Watch Lillian Booth Actors' Home Residents Perform Shakespeare in New Documentary "Still Dreaming" (Video) | Playbill

News Watch Lillian Booth Actors' Home Residents Perform Shakespeare in New Documentary "Still Dreaming" (Video) "Still Dreaming," the documentary film about residents of the Lillian Booth Actors' Home performing A Midsummer Night's Dream, will receive its world premiere Nov. 18-19 at DOC NYC.

The Nov. 18 screening is at 7:15 PM and the Nov. 19 screening is at 5 PM.

Directed by Fiasco Theater's Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld, the feature documentary from Hank Rogerson and Jilann Spitzmiller features Charlotte Fairchild (Damn Yankees, Mame), Aideen O'Kelly (Othello, A Life), Bob Evans (The Pajama Game, Guys and Dolls) and Joan Stein (Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows).

"'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," press notes state. "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."

"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," Hank Rogerson, the film’s co-director said in a statement. "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."

Robert Morse (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, "Mad Men") sings the end credits song, "Even I," accompanied by Grammy Award winner Bill Cunliffe. Watch the trailer below.

Still Dreaming Trailer 9.23.14 from Hank Rogerson on Vimeo.

Visit stilldreamingmovie.com for more information.

 
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