EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE
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A BRIEF INTERPRETATION OF CALDERÓN’S 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 MkhsianSEGISMUNDO, 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