Yorker calls it "an exhilarating account of the genesis of the current war in Iraq."

In June, Dreamwell ventures into the "vastly fields of France" – and their first-ever Shakespeare – with an imaginative re-telling of William Shakespeare’s most famous war play, Henry the Fifth. Auditions will take place in the beginning of February.

The mini-season concludes in July with Soldier’s Daughter (working title), an entirely original play about a soldier who shares with his daughter a series of stories about humanity. The play will be performed promenade-style, moving from location-to-location around the delightful spaces on a performance farm that has been home home to several wonderful shows this past year. In keeping with Dreamwell’s mission of collaboration, this play was written by members of the Black Doggers, a playwriting group with members from all over the Corridor.

Dreamwell’s play selection committee is currently reading plays for the 2011-2012 full season, to be announced in the spring.