Life After (musical)

Life After
Music	Britta Johnson
Lyrics	Britta Johnson
Book	Britta Johnson
Premiere	July 1, 2016: Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto
Productions	2017 Toronto 2019 San Diego 2022 Chicago

Life After is a musical with music, lyrics, and book by Britta Johnson. Loosely inspired by Johnson's real-life experiences, the musical focuses on sixteen-year-old Alice Frank, who has to navigate life after the death of her father.

Premise

The musical follows the story of Alice Carter, a teenage girl who is confronted with the unexpected death of her father, Frank Carter, a charismatic self-help author. As Alice attempts to understand her father's life and reconcile her feelings of anger, guilt, and sorrow, she is joined and supported by her mother Beth, her sister Kate, best friend Hannah, and her English teacher Ms. Hopkins. Alice slowly uncovers layers of her father's past that challenge her initial perceptions, leading her on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance.

Production history

World premiere: Toronto

Life After was first presented as part of the 2016 Toronto Fringe Festival. The musical was performed at the Theatre Passe Muraille from July 1–10, 2016. It won the Paul O’Sullivan Prize for Musical Theatre, awarded to the best script, as well as the Patron's Pick for musical theatre.

Following this success, it was developed into a full musical with The Musical Stage Company and the Canadian Stage Company, in Toronto. It began performances at the Berkeley Street Theatre on September 23, 2017, and was supposed to close on October 22, 2017. However, due to popular demand, the musical was extended by one week until October 29, 2017. This production was nominated for 12 Dora Awards, winning 6, including Best Musical Theatre Production and Best New Musical.

San Diego (2019)

The musical received its American premiere at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. It began performances on March 22, 2019, before closing on April 28, 2019. The musical starred Sophie Hearn as Alice Frank and Bradley Dean as Frank Carter, and was directed by Barry Edelstein.

Chicago (2022)

Life After then played at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Performances began on June 11, 2022, and it closed on July 17, 2022. The production was further developed, and included an expanded set and new direction by Annie Tippe. It starred Samantha Williams as Alice Carter and Paul Alexander Nolan as Frank Carter.

Toronto (2025)

In May 2024, it was announced that Life After will return to Toronto, where it will play a limited engagement at the Ed Mirvish Theatre between April 16 and May 4, 2025.

Cast and characters

Role	World Premiere	San Diego	Chicago
	2017	2019	2022
Frank Carter	Dan Chameroy	Bradley Dean	Paul Alexander Nolan
Alice Carter	Ellen Denny	Sophie Hearn	Samantha Williams
Kate Carter	Rielle Braid	Charlotte Maltby	Skyler Volpe
Hannah	Kelsey Verzotti	Livvy Marcus	Lucy Panush
Beth Carter	Tracy Michailidis	Mamie Parris	Bryonha Marie Parham
The Furies	Neema Bickersteth Barbara Fulton Anika Johnson	Ximone Rose Mackenzie Warren Charlotte Mary Wen	Ashley Pérez Flanagan Lauryn Hobbs Chelsea Williams
Ms. Hopkins	Trish Lindström	Dan’yelle Williamson	Jen Sese

Musical numbers

• "Frank's Message #1" – Frank
• "Alice Finds Out" – Beth, Kate, Hannah, Furies
• "The Funeral" – Beth, Kate, Hannah, Ms. Hopkins, Frank, Furies
• "If I Knew" – Alice, Furies
• "Control What You Can" – Kate, Alice, Beth, Frank
• "Dedication #1" – Beth, Furies
• "Route 33" – Frank
• "The Party" – Hannah, Frank, Alice, Furies
• "Route 33 (reprise) / Beth and Kate at Home" – Frank, Alice, Beth, Kate
• "Back at School" – Furies
• "Forgive Yourself" – Ms. Hopkins, Frank, Beth, Kate, Alice, Furies
• "Frank's Message #2" – Frank
• "Dedication #2" – Beth, Furies
• "A Moment" – Kate, Alice, Beth, Frank, Ms. Hopkins, Furies
• "Frank on the Porch" – Frank, Furies
• "Moving" – Ms. Hopkins
• "Wallpaper" – Beth
• "Will I Grow?" – Alice, Furies
• "Snow" – Alice, Frank
• "Poetry" – Alice

Critical reception

The 2017 world premiere production in Toronto received widespread critical acclaim.

Carly Maga of the Toronto Star praised Johnson's ability to portray the "overwhelming, surreal nature of grief", and commented that the musical's emotions rivaled that of more traditional, full-length plays. Taylor Long, writing for BroadwayWorld, said that the show is "musical theatre perfection" and that "the quality of the orchestra, especially with Reza Jacobs shaping the music, rivals anything you hear on Broadway." J. Kelly Nestruck of The Globe and Mail similarly praised the musical, comparing it favorably to similarly themed musicals such as Next to Normal and Dear Evan Hansen.

Reviewing the 2019 San Diego production for The San Diego Union-Tribune, James Hebert called the show a "luminous new musical" and praised Johnson's songwriting and storytelling, the cast's performances, as well as the musical orchestrations.

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref.
2018	Dora Awards	Outstanding Musical Theatre Production		Won
		Outstanding New Musical		Won
		Outstanding Direction	Robert McQueen	Won
		Outstanding Musical Direction	Lynne Shankel & Reza Jacobs	Won
		Outstanding Choreography	Linda Garneau	Nominated
		Outstanding Performance (Male)	Dan Chameroy	Nominated
		Outstanding Performance (Female)	Tracy Michalidis	Won
			Ellen Denny	Nominated
		Outstanding Ensemble Performance		Won
		Outstanding Scenic Design	Brandon Kleinman	Nominated
		Outstanding Costume Design	Ming Wong	Nominated
		Outstanding Lighting Design	Kimberly Purtell	Nominated
2019	San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding Musical		Nominated
		Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical	Sophie Hearn	Won
		Outstanding Direction of a Musical	Barry Edelstein	Won
		Outstanding Scenic Design	Neil Patel	Nominated
		Outstanding Lighting Design	Japhy Weideman	Won
		Outstanding Projection Design	Sven Ortel	Nominated