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“SAINT STEPHEN’S DREAM: A Space Opera” is a new musical with original songs and a folk-rock-electronica score by Douglas Imbrogno, performed by The IONS and featuring some seasoned Charleston actors in dramatic roles, as well as the original tune “We Were America” by Kathleen Coffee. This debut production of the WebTheater of WestVirginiaVille.com is an official event of FestivALL Charleston 2011, staged at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 520 Kanawha Blvd. W., on 7:30 p.m. THURS-FRI-SAT, June 23-24-25 and 3 p.m. SUN, June 26. Admission is $12.
The dramatic musical unfolds the tale of what happens after Earth reaches a tipping point and seems no longer able to support human habitation. Ten thousand ships of all sizes flee into low-earth orbit and beyond, as a dazed humanity struggles to reorganize itself. Powerful leaders ordain that a return to the dying Earth is no longer possible. They decree that all should just lay back and be content. After all, they have rich, full-immersion Web environments, the endless alternative realities into which people escape, fleeing from the reality of the warehoused beds and tiny metal capsules where most people now reside on the great space vessels. ‘Who are you going to be today?’ asks the computer each new ‘morning’ in space, as people rove through history, their avatars pursuing the latest characters, happenings and trends.
A merry band of performers, rebels, dreamers and fools, aided by the strange ‘trans-humans’ known as the Shua, oppose this new order. They willfully ‘unplug’ from the immersive web and gather in a space-borne club called Third Eye Cabaret, where most of the musical takes place. They keep alive the hope of returning to Earth someday, inspired by the 9th century writings of an Irish monk named Brother Stephen, whose ‘dream book’ diaries seem to foretell the planet’s despairing future, with just the slightest hint of possible salvation.
The play’s cabaret style set-up at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation means seating is very limited for the four shows. We encourage early ticket purchase as some dates may sell out. Get them in person at Taylor Books, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation and the Clay Center box office or call 304-561-3570 to purchase for pick-up later.
The play ends at 9:30 p.m., followed from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. by the After Hours Cabaret, featuring:
THURS, June 23: The Talledo Brothers (wide-ranging Latin music trio), Casi Null and other acts.
FRI, June 24: Chuck Biel’s GuitarKestra (six instrumental guitarists performing everything from Bartok and Villa-Lobos to Hendrix and Zeppelin), plus Kathleen Coffee and Albert Perrone.
SAT June 25: Option 22 (rhythmic world-beat music) and other acts. Admission to the After Hours Cabaret is included with show tickets. Admission without a ticket is $5 at the door.
The cast includes: Tim Mace, Emily Dunn, Douglas Imbrogno, Jim Balow, Kathleen Coffee, Lori McKinney, Robert Blankenship, Albert Perrone and Brandon Dunn.
For more on the production, visit:
http://saintstephensdream.com
For more on FestivALL Charleston, visit
http://festivallcharleston.com
June 8, 2011
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