Life is a Dream

Friday, March 13, 2020:

Out of concern for the safety of our community, and in light of recommendations by Governor Ralph Northam, Mayor Muriel Bowser, the public health departments of Virginia and DC, and the CDC regarding public gatherings and social distancing, we are closing the public spaces of Synetic Theater for at least the next two weeks.

We are heartbroken to announce that we must also postpone Life is a Dream/La Vida es Sueño indefinitely. With performances scheduled to begin on April 22, at which time we are almost certain to not be out of the woods of this pandemic, we determined we could not take the financial risk of investing in the production and not have sufficient revenue flow back into the organization from ticket sales. We remain incredibly proud of the hard work of our actors, artists, crew, and staff. However, the health and well-being of our community must come first.

We deeply appreciate your support as the news unfolds, and look forward to opening our doors once more later this spring to bring theater to our community. In the meantime, check our website and emails for updates, and please take care of yourself and your loved ones.

A Spanish classic is radically reimagined in Synetic Theater’s production of Calderon’s La Vida es Sueño — Life is a Dream. The prophecy of a child’s cursed ascent to power causes a border patrol agent to lock the infant away. When the father tests his son by releasing him for one day, chance-meetings and old betrayals cross borders in a Latinx, movement-driven drama that explores what is truth, what is a dream, and what one will do to make their truth everyone’s reality.

Life is a Dream is directed and adapted by Company Member Elena Velasco, with movement by Company Member Alex Mills, and choreography by Nancy Flores.

Cast:

Destino – Chris Galindo
Rosaura – Sharalys Silva
Claudia – Karen Morales-Chacan
Basilio – Diego Sosa
Astolofo – Alex Mills
Clotaldo – Chris Daileader
Esperanza/Ensemble – Graciela Rey
Migrante/Revolucionario/Ensemble – Rodin Ruiz
Humanitarian Worker/Ensemble – Pablo Guillen
Segismundo – Camilo Linares
Youth 1 (u/s Segismundo) – Fernando Rondon
Youth 2 – Xitlalli Dawson

Stage Manager – Madeline Marshall
Assistant Stage Manager – Vanessa Losada
Scene Designer – Mariana Fernandez
Lighting Designer – Natali Arco
Props Designer – Kelli Leann Jones
Composer – Koki Lortkipanidze
Technical Director – Phil Charlwood
Audio Engineer – Thomas Sowers
Master Electrician – Alex L. Keen
Lighting Programmer/Board Op – Susannah Cai