WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (February 29, 2012) – The Open Dream Ensemble, a professional multi-disciplinary children’s theater group sponsored by the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), has created a second season of its web series for children. Both seasons are available for viewing at www.uncsa.edu/kenan.

The overall series is entitled The Adventures of the Open Dream Ensemble and presents the story of a performing ensemble, who in addition to their work on stage and in the classroom, travel through history making certain that great discoveries in math and science happen. Their nemesis is the great Dr. Disrupto who seeks to stop progress by preventing scientists and mathematicians from making new discoveries. The first season is comprised of seven episodes that focused on Isaac Newton’s Laws of Motion, and the six-episode second season centers around geometry through lessons from the legendary Pythagoras. Both series seek to make learning fun and convey some of the history and importance of great discoveries. The series connects to the standard curriculum and is intended to be a supplement to classroom teaching.

The Adventures of the Open Dream Ensemble is directed by Joshua Morgan and Brian Sutow, written by Brian Sutow with cinematography by Drew Wolber, all graduates of UNCSA. The series is produced by No Rules Productions (www.NoRulesProduction.com). 

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to create a second season of the web series,” states Open Dream Ensemble General Manager, Rebecca Nussbaum.  “We know the first season’s series about Isaac Newton and his Laws of Motion was enjoyed and utilized across the globe and hope that this season’s series focusing on Pythagoras and geometry will be as well.  It is always an honor to bring educational arts to life.” 

Following are bios of the directors and cinematographer:

Joshua Morgan, Director, is a professional actor and Co-Artistic Director of No Rules Theatre Company of Washington, DC and Winston-Salem, NC.  He studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Judith Blazer’s 2005/2007 company of the Artist’s Crossing. Performance credits include roles in The Trojan Women, Godspell, Burn This, Comedy of Errors, Children of Eden, Othello, Show Boat, Sunday in the Park with George, The Good Doctor, Sweeney Todd, The Laramie Project, and Les Miserables to name a few. Joshua has worked as a Musical Director/Rehearsal Pianist for many shows within the NY/NJ/DC tri-state area and coaches a handful of select students. The musical play, Definition of a Housewife, conceived and written by himself and Jeffery Self had a workshop production in the summer of 2006 at Columbia University.  Most recently he directed three sold-out productions of Hedwig and the Angry Inch.  Joshua holds an Arts Diploma in Acting from UNCSA.

Brian Sutow, Director, is a professional actor, writer, and Co-Artistic Director of No Rules Theatre Company.  As a native Chicagoan, Brian has performed professionally at Eclipse Theatre, Company, Apple Tree Theatre, Light Opera Works, American Theatre Company, and Wildbait Theatre Company.  Additional professional stage credits include work with Roanoke Island Festival Park, Open Dream Ensemble and most recently the leading role of Guy in NRTC’s critically acclaimed production of Some Girl(s).  His film work includes appearances in High Fidelity, Train Wreck, A Bowl of Cherries (finalist at the Chicago TV Comedy Pilot Competition) The SunnySide Singers, and the comedic web series Assembly Required.  His original comedic writing has been requested and reviewed by companies like Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, Turner Entertainment, Paradigm and William Morris. This summer, his adaptation of the Kurt Vonnegut short story, A Long Walk to Forever, along with his original stage comedy, Assembly Required: How to Write Produce and Stage a Musical – The Musical will both appear at the 2010 Capitol Fringe Festival.  Brian holds a BFA in Acting from UNCSA.

Drew Wolber, Cinematographer, attended UNCSA for Cinematography and Producing, graduating with a BFA in 2009.  During his time at UNCSA, Drew served as Director of Photography on a commercially commissioned piece for FLOW Automotive that was shown in select theaters as part of the promo package before James Cameron’s AVATAR. He also lent his talent and vision to the science fiction film, Tipota, which received honorable mentions at both at the Asheville Film Festival and the Carolinas Filmmakers Showcase. Drew additionally sought work outside the university, working on commercials for Metro Nursing and H.T. Hackney. Just prior to graduating, Drew produced The Time It Takes, a short film that served as a directing vehicle for mentor Thomas Ackerman, ASC (Jumanji, Anchorman). As a side project, Drew formed Pythian Pictures, a multi-media production company where he produced and managed commercial advertising and shot music videos of local artists for commercial distribution.  Outgrowing Pythian, he dissolved the company and began Wolber Enterprises, LLC as an independent record label and production house.

Open Dream Ensemble is a project of the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts, which incubates projects that sustain artists at every point in their creative development through strategic partnerships that capitalize on visionary thinking in the arts.  For more information, visit www.uncsa.edu/kenan.

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (www.uncsa.edu) is the University of North Carolina's conservatory for the arts, dedicated entirely to the professional training of students possessing exceptional talents in the performing, visual and moving image arts. UNCSA offers students a focused, intense, professional training at the high school, baccalaureate, and masters levels in its schools of Dance, Design and Production, Drama, Filmmaking and Music.

For more information, visit www.opendreamensemble.com.

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