Dreamtime (musical)
Encyclopedia
Dreamtime is an original musical by Jean Marc Cerrone and David Niles
. It was created by Niles, based on an original story by Cerrone. Niles wrote the book for the musical. The show's message is the power of love and dreams. Billed as a "New Broadway Musical Experience," the show combined giant screen images in high definition with live actors, music and laser lighting effects. The hi-tech, quick editing equipment incorporated into the theater allowed the audience members to be videotaped upon their entrance and become part of the show's finale. Dreamtime ran on Broadway
at the Ed Sullivan Theater
in 1992.
In 1988 at the request of Paris’ Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, Cerrone conceived the mystical rock opera, The Collector. The Collector, featured musicians Mary Hopkins, Steve Overland and rock bands YES, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Art of Noise and The Paris Opera Choir and was performed on the Trocadero in Paris. The show was revised for the 1989 celebration of the Bicentenary of the French Revolution on the edges of the Seine for an audience of over 600,000. This show called Evolution featured musicians Laura Branigan and Steve Overland with a cast of 30 in the ensemble and choir.
In 1991, another version of the show, now called Harmony, was performed before an 800,000 member audience over the port of Tokyo. Harmony was produced to celebrate the launch of a new Japanese television satellite channel in high definition. Broadway director, David Niles and Cerrone had to rework these huge, spectacular outdoor concerts into a show that would fit into a 1200 seat theater – the result was the Broadway musical experience Dreamtime.
to serve as the new home for the David Letterman Show. CBS needed the theater immediately and struck a deal to move Dreamtime out of the theater. The show was given four weeks to vacate the theater and relocate. Due to the cost of moving the Broadway show and the lack of another comparable Broadway theater, the show closed permanently. The sale of the building and quick vacancy earned Brian Ezraty, the prestigious Henry Hart Rice Achievement Award for the Most Ingenious Deal of the Year for 1993. The show ran for 140 performances.
In the beginning of the show, the loneliness of “The Woman” and the longing of “The Man” are heard through their music. “The Man” is tempted by a fan and dreams of love. He is given the gift of friendship and with the help of the audience sees the love of “the Women” The audience is videotaped upon entering the theater and are incorporated into the projections during the finale hence, the cast and the audience become One.
Malligator Music, Inc.
David Niles (director)
David Niles is a director, director of photography and designer. He was one of the first to pioneer the commercial applications of High Definition television. He is cofounder of Colossalvision, a production and post-production facility....
. It was created by Niles, based on an original story by Cerrone. Niles wrote the book for the musical. The show's message is the power of love and dreams. Billed as a "New Broadway Musical Experience," the show combined giant screen images in high definition with live actors, music and laser lighting effects. The hi-tech, quick editing equipment incorporated into the theater allowed the audience members to be videotaped upon their entrance and become part of the show's finale. Dreamtime ran on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
at the Ed Sullivan Theater
Ed Sullivan Theater
The Ed Sullivan Theater, located at 1697-1699 Broadway between West 53rd and West 54th, in Manhattan, is a venerable radio and television studio in New York City...
in 1992.
Production Origins
Dreamtime is an adaptation of several of Cerrone’s earlier works. Cerrone was invited to perform several outdoor concerts with laser lights, synchronized water fountains and fireworks commemorating national celebrations before audience of hundreds of thousands. The first, in 1978 was a show inside a plexiglass pyramid on the Pavillion for 1200 people. Over the next ten years the concerts developed more of a theme and narrative storyline.In 1988 at the request of Paris’ Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, Cerrone conceived the mystical rock opera, The Collector. The Collector, featured musicians Mary Hopkins, Steve Overland and rock bands YES, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Art of Noise and The Paris Opera Choir and was performed on the Trocadero in Paris. The show was revised for the 1989 celebration of the Bicentenary of the French Revolution on the edges of the Seine for an audience of over 600,000. This show called Evolution featured musicians Laura Branigan and Steve Overland with a cast of 30 in the ensemble and choir.
In 1991, another version of the show, now called Harmony, was performed before an 800,000 member audience over the port of Tokyo. Harmony was produced to celebrate the launch of a new Japanese television satellite channel in high definition. Broadway director, David Niles and Cerrone had to rework these huge, spectacular outdoor concerts into a show that would fit into a 1200 seat theater – the result was the Broadway musical experience Dreamtime.
Production history
During Dreamtime’s successful Broadway run at The Ed Sullivan Theater, Consolidated Properties, Inc sold the theater and the office space above to CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
to serve as the new home for the David Letterman Show. CBS needed the theater immediately and struck a deal to move Dreamtime out of the theater. The show was given four weeks to vacate the theater and relocate. Due to the cost of moving the Broadway show and the lack of another comparable Broadway theater, the show closed permanently. The sale of the building and quick vacancy earned Brian Ezraty, the prestigious Henry Hart Rice Achievement Award for the Most Ingenious Deal of the Year for 1993. The show ran for 140 performances.
Plot synopsis
Dreamtime is the story of a woman, a man and the power of love and dreams. A narrator introduces the characters in the story. The narrator is a voice and a vision which appears throughout the story in many forms. The character of “The Woman” represents all women. The character of “The Man” represents all men. “The Collector” is an omnipotent character who speaks through “The Witness” and gives the gift of “The Friend”. “The Collector” urges the audience to take a journey. He explains that many people live a lifetime and never realize their dreams. He asks that the audience travel into “Dreamtime” and help “the Women” and “The Man” to find their dream in one evening. “The Collector” warns the chorus and the audience to beware of “The Chief” who only sees life in black and white and wants people to only to dream while they sleep but not to pursue dreams in their daily life.In the beginning of the show, the loneliness of “The Woman” and the longing of “The Man” are heard through their music. “The Man” is tempted by a fan and dreams of love. He is given the gift of friendship and with the help of the audience sees the love of “the Women” The audience is videotaped upon entering the theater and are incorporated into the projections during the finale hence, the cast and the audience become One.
Musical numbers/songs in this production
- Prelude: The Players are introduced
- Solitude: The Woman’s Loneliness
- Inquisition: The Chorus reveal their disbelief in Dreams
- Invitation: The Witness explains the power of Dreams
- What Hit You: The Man’s Song of material conquest
- The Challenge: The Man and the Woman discover each other
- Never Give Up: The Man and the Woman discover love
- The Temptation: The Chorus pulls The Man back with them
- Steve’s Dream: The Man is swayed by the Chorus in dreams
- I’m Not Sleeping: The Woman’s Dream
- The Contract: The Chief and the Chorus reveal their real world
- The Power: The Woman attempts to reason with The Chief
- Friendship: The Collector offers a gift- The Friend
- The Calm: The power of Dream
- Building A Temple: The Man and The Woman sing about hope
- The Vision: The people see the power of Dream in themselves
- Harmony: The Man discovers a new world
- Finale: The cast and the audience become One
Opening night production credits
- Theatre Owned/Operated By: Captain N.Y. / 1125 Productions
- Produced by: David NilesDavid Niles (director)David Niles is a director, director of photography and designer. He was one of the first to pioneer the commercial applications of High Definition television. He is cofounder of Colossalvision, a production and post-production facility....
- Produced by: 1125 Productions
- Created by: David Niles and Marc Cerrone
- Music & Lyrics by: Marc Cerrone
- Additional Lyrics by: Bob Mitchell
- Additional Music by: Charles Olins
- Book by: David Niles
- Based on an original story by: Marc Cerrone
- Directed by: David Niles
- Choreographed by: David Wolfson
- Scenic Design by: David Niles
- Sound Design by: Therry Rogan, Didier Bader
- Hair & make-up Design by: Paulette Elkind
- Music Director: Graham Perkins
- HDTV Video Production Sequences by: David Niles
- Production Assistants: Nathalie Lozeau, Jon McDonald, Frederic Galfo, Michelle Graves
- Music Publishing: NAC/EMORE/OLINS
- Associate Producer: Kathleen Canton
- Production Stage Manager: Christopher I. Dee
- Assistant Director: Mami Katoh
- Facilities/House Manager: Christopher I. Dee
- Technicians: Jim Chubby, H. Belefon
- Lighting Programming: Jay Perez
- Legal Counsel: Rosenman & ColinRosenman & ColinRosenman & Colin LLP was a New York City-based law firm that practiced from 1912 to 2002, at which point the firm merged with Chicago-based Katten Muchin Zavis to form Katten Muchin Rosenman...
, Andrew Schoen, Alexander Hartnett, Jean Ennochi - Insurance: New Northern Insurance
- Accounting: BDO Seidman
Opening night cast
- Eddie BrackenEddie BrackenEdward Vincent "Eddie" Bracken was an American actor.-Life and career:Bracken was born in Astoria, New York, the son of Catherine and Joseph L. Bracken. Bracken performed in vaudeville at the age of nine and gained fame with the Broadway musical Too Many Girls in a role he reprised for the 1940...
- Chief - Sonia Jones - Woman
- Steve OverlandSteve OverlandSteve Overland is a British singer/musician who was the lead vocalist and songwriter for the bands Wildlife, FM, The Ladder, Shadowman, and his own group, Overland. Overland's nearly 30 year career began in his home county of East Anglia, where he and his brother Chris formed the band Wildlife in...
- Man - Ivy Seine - Lioness
- Telly Bisone - Witness
- Bonnie ComleyBonnie ComleyBonnie Comley, Vice President of Stellar Productions International, Inc. is a producer, writer and performer.Comley has created scholarships funds at Columbia University Business Graduate School and at the Boston University College of Fine Arts Undergraduate School, where a theater is named in her...
- Man's Fan - Stephanie Daniels - Friend
- Glenn Weiner - Friend
- Carol Platz - Friend
- Martin Pfefferkorn - Friend
- Mami Katoh - Friend
- Beth Boltuch - Chorus/Ensemble
- Frank Cava - Chorus/Ensemble
- Cynthia Clark - Chorus/Ensemble
- Mindy Cooper - Chorus/Ensemble
- Dan Larrinaga - Chorus/Ensemble
- Elizabeth Mozer - Chorus/Ensemble
Understudies/swings
- Jeanne Neyman: Ensemble
- Patricia O’Callaghan: Ensemble
- Heidi Weeks: Ensemble
- Diane DeNoble: Ensemble
- Kari NissenaKari NissenaKari Nissena is an American actress, director, and producer. She both produced and starred in the award winning 2006 film Cats on a Plane . She won the Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Feature awards at the 2009 Oceanside International Film Festival...
: Ensemble
HDTV video cast
- Deirdre Coleman, Natcha Perard, Camille DonatacciCamille DonatacciCamille Grammer is an American television personality, starring in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills...
, Jordi Caballero, David Elder, Suzanne Phillips, Ann-Brigitte Sirios, Tira
Cast recording
- Dream- Cerrone is available on CD at Unidisc Music, Inc
Malligator Music, Inc.