Working Theater

in partnership with
Round House Theatre, Salt Lake Acting Company, Marin Theatre Company, HartBeat Ensemble, The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, and University of Connecticut’s Thomas J. Dodd Center
Co-commissioned by ASU Gammage and Texas Performing Arts with support from the JKW Foundation

presents

The Live-streamed Interactive Virtual Production

AMERICAN DREAMS

By LEILA BUCK
Directed by TAMILLA WOODARD

Created and developed by Leila Buck and Tamilla Woodard
Original Stage Version created in collaboration with Jens Rasmussen

October 5 through November 15, 2020 7 p.m.

http://www.theworkingtheater.org/

“AMERICAN DREAMS” is an exciting game show run by the government. It is the only way to gain U.S. citizenship. (Did you already have suspicions of this?) Each night the Zoom audience chooses the winner. Download Zoom, put on your best frock, and get ready to decide someone’s fate. Caution: No late-comers.

The cheery co-hosts challenge three eager contestants from foreign countries. Adil Mansour is a Palestinian Christian. Alejandro Rodriguez is a Mexican Christian. Usman Butt is a Pakistani Muslim. First a Citizenship Quiz, then a round about U.S. opinions. Next, time to test talents/skills. Cook, write a poem, paint a picture. In some rounds, the decision is based on the loudness of audience participation, so you might want to warn your neighbors.

Some audience members are pre-chosen as on-camera delegates. They are called on to pose questions or ask for information from the three. Lots of back-and-forth, cheerleading, audience “applause” signs, and endearing pleas from the endearing contestants. But only one can win.

This super-entertaining immersive production keeps the action going, is great fun, but also thought-provoking. (Don’t flinch. It’s very painless.) Remember the concept of “checks and balances”? “All men are created equal”? These things and several more can’t help but wiggle your brain cells in light of current events. The play changes according to audience participation results and input throughout the 90 minutes. It will never be the same twice.

WORKING THEATER and its partners have done an awesome job of combining improv, script, and the unknown and unpredictable audience responses to draw the viewer into this virtual experience emotionally and physically. Innovative and flawlessly produced. Kudos!

-Karen D’Onofrio-