EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE

THEATER ARTS


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Official educational partner of
Center Theatre Group

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1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez,
Monterey Park, CA 91754
P2 building

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A BRIEF INTERPRETATION OF CALDERÓN’S LIFE IS A DREAM


Poster for Life is a Dream
To view the event, please follow this link: https://istream.elac.edu/Watch/LisaD21

DIRECTOR'S NOTE


This play was selected because of how it might resonate with young people feeling isolated during this pandemic.The main character, Segismundo, through no fault of his own, is forced to live in isolation in a tower, his only access to the world through his caretaker Clotaldo.

I never considered trying to do the full two and half hourplay online. I had seen a few online “Zoom” type shows andfound the shorter ones held my interest. But how do we cut Calderón’s masterpiece down to under an hour and still keep the beauty and richness of the play and its poetry? Inspired by many of the approaches to “still doing theatre” that I have watched during this pandemic, I came up with the premise you will see tonight. The students embraced it andcreated the ad libs and fun style of the “Zoom” session themselves. I hope you find our hour long show enjoyable and inspiring. I especially hope that it will lead you to reading Calderón’s masterpiece on your own.

On a personal note, since I am retiring at the end of the semester, I would like to extend my thanks to Colin McKayfor giving me the opportunity to teach at ELAC all those many years ago and to my family for being so supportive of my passion for theatre and for teaching. I would also like to thank all of my colleagues. Most of all I must thank th estudents who have always inspired me to do my best. Even when my best didn’t quite hit the mark, I learned so much from all of them that it made me better and I will always be grateful to them. As William Shakespeare put it in Twelfth Night: “I can no other answer make but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks.”

CAST

THE “ZOOM” SESSION ACTORS:
(IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
William Anderson............................Joe David, Jr.
Brandon Michael Michaels..............Robert De Loza
Charles High......................................Chris Lowe
Carey........................................Nalani Bannister
Hayk Vardanyan.............................Hakop Mkhsian
Brian...................................Alejandro Hernandez
Tommy Bauer-Artistic Director........Mario Arciniega
Claire Mendez...............................Karizma Garcia
Soraya.........................................Stella Ramirez

THE DRAMATIS PERSONAE OF THE PLAY

BASIL, King of Poland....................Hakop Mkhsian
SEGISMUNDO, his Son.....................Joe David, Jr.
ASTOLFO, Duke of Muscovy............Alejandro Hernandez
CLOTALDO, a Nobleman..................Robert De Loza
ESTRELLA, a Princess.....................Stella Ramirez
ROSAURA, a Lady (later ASTRAEA).........Karizma Garcia
CLARION, her Servant..................Nalani Bannister
SOLDIER/SERVANT..............................Chris Lowe


PRODUCTION TEAM

Director........................................Kelley Hogan*
Stage Manager..................................Jenny Ulloa
Production Assistant ....................Omar Villaseñor
Costume Coordinator........................Jimmy Kuang
Production Supervision and Animations.....................François-Pierre Couture*
Film/Sound Editing & Production.......Nathan Davis*
Poster Concept & Graphic Arts.......Katherine Coert
*denotes ELAC Theater Arts Faculty/Staff

ELAC THEATER ARTS FACULTY & STAFF



Lisa Hashimoto Stone ........................................Department Chair

Kelley Hogan ...........................................Artistic Director/Faculty

Eric Augusztiny ................................................................. Faculty

James Buglewicz ...............................................................Faculty

Efrain Corona ............................................................Faculty/Staff

François-Pierre Couture .....................................................Faculty

Nathan Davis .............................................................Faculty/Staff

Cristina Frias .......................................................................Faculty

Casey Cowan Gale .............................................................Faculty

Talin Gharibi .........................................................................Staff

Jessica Champagne Hansen ...............................................Faculty

Jenny Jacobs ....................................................................Faculty

Demetra Kareman .............................................................Faculty

Kaz Kasnetsis ....................................................................Faculty

Colin McKay ......................................................................Faculty

Vanessa Mizzone Pellegrini ................................................Faculty

Laura Quiroz .....................................................................Faculty

David Laird Scott ...............................................................Faculty

Rodney Lloyd Scott ............................................................Faculty

Ramiro Segovia .................................................................Faculty

Natalie Wong ........................................................................Staff
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