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St. Olaf Theatre to present Life is a Dream

By Anna Stevens '10
February 4, 2008

Imagine you're a prisoner who wakes up one morning to find that you were born a prince -- only to find yourself back in your prison cell the next morning, not knowing why you were imprisoned in the first place. Sounds like a dream, right? What if it is real life?

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Martha Stuckey '09 (left) and Jack Adams '09 rehearse a scene for St. Olaf College's upcoming production of Life is a Dream.
Those are the questions that will be examined by the characters in the St. Olaf Theatre Department's adaptation of Calderon de la Barca's 17th century drama, Life is a Dream. This Spanish tale of Polish succession questions our concept of reality and asks the question "Where does life stop and dreaming begin?" Performances will take place Feb. 8-9 and 14-16 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. in St. Olaf's Kelsey Theatre. For tickets, $8 each, contact the St. Olaf box office at 507-786-8987. A discussion featuring Dr. Michael Kidd of the St. Olaf Spanish Department will follow the Feb. 10 performance.

Directed by St. Olaf Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre Jeanne Willcoxon, Life is a Dream plays with the very notion of reality. As hilarious as it is profound, the drama prompts us all to question not only who and what we are but how we can ethically act in a world that is revealed to be as fleeting as a dream.

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St. Olaf students rehearse for the upcoming production of Life is a Dream, a Spanish tale of Polish succession that questions our concept of reality.
With the entire rehearsal and production process of Life is a Dream taking place during the month of January, students involved had the opportunity to experience the realities of a theatre company. Logan Giannini '10 is serving as assistant director, and Jonathan Bartz '08 composed original music for the play.

Molly Trucano '10 elected to use Life is a Dream as a project for her independent study this January. Interviewing cast and crew, Trucano has shared her experiences online.

After interviewing Kaylee Fortin '11, Trucano writes, "When asked how she was liking the class, Kaylee replied, 'To me, this isn't a class. This is me getting to do what I love all day long.' Fair enough: you can't deny Kaylee's passion for the field."

Dedication
The Theatre and Spanish Departments of St. Olaf College would like to dedicate the performance of Life is a Dream to the memory of Katherine Olson '06, who combined her love of both Spanish and theatre at St. Olaf. Her life continues to inspire all who knew her.

Contact Kari VanDerVeen at 507-786-3970 or vanderve@stolaf.edu.