Photos: Hell in a Handbag Productions Presents L'IMITATION OF LIFE

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to kick off its 2018 Season with a revival of its 2013 hit L'IMITATION OF LIFE, a dead on parody of the 1959 film Imitation of Life about race, mothers and daughters - and looking fabulous! Adapted by Ricky Graham and Running with Scissors and directed by ensemble member Stevie Love*, L'IMITATION OF LIFE will play March 31 - May 6, 2018 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently on sale at www.handbagproductions.org (through Stage 773) or by calling (773) 327-5252.

L'IMITATION OF LIFE features Handbag ensemble member Ed Jones* as Lana Turner with Robert Williams as Annie Johnson, two very different women raising their daughters in a world made for a man. Ensemble member Chazie Bly* plays Steve Martin, Lana's hunky boy toy. New to Handbag are Katherine Bellantone playing Suzie Turner and Ashley J. Hicks playing Sara Jane Johnson - the daughter that was "born to be hurt." Allison Petrillo and Chase Wheaton-Werle round out the cast as various characters.

In this hilarious parody of the 1959 film Imitation of Life, Lana Turner is a determined white widow and single mother with aspirations of becoming a Broadway sensation. When Lana meets Annie Johnson, a struggling single African-American mother, the two team up and take on the world as Lana does "whatever it takes" to make it in show business - while Annie takes care of the homestead and raises both daughters.

The two women face insurmountable challenges led by their daughters. There's the blonde, perky and "so white it's frightening" Suzie, daughter of Lana Turner, and the raven-haired rebellious light-skinned beauty, Sara Jane, daughter of Annie. Sara Jane learns the hard truth about acceptance and the color of your skin - especially when she tries to "pass" as white.

The production team for L'IMITATION OF LIFE includes: Samantha Gribben (scenic design), Gary Nocco (costume design), Rachel Lake (lighting design), Isaac Mandel (sound design), Keith Ryan* (wig design), Sydney Genco* (make-up design), Adrian Hadlock* (props design), Lana Whittington (violence coordinator), Michelle Kidd (stage manager), Amanda Kay Wyatt (assistant stage manager), AJ Wright* (production manager) and David Cerda* (executive producer/costume assistant).

*Denotes Handbag ensemble member.

Photo by Rick Aguilar Studios.