STILL DREAMING, the latest feature documentary from Hank Rogerson and Jilann Spitzmiller (SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS, HOMELAND), will have its world premiere at DOC NYC, the United States' largest documentary film festival, tonight, November 18th, 2014 at 7:15pm and November 19th, 2014 at 5pm.
STILL DREAMING documents a unique take on Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' as performed by a group of retired actors, dancers and musicians at the
Lillian Booth Actors Home. These former Broadway veterans embark on a journey through this magical play at the urging of the Home's administrators, who see this as a way to boost quality of life for the residents. As the rehearsal process unfolds, the actors find themselves experiencing both the pain and exhilaration of re-immersion in their life's work amidst the difficulties of old age. At the same time, the troupe's young co-directors,
Ben Steinfeld and
Noah Brody of NYC's celebrated Fiasco Theater, struggle to maintain forward momentum with this ensemble of octogenarians. Alzheimer's, dementia, and even minor issues such as sight and hearing loss create constant crises. As the troupe pushes forward, the play's themes of perception, reality vs. dreaming, and memory become extremely relevant. Ultimately, the play's performance turns out to be a vital reminder of the value of engaging in our dreams and the creative process, no matter the circumstance.
Featured in the film are some of entertainment's finest performers including
Charlotte Fairchild (42nd St, Damn Yankees, Mame, All the Girls Came Out to Play), Aideen O'Kelly (Othello, A Life, Philadelphia Here I Come!),
Bob Evans (Damn Yankees, Pajama Game, Guys & Dolls), and
Joan Stein (
Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows).
Robert Morse (How to Succeed in Business, AMC's Mad Men) sings the end credits song, 'Even I' with piano accompaniment by Grammy award winner Bill Cunliffe.
After seeing a preview of the film, Academy Award nominated actress
June Squibb had this to say: 'STILL DREAMING is a remarkable, beautiful and truthful film about old age. The actors accomplish so much in staging A Midsummers Night's Dream.' Hank Rogerson, the film's co-director says, 'At the
Lillian Booth, we discovered a group of people who have spent their whole lives following their dreams, some wildly successful, and some hardly at all. And here they are, retired, supposedly having given it all up. But what we witnessed during the rehearsal and performance process of 'Midsummer' is that the huge talent of these former entertainers is still alive and well, despite their physical and mental challenges. What we witnessed was a reawakening, and it was truly profound and inspiring.'
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