Dragon Theatre Evolving With Management Changes

REDWOOD CITY, CA --Change is good. Just ask an artist -- or a theater company.

Dragon Theatre, a mainstay on the Peninsula in downtown Redwood City, is about to live a dramatic crossroads with Artistic Director Meredith Hagedorn leaving and Max Koknar stepping in her shoes with the help of Alika Spencer-Koknar.

"After 19 years of growing this company, I wanted to say thank you to all our patrons and artists that have been a part of the Dragon family over the years. I am so proud of the work that has happened at Dragon, and I love that this has been a place where artists can explore challenging work and designers can flex their creative muscles on our intimate stage," Hagedorn's outgoing message read. "I’m thrilled to officially pass the torch to Max and Alika, and I know that Dragon will be in terrific hands with them, along with Kim and the rest of the Dragon team.

As it turns out, Hagedorn isn't going far. She'll be appearing in "The Revolutionists," the first show of 2019 -- a comedy about the French Revolution that runs from Jan. 18 to Feb. 10.

If that's not enough to grab your curiosity, the Koknars have brainstormed proposals about how to proceed to get attendance up. The ideas are far reaching and unique.

"We want to keep up Meredith's vision for early-career artists to do projects they're passionate about," he said, adding the desire to stretch the venue further.

The Koknars insist the Silicon Valley theater market is hankering for out-of-the-ordinary, multi-cultural works. One proposal involves the creation of an aerial art performance like a play-circus that features trapeze artists living through the rise of the Nazi party.

Another idea being batted around involves an open stage night that mimics most open mic nights.

"These shows appeal to the Silicon Valley tech crowd more than traditional plays," he said.

Of course, the Koknars will also highlight plays to ground the theater company.

For example, a recent one -- "K2" -- was a winning combination of good dialogue and an innovative set built in the Himalayas.

With this new vision, ain't no mountain high enough to the show from going on.

--Images courtesy of Dragon Theatre