Student Voices

Vanessa Schroeder

Carthage has been the land of opportunity for Vanessa Schroeder. She jumped into great roles right away her freshman year, and learned many valuable skills vocally throughout voice lessons.

Vanessa is a Music Theatre Major originally from Appleton, Wis. At Carthage, her leading roles include Mrs. Johnstone (Blood Brothers), Lily Byrne (A Man of No Importance), Sour Kangaroo (Seussical! the Musical), Eve (Children of Eden), Narrator (Into the Woods), and Muzzy (Thoroughly Modern Millie). After graduation, Vanessa hopes to continue her life on the stage or somewhere in the theatre.

Brigette Estola

"The intimacy of working with the Music Theatre faculty at Carthage allows for extremely specific and specialized attention; each professor has a notion of what my strengths and weaknesses are and it allows for much individual growth as a performer."

Brigette Estola is from Ludington, Mich., and is double-majoring in Musical Theatre and English. Lead roles at Carthage include Annie in The Last Mass at St. Casimir's and Mrs. Meers in Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Maureen Toomey

"Having the ability to study multiple styles of music and having the constant support of the professors and students around me has contributed to the personal growth that I have made as a performer and person while being here at Carthage," Maureen says.

Maureen has been lucky to be recognized in multiple competitions such as an ACTF Irene Ryan Nominee and placing third for two consecutive years in the National Association of Teachers of Singing in Wisconsin. She recently interned at Goodman Theatre in Chicago working in Development and performed as an ensemble member in this season's A Christmas Carol. Recent Carthage credits include Millie, Thoroughly Modern Millie; Papagena, The Magic Flute; Andrea, Once on This Island, and Cathy, The Last Five Years.

Dan Ermel

"The connection that I've made with every instructor in both the theatre and music departments are those of which I've never experienced anywhere else; the family that has been developed between the faculty and all of the students in our field has made Carthage a wonderful place to grow and enjoy the stage."

Dan Ermel is from Northbrook, Ill., majoring in Music Theatre. His previous roles at Carthage include Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cain in Children of Eden, and Tamino in The Magic Flute.

Alex Campea

"The Music Theater Department at Carthage gives everyone great opportunities. As a freshman, I've already had the chance to perform in The Magic Flute, Seussical, and Sunday in the Park With George. The department gets its students directly into the program in their freshman year."

Alex Campea is from Maple Grove, Minn., double-majoring in Music Theater and Theater at Carthage. His lead roles at Carthage include Monostatos in The Magic Flute, and Horton in Seussical

Thomas Novak

"As a performer and director, I have had multiple opportunities to grow and thrive as an artist in the musical theatre program."

Thomas Novak is from Long Grove, Ill., and is a double Theatre Major in Performance and Directing with a minor in Dance. He has been in seven main stage productions with lead roles as Greg Wagger in Room Service, and Leo in Postmortem. Thomas has student-directed Into the Woods and Seussical.