Memento Mori

2022 - 2023 Carthage Theatre Department Presents

NEW PLAY INITIATIVE – WORLD PREMIERE

Memento

Mori Directed by Neil Kristian Scharnick Nov. 4-5 & 10-12 | 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 6 | 3 p.m.

Wartburg Theatre

setting The Here and Now, but also The In-Between, beyond time.

cast and crew cast Tori..................................................................................................................Bree Meinkie Andrea................................................................................................................Sara Loster Cleo........................................................................................................... Emily Halfmann Cassie........................................................................................................ Becca Robertson Rory................................................................................................................. Rayven Craft Rion............................................................................................................. Nicky Caldwell Gracie............................................................................................................ Grace Hanson Violet.............................................................................................................. Rose Reichert The Girl...........................................................................................................Ellie Neybert Ane (January Cast)................................................................................ Makayla Steinberg Ane (November Cast)...................................................................................Caitlin Preuss Melissa Schmidt...........................................................................................................Alice

production and design team Director.................................................................................... Dr. Neil Kristian Scharnick Technical Director.................................................................................William Newcomb Stage Manager.................................................................................................. Sage McVay Scenic Designer.................................................................................... Martin McClendon Lighting Designer..................................................................................William Newcomb Costume Supervisor...................................................................................... Kim Instenes Costume Designer...........................................................................................Ani Gebauer Properties Designer........................................................................................... Zoe Landry Projections Designer............................................................................. Matthew Wrbanek Sound Designer.............................................................................................Ed Otrembiak Assistant Stage Manager...........................................................................Allison Koclanis Assistant Technical Director.........................................................................Gabrielle Tifft Assistant Scenic Designer..................................................................... Matthew Wrbanek Light Board Operator.................................................................................. Emma Gillman Sound Board Operator.................................................................................Makaila Bangs Run Crew...................................................................................................... Kendall Burns Wardrobe Crew Head....................................................................................... Sierra Clark Wardrobe Crew................................................................................................Anna Davies

directors’ note The Memento Mori Project This play was cast a year ago, though no script existed. The plan was to find a group of actors to collaborate with Irish actor and educator Donal Courtney on a new play that would premiere here and travel to Ireland. Donal had for many years taught “Manifesto” at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, the National Theatre School of Ireland. Manifesto is a course empowering actors to develop their own personally meaningful work, and we hoped to adopt many of its principles for this project.

In an effort to find a theme or idea that would be universally relevant, we landed on the most universal theme of all: mortality. Memento Mori: remember you must die.

We began with a few meetings and exercises via Zoom and planned for Donal to visit Carthage in the spring.

Over the winter, we learned that Donal was battling cancer. Despite the battle being fought with optimism and determination, he passed away in May. The project continued on; and while it could never become the play Donal might have imagined, his presence in our lives and his passing would shape it in ways we could never have anticipated. We dedicate this play to him and to others we’ve lost–especially Jeff Schmidt, father of cast member Melissa Schmidt.

The Play and its Inspiration While the play is made up of countless ideas and reflections from members of the company, the shape the play ultimately assumed was inspired by two great dramatists: Irish absurdist Samuel Beckett (loved and admired by Donal and myself ) and Belgian symbolist Maurice Maeterlinck.

Widely considered the most important playwright of the Twentieth Century, Beckett’s plays distill humanity’s existential condition into short dramatic pieces that are often as humorous as they are heartbreaking. Nearly every Beckett play is a Memento Mori–a reminder that our lives are short.

An inspiration to Beckett, Maeterlinck introduced to the world the notion of “Static Theatre”--a theatre devoid of action, highlighting instead mankind’s inner turmoil.

He wrote, “There is a tragic element in the life of every day that is far more real, far more penetrating, far more akin to the true self that is in us than the tragedy that lies in great adventure.” We leaned into this concept, agreeing from day one that our play need not have a conventional climactic plot.

director’s note (continued) Maeterlinck used the stage to draw audiences closer to an unseeable “beyond.” In his plays, symbolic locked doors and trembling veils invite us to imagine what lies on the other side of death. Maeterlinck believed firmly in an eternal soul, that souls exist before and after death, and that time has no meaning outside of the body. Famously, in his masterpiece The Blue Bird, a character wearing magical truth-seeing glasses looks into a graveyard and declares, “There are no dead!” Souls are eternal; graves hold only bones. His uncommon spiritualism even led him to speculate on the telling of the future, as he believed souls exist beyond time.

In Maeterlinck’s play The Blind, twelve blind people are lost and abandoned on a wooded island, hearing only the sound of waves from all directions. Their guide is dead, though they don’t know it. This is humanity’s existential condition as he perceived it: lost, afraid, and blind to the most important of truths. Memento Mori begins similarly, giving the audience a glimpse of a reality to which the “living” in this play–blind, immobile, and surrounded by the sea–have no access. As these living people mourn the loss of their friend Alice, she has to navigate “The In-Between,” coming to terms with what came before and what lies ahead.

Thank you for attending Memento Mori and for your support of Carthage College Theatre.

Dr. Neil Kristian Scharnick

cast biographies Nicky Caldwell (Rion) is a Senior Music Theatre major and is super excited to be performing in another play that he helped to write at Carthage. His professional credits include: THE BIG BANG BOOM TOUR (Principal Singer Dancer). His Carthage credits include: BETRAYAL (Jerry), EURIDICE (Orpheus), SHE LOVES ME (Head Waiter), SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD (Man 2), SOMETHING ROTTEN (Ensemble and Nigel Bottom U/S), WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN (Assorted Ensemble), and FRONTLINE (Narrator and Playwright Credit). Nicky would like to thank you so much for attending MEMENTO MORI, and he hopes it reminds you to cherish your loved ones while you can.

Rayven Craft (Rory) is a rising senior at Carthage College ‘23. She is so humbled to be originating the role of ‘Rory’. Rayven is earning her degree in Music Theatre with a minor in Women and Gender Studies. Her credits also include her playwright debut: CINDERELLA: THE REAL STORY published by Theatrical Rights Worldwide.

She has been seen in several productions at Carthage such as FLORA THE RED

cast biographies MENACE, SWEET CHARITY, the fall dance show RESONATE, FIGHTING FOR HOME, and previous New Play Initiatives THE HANDBOOK and PATIENCE AND FORTITUDE. Rayven would like to thank her friends and family for their endless support, phenomenal cast and crew for making this such a remarkable and enjoyable experience, and above all else God. Rayven thanks you for your presence and hope’s this show brings you wonder and comfort.

Emily Halfmann (Cleo) is a sophomore Music Theatre and Directing double major with a Spanish Minor. Carthage credits include SOMETHING ROTTEN as Crazy Cat Lady, Tap Ensemble, Female Swing and LITTLE WOMEN as Aunt March.

Grace Hanson (Gracie) is a sophomore General Theater Major with a double minor in Music Theater and Secondary Education. Grace performs with the Treble Choir and Carthage Chords. Grace is excited that this is her first New Play Initiative at Carthage College. Before attending Carthage, Grace was a member of the Young Adult Council at Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago. Former favorite credits include: AS YOU LIKE IT (Phoebe), A MIDSUMMER’S NIGHT DREAM(Snug/Moonshine), AVENUE Q (Mrs. Butz), and INTO THE WOODS (Milky White/Stepsister) with Infinity Arts Academy and Lane Tech College Prep High School.She would like to thank the cast and crew, director Neil Sharnick, and her family and friends for their support.

Sarah Loster (Andrea) is a sophomore Theatre Performance major with a minor in Costume Design and Secondary Education. This is Sarah’s first New Play Initiative production and her first mainstage production at Carthage. Sarah would like to thank her Mom for always being there to support her.

Bree Meinke (Tori) is a Junior Music Theatre major and is so excited to be performing in her first New Play Initiative here at Carthage. Previous Carthage credits include LITTLE WOMEN (Mr.Laurence) and SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD (Ensemble). Bree has also been Assistant Stage Manager for EURYDICE and Stage Manager for CONSTELLATIONS. She would like to thank her family and friends for their continued love and support. And a special thank you to her Grandpa Wayne who always inspired her to tell stories.

Ellie Neybert (The Girl) is a sophomore Music Theatre and Directing double major with a minor in Dance. Previous Carthage credits include LITTLE WOMEN as Professor Bhaer and SOMETHING ROTTEN as Portia Understudy/ Tap Ensemble.

She would like to thank the cast for the amazing process and friendships that have built and strengthened throughout the last year. She would also like to thank her parents and brother for their love and support

cast biographies Caitlin Preuss (Ane Koldings - November) is a senior Music Theatre and Directing double major. Carthage mainstage credits: SOMETHING ROTTEN (Shakespeare), THE REVOLUTIONISTS (Marie Antoinette), WOMEN ON THE VERGE…, RAJWIAB, FIGHTING FOR HOME. Workshop credits: SHE LOVES ME (Amalia), LITTLE WOMEN (Laurie), SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD. Carthage directing credits: co-director of BETRAYAL, director of THE YELLOW BOAT. Upcoming: ORDINARY DAYS. Rose Reichert (Violet) is a senior General Theatre major and Communications minor graduating this next year. She is excited to be performing in her second New Play Initiative production here at Carthage College and performing it in Ireland. She has also performed as Kana in PATIENCE AND FORTITUDE, Sister Mary McGee in BLOOD SISTERS, Mother in THE YELLOW BOAT (COMPETITION VERSION), and Violet in SMOKEFALL at Carthage College. She will always cherish the wonderful group she worked with and all the laughs and moments they shared together. She would like to thank Neil Scharnick for giving her this amazing opportunity. Rose would also like to thank her family and friends for all of their love and support. A special thank you to her loved ones in spirit who have given her the courage, strength, and inspiration to perform this play.

Becca Robertson (Cassie) is a senior Music Theatre major with a minor in Costume Design. Becca is an Elder of the Merely Players Improv Club here on campus. She is excited to be performing in her second New Play Initiative production here at Carthage. Previous roles at Carthage include THE REVOLUTIONISTS as Olympe De Gouge, EURYDICE as Loud Stone, and ROMEO AND JULIET WALK INTO A BAR as Claire/Old Capulet. Becca has also been a featured soloist in OUR TIME and LIFE IS A HIGHWAY. She would like to thank her friends and family for all their support in the arts and would like to thank you for coming to the show!

Melissa Schmidt (Alice) is a sophomore, double-majoring in Social Work and Theatre Performance. Besides being in tech crew for the shows BIG GUNS as well as SOMETHING ROTTEN, this is her mainstage and New Play Initiative debut. An honorable credit includes FRONTLINE that she helped write and played NURSE ONE in the original Zoom recording. Former favorites at Plainfield Central High School include CLUE (Miss Scarlett), THE OUTSIDERS (Dallas Winston), CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (Ernestine), and SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD. Melissa would like to thank her friends and family for being nothing short of an amazing support system. This past year has been difficult as she faced the sudden passing of two significant people in her life. She thanks you, Zach and dad, for watching over her and giving her the strength she needs to authentically be present for Alice, and for herself. With that, she hopes this show can help others feel comfortable in their thoughts, and grow the need to live and love every day you have to the fullest.

cast biographies Makayla Steinberg (Anne Koldings-January) is a sophomore double major in Theater Performance and Communications with a minor in Dance. Excited to take on her fourth MainStage production in Memento Mori here at Carthage, her previous credits at the college include works in NOTHING TOO SMALL, AWAY FROM THE MIRROR, and SOMETHING ROTTEN (Assistant Dance Captain, Swing, Ensemble.)

Other credits include BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Claudette), THESE SHINING LIVES (Charlotte Purcell), and FOOTLOOSE (Ensemble.) A special thank you to the cast and creative team for making this show come to life, and to her family and friends who have supported her each step of the way. This show is a dedication to life and love.

production team biographies Prof. Kim Instenes (Costume Supervisor, Associate Professor of Theatre) 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 THE SNOW and BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, as well as the musical BIG at Milwaukee’s First Stage Children’s Theatre, the JEEVES Trilogy and HEROES at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, and numerous shows at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Renaissance Theatre Works, Utah Shakespearean Festival and the Racine Theatre Guild. Design work at Carthage includes SPRING AWAKENING and costumes for the world premieres of NO NAME by Jeffrey Hatcher and GHOST BIKE by Laura Jacqmin,to name a few. GHOST BIKE won her a Certificate of Merit from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for costume and makeup design and an invitation to show her work at the Festival. 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 watching that character come to life as a result. She would also like to thank her family, husband Doug, and children, Lauren and Dalen, for their continued support of her creative endeavors.

Prof. Martin McClendon (Scenic Designer, Associate Professor of Theatre) 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

production team biographies 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). He is a proud member of Actor’s Equity and SAG/AFTRA. He would like to thank his beautiful wife Jennifer and his wonderful kids Arabella and Horatio for their support and inspiration.

Prof. William Newcomb (Technical Director/Lighting Designer, Assistant Professor of Theatre) holds a B.F.A. in Technical Theatre from Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas, and an M.F.A. in Arts Administration from Southern Utah University. He was assistant manager of the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre for two years before coming to Carthage. William also served as production Manager for the Optimist Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park. William is a national member of USITT. Other credits include technical director of the Wells Fine Arts Center at Tarleton State University, assistant technical director at Oberlin College, scene shop foreman at Ohio Light Opera, and assistant to the production manager of the Utah Shakespeare Festival Ed Otrembiak (Sound Designer) is a senior theatre production major who is graduating this upcoming spring. He is excited to be working on his 9th show here and his senior thesis. He has worked on such shows as AJAX, FIGHTING FOR HOME, PUFFS, and SOMETHING ROTTEN. He would like to thank his family and friends for there support over the years.

Dr. Neil Kristian Scharnick (Director, Writer/Editor, Associate Professor of Theatre) teaches and directs for Carthage, in addition to serving as Director of the Honors Program. Neil holds a Ph.D. in Theatre and Drama from the University of WisconsinMadison, an M.A. in Theatre from Northwestern University, and degrees in Religion and Communications & Performing Arts from Carthage. Some past directing credits include PROOF, PUFFS, MARRIAGE A LA MODE, THE SERPENT, and DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE as well as the musicals INTO THE WOODS, FLORA THE RED MENACE, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS and THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. This is Scharnick’s fourth New Play Initiative project, having previously directed the world-premiere translation of modern Hindi classic ONE DAY IN THE SEASON OF RAIN, Laura Schellhardt’s THE HANDBOOK, Caridad Svich’s THE BREATH OF STARS, and Martin Maguire’s A CLAMOUR OF ROOKS. He thanks Erin and Ollie for their boundless love and patience.

production team biographies Gabrielle Tifft (Assistant Technical Director) Gabrielle Tifft (Assistant Technical Director) is a senior Technical-Direction Theatre Major, with two Minors in Costume Design and Dance. This summer she worked at Starlight Theatre in Rockford, Illinois as the light designer for THE LITTLE MERMAID, DISASTER, DREAM GIRLS, and HELLO DOLLY as well as their current production of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. Her mainstage credits at Carthage include ANTIGONE (sound designer), SOMETHING ROTTEN (stage manager), PATIENCE & FORTITUDE (sound designer), BETRAYAL (light designer), EURYDICE (assistant light designer), ROMEO AND JULIET WALK INTO A BAR (sound designer), as well as the studio production of SMOKEFALL (light designer). She would like to thank her friends and family for their continued support as well as Neil Scharnick and William Newcomb for this opportunity.

kcactf 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.

upcoming events Philharmonic Concert Sunday, Nov. 6 • 7:30 p.m.

A. F. Siebert Chapel HAIR Saturday and Sunday Nov. 12-13 ∙ 3 p.m.

Thursday and Friday, Nov. 17-18 • 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 19 ∙ 3 p.m.

A. F. Siebert Chapel *Tickets Required. Visit www.carthage/edu.tickets for ticket information Opera Workshop: O Joy, O Rapture, Unforeseen - A Gilbert & Sullivan Gala Saturday, Nov. 19 • 3 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 20 • 6 p.m.

H. F. Johnson Recital Hall 148th Annual Carthage Christmas Festival: Share in the Wonder Friday an Saturday, Dec. 2-3 • 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 4 • 4 p.m.

A. F. Siebert Chapel *Tickets Required. Visit www.carthage/edu.tickets for ticket information Student Recital: Katiann Nelson Monday, Dec. 5 • 7:30 p.m.

H. F. Johnson Recital Hall Percussion Concert Tuesday, Dec. 6 • 7:30 p.m.

A. F. Siebert Chapel 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

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