A Quantum Dream Presents

November 20th through November 23rd at 7:30PM
Saturday November 22nd matinee (understudy performance) at 2PM
Sunday, November 23rd matinee at 2PM
at the ZooTown Arts Community Center, 215 W. Main St, Missoula MT, 59802

Synopsis:

Maddy and Dad haven’t spoken in years. The last time they did, it ended in yet another shouting match. But on Thanksgiving Day, Maddy drags a dead body into Dad’s living room. Who could Maddy possibly have accidentally shot in self defense? Definitely not a time-travelling Maddy from the future….right?

White’s “Future Tripping” is a sincere and darkly hilarious journey of healing and self-determination. It frankly addresses issues such as suicide, family relationships and the mind-boggling nature of space and time. What would you do if you had a second chance and a good cup of tea?

Runtime: approximately two hours, including one fifteen-minute intermission.

Content warning: gunshot sound effects, an explicit depiction of homicide, discussions of suicidal ideation and adult language. Not recommended for audiences under the age of 16.

Cast, in order of appearance:

Dad: Tim Ballard
Maddy: Nadia Mell
Detective Berry/Person: Heaven Leigh Raines

Understudy cast, appearing at Saturday matinee performance:

Dad: James Cox
Maddy: Heaven Leigh Raines
Detective Berry/Person: Riley Netzley-Hale

Production Team

Produced by Meg Elizabeth Denny and Reggie Herbert
Directed by Reggie Herbert
Scenic, Lighting and Costume design by Meg Elizabeth Denny
Original Score and Sound Design by Jeremy Meine
with additional sound by Reggie Herbert and Gregory Dagget
Stage Manager: Sarah Hibbard
Assistant Stage Manager and production assistant: Gregory Dagget
Set construction by Meg Elizabeth Denny, Gregory Dagget and Joe Kirk
Run crew: Heaven Leigh Raines and Riley Netzley-Hale
Audio describer: MegElizabeth Denny
Captions Operator: Riley Netzley-Hale and Meg Elizabeth Denny
Marketing and poster design: Meg Elizabeth Denny
Marketing Assistant: Kateena Bell

ZACC Showroom Staff

Venue Manager: Daina Grand
- Production Manager: Noah Glover
Art Assistant and Showroom Support: Sadie Arnold
Program Manager: Joe Kirk

About the Playwright

Brian White, a white man in his forties with brown hair and glasses, holds a paper to his chest and smiles warmly.

Brian Gene White is a writer, classically trained actor, and director. He worked at NASA for seven years as the producer and host of the von Karman Lecture Series, bringing space and technology to thousands of folks every month. His graphic novel “Death’s Assistant” is scheduled for a 2026 release and working with Picturestart to bring his story to the screen. His play “Future Tripping” opened to rave reviews in its 2022 World Premiere at LOFT Ensemble and he is developing the film adaptation. He has had readings at Loading Dock Theatre, Moving Arts Theatre, the Great River Shakespeare Festival, New Canon Theatre Company, and the Ensemble Shakespeare Theatre. His play “Path of Least Regret” won the “New Media Film Festival” best script competition. His screenplay “A Jersey Christmas Movie”, co-written with Laura Napoli, was a Nicholl Fellowship Quarterfinalist. He has played Hamlet, Malvolio, a History Boy, Lou Costello, and many others in his career. He received his BFA at the conservatory at Webster University. He is a proud member of AEA and the Dramatists Guild.

Director’s Note

Let’s be frank. Suicide is a rough subject, and it’s one we often avoid. Even if you haven’t faced it yourself, you probably know someone who has. I certainly do. My phone still holds contact information for friends who aren’t here anymore.

When we avoid talking about suicide, when we leave it in the dark—we make it harder for people who are struggling to reach out. Silence becomes stigma, and stigma becomes isolation. This play gives us an opportunity to explore these themes in a way that’s approachable.

I fell in love with Brian White’s script when I found myself laughing out loud at the Mountain Line transfer station while reading it for the first time. It was refreshing to encounter a story willing to address something this heavy without collapsing under the weight of it. Future Tripping is dark, funny, sincere, and deeply human. Maddy and Dad’s story is one of healing, resilience, and transformation.

Our lives are like water. Sometimes we’re frozen in place. Sometimes we’re moving in too many directions at once. Sometimes heat and pressure change us in ways we didn’t expect. But change doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Maddy and Dad only move forward when they begin to build the present together, when the dead weight of the past is finally shared instead of carried alone.

The world feels heavy right now. Many of us feel it. But like Maddy, we can lean on the people who care about us, and we can give ourselves permission to stop letting the past dictate the future. She says it best: “If anyone is going to save me, it’s going to be me.”

coming may 2026:

Text over a blue tinted starfield reads: The Aurora Project

BY BELLA POYNTON

The Aurora Project follows Constantine, a humanoid robot and Nora, a genetically enhanced female explorer, as they begin a voyage across the uncharted universe. When Nora unexpectedly contracts an incurable illness, Constantine decides to subject them both to the phenomenon of cryo-freeze. Thus, the pair begins a kind of chemical induced time warp, spanning millions of years as they wait for the universe to get smarter, and a cure to Nora’s illness to be found.

We are accepting headshot and resume submissions for non-binary, female and male actors as well as portfolio submissions for collaborators on “The Aurora Project. Rehearsals are tentatively scheduled to begin in March 2026. Pleas send submissions to aquantumdream@outlook.com.

Join our new Studio Series Acting Classesin the new year!

For the first time ever, AQD will be offering the Holistic Foundations acting class as part of our Studio Series of acting classes. This six week experience will demystify acting and establish strong foundations for those new to performance and provide a refreshing focus for experienced actors.

Intended for people of all abilities and skill levels, Holistic Foundations blends somatic awareness, creative imagination, intentional movement,a relaxed voice and active listening to ground the actor in the present moment. If you’ve always thought about getting on stage or in front of the camera or are an experienced actor needing to hone your craft, this course is for you.

In order to ensure a personal experience with guidance and feedback tailored for every student, we only have space for ten students. Sign up today to take advantage of our early-bird deal! For additional information, visit the sign-up page here.

Meet the cast

Nadia Mell as Maddy

Nadia Mell is a professional theatre artist, with a BFA from Cornish College of the Arts in 2015. After acting in over a dozen Seattle-area shows she moved to Montana in 2019 where she expanded her work to directing, writing, producing, and arts activism. She co-founded Montana’s first openly gay theatre company, FruitBag Theatre, which provides performance opportunities and representation to the Bozeman LGBT+ community. She currently lives in Missoula with her partner and their two cats, and is honored to work with Quantum Dream.

Tim Ballard as Dad

Tim is an actor and improviser (and sometime adjunct professor of history at UM). He’s been performing in Missoula since 2016.

Heaven Leigh Raines as Detective Berry/Person; Maddy Understudy

Heaven is a 2016 University of Montana BFA theatre graduate. She has performed both on stage and behind the camera in numerous local projects. She is excited to once again take the stage with a Quantrum Dream and her fellow talented actor

James Cox as Dad Understudy

James has been performing in community theater for over 35 years. Theater keeps him grounded in community with passionate story tellers.

Riley Netzley-Hale as Detective Berry/Person Understudy

Riley Netzley-Hale is ecstatic to join the Quantum Dream family and return to her theatrical roots. Offstage, she enjoys exploring with her dog, Delilah, or cozying up with her cat, GeeGee, a cozy book, and a good cup of tea.

Project Tomorrow Montana

Since 2014, Project Tomorrow Montana – a collaboration between United Way of Missoula County and Missoula Public Health – has led a network of community organizations focused on promoting awareness, providing support, and offering educational opportunities in suicide prevention and postvention. Together, we are dedicated to saving lives, building resilient communities, and ensuring that no one faces their struggles alone.

A Quantum Dream is grateful the Project Tomorrow Montana have volunteered their time to make resources available in person during our Thursday and Friday performances. They will leave information and resources at the AQD table for the remained of the run. Visit them at https://projecttomorrowmt.org/

About A Quantum Dream

AQD believes the future is for everyone, and we are manifesting it through shaping our own cultural narrative. We make weird, speculative science-fiction theatre that’s not just for “theatre people.” We offer audio description services for live events (not just our own!), accessibility audits and consultations, classes and more to come. If you’d like to work with us, please drop us a line at aquantumdream@outlook.com. If you believe in what we do, please consider donating. Your contribution, no matter how small, helps keep the wave function from its inevitable collapse.

Venmo us @aquantumdream or hit the donate button below to donate via PayPal. If your organization would be interested in partnering with us for our upcoming season and require an EIN for donating, please reach out to reggie@aquantumdream.org

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