The Dream Engine : Arena Stage 1972

Credits sheet for this staging of The Dream Engine which sadly never happened.

Document dated 15th April 1972.

Full Text:

THE DREAM ENGINE

Principals

Historian .................... Jeff Weiss
Max ......................... Larry Block
Emily ....................... Trina Parks
Baal ....................... Richard Gere
The Girl ............... Mary Ellen Parks

Alaina Reed, 1972
Alaina Reed, who was the first person ever to publicly perform Heaven Can Wait. Unfortunately, her version was never recorded.

Nuns

Davidson Lloyd
Chris Torch
Stephen Keath
Woody Merrill

The Tribe

Priscilla Davis
Larry Dilg
Reuben Edinger
Barry Keating
Grover Kemble
Richard Kinscherf
Judy London
Arleen Mindis
Kathryn Posin
Alaina Reed
David White
Arty Wilkins

Musicians

Piano, director ............. Martin Brody
Guitar ................ Jeffrey Southworth
Organ/arp .................. Norman Durkee
Bass Guitar ............ Ernest Provencher
Saxophone ................. Charles Tokarz
Drummer ...................... Eric Brandt
Drummer ..................... Craig McNeer

Production

Director ................ Richard Pearlman
Playwright .................. Jim Steinman
Choreographer .............. Kathryn Posin
Designer ................... David Jenkins
Costumes ................ Marjorie Slaiman
Lights ..................... Billy Mintzer
Media Design ............. Jack Coddington
Arranger ................... Michael Kamen

Woah, the Richard Gere? As Baal??

Yes! Jim confirms he was a fabulous singer and all-round huge talent. According to Barry Keating: "Richard Gere at that time had long hippie hair down to his waist. At his audition he accompanied himself at the piano. He was the only person out of the multitudes who auditioned who could sing the extremely challenging score perfectly."

Additional photos

Credits sheet for The Dream Engine at Arena Stage, Washington D.C. 1972
Richard Gere's résumé
Alaina Reed's résumé