Biographical and Historical Note

Visions and Dreams was a show written and produced by James Dodding performed in August 1984 to celebrate the University's sesquicentennial, its 150th anniversary. Dodding was a member of the Theatre department who directed many WFU theatrical productions. The  Visions and Dreams show - alternatively refered to as "Sound and Light" or "Son et Lumiere" - was an immersive theatrical experience that used only light projections, narration, and sound effects to tell the history of Wake Forest. The show was performed on the mainquad and light was projected onto Wait Chapel. The production used multiple narrators and voices to tell the University's history up till that point, as told by George Washington Paschal. The production was open to Wake Forest students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as the greater Winston-Salem community.

Visions and Dreams is an example of a Son et Lumiere production, a show which uses creative lighting, a recorded sound track, and special effects to tell the story of a place. The lighting reflects a mood or emphasizes a point as the sound track tells the story. No actors appear; buildings, the landscape, and, ultimately, the audience's imagination take their parts and, in this show, produced visions of what was and what can be. More than 150 people have voice parts in the production, and music, including choruses, bands, ensembles, and soloists were directed by Teresa Radomski, David Levy, Dan Locklair, and George Trautwein of the Music department.

Collection Overview

This collection documents the creative process of Visions and Dreams by James Dodding. Materials include an audio cassette tape of the completed show's audio; newspaper clippings of publicity; notes regarding casting, sound design, and explanatory material; and several scripts, including drafts and the final script. There are also multiple audio reels of the completed show and publicity planning materials.

Collection Inventory

• 1/2 track audio reels, numbered 1-4 (4 reels)  (1984) box 2 reel 8-11
• "Dearest Jim Dodding" audiocassette tape (undated) box 1 folder 1
• Early scripts with handwritten notes  (1984) box 1 folder 6
• Final working script, used for tape editing with notes  (1984) box 1 folder 5
• Finished script  (1984) box 1 folder 9
• First draft script framework  (1984) box 1 folder 7
• Lighting, recording, and casting notes and materials  (1984) box 1 folder 4
• Master calendar, planning, and organizational materials  (1983 May-November) box 3 folder 1
• Master quad reels (4 reels) (circa 1984) box 2 reel 1-4
• Magnetic tape reels (3 reels) (circa 1984) box 2 reel 5-7
• Offical program booklet  (1984) box 1 folder 10
• Photograph slides from show  (1984 October) box 1 folder 11
• Physical plant set-up notes and correspondence  (1984 August) box 3 folder 3
• Planning and publicity materials, notes, and newspaper clippings  (1984 May-August) box 3 folder 5
• Publicity clippings and letter from Robert W. Shivley (1984 August) box 1 folder 2
• Scripts, sound design notes, and other planning materials  (1984) box 1 folder 3
• Security detail materials, notes, and correspondence  (1984 August-September) box 3 folder 2
• Son et Lumiere explanation write up and Wake Forest timeline  (1984) box 1 folder 8
• Son et Lumiere meeting minutes and working group materials  (1983 April-December) box 3 folder 4
• Visions and Dreams official audiocassette (circa 1984) box 1 folder 1

Summary Information

Repository

Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives

Title

Sesquicentennial. Visions and Dreams Sound and Light Show Records

ID

RG29.4

Date [inclusive]

Quantity

1 record carton, 2 document boxes

Extent

2.14  Linear Feet

Administrative Information

Publication Information

Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, 2017 June

Revision Description

Revised by Ashelee Gerald Hill, 2019 November

Revision Description

Revised by Meg Campbell, new materials added and description revised, 2024 February

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for use. 

Copyright Notice

The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. 

Preferred Citation

Sesquicentennial Commission. Visions and Dreams Sound and Light Show Records (RG29.4), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. 

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