THE WATER DREAM To Close Shakespeare & Co.’s Studio Festival of Plays , 9/5

The Water Dream is set to be the finale of Shakespeare & Co.'s Studio Festival of Plays on Monday September 5th, 2011. THE WATER DREAM will star Anthony Rapp (RENT), Karmine Alers (RENT), and Erik Lochtefeld (METAMORPHOSES, CANDIDE. The production will be directed by Bill Barclay with music direction by Emily Otto. This staged reading will take place at 70 Kemble Street Lenox, MA 01240.

Synopsis
The Water Dream is a powerful and beautiful musical journey of redemption, that features giant whale puppets, an aquarium of real water, and is the story of Cole Whalebone, a 30-year old writer living in present day Seattle. After early success distracts him from the memory of his mothers' death, insomnia and writers block have brought the nightmare's back, causing Cole's girlfriend Sofia to leave and Cole to hit rock bottom.

Cole enters into Geographica, an awe-inspiring world he dreamt up when he was a kid. Here, the Firewolf threatens to destroy the three Peoples of Earth, Wind, and Water. Beautiful giant puppets, The Walking Whale, Aerowhale, and Blue Whale, cannot protect them, but they guide Cole in his quest to find the Sword of the Sea, which prophecy says will kill the Firewolf.

Cole is joined by Sweetwater the witty fool, Seabird the fighting mariner, and a comic-trio of wandering minstrel, angry songbird, and snobby donkey. This ragtag bunch joins up to help Cole on his adventure, but his personal struggles intrude upon his invented narrative. Cole must become a hero if he is to face his lifelong fear of water, deal with his mother's death, and repair the relationships with his girlfriend, uncle, and father.

The first draft of The Water Dream was written in the fall of 2006, and was recipient of two awards: the Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellowship Award in Playwriting, and the Citation from Governor Deval Patrick for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts. On Labor Day 2011, a reading of The Water Dream will perform at the one-day Studio Festival of Plays at Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, MA, marking its eighth workshop and sixth public presentation.

The Water Dream, a new musical with book, music and lyrics by Shawn Cody, is presently seeking partnerships with producers for anintended 2012 / 2013 season opening on Broadway.

Cast
Cole Whalebone - Anthony Rapp
Sofia / Sweetwater - Karmine Alers
Brian / Seabird - Erik Lochtefeld
Michael / Firewolf - Nigel Gore
Marina - Alexis Hightower
Moppet - Shawn Cody
Henry - Cheo Bourne
Dandelion Bum - Rob O'Hare
Aeeeleeeooo Bell - Doug Chapman
Water Gods - Adam Kern
Isabel - Diane Phelan
Ensemble - Alisa Ledyard
Ensemble - Alana Rader
Book / Music / Lyrics - Shawn Cody
Book Contributions - Rob O'Hare
Musical Arrangements - Bill Barclay
Contributions / Guitar / Cole & Moppet u/s - Ryan Link
Percussion - Justin Hines
Stage Manager - Joan H. Cappello

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Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos