Alumni Spotlights


Daniel Ermel
Class Year: ’11
Majors: Music Theatre and Music Education
Current Hometown: Wheeling, Illinois
Job:
Choral Director at Lakes Community High School, Lake Villa, Illinois
“The well-roundedness of the program at Carthage was extremely beneficial to my success. I didn’t just perform. I learned to build sets, to sew costumes, to direct one-acts. I spent a J-Term studying the wildlife in the Costa Rican rainforest. Carthage made me so much more than just an actor or a musician; it made me a person.”

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: Louisville, Ky.
Job:
Acting Apprentice at Actors Theatre of Louisville
“If you want to do theatre, go out and do it. Make your own path.”

Thomas Novak
Class Year: ’11
Majors: Theatre Performance and Directing
Current Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Job:
Freelance Actor and Teaching Artist
“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.”

Tommy Novak
Class Year: ’20
Majors: Theatre Performance and Directing; Master’s of Music Theater Vocal Pedagogy
Current Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Job:
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.”

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.”

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.”

Marie Tredway
Class Year: ’17
Majors: Theatre Performance
Current Hometown: Grayslake, IL
Job:
Director, Actor, Choreographer, Blogger
“Stay humble and hungry … work hard and treat everyone nicely.”