Here’s a closer look at Eliana Pipes’ Dream Hou$e, now on the main stage of the College of Marin’s James Dunn Theatre in Kentfield through March 15.
As a Marin County arts piece, it weaves magical realism with intimate family drama. Audiences from nearby towns like San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Sausalito are asked to consider what it means to profit from a home while facing the past that built it.
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What Dream Hou$e is about
Two sisters inherit a family home and agree to sell it on a reality TV program. Patricia and Julia wrestle with invasive cameras, a cunning host, and motives that aren’t as transparent as the show’s glossy veneer.
The production blends magical realism with tough questions about identity and memory. It looks at how the past shapes a future that might get sold off for ratings.
The stakes feel especially close to home for Marin audiences who know the emotional terrain of family property. From the hillsides of Tiburon to the flats of San Rafael, these themes hit hard.
Meet the cast
Raysheina de Leon-Ruhs brings Patricia to life with real clarity and drive. Katia Quintero captures Julia’s sentimental pull, anchoring the sisters’ bond as the world around them grows unpredictable.
Sarah Liller delivers a compelling turn as the narrative darkens. There’s one chilling moment involving a teeth image that just sticks with you.
Across the stage in Kentfield, these performances ground the drama in both the everyday and the surreal. Marin audiences will probably recognize that contrast—life here can be both, sometimes in the same afternoon.
Design and staging
Malcolm Rogers’ set design stands out on the James Dunn Theatre’s big main stage. He uses space to show what the sisters might be giving up in pursuit of a dream that’s not always what it seems.
Abra Berman’s costumes are playful and bold. That bright-orange pantsuit is hard to miss and sets the show’s irreverent tone, even as things get darker.
Staging this intimate piece in a larger proscenium space creates a certain tension. The audience sits farther away, which can lessen the closeness that a smaller studio might have offered—some Marin folks might miss that, especially if they’re used to the cozy corners of San Anselmo or Fairfax galleries.
Why this production matters to Marin County
Director Lisa Morse leads with a clean, supportive approach that highlights the students’ work and gives us a visually flattering stage picture.
The production sparks broader conversations about representation and lived experience. It’s possible a director with perspectives from the Global Majority might’ve brought something new here.
For Marin fans in Belvedere and Ross craving thoughtful theatre along Route 1, Dream Hou$e offers a gentle, humane lens on sisterhood and the pressure to monetize personal history. Those themes resonate from the hills of Larkspur to the waterfront in Sausalito.
Practical details for Marin audiences
The show runs Thursday through Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2pm. Admission’s free, though donations are always welcome.
If you’re planning a cultural excursion and want to enjoy the drive through Marin County towns like Novato on your way to Kentfield, maybe make a night of it in San Rafael. Grab a bite before or after the performance—there’s plenty to choose from nearby.
- Where: College of Marin, James Dunn Theatre, Kentfield
- When: Through March 15; Thu–Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm
- Admission: Free with donations appreciated
- Nearby dining: Options abound in Mill Valley, Larkspur, and San Anselmo for post-show bites
Dream Hou$e brings a sweet, theatrical look at sisterhood. Marin County audiences might find it worth the trip up Sir Francis Drake Boulevard or across the Richmond Bridge to Kentfield.
Theater lovers from Tiburon, Sausalito, and beyond get a thoughtful reminder here: the past, when you really look at it, can shine a light on the future—even if the price sometimes feels a bit high.
Here is the source article for this story: Open Hou$e, Eliana Pipes Comedy at COM
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