Dalton’s Advancement and Alumni Relations Office hosted a screening of "When My Sleeping Dragon Woke" on Wednesday, March 13. Veteran actor and Tony-nominated Dalton Alum Sharon Washington ’77 wrote the story, and her husband, Chuck Schultz, directed and produced the film. 

 

The movie delves into Sharon’s childhood living in a New York Public Library apartment where her father was the librarian custodian and her journey of discovery, many years later, writing a play that revisited her childhood. The film is a potent reminder of the transformative power of storytelling.

 

At the Talk Back following the screening, student Adeline Lopez ’24 interviewed Sharon and Chuck, who said that the film was a leap into the unknown and ensured that this story lives on after Sharon’s one-woman play ended its run. While discussing the process, the filmmakers said Sharon’s story helped them find how it wanted to be told. In this instance, the film adopted a multimedia format, combining video, audio, photographs, and animation which served to illustrate aspects of Sharon’s childhood beautifully, 

 

Reflecting on her Dalton education, Sharon said Dalton provided a space, place, and time to explore. Next up, a children’s book!