Website: https://dream7productions.com/
Dream 7 Productions is a community theatre organization based in Nashville, Tennessee. It operates as a teaching community theatre company, producing original stage works and offering arts education programs. The organization describes its purpose as providing “a safe place for the at-risk community of Nashville, TN to learn and grow through theatre arts at no cost,” and it produces work that addresses “historical, spiritual and societal themes within the African American narrative.”
Services
Dream 7 Productions is a teaching theatre company whose activities include staged productions, staged readings, actor training, and new-play development. Its programs and offerings include:
- Theatrical productions and staged readings
- Actor training and development, including programs for novice and youth actors ages five and up
- “Write What You Know,” a development program supporting emerging playwrights
- Community theatre performances, some offered free of charge with suggested donations
The organization describes itself as “one of the few teaching community theatre companies in the Middle Tennessee area.” A current staged reading, “Love Wins,” was written by William Anthony, the first “Write What You Know” participant, and directed by Vida Finley; it is offered with free admission and suggested donations and is noted as not suitable for children.
About
Dream 7 Productions was established in 1996 by Michael L. Walker, originally operating under the name “One Thug Unlimited,” and is credited with introducing spoken word performance to Nashville’s theatre community. In October 2002, younger company members encouraged a name change, resulting in “Dream 7 Theatre Productions.” The organization owns a catalog of more than twenty original plays written by founder Michael L. Walker. Its signature piece, “Cultural Millennium,” “chronicles the history of African Americans experiences in this country.” Other productions include Music City Jubilee, Reflections of Blackness, The Last Chance Texaco, and Weusi/CM Excerpts.
Michael L. Walker (Nov. 15, 1952, Feb. 6, 2021) served as the founding Executive Director from 2002 to 2020. He was mentored by theatre artists including Stella Reed, who advised him to “Write what you know.” Vida Finley served as Executive Director from 2020 to 2025, and Christan Riley became Executive Director in 2025. The organization expresses its mission through statements from its leaders, including “Theatre is the best therapy. Dream 7 aims to heal the community through theatre arts” and “Our mission is to teach and train while doing our craft.”
Location & Contact
Dream 7 Productions is based in Nashville, Tennessee, and serves the surrounding community. Contact is available through a contact page on the organization’s website and an email-list signup. The organization maintains a social media presence on Instagram (@dream7theatre), Facebook (Dream7Theatre), YouTube, and TikTok. A specific street address and phone number are not listed on the website.
Additional Information
The website includes sections covering the organization’s history, board of directors, community involvement, recognition, past productions, and a photo gallery, as well as its “Write What You Know” new-writers program. Several productions, including its staged readings, are presented free of charge with suggested donations encouraged.
Profile compiled from the company’s official website (dream7productions.com).