CCCC Theatre students and Chatham Community Players present "Dreamland"

By Leslie Palmer
Posted Wednesday, March 21, 2007

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Pittsboro, NC - Ellen Bland, Drew Lasater and company are at it again with another promising theatrical production in historic Chatham Mills in Pittsboro. The same duo that staged the award-winning "Millworker" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" to critical acclaim and standing-room-only crowds, will present "Dreamland," Lasater's 1920's-based musical adaptation of Shakespeare's most popular romantic comedy, "Midsummer Night's Dream."

This time, director Bland and assistant director/stage manager Lasater have a cast and crew of more than 30, including students from Central Carolina Community College Theatre and popular thespians from Chatham Community Players.

"Dreamland" is set for Wednesday March 21 and Thursday March 22 at 7 p.m., Friday March 23 and Saturday March 24 at 8 p.m., and Sunday March 25 at 3 p.m. at Chatham Mills, 480 Hillsboro Street (U.S. 15-501) in historic downtown Pittsboro.

Tickets are $12 general admission, $8 students (no children under 6), available at ChathamArts, 115 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro, 919.542.0394, http://www.chathamarts.org and Central Carolina Community College on U.S. 64 west of Pittsboro.

"Drew has created a delightful, fun adaptation and this show is another opportunity to prove that CCCC students and experienced actors from the community can work together successfully to produce entertaining theatre," said Bland.

"Since we still have no permanent performance venue, we're once again grateful to [mill owner] Tom Roberts for allowing us to take up temporary residence in the mill, a grand old space that always intrigues our audiences. We've added audience risers and a larger stage, so it feels more than ever like a real theatre."

Using interlocking plots, a play within a play, a barbershop quartet and fabulous music (St. Louis Blues, All I Do Is Dream of You, Abadabadaba, A Good Man Is Hard to Find, Temptation, and more), "Dreamland" depicts Shakespeare's familiar tale of four young lovers, a troupe of bungling amateur actors and a kingdom of fairies, but this version is set in the 1920s.

The lovers are played by Tivis Womack and Kim Herold (alternating as Helena), Stephanie Tripp and Maggie McRae (alternating as Hermia), Tyler Quick (Lysander), and Sean Freeman (Demetrius). The amateur acting troupe ("rude mechanicals") includes Chris Briant (Bottom), Josh Bray (Snug/Lion) and a barbershop quartet featuring Jim Schwankl (Quince), Adam Brill (Flute/Thisbe), Corkey Harris (Starveling/Moon) and Brenda White (Snout/Wall). Other "mortals" include Dan Cahoon (Theseus and Mustardseed), Mary Beth Cahoon (Hippolyta), Pam Smith (Egeus) and Rae Bland (Philostrate).

The fairy kingdom includes Kerstin Lindgren (Puck), Emily York and Sachi Denison (alternating as Titania) and Mike Broadley (Oberon). Other fairies are Whitney Webster, Heather Allen, Audrey Schwankl, Tammy Walls, Jesenia Schwankl, Tristan Bland and Kenna Casey.

Avis Autry is musical director and accompanist, costumes are by Sachi Denison, and set is by Mike Broadley.

ChathamArts, the county's nonprofit arts council, presents and supports the arts through exhibits and sales at its Pittsboro gallery, arts in the schools, and diverse cultural events throughout the year.