Scenes From a Night's Dream

by David Hansen

What do our dreams mean? Moving through spaces both familiar and frightening, featuring shadows of recognizable people and places, shrouding unspoken desires, envy, fear and shame. “Scenes from a Night’s Dream” immerses the audience in one person’s manic dreams, then launches them unsteadily into the waking world, to decipher an unsettling subconscious mystery.

What do our dreams mean? Moving through spaces both familiar and frightening, featuring shadows of recognizable people and places, shrouding unspoken desires, envy, fear and shame. “Scenes from a Night’s Dream” immerses the audience in one person’s manic dreams, then launches them unsteadily into the waking world, to decipher an unsettling subconscious mystery.

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Scenes From a Night's Dream

Recommended by

  • Ricardo Soltero-Brown: Scenes From a Night's Dream

    The world at twelve years old starts to reveal its size, and puberty is no help. The imagination goes down alleys it's only become aware of. The great secret of adulthood: sex. With it, shame takes natural weight. Hansen investigates the fears and anxieties accompanying this vulnerable time with all the finesse of Strindberg, Churchill, McPherson, Havel, Lynch and, yes, McCay; but with his unique comic timing so often based in awkwardness. Not an easy tactic, but he accomplishes it for subjects spanning authority, suicide, sexuality, trauma, then with a second act that asks if it can be...

    The world at twelve years old starts to reveal its size, and puberty is no help. The imagination goes down alleys it's only become aware of. The great secret of adulthood: sex. With it, shame takes natural weight. Hansen investigates the fears and anxieties accompanying this vulnerable time with all the finesse of Strindberg, Churchill, McPherson, Havel, Lynch and, yes, McCay; but with his unique comic timing so often based in awkwardness. Not an easy tactic, but he accomplishes it for subjects spanning authority, suicide, sexuality, trauma, then with a second act that asks if it can be tastefully done.

Character Information

NEMO/DOORDASH GUY: (M)
JENNY/INTERN: 17 (F)
MAN/BOSS: 40 - 50 (M)
THERAPIST/COLLEAGUE: 30-50 (F)
MOM/WIFE: 40 - 50 (F)
JESUS/DJ/AUTHOR: 30 (M)
BROTHER/SON: 17 (M)
DAD/DAVID: 50 (M)
CAMILLE/STYLIST: (F)
  • Jenny
    A teenage girl. Must be played by an adult. Also plays Intern.
  • Son
    A teenage young man. Must be played by an adult.
  • Man
    A threatening presence. Also plays Boss.
  • Intern
    A teenage young woman. Must be played by an adult. Also plays Jenny.
  • Boss
    Also plays Man.
  • Dad
    Also plays David.
  • Therapist
    Also plays Colleague.
  • David
    Also plays Dad.
  • Colleague
    Also plays Therapist.
  • Camille
    An eleven year-old girl. Must be played by an adult. Also plays Stylist.
  • Mom
    Also plays Wife.
  • Stylist
    Also plays Stylist.
  • Wife
    Also plays Mom.
  • Jesus
    Also plays DJ and Author.
  • DJ
    Also Plays Jesus and Author.
  • Nemo
    An eleven year-old boy. Must be played by an adult actor. Also plays GrubHub Guy.
  • Author
    Also plays Jesus and DJ.
  • DoorDash Guy
    Also plays Nemo.
  • Brother
    A teenage young man. Must be played by an adult.

Development History

Awards

  • Creative Writing Scholarship
    Cleveland State University
    Winner
    2023