Open Dream Ensemble to Perform New Play at Ashe Elementary Schools

The Open Dream Ensemble, a professional multi-disciplinary children's theater group, will perform a new original play, Dream Machines: The Impossible Happens, at the Ashe County Elementary Schools on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and Wednesday, Nov. 4. On Nov. 3, Open Dream will perform the play at 9 a.m. at Mountain View Elementary and at 1 p.m. at Blue Ridge Elementary School. They also will perform Dream Machines on Nov. 4 at 9 a.m. at Westwood Elementary.

Dream Machines tells the amazing story of the advancements in travel at the turn of the 20^th century through dance, music and drama.  Told through the eyes of the Wright Brothers' sister Katharine, Dream Machines follows Orville, Wilbur and Katharine Wright as they pursue their dream of flying. The story connects their endeavors with Henry Ford's dreams of automobiles and Octave Chanute's fascination with trains and early aviation. The play is geared to students from Kindergarten through fifth grade.

"Dream Machines focuses on important life lessons including dedication, determination, courage and teamwork," said Rebecca Nussbaum, general manager of the Open Dream Ensemble. "It also highlights the power of imagination and learning in fun, creative, and engaging ways. We are thrilled to have the chance to share this new production with the Ashe County community."

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. Using the diverse skills of its cast, Open Dream Ensemble presents original performances to school students throughout the Southeast. Open Dream combines the power of live performances with artist residencies and educational workshops, aligning the content with current school curriculum.

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. For more information, click to www.kenanarts.org.

In addition to performances, the Open Dream Ensemble performs curriculum-based residencies and workshops. More information on the Open Dream Ensemble is available at www.opendreamensemble.com or by calling (336) 782-7837.