The Dream Engine : Advertisement

As printed on page 9 of the New York Times, November 23, 1969 - regarding the upcoming 1970 New York Shakespeare Festival.

promo for the 3rd New York Festival, including The Dream Engine

THE DREAM ENGINE - Starts March 13 in the spanking new and fantastically beautiful Estelle R. Newman Theater.

Music and words by Jim Steinman

Directed by Gerald Freedman

A savage rock theater work that originated at Amherst College resulting in the near-expulsion of the author and company.

Performance Schedule:

  • Tuesday - Saturday evenings at 8:30 P.M.
  • Saturday matinee at 2:30 P.M.
  • Sunday matinee at 3:00 P.M.
  • Sunday evening at 7:30 P.M.

Important Note: there was no "near expulsion of the author and company" in reality. See this letter from Amherst to Joe Papp.

So, what happened?

Gerald Freedman was the artistic director for the New York Shakespeare Festival and a good friend of Joseph Papp. However, after seeing his work on Sambo, Jim absolutely refused to let him direct the Dream Engine, so there was a lot of turmoil and hurt feelings all round, and the newly built Newman Theater was not ready in time anyway.

(The Newman Theater happens to be where the show More Than You Deserve opened a few years later in 1973)