Life is a Dream La vida es sueno
February 21-22, 27-28 | 7:30 p.m. February 23 | 3 p.m. March 1 | 7:30 p.m.
cast and crew cast
Queen Basilia.....................................................Emma Faucault
Segismundo............................................................Chase Juster
Clarion.....................................................................Sarah Loster
Rosaura...................................................................Lily Lourigan
Estrella................................................................Jessie Skonesey
Astolfo...............................................................Matthew Corgiat
Clotaldo.................................................................Michael Ortin
Soldier, Guard, Servant.....................................Lorelai Amborn
Soldier, Guard, Servant.......................................Owen Holecko
Soldier, Guard.......................................................Sarah Beavers
Soldier, Guard, Servant..........................................Ellie Neybert
Soldier, Lady-in-Waiting.......................................Hannah Duda
production team
Director................................................................Neil Scharnick
Assistant Director..............................................Annaliese Ruhs
Production Stage Manager................................Colin Campbell
Assistant Stage Manager..............................Matthew Andresen
Scenic Designer............................................Martin McClendon
Technical Director.............................Zackary “SLiM” Simonini
Costume Designer.................................................Kim Instenes
Lighting Designer....................................................Jenny Bauer
Fight Coordinator................................................Dave Gonzalez
Dramaturg...............................................................Matt Borden
Assistant Scenic Designer........................................Zoe Landry
Props Designer.......................................................Alyssa Sargis
Sound Designer.......................................................Ro Longden
directors note
Thank you for attending this production of Carthage College Theatre.
Like so many plays from the Spanish Golden Age, LA VIDA ES SUEÑO is, at first glance, one more tale of honor and revenge. But Calderón’s masterpiece, widely recognized as a true world classic, is so much more than that. Part political fairy tale and part philosophical allegory, LIFE IS A
DREAM
demonstrates an ambition rarely matched on the stage. it calls into question the nature of reality, acknowledges the limits of perception and understanding, and ultimately argues for virtue in spite of (or because of) life’s great mysteries.
In the 1600s, half of Spain’s dramatic output was written for the Church, which may have helped condition audiences to engage serious and complex philosophical and theological questions in the playhouse. Whatever the reason, LA VIDA ES SUEÑO remains both entertaining and profound nearly four hundred years after its authorship, weaving a discourse on God, free will, and the nature of existence among wisecracks and sword fights. We hope you find it as entertaining and thought-provoking as we do.
-Dr. Neil Kristian Scharnick
Emma Faucault-Miller (Queen Basilia) is a sophomore Music Theatre major with a minor in Communications and is very excited to be part of this beautiful production! Past Carthage credits include NINE (Guido’s Mother) and ELEEMOSYNARY (Assistant Stage Manager). Other credits include: MAMMA MIA! (Donna Sheridan), SHE KILLS MONSTERS (Farrah the Faerie), and ANTIGONE (Nurse). Recently, she won the 2nd place award for the 5B Musical Theatre category at the Wisconsin NATS singing competition. Emma is heavily involved on campus; most notably, she is the president of the Carthage Treble Choir and is a member of the Lincoln Chamber Singers, the Public Relations chair for Lambda Kappa, and the Treasurer for Merely Players Improv. Emma thanks her mom and dad for always being her rock, her friends for always making her laugh, and her boyfriend, Marcus, for being here with her every step of the way in her journey. Emma is also excited to play Chase’s mom in a show directed by Neil once again. Enjoy the show! IG: emmafaucaultmiller_
Chase Juster (Segismundo) is a junior Music Theatre Major and Choral Literature and Conducting Minor. Carthage Credits: LEGALLY BLONDE (ENS/Emmett US/ Callahan US), CARRIE (Billy Nolan), XANADU (Terpsicore), NINE (Guido) for which he received a KCACTF Irene Ryan nomination. In the Spring, he will also be performing in HEAD OVER HEELS (Pythio). Past Credits: BAND GEEKS (Jake). Outside of theater, he is the historian of the Carthage Choir, a member of the Lincoln Chamber Singers, and works as the Music Theatre faculty fellow. Chase would like to thank his girlfriend Ella for being forced to watch him practice crawling like an animal and is also very excited to play Emma’s son in a show directed by Neil once again. IG: chasejstr
Sarah Loster - (Clarion) is a senior Theatre Performance Major, with Minors in Costume Design and Secondary Education. Previous roles here at Carthage include Time in LIFE CYCLE OF A STAR and Andrea in MEMENTO MORI on the mainstage. Mandy in WHEREVER YOU’VE BEEN, and W in LUNGS in the studio theatre. She has also stage-managed five dance productions and costume-designed I AND YOU. Sarah would like to thank her Mom for always being there to support her.
Lily Lourigan (Rosaura) is a Theatre Performance Major with a minor in Mandarin Chinese. She is so excited to be in her second classical production at Carthage College. She has been nominated for KCACTF’s Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship for her previous roles at Carthage such as Anna in LIFE CYCLE OF A STAR, Prostitute/ Business Owner in WHEREVER YOU’VE BEEN, Jo in FML: HOW CARSON McCULLERS SAVED MY LIFE, and Chorus Leader in ANTIGONE. She advanced to the semi-finals in ‘24 and ‘25. Other Carthage credits include Liliane La Fleur in NINE THE MUSICAL and Caroline in I AND YOU. She also received the Golden Collaborator award at KCACTF for her work in their Devised Theatre program. She would like to thank her parents for always allowing her to follow her dreams and for their unconditional love and support. IG: @pandadinosaurs
Jessie Skonesey - (Estrella) is a junior Theatre Performance major with a minor in French! As a recent Irene Ryan Region 3 Semi-Finalist of ‘25, her Carthage Credit Irene Ryan nominations are: ANTIGONE (Antigone), FML: HOW CARSON MCCULLERS SAVED MY LIFE (Ms.Delaney), ELEEMOSYNARY (Artie). Other Carthage include THE GENDERLESS PLAY EXPERIMENT (Stranger), ON THE VERGE (Alex), AWAY FROM THE MIRROR (Assistant Stage Manager), She wouldn’t be who she is today without the support and encouragement from her beloved parents and boyfriend. She dedicates this show in loving memory to her grandmother, Shirley Skonesey. Insta: @jessie_skonesey
biographies cont.
Matthew Corgiat (Astolfo) is a senior Theatre Performance major with a Psychology minor. He is delighted to be working on such a great show with a wonderful team. Previously he has performed as You 3 - Thinker in THE GENDERLESS PLAY EXPERIMENT and Ensemble 1 in LIFE CYCLE OF A STAR on the mainstage. He also performed You 3 in Flint, Michigan at KCACTF (2024). He has also performed in several studio productions including Ensemble 1 in WHEREVER YOU’VE BEEN, Anthony in I & YOU, M in LUNGS, and Two in BIG GUNS. Matthew was also the designated fight captain for the production of WHEREVER YOU’VE BEEN. He has also worked as Assistant Technical Director for Carthage’s studio production of ORDINARY DAYS and has been on run crew for several mainstage performances as well. He would like to thank the cast for their positivity and community, and his parents for their lifelong support.
Michael Ortin (Clotaldo) is a freshman Musical Theatre major from Hartland, WI. This is his first Carthage show and is very excited to be a part of it. Other credits include Wally Webb in OUR TOWN (Lake Country Playhouse), Ensemble roles in SHREK, MEAN GIRLS, and LES MISERABLES (Arrowhead High School), Wayne Hopkins in PUFFS and John Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility (Arrowhead High School). This past year, he was also a National Qualifier in the Milwaukee Catholic Forensics League in Dramatic Performance. This led him to compete in Chicago. He is currently a member of the Carthage Chorale and goes under the surname, Phoenix, as he competes and streams with the Carthage Firebirds eSports team. Michael would like to thank his Parents, siblings, his dog Zoey, his friends, and his Girlfriend, Lydia, for coming to the show and supporting him throughout the year. And he hopes that you enjoy the show! IG: @themichaelortin14
Lorelai Amborn (Ensemble) is a sophomore Musical Theatre major with a minor in Secondary Education, and is very excited to be performing in LIFE IS A DREAM! Previous Carthage Credits include Understudy for Dorothea/Echo/Artie in ELEEMOSYNARY, Claudia Nardi in NINE, and You 5-The Leader in THE GENDERLESS PLAY EXPERIMENT, for which she was nominated for KCACTF’S Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship. Other credits include Cathy in Music Theatre International’s pilot production and workshopped stagings of TREVOR and Beetlejuice in the International Thespian Festival’s pilot presentation for BEETLEJUICE: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION, (Kenosha Unified School District Theatre Arts Program). On campus she is a member of Lambda Kappa, Merely Players Improv, and Carthage Choir. She would like to thank her family friends and weiner dog rudy for being her biggest supporters! Enjoy the show! IG: @lorelaiamborn
Owen Holecko (Ensemble) is a sophomore double majoring in Playwriting and Theatrical Directing. Carthage credits: ELEEMOSYNARY (Stage Manager), NINE (Assistant Stage Manager), and CARRIE (Assistant Stage Manager). Other production credits: LEGALLY BLONDE (Student Director), THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (Stage Manager), and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JUNIOR (Stage Manager). Other acting credits: PUFFS (Ernie Mac), ANASTASIA (Count Ipolitov), and SEUSSICAL (Ensemble). He would like to thank his parents and sister for always supporting him in everything he does!
Sarah Beavers (Ensemble) is a freshman Musical Theatre and Criminal Justice major with a minor in Spanish. This is her first show with Carthage Theatre and she is so excited to have been a part of this production!
Ellie Neybert (Ensemble) is a senior Music Theater and Self-Designed Theater Production Major with an emphasis in Choreography. She recently premiered her choreographic work: Crimson Suite in TO THE GROWTH EDGE (Mainstage). Carthage Theatre Credits include: Echo in ELEEMOSYNARY (Studio), Luisa U/S, Co-Dance Captain and Ensemble in NINE (Mainstage), Carrie White in CARRIE THE MUSICAL (Mainstage), Ensemble Swing, Dance Captain and Ensemble in LEGALLY BLONDE (Mainstage), PORTIA U/S and Ensemble in SOMETHING ROTTEN (Mainstage), The Girl in MEMENTO MORI (Mainstage), and Professor Bhaer in LITTLE WOMEN (Workshop). She would like to thank her family and friends for their continued support and encouragement! IG : @ellie.neybert
Hannah Duda (Ensemble) is a first-year Musical Theatre, Theatre, and Secondary Education Major. She is very excited to make her Carthage Theatre debut! Past Credits Include: PUFFS (Megan Jones), BRIGHT STAR (Margo Crawford), BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Mrs. Potts). She wants to thank her friends and family for always supporting her dreams. I love you Mom! IG: hannahleigh_duda
production biographies
Dr. Neil Kristian Scharnick (Director, ‘99) teaches theatre history and play analysis in addition to directing at Carthage; he also serves as Director of the Honors Program. Neil holds a Ph.D. in Theatre and Drama from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an M.A. in Theatre from Northwestern University, and degrees in Religion and Communications & Performing Arts from Carthage. Some past directing credits at Carthage include PROOF, PUFFS, MARRIAGE A LA MODE, THE SERPENT, ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD, and DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE as well as the musicals INTO THE WOODS, FLORA THE RED MENACE, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, and NINE. Scharnick helps coordinate Carthage’s New Play Initiative and has brought four new plays under his direction to the regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and three to theatres overseas. He thanks Erin and Ollie for their boundless love and patience.
Annaliese Ruhs (Assistant Director) is a Junior Music Theatre and Directing double major. She is excited to make her Carthage mainstage directorial debut! Carthage Credits: CARRIE (Margaret White), ON THE VERGE (Mary), NINE (Costumes), XANADU (Assistant Stage Manager), Opera Workshop IN MEMORY OF MOZART. Past credits: MAMMA MIA (Rosie), BAND GEEKS (Natalia). She was nominated for the KCACTF Irene Acting scholarship for her work as Mary in ON THE VERGE. In 2023, Annaliese worked as a Music Operations Apprentice at the Glimmerglass Theatre and Opera Festival in Cooperstown, NY and competed in the Wisconsin NATS singing competition winning 1st place in her category in 2024 and 2nd in 2022. On campus, she sings with the Carthage Choir and Lincoln Chamber Singers. IG: aruhs_26
Colin Campbell (Production Stage Manager) is a junior double major in Musical Theatre and Stage Management. He is unbelievably excited to be in his first Stage Management role! This is a brand new thing in his life, and he is overly joyous to have the opportunity to learn another aspect of theatre so that he can be a well-rounded theatre artist. Carthage Credits Include: NINE (Assistant Stage Manager) CARRIE (Freddy) XANADU (Thalia/Sonny Malone u/s) and he is currently getting ready to be in the Dance Ensemble while covering the roles of Musidorus & Pythio in Carthage’s Spring Musical HEAD OVER HEELS. Thank you to his friends and family for the constant support and encouragement while he finds his true self. IG: @colin.p.campbell
Matthew Andresen (Assistant Stage Manager) is a sophomore Musical Theatre major with a minor in Graphic Design. He is super excited to be working on this production! Carthage Credits: Grover et. al in ON THE VERGE, Dancer in TO THE GROWTH EDGE. Select credits: Wolfie in LOVE AT FIRST FRIGHT, Dancer in ADRENAL!NE, Singer/ Dancer in KINETIC (Six Flags Great America). Matthew especially wants to thank his parents, family, and friends for their continuous support and encouragement along his performing journey! He hopes you enjoy the show! Choose LOVE. @matthewmandresen
Martin McClendon (Scenic Designer) teaches, directs, and designs scenery for Carthage Theatre. He has received KC/ACTF Certificates of Merit for scenic design for the Carthage productions of MAN OF LA MANCHA, BOEING BOEING, ONE DAY IN THE SEASON OF RAIN, DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE, and a collaborative certificate for video technology for THE BREATH OF STARS. Martin was also honored to receive the Association for Theatre in Higher Education Innovative Teaching Award for 2016-17 for his work with students in developing veteran theatre projects, including the Veteran Night of the Arts fundraiser. Before coming to Carthage, Martin spent 10 years working as a professional actor, carpenter, and scene designer in Chicago and Los Angeles. He was nominated three times for Non-Equity Jeff Citation Awards while designing scenery for the Defiant Theatre Company, Chicago. In addition to designing scenery, video, and sound at Carthage, regional scene design credits include Milwaukee Chamber Theatre and First Stage Children’s Theatre (Milwaukee, WI), Actor’s Ensemble (Rockford, IL), and The Evidence Room and Odyssey Theatres (Los Angeles, CA). Onstage appearances in Chicago include MOJO and SKYLIGHT (Steppenwolf), DANNY BOUNCING (Victory Gardens) and THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN (Northlight). Oncamera work includes several independent movies, episodes of ER and EARLY EDITION, and numerous commercials. He is a proud member of Actor’s Equity and SAG/AFTRA. Martin received his MFA in acting from the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana, and his BFA in acting from Rockford College. He would like to thank his beautiful wife Jennifer and his wonderful kids Arabella and Horatio for their support and inspiration.
Mr. Simonini (‘12) is thrilled to see mountains within the Wartburg Theatre. “SLiM” has worked at Carthage for several years previous to this position as well as having served as professor of Stagecraft. Mr. Simonini has lived the Carthage experience of taking his well rounded liberal arts education and accumulating diverse experiences through various employment. In addition to being part of the Carthage team, he has experience within the events industry of Washington D.C., manufacturing and processing within various woodworking industries, and even some continued opportunities as a performer. He would like to thank his lovely and supportive wife, Allison, as well as the Scene Shop Team and Crew that make this theatre MAGIC come together. Check out his IMDB if you want to see the performer side of Mr. Simonini. If you were going to watch the first five minutes of any Tubi movie this year, consider watching him fall in a hole in the beginning of Continental Split.
Kim Instenes (Assistant Professor of Theatre/Costume Designer) Kim holds an MFA in Costume Design and Technology from Ohio University, and a BA in Theatre from UW-Whitewater. Her faculty credits include UW Parkside, UW Whitewater, UW Milwaukee and Lawrence University. In addition to teaching at these schools she has designed costumes and makeup for a number of productions including IMAGINARY INVALID, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, TROJAN WAR, SWEENEY TODD and TRANSLATIONS. Kim continues to work as a freelance costume and make-up designer in the Milwaukee/ Chicago area. Professional design credits include First Stage Milwaukee, Milwaukee Shakespeare, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Renaissance Theatreworks, Third Avenue PlayWorks, Forward Theater, Utah Shakespearean Festival and the Racine Theatre Guild. Kim is excited to be a part of the Theatre Department here at Carthage as it strengthens and strives to create theatre artists of the highest quality. She enjoys the thrill of watching a student understand what a costume does for their character and watch that character come to life as a result. She would also like to thank her family, husband Doug, and children, Lauren and Sarah, and Dalen and Haley, for their continued support of her creative endeavors.
Jenny Bauer (Lighting Designer) is a freelance theatre technician and lighting designer, who graduated from UW-Parkside. Some credits include serving as Assistant Technical Director at Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre. Jenny also works as carpenter (Mercury Theatre, Court Theatre, The Wit Theatre, and Fireside Dinner Theatre) and as electrician (Marriott Theatre, Mercury Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The University of Illinois Chicago, and the Athenaeum Center). Additionally, Jenny served as Lighting Designer for productions at Racine Theatre Guild, Union Grove High School, Case High School, and for a Midcoast Concert at the Cooperage Center.
Dave Gonzalez (Fight Coordinator) is honored to be apart of this production. He is a fight director and physical theatre specialist in the city of Chicago. A long-time member of the Society of American Fight Directors, Dave’s choreography has been seen across the country. His Chicago-area credits include A Red Orchid Theatre Co, Lookingglass Theatre, American Theatre Co, Piccolo Theatre, The Plagiarists, Elmhurst College, and Innervation Dance Cooperative. As a Certified Teacher of stage combat with the Society of American Fight Directors, he teaches Skills Proficiency Test classes alongside Certified Teacher Nicky Jasper and Advanced Actor Combatant Michael Saubert as Open Gate Movement Arts; as well as adjunct faculty at Carthage College and guest faculty at Illinois State University and a host of regional stage combat workshops across the country. He had the honor of being on the teaching staff of the National Stage Combat Workshop in 2023. Prof. Matt Borden (Dramaturg) received both his M.A. and Ph.D. in Spanish literature at the University of Texas at Austin. While at UTAustin, he received numerous scholarships and awards, including a Carrie Lee Kennedy Fellowship, an Oliver William Kennedy Fellowship, a David Bruton, Jr. Fellowship, and the prestigious University Continuing Fellowship. He was twice elected as President of the Graduate Student Organization of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. He received his B.A. from the University of WisconsinMadison with a quadruple major in Spanish, political science, international relations, and Ibero-American studies.
Zoe Landry (Assistant Scenic Designer) is a senior Technical Direction Theatre Major. Her Carthage College mainstage credits: BETRAYAL (run crew), Prop Designer for the following: SOMETHING ROTTEN, MEMENTO MORI, LEGALLY BLONDE, THE GENDERLESS PLAY EXPERIMENT, NINE, & XANADU. Assistant Scenic Designer is such an honor for her, and she would like to thank her friends and family for their continued support of her endeavors.
Alyssa Sargis (Props Designer) is a sophomore Theatre Education major and Dance minor and was so honored to work on LIFE IS A DREAM. Previously, she has worked on sound mix for THE GENDERLESS PLAY EXPERIMENT, sound board operator for IN/ VISIBLE DANCE, projection and sound designer for ON THE VERGE, light board operator for AWAY FROM THE MIRROR, properties design for ELEEMOSYNARY, run crew head for LIFE CYCLE OF A STAR, and assistant stage manager TO THE GROWTH EDGE. She would like to thank her family for supporting her in chasing her dreams (no matter how wild they are) and for always supporting her from 80-some miles away. Enjoy the show :)
Ro Longden (Sound Designer) is a freshman Technical Theatre Direction, Computer Science, and Data Science major who is excited to work on LIFE IS A DREAM! In the past, Ro has worked on sound mix for LIFE CYCLE OF A STAR, MEAN GIRLS, ANNIE, and THE LIGHTNING THIEF. Ro is excited to step into a new role as a sound designer and wants to thank their friends and family for always supporting them!
The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, part of the Rubenstein Arts Access Program, is generously funded by David M. Rubenstein.
Special thanks to The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for supporting the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.
Additional support is provided by The Honorable Stuart Bernstein and Wilma E. Bernstein; and the Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation.
Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming is made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts.
This production is entered in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). The aims of this national theater education program are to identify and promote quality in college-level theater production. To this end, each production entered is eligible for a response by a regional KCACTF representative, and selected students and faculty are invited to participate in KCACTF programs involving scholarships, internships, grants and awards for actors, directors, dramaturgs, playwrights, designers, stage managers and critics at both the regional and national levels.
Productions entered on the Participating level are eligible for invitation to the KCACTF regional festival and may also be considered for national awards recognizing outstanding achievement in production, design, direction and performance.
Last year more than 1,500 productions were entered in the KCACTF involving more than 200,000 students nationwide. By entering this production, our theater department is sharing in the KCACTF goals to recognize, reward, and celebrate the exemplary work produced in college and university theaters across the nation.
Student Recital: Olivia Litton
Saturday, February 22 • 7:30 p.m.
H. F. Johnson Recital Hall
Student Recital: Danae Palmer
Sunday, February 23 • 1 p.m.
H. F. Johnson Recital Hall
Northside Brass Quintet
Tuesday, February 25 • 7:30 p.m.
H. F. Johnson Recital Hall
The Carl Tour Artist Talk
Thursday, February 27 • 6:15 - 7:30 p.m.
H.F. Johnson Art Gallery
Student Recital: Emily Halfmann
Saturday, March 1 • 1 p.m.
H. F. Johnson Recital Hall
Student Recital: Meghan Keiffer-Zagar
Saturday, March 1 • 4 p.m.
H. F. Johnson Recital Hall
Fine Arts at Carthage acknowledges that the land on which our building stands is part of the traditional Potawatomi, Sioux, Peoria, Kickapoo, and Miami peoples past, present, and future. These homelands reside along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes. We honor with gratitude the land itself, and the people who have stewarded it throughout the generations. Many Indigenous peoples thrive in this place—alive and strong, and this calls us to commit to continuing to learn how to be better stewards of the land we inhabit as well. tickets required Get tickets 24/7 at carthage.edu/tickets or 262-551-6661 noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday – Friday connect with us carthage.edu/fine-arts 262-551-5859 facebook.com/carthageVPA instagram.com/carthageVPA