ORLANDO, Fla. November 25, 2015 — Students from UCF’s programs in theatre, music, and modern languages joined forces for “The Life is a Dream Project,” a theatrical production performed in Spanish and presented on the UCF campus to the public for free.
“The Life is a Dream Project” aims to bring a contemporary sensibility to a classical Spanish play. It is a contemporary one act inspired by Pedro Calderón de la Barca’s play Life is a Dream, in which a prince, imprisoned by his father after receiving a fateful prophecy, struggles with the differences between reality and illusion, instinct and wisdom, destiny and free will. The production explores the transitory nature of life and presents reality as constantly transforming and, occasionally, indistinguishable from a dream.
Dr. Martha García from the Department of Modern Languages and Dr. Julia Listengarten from the School of Performing Arts conceived the idea of a collaborative play years ago. “She teaches theatre literature from a world languages perspective and I create theatrical texts,” says Listengarten. “We wondered what would happen if we were to collaborate, to bring something to life. What would happen? What would the challenges be?”
Once awarded a grant to complete the project by UCF’s Office of Information Fluency, the pair of faculty members set to work on bringing the project to stage. García adapted the classically Spanish text and Listengarten worked with Theatre students, including director Joseph D’Ambrosi, to cast the play. Both García and Listengarten have been working together supervising the production process. Once the production started taking shape, Dr. Nora Lee García was brought in to the team to add another language: music.
“Theatre, as a form of visual storytelling, transcends language and culture,” says Listengarten, on the topic of whether or not a non-Spanish speaking audience member would be able to understand the play. “We don’t necessarily need to understand words to respond to emotions that are embodied in the actors’ physical movement and voice.”
Director Joseph D’Ambrosi is in the final year of his Masters of Arts in Theatre degree. “Working on a project with a language barrier was not easy at first,” he says, “however, the language was the least of our worries as the rehearsal process went on. The cast and I talked about the meaning of the play and how its message is universal. We talked about the character development and the goals that each actor wanted to accomplish. Because of these conversations, the language naturally fell into place and I could understand what was happening onstage through the actors’ discoveries. It showed me, and I hope it will show the audience, that language is not the only means of communication, but that we can communicate through our connection with the characters’ journeys and experiences.”
Tickets are required, but are free to all patrons. They may be reserved online, in person, or over the phone.
For more information and to reserve free tickets, go to www.theatre.ucf.edu or call 407-823-1500.
Production at a glance:
The “Life is a Dream” Project
Conceived and supervised by Julia Listengarten and Martha García
Based on the play by Pedro Calderón de la Barca
Adapted by Martha García
Produced by Julia Listengarten
Directed by Joseph D’Ambrosi
Music directed by Nora Lee García
December 5 at 8 pm
December 6 at 2 pm
A collaboration between Theatre UCF and the Department of Modern Languages
A contemporary one act inspired by Pedro Calderón de la Barca’s play Life is a Dream, in which a prince, imprisoned by his father after receiving a fateful prophecy, struggles with the differences between reality and illusion, instinct and wisdom, destiny and free will. This project aims to bring a contemporary sensibility to a classical Spanish play. Life is a Dream explores the transitory nature of life and presents reality as constantly transforming and, occasionally, indistinguishable from a dream.
This play will be performed in Spanish.
FREE, but tickets are required
Black Box, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando
407-823-1500
www.theatre.ucf.edu
theatre@ucf.edu
For more information about the UCF School of Performing Arts, visit performingarts.cah.ucf.edu.
Contact: Heather Gibson, UCF School of Performing Arts; 407-823-1732, heather.gibson@ucf.edu
The School of Performing Arts at the University of Central Florida comprises the Music and Theatre departments. In addition to year-round performances and teaching on the UCF campus, the School presents performances and outreach in cooperation with our community partners, which include the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orlando Repertory Theatre, and the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. For more information about attending performances visit performingarts.cah.ucf.edu
America’s Partnership University: The University of Central Florida, the nation’s second-largest university with nearly 60,000 students, has grown in size, quality, diversity and reputation in its first 50 years. Today, the university offers more than 200 degree programs at its main campus in Orlando and more than a dozen other locations. UCF is an economic engine attracting and supporting industries vital to the region’s future while providing students with real-world experiences that help them succeed after graduation. For more information, visit today.ucf.edu.