Most superheroes are known for their super strength, ability to fly or even their X-ray vision, but it’s rare to find one who can transcend space and time, only to find themselves capable of walking into other’s dreams.
The University’s Department of Theatre will present August Schulenburg’s “Dream Walker” as part of its 2014-15 Lab Theatre season.
Each year, the department gives a few of its students a hands-on production experience where they are responsible for everything from acting to directing. This lab season’s production of “Dream Walker” falls under the direction of theatre senior Jordan Campbell.
While most students are familiar with Swine Palace productions or LSU Theatre Mainstage plays, lab season shows have a smaller budget and are run entirely by the University’s students.
Campbell said he submitted his selection to the lab season committee for approval last year around this time, and after fulfilling class requirements and certain qualifications, he was chosen to direct this show for its second production ever.
“It had an off Broadway performance in New York for a week by this company,” Campbell said. “That’s one reason I’m particularly excited for this — it’s a pretty original thing.”
After reading the play more than a year and a half ago, Campbell said he was set on this comedy, which happens to feature a cast of only three members.
The play follows the lives of two brothers — Richie, Gary and Gary’s girlfriend, Dawn. Campbell said Richie is a laid back, slacker fantasy novelist while Gary is an aggressive corporate type, who’s also Richie’s landlord. The story picks up once Richie discovers he possesses the ability to walk into other people’s dreams.
Campbell, who is accustomed to the managerial aspect of theatre, said he’s learning how to approach the artistic elements of a production, and while it hasn’t been easy, he’s confident in the cast and crew he has surrounded himself with.
Campbell said he asked theatre senior Yvette Bourgeois to accompany him in her assistant directing debut after she participated in a reading of the play at Campbell’s apartment during the summer.
“We had previously worked together on multiple shows, so he trusts me and I trust him,” Bourgeois said. “We work very well together, and I’m not afraid to have a different opinion from him. I think he liked the thought of me not being afraid to challenge him.”
Having such a small cast provides an environment for exploration, which Bourgeois said helped the show grow. It’s more difficult for actors to connect as part of a large cast while the size of this ensemble has allowed the actors to form strong relationships both on and off the set.
The play features six actual scenes and six dream sequences in 21st century New York, which means the show’s set is fairly simple, using only several furniture pieces and movable stage props for easy transition between scenes.
Even though the set and cast are small, Campbell said he has high hopes for this week’s show. He said Schulenburg probably never expected this play to be produced again, and that made him feel good about his decision to direct.
“If we were doing Hamlet, Arthur Miller or Sam Shepard, we could be the 10,000th production of this play and do it maybe mediocrely or at least not outstandingly,” Campbell said. “I feel like it would fade into the distance whereas this is a special little moment in time.”
The play explores several social issues, specifically gender identity. Even though the storyline touches on several serious topics, Campbell said the main focus is what a man is supposed to be in the 21st century by presenting two diametrically opposed forces found in the show’s two brothers. By the end of the play, he said the audience will be able to tell where Schulenburg stands on the issue.
Both Campbell and Bourgeois ventured into new roles for “Dream Walker,” but they are excited for the results of all their hard work, and said people should make an effort to come see entertaining and original theatre.
“I think every single character is very relatable,” Bourgeois said. “Even though some of them might do some things that aren’t so great or are flawed in ways. At the same time, I can look at each character and identify with each one, and two of them are men.”
You can reach Greta Jines on Twitter @TheGretaJines.

Gallery • 10 Photos

Charles Champagne

LSU theatre senior Spencer LaBelle plays the character Richie, theatre sophomore Devin Williams plays the character Dawn, Sunday, March 22, 2015 during the rehearsal of Dream Walkers in the Studio Theatre located inside the LSU Music and Dramatic Arts building.