IU Theatre continues its return to live theater with “Sueño,” José Rivera’s epic adaptation of Pedro Calderón de la Barca’s “Life Is a Dream.”

Set in 1635, this metaphysical drama — renowned as one of the jewels of the Spanish Golden Age — follows the life of young Prince Segismundo. Heir to the Spanish throne, he is imprisoned at birth when astrologers predict his reign as king would result in the country’s ruin.

Segismundo’s father, King Basilio, banishes the infant to a tower but decides to release the prince at age 25 to test Segismundo’s capacity as ruler. If the astrological prediction holds true, Basilio will re-imprison Segismundo by assuring him that such a brief taste of freedom was only a dream.

IU’s production of “Sueño” also focuses on heroine Rosaura’s nightmare. Battered by the Spanish royalty in their quest for subjugation and control, she must find her way out of this nightmarish world in which the sins of powerful men are always excused; a world not so different from our own. “Sueño” is directed by Daniel Sappington, a graduate candidate in directing. As a queer, Chicago-based director, he said his passion lies in creating theater for LGBTQ+ youth. 

Joining Sappington on the creative team are MFA students Russell Long, sound designer; Brittany Staudacher, costume designer; Rachel Burke, scenic designer; Jeremiah Kearns, lighting designer; and Lexi Silva, dramaturg. Burke’s designs for this production are in partial fulfillment of their MFA thesis.

The cast includes MFA acting students Gavin W. Douglas as Basilio, Leah Mueller as Rosaura, Bobby Ayala Perez as Segismundo and Caroline Sanchez as Estrella. 

Playwright José Rivera is a recipient of two Obie Awards for “Marisol” and “References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot.” His screenplay “The Motorcycle Diaries” was nominated for an Academy Award, making him the first Puerto Rican writer ever nominated.

Some of his other plays include “Cloud Tectonics,” “Boleros for the Disenchanted,” “The Maids,” “The Kiss of the Spiderwoman” and “The House of Ramon Iglesia.” He is currently adapting Gabriel García Márquez’s “100 Years of Solitude” as a Netflix series.

“Sueño” will be performed at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 to 12 in the Ruth N. Halls Theatre. Purchase tickets on the IU Theatre and Dance website.