“Life After” has finalized casting for its upcoming Canadian bow. The Broadway-aimed musical will play Toronto’s CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre from April 16 through May 4, 2025. Annie Tippe will helm the production, which will be produced by Yonge Street Theatricals, the Tony Award-winning producing team of Linda Barnett and Natalie Bartello.
Featuring a book and score by Britta Johnson, “Life After” chronicles teenager Alice in the aftermath of the death of her father, Frank. “Life After” was first performed at the 2016 Toronto Fringe Festival; a full production followed in 2017 at Toronto’s Berkeley Street Theatre. “Life After” has received subsequent mountings at San Diego’s the Old Globe in 2019 and Chicago’s Goodman Theatre in 2022.
“I am so thrilled that ‘Life After’ is coming to this legendary stage in my hometown for the next phase of its journey,” said Johnson in a statement. “This is the community that raised me and the city that has championed this show since the first downbeat on opening night at the Toronto Fringe in 2016. Developing this show has been the most transformative part of my career so far, and it’s an honor to bring it home and share its journey with my community again.”
Canadian-based Johnson’s other works include “Kelly v. Kelly,” “Dr. Silver” and the Tim Horton coffeehouse’s 60th anniversary musical “The Last Timbit.” Tippe’s directing credits include the Off-Broadway mountings of “Octet,” “Three Houses” and “Ghost Quartet,” as well as the world premiere of “Cult of Love” with IAMA Theatre Company in Los Angeles.
Leading the company of “Life After” will be Isabella Esler as Alice, Jake Epstein as Frank, Chilina Kennedy as Ms. Hopkins and Mariand Torres as Beth.
Esler originated the role of Lydia Deetz on the national tour of “Beetlejuice,” while Epstein originated the role of Gerry Goffin in “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” on Broadway. Kennedy’s most recent Main Stem credit is a tenure replacing as Myrtle Wilson in “The Great Gatsby”; Torres most recently served as standby for the titular role in “Lempicka.”
Rounding out the company of “Life After” are Valeria Ceballos as Kate and Julia Pulo as Hannah, as well as Kaylee Harwood, Arinea Hermans and Zoë O'Connor, who will play the Furies. Jay Davis will serve as the standby for the role for Frank, while Isidora Kecman and Eva Petris will be company swings. Canadian casting is by Dayton Walters Casting and New York casting by Tara Rubin Casting.
The creative team for “Life After” will include Tony-winning scenic designer Todd Rosenthal, Tony-nominated costume designer Sarafina Bush, Tony-nominated lighting designer Japhy Weideman, Tony-winning co-sound designer Kai Harada and co-sound designer Haley Parcher. Ann Yee will choreograph. Greg Dougherty will serve as production manager, while Kate Sandeson will be production stage manager.
Additional members of the production’s music team will be announced.
Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the name of the San Diego theater where “Life After” played. This has been corrected.
