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James Bould
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Yousef
Bryan Breau
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Colin
Jazmin Corona
Jazmin Corona
Shakti/Nurse
Sarah Eddy
Sarah Eddy
Little Anna
Richard Engling
Richard Engling
Matthew
Lawrence Garner
Lawrence Garner
Dr. Galesburg/Dad
Lionel Gentle
Lionel Gentle
Mbella Dipoko
Kevin M. Grubb
Kevin M. Grubb
Elliot
Shannon Nicole Hill
Shannon Nicole Hill
Rebecca
Jean Marie Koon
Jean Marie Koon
Carol Bergé
Ellyn Nugent
Ellyn Nugent
Afterlife Anna
Shawna Tucker
Shawna Tucker
Patty
Sheila Willis
Sheila Willis
Anna

Anna in the Afterlife

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

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


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.


Greenhouse Theater Center

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