Polarity Ensemble Theatre's ANNA IN THE AFTERLIFE Begins Tonight

Polarity Ensemble Theatre presents the world premiere of Richard Engling's drama ANNA IN THE AFTERLIFE, a play that explores the issue of suicide and its repercussions beyond the grave, directed by Susan Padveen. ANNA IN THE AFTERLIFE plays tonight, April 22 - May 24, 2015 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago, where the eleven year old Polarity is a resident company. Tickets are currently available at www.petheatre.com or by calling the box office at (773) 404-7336. The press opening is Saturday, April 25 at 8 pm.

ANNA IN THE AFTERLIFE is part of THE AFTERLIFE TRILOGY, a project completed by Engling in collaboration with Fern Chertkow, a friend and fellow writer who took her own life in 1988. The trilogy also includes two novels: Engling's Visions of Anna and Chertkow's She Plays in Darkness, both published by Polarity Ensemble Theatre Books. Chertkow is the inspiration for the character Anna in Engling's play and novel. THE AFTERLIFE TRILOGY may be enjoyed in any order and combination - each piece stands on its own, but offers the audience an enhanced experience when taken in as a trilogy. Review copies of the novels are available by request.

ANNA IN THE AFTERLIFE features James Bould, Bryan Breau, Jazmin Corona, Sarah Eddy, Richard Engling, Lawrence Garner, Lionel Gentle, Kevin Grubb, Shannon Nicole Hill, Jean Marie Koon, Ellyn Nugent, Shawna Tucker and Sheila Willis.

Novelist Matthew Harken finds himself in the afterlife. While his body is in a coma, Matthew must decide whether 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 others who have passed on and witnesses scenes from their lives. He seeks to uncover the mystery behind his friend's suicide and the risks he runs in returning to life or remaining in death.

ANNA IN THE AFTERLIFE was developed in Polarity Ensemble Theatre's 2011 DIONYSOS CUP FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS. It is the ninth Polarity-developed play by a Chicago-area playwright to reach its world premiere on a Chicago stage.

The production team for ANNA IN THE AFTERLIFE includes Ann Davis (set design), Alaina Moore (costume design), Benjamin L. White, USA (lighting design), Conor Murphy (sound design), Ilya Levinson (composer), Paul Deziel (projections design), Renee Eisenhour (props design), Jackie Brenner (choreographer), Deborah Blumenthal (dramaturg), Charles C. Palia Jr. (technical director), Emily Hahn (assistant technical director), Andrea Beschel (assistant director), Ivy Covaciu (assistant lighting designer)., Rachel Ramirez (managing director), Nicole Smith (production manager) and Jamie Crothers (stage manager).

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