2021 Drama League Nominee

Introducing our new Sliding Scale Pricing
For Working Theater Audiences Oct 20-Oct 25
Suggested Ticket Price: $30
Want to know where you stand on the scale? Click HERE.

American Dreams runs 85 minutes with no intermission

SPOILER ALERT:
Want to see how audiences across the nation are voting in American Dreams? Click here.

Written by: Leila Buck
Directed by: Tamilla Woodard

Created and Developed By:
Leila Buck and Tamilla Woodard with Jens Rasmussen,
in collaboration with Osh Ghanimah, Imran Sheikh, and the company
With Ali Andre Ali, Leila Buck, India Nicole Burton, Jens Rasmussen, Imran Sheikh, Andrew Aaron Valdez

Show Program Available Here

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October 20, 2020-October 25, 2020

Tuesday-Saturday at 7pm, Saturday & Sunday at 2pm

Imagine a world where the only way to gain U.S. citizenship is by competing in a live online game show. Welcome to American Dreams where each night you, the audience, gets to choose who will become your new neighbor. This playful participatory performance takes a page from America’s favorite game shows and uses voting, polling, trivia and more to explore what it means to be(come) a citizen. 

American Dreams is an online interactive event. Here are some things you need to know to join in:

-For optimal viewing and participatory experience we strongly recommended using your computer rather than a phone or tablet.
-Your participation is invited but not required. You can enjoy the experience at the level of participation you are most comfortable.
-One Device= One Vote. If you would like to individually participate, please login on more than one device.
-You will need to input your ticket Order ID in order to access the live performance. It is a string of letters and numbers that normally begins with “PR” and can be found on your ticket purchase confirmation email. 
-On the night of your ticket, once you click the access link, you’ll be directed to an online form first. Fill that out. This is actually the beginning of the show!

American Dreams is national virtual co-production by Working Theater, in partnership with Round House Theatre, Salt Lake Acting Company, HartBeat Ensemble, The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, University of Connecticut, Free Center in association with Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford Stage, TheatreWorks Hartford and Marin Theatre Company, co-commissioned by Arizona State University’s ASU Gammage and Texas Performing Arts, with support from the JKW Foundation. For information on the full tour schedule and supporting events please visit AmericanDreamsPlay.com.

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

Join us throughout the run of American Dreams for a series of Town Hall Events: What Does It Mean to be a Citizen?

Asking questions about our responsibility as citizens to each other, our policies on immigration and access to voting, each Town Hall will feature policy makers, activists and artists who local to our partner theaters.

Tuesday, October 13th at 7:00pm ET

On Citizenship: Immigration, Art, and the American Dream
Join Round House Theatre for a virtual Town Hall exploring the immigrant experience. Moderated by retired ABC-7 News Anchor and Marriott executive Kathleen Matthews, this live roundtable discussion asks a panel of experts and advocates to share their stories, weigh in on immigration rights in the US, and answer the question: “What does it mean to be a citizen?” Panelists include Leila Buck, writer and co-creator of American Dreams; Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, President and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service; Elizabeth Schmelzel, staff attorney at the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition; and more. A community question and answer session will follow the panel discussion.

Monday, October 19th 7:30 EST/ 4:30 PT

EAST Meets WEST in a Town Hall co-hosted by Portland Oregon’s Boom Arts and Working Theater
Featuring a keynote address, panel discussion and community question and answer session, come hear from local leaders in New York City and Portland Oregon.

Tuesday, October 20th 7pm EST
Special Guest Audience Night- CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE
Working Theater opens our performance week by welcoming our special guest audience from Cleveland Public Theatre. Under the leadership of Raymond Bobgan, American Dreams had its world premiere at CPT in the 2018 season. Welcome Cleveland!

Wednesday, October 21st 8:30pm EST/ 5:30 PT
Post show talk back following the 7pm performance 
Directly following the 7pm show stay online and meet the Design Team of American Dreams.

Saturday October 24th 7pm EST/ 4pm PT
Special Guest Audience Night Portland’s Boom Arts
Working Theater welcomes special guest audiences from BOOM ARTS following a special bi-Coastal Town Hall that kicks off Working Theater’s performance week. Led by Artistic Director Tracy Francis, Boom Arts is an important producer of contemporary international theater in Portland “building cross-cultural bridges, sparking community conversations about important issues”. Welcome Portland!

Sunday, October 25th 3:30pm EST/ 12:30 PT
Post show talk back following the 2pm performance 
Directly following the 2pm show stay online and meet the cast of American Dreams.

 

 

PRODUCTION CREDITS:

Video Design: Katherine Freer
Virtual Performance Design: ViDCo
Scenic Design: Ryan Patterson
Costume Design: Kerry McCarthy
Sound Design: Sam Kusnetz
Lighting Design: Stacey Derosier
Production Stage Manager: Colleen McCaughey
Assistant Stage Manager: Carolina Arboleda
Graphic Design: the watsons
Production Manager: Lory Henning
Assistant Sound Designer: Mike Deyo
Technical Operator: Nitsan Scharf
Technology Consultant: Ryan Holsopple
Consulting Producer: Amanda Cooper
Production Photographer: Cherie B. Tay
General Press Representative: Miguel Nelson Mendiola, Holly Garman