2025 - 2026 CARTHAGE THEATRE PRESENTS
February 25, 27 | 7:30 pm
February 28 | 3:00 pm
Studio Theatre
“Dear Elizabeth” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
Though American poets Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell lived worlds apart from each other, they exchanged hundreds of letters with each other over the course of three decades. Sarah Ruhl compiles these letters in a heartfelt story of these two poets’ friendship. about the show
director’s note
I began working on “Dear Elizabeth” in November 2024, and it has since blossomed into something truly special. It is not only my first full production as a Director, but I also took on the roles of Scenic and Sound Designer. It has been a blessing to create a place to share this story with the world. It’s not just my passion project, it has been a collaborative effort on all sides. My production team is made up almost entirely of incredibly talented Carthage students, and I am honored to give them the space to share their work as well. The music throughout this show has been specifically curated for each moment, and I invite you to scan the QR code on the letters attached to your seat to access the ““Dear Elizabeth”” playlist. Special thanks to Jacob Muller, a fellow Carthage student, for letting us use his music in our production. Go check him out on all streaming platforms.
“I do think free will is sewn into everything we do; you can’t cross a street, light a cigarette, drop saccharine in your coffee without really doing it. Yet the possible alternatives that life allows us are very few, often there must be none.”
Robert Lowell, Letter 161, August 15, 1957
Elizabeth Bishop.......................................................................................Jessie Skonesey*
Robert Lowell...................................................................................................Chase Juster
production team and crew
Director/Scenic Design/Sound Designer...............................................Annaliese Ruhs*
Stage Manager...........................................................................................Amber Sherman
Costume Designer..................................................................................Susana Alexander
Technical Director.....................................................................................Grace Kirk-Lazar
Lighting Designer.............................................................................................Ro Longden
Properties..................................................................................Emma Perry, Chase Juster
Assistant Stage Manager............................................................................Makenzie Lazar
Costume Head...................................................................................Chaeylah Maldonado
Costume Crew.........................................................................Reagan Weitzel, Kyra Lewis
Light Board Operator...........................................................................................Ella Reyes
Sound Board/Projections Operator..................................................................Avery Jones *Denotes Senior Thesis projects
cast biographies
Jessie Skonesey (Elizabeth Bishop) is a senior Theatre Performance major. Carthage Credits: ANTIGONE (Antigone), FML: HOW CARSON MCCULLERS SAVED MY LIFE (Ms.Delaney), ELEEMOSYNARY (Artie), to which she all received Irene Ryan nominations for as was deemed a ‘25 Semi Finalist. Other Carthage Credits include JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Simon), LIFE IS A DREAM (Estrella), THE GENDERLESS PLAY EXPERIMENT (Stranger), ON THE VERGE (Alex). Other credits include: CHICAGO (Velma), AVENUE Q (Christmas Eve). Outside of Carthage theatre she is a sister of the Pi Theta sorority and most recent Senior Social chair. She is honored to tell the story of “Dear Elizabeth” as her senior thesis and final production at Carthage College. She hopes everyone enjoys this “love story” of friendship, misery, and suffering of two lost poets. She wouldn’t be who she is today without the support and encouragement from her beloved parents, and her beagle, Ginger. IG:@jessie_skonesey
Chase Juster (Robert Lowell) is a senior Music Theatre Major and Choral Literature and Conducting Minor. Carthage Credits: LEGALLY BLONDE (ENS/Emmett US/ Callahan US), CARRIE (Billy Nolan), XANADU (Terpsicore), HEAD OVER HEELS (Pythio), LIFE IS A DREAM (Segismundo), and NINE (Guido Contini) for which he received a KCACTF Irene Ryan nomination. Other Credits Include: BAND GEEKS (Jake), and THE SPITFIRE GRILL (Joe Sutter). Additionally, in the Spring Chase will be in Carthage College’s mainstage production of BRIGHTSTAR (Mayor Josiah Dobbs). Outside of theater Chase is a member of Carthage’s flagship ensemble, the Carthage Choir, as well as the Lincoln Chamber Singers, in addition to working as the Music Theatre Department faculty fellow. After graduation Chase will be performing professionally as a Resident Actor for Charleston Stage in SC. Chase is so excited to be in his first Studio Theatre production, and for the opportunity to play a mentally ill and vaguely villainous man in a Carthage Production once again. IG: chasejstr
Sarah Ruhl’s (Playwright) plays include In the Next Room, or the vibrator play, The Clean House, Passion Play, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Melancholy Play, For Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday, The Oldest Boy, Stage Kiss, “Dear Elizabeth”, Eurydice, How to Transcend a Happy Marriage, Orlando, Late: a cowboy song, and a translation of Three Sisters. She has been a two-time Pulitzer prize finalist and a Tony award nominee. Her plays have been produced on and off Broadway, around the country, and internationally, where they have been translated into over fifteen languages. Originally from Chicago, Ms. Ruhl received her M.F.A. from Brown University, where she studied with Paula Vogel. She has received the Steinberg Award, the Samuel French Award, the Susan Smith Blackburn Award, the Whiting Award, the Lily Award, a PEN Award for mid-career playwrights, and the MacArthur Award. You can read more about her work on www.SarahRuhlplaywright.com. Her new book 100 Essays I Don’t Have Time to Write was a New York Times notable book of the year, and she most recently published Letters from Max with Max Ritvo. She teaches at the Yale School of Drama, and shelives in Brooklyn with her family.
Annaliese Ruhs (Director, Scenic Designer, Sound Designer) is a Senior Music Theatre and Directing double major. Carthage Credits: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Jesus), HEAD OVER HEELS (Pamela), CARRIE (Margaret White), ON THE VERGE (Mary), LIFE IS A DREAM (Assistant Director), NINE (Costumes), XANADU (Assistant Stage Manager), Opera Workshop IN MEMORY OF MOZART. She received a nomination for the KCACTF Irene Acting scholarship for her work as Mary in ON THE VERGE. Annaliese has competed in the Wisconsin NATS singing competition, winning 1st place in her category in 2024 and 2nd in 2022. On campus, she is the Vice President of the Carthage Choir and sings with the Lincoln Chamber Singers. It has been such a pleasure to work with some of her closest friends on this beautiful show of friendship, love, and loss. IG: aruhs_26
Amber Sherman (Stage Manager) is a Junior Marketing major with a minor in Musical Theatre. Carthage Credits: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Mary Magdalene), TERMINAL EXHALE (Kellie Snooks), AWAY FROM THE MIRROR (Stage Manager), TO THE GROWTH EDGE (Light Board Operator). On campus, she is involved in the Chi Omega sorority, currently as the Director of Philanthropy, she works at the Writing and Peer Tutoring Center as a Writing Fellow, Spanish 1 and 2 tutor, and is the Class Visit Coordinator. She is also a part of Carthage Treble Choir. She is very excited to be apart of this wonderful, beautiful, and heartwarming production and is lucky enough to do it with some of her closest friends. She hopes that you take in every moment and enjoy the show.
Grace Kirk-Lazar (Technical Director) is the Technical Director at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI. Grace holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Peck School of the Arts at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. She has been the Technical Director for Carthage’s productions of JESUS CHRIST SUPER STAR, EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH and THE BLUE BIRD, the last of which she was also the Properties Lead. She has worked as a Shop Sub-Manager for shows such as TWELFTH NIGHT, THE RESISTABLE RISE OF ARTURO UI, FEMALE TRANSPORT, TROJAN WOMEN and A PIECE OF MY HEART. Grace was also the Sound Designer for TWELFTH NIGHT and A PIECE OF MY HEART. She has also been a prop artisan/lead for WITTENBERG, WINTER’S TALE and IN THE NEXT ROOM (or THE VIBRATOR PLAY). Grace has worked at multiple venues in the City of Milwaukee through the I.A.T.S.E. Stagehand Union in positions focused on set up and strike of large scale productions.
Susana Alexander (Costume Designer) is a sophomore costume design major with an education minor. She is very excited to design for the first time at Carthage! She has recently been a part of the costume crew for Jesus Christ Superstar and has also worked on Life is a Dream, Life Cycle of a Star, and Eleemosynary. She would like to thank her family and friends for all their encouragement and support as well as Professor Kim Instenes for guiding her along this process.
Ro Longden (Lighting Designer) is a Sophomore Technical Theatre Direction and Computer Science student who is excited to work on “Dear Elizabeth”. In the past, Ro has sound designed for LIFE IS A DREAM at Carthage College, and worked on the sound mix and lighting design for LIFE CYCLE OF A STAR at Carthage College and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Ro is excited to explore the world of lighting design more seriously and wants to thank their friends, faculty, and family for always supporting them!
Emma Perry (Prop Designer) is a freshman Technical Theatre Direction major who is so excited to beworking on another Carthage production! Carthage credits: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Run Crew). She is honored to explore props for such a beautiful show with an amazing team!
Makenzie Lazar (Assistant Stage Manager) is a Freshman Elementary Education major with a minor in Musical Theatre. “Dear Elizabeth” is Makenzie’s first show is part of Carthage, and she is thrilled! Makenzie has been in theatre since she was four years old and is very excited to continue it as a college student. She has had so much fun working with this incredible cast and crew and learning the ropes. She hopes you enjoy this beautiful show.
department of theatre faculty and staff
Rich Ashworth.....................................................................................Instructor of Dance
Breannin Beelow................................................................................Instructor of Theatre
Melissa Benson.......................................Costume Shop Assistant, Instructor of Theatre
Maureen Chavez-Kruger......................................Adjunct Assistant Professor of Theatre
Rebecca Crystal....................................................................................Instructor of Dance
Elizabeth Harrison............................................................................Instructor of Theatre
Grace Kirk-Lazar.....................................................................................Technical Director
Kim Instenes.....................................Costume Designer, Associate Professor of Theatre
Herschel Kruger.................................................Department Chair, Professor of Theatre
Martin McClendon.............................................................................Professor of Theatre
Stacy Pottinger.............Head of Dance Program, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Dance
Dr. Neil Scharnick................................Honors Director, Associate Professor of Theatre
Jesse Todd..........................................................................................Instructor of Theatre
Hillary Vacarello..................................................................................Instructor of Dance
Special thanks to the Racine Theatre Guild and Vintage Underground Sales and Consignment for providing furniture for this production.
Audio and Video Recording Policy
Any audio and/or video recording of this production is strictly prohibited.