Alumni Spotlights
Marie Tredway
Class Year: ’17
Majors: Theatre Performance
Current Hometown: Grayslake, IL
Job:
Series regular on “Chicago Med” (NBC); Director; Actor; Choreographer; Blogger
“Stay humble and hungry … work hard and treat everyone nicely.”
Natalie Lall
Class Year: ’22
Majors: Theatre Performance and Political Science
Current Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Job:
Freelance Actor
“Chase down everything that excites you. Have the courage to say yes to yourself and create the life you want. If you want it, go get it.”
Tommy Novak
Class Year: ’11, M.M ’20
Majors: Theatre Performance and Directing; Master’s of Music Theater Vocal Pedagogy
Current Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Job:
AEA actor, freelance director, and adjunct professor of music theatre at Carthage College
“Take the time to learn anything and everything. Once you’re out of school it’s harder to take the time to study or take classes post-college.”
Rick Bingen
Class Year: 2015
Majors: Theatre and Computer Science
Current Hometown: Kenosha, Wis.
Job:
Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Game Development at Carthage College
Latora Lezotte
Class Year: ’20
Majors: Costume Design
Current Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Job:
Wardobe Assistant at the Milwaukee Ballet Company and Dresser at the Marcus Performing Arts Center
“I enrolled at Carthage for special effects makeup but left with a clear path ahead of me and one that I am thoroughly proud of!”
Colt Luedtke
Class Year: ’17
Majors: Theatre Production and Music
Current Hometown: New York City, New York
Job:
Freelance AEA Stage Manager
“The chance to help develop new work with some of the artists who inspired me to pursue this career has been deeply fulfilling.”
Jamin McGinnis
Class Year: ’06
Majors: Theatre and Communication
Current Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Job:
Marketing Manager at Breakthru Beverage Group
“My recipe for life is: work hard and be the best version of yourself, celebrate life early and often, and give service as much as you can — it’s what it means to be a Carthaginian.”
Derek Nelson
Class Year: ’12
Majors: Theatre
Current Hometown: Wales, United Kingdom
Job:
Film actor in the United Kingdom
“If you want to do theatre, go out and do it. Make your own path.”
Rachel Page
Class Year: ’10
Majors: Music Theatre
Current Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Job:
Performer, pianist, and vocal instructor
“I think the best thing Carthage has to offer is its professors. I felt like each one of my professors had my well-being in mind. I felt like I was an individual personality, not just a face in a class. My professors always made time for me, even when they weren’t in my major. I could stop in an office and contemplate life or assignments and then make jokes about both. I owe a lot to my mentors.”
Mary Seigel
Class Year: ’21
Majors: Theatre Performance and Costume Design
Current Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Job:
Costume Technician at Miller and Campbell Costume Services
“While at Carthage, I did more than the work required by my major. I worked in the scene shop, and learned about directing and the business aspects of theatre. Being introduced to these things has been vital in keeping me employed in the industry.”
Elodie Senetra
Class Year: ’13
Majors: Theatre Performance
Current Hometown: Pleasant Prairie, Wis.
Job:
Actor
“I will always appreciate and look back on my time at Carthage with delightful memories. My incredible professors prepared me for the ‘real world’ by always encouraging me to challenge myself, take risks, and network, network, network.”
Ella Spoelstra
Class Year: ’21
Majors: Theatre Performance
Current Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Job:
Freelance Director; Social Media and PR Manager at Amdur Productions; Marketing Director at BoHo Theatre
“Carthage made me appreciate the little things in life and turned me into a lifelong learner. I enjoy gaining new skills, meeting new people, and discovering passions I never knew I had.”