 James Bould Yousef |
 Bryan Breau Colin |
 Jazmin Corona Shakti/Nurse |
 Sarah Eddy Little Anna |
 Richard Engling Matthew |
 Lawrence Garner Dr. Galesburg/Dad |
 Lionel Gentle Mbella Dipoko |
James Bould Yousef |
Bryan Breau Colin |
Jazmin Corona Shakti/Nurse |
Sarah Eddy Little Anna |
Richard Engling Matthew |
Lawrence Garner Dr. Galesburg/Dad |
Lionel Gentle Mbella Dipoko |
 Kevin M. Grubb Elliot |
 Shannon Nicole Hill Rebecca |
 Jean Marie Koon Carol Bergé |
 Ellyn Nugent Afterlife Anna |
 Shawna Tucker Patty |
 Sheila Willis Anna |
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by Richard Engling Directed by Susan Padveen April 22 – May 24, 2015 A World Premiere Drama Part Three of The Afterlife Trilogy at the Greenhouse Theater Center 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614 |
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A Love Story Beyond Death In the play, Anna in the Afterlife, novelist Matthew Harken finds himself in an afterlife world where he's not quite alive and not quite dead. While his body is being worked on by surgeons, Matthew must decide whether or not to return to the living. He discovers his dear friend and fellow novelist Anna Toyevsky has split into three separate beings. Is that a result of her suicide? He is visited by other friends who have passed on, and he witnesses scenes from his life. He discovers that even in the afterlife, you cannot always trust everyone you know.  Anna in the Afterlife went through an in-depth development process since first appearing in Polarity's 2011 Dionysos Cup Festival of New Plays. It is the final work in The Afterlife Trilogy, following the novels Visions of Anna by Richard Engling and She Plays in Darkness by Fern Chertkow. Each of these works was written to stand independently, but taken as a trilogy, they illuminate and enlarge one another. 
 Production Staff: Richard Engling, Artistic Director Rachel Ramirez, Managing Director Susan Padveen, Director Nicole Smith, Production Manager Jamie Crothers, Stage Manager Ann Davis, Set Designer Benjamin L. White, USAA, Lighting Designer Paul Deziel, Projections Designer Alaina Moore, Costume Designer Ilya Levinson, Composer Connor Murray, Sound Designer Keegan Bradac, Sound Designer Renee Eisenhour, Props Designer Charles C. Palia Jr, Technical Director Deborah Blumenthal, Dramaturg Jackie Brenner, Choreographer Andrea Beschel, Assistant Director Ivy Covaciu, Assistant Lighting Designer Emily Hahn, Assistant Technical Director Maggie Speer, Props Archivist |
Informative Links: Fiction Review: "Visions of Anna" by Richard Engling and "She Plays in Darkness" by Fern Chertkow -- NewCity Read the reviews. About the Trilogy. American Theatre magazine article, "Afterimages of a Dear Departed Friend, in Triplicate." Life After Death: Polarity Ensemble Theatre Gives Author New Life in “The Afterlife Trilogy” -- NewCity Community Forum interview with Richard Engling on CAN-TV. Three Sides to the Story with Author/Director Richard Engling. A podcast radio interview on the Amy Beth Arkawy Show. Theatre Geeks radio podcast interview with the playwright. The Indie View. "IndieView with Richard Engling, author of Visions of Anna" (an interview) The Northern Star. An interview in the Northern Illinois University newspaper. "Elmhurst native focuses on friendship in play." --Elmhurst Suburban Life Polarity Ensemble Theatre's ANNA IN THE AFTERLIFE Begins Tonight--Broadway World "Polarity Ensemble Theatre Presents ANNA IN THE AFTERLIFE - World Premiere!"--Lakeview Patch Ticket Information Anna in the Afterlife ran at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago 60614, April 22 through May 24, 2015. Previews: April 22 and 23 at 8pm. Premiere Night: April 24 at 8pm. Press Opening: April 25 at 8pm. Regular performances were Thursdays - Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. General admission tickets $25. Seniors (65+) $20. Students (with ID) $10. Previews $15.  |
