AFTER THE BLAST

(Midwest Premiere)
Written by Zoe Kazan | Directed by JD Caudill*
May 13th - June 11th, 2022

Generations after a global disaster has driven humankind into underground cities, partners Anna and Oliver are hoping to have a child - even though Anna's struggles with depression may prevent them from gaining the government approval needed to become parents. But when Oliver brings home a small robot - a new companion they name "Arthur" - their lives are changed forever. Zoe Kazan's smart and incisive play asks, "When the future seems bleak, how do we form bonds and build lives in the face of uncertainty?"

JD Caudill* makes their BNT Mainstage directorial debut.

photos by Evan Hanover

Critics say about AFTER THE BLAST…

“HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Full of questions and wonder... a play of the moment, and a performance one should not miss.”
— Lauren Katz, Picture This Post
“★★★★★ Phenomenal [and] Timely...”
— Edie Reese, Around The Town Chicago
“RECOMMENDED! An absorbing local premiere... Voiced and operated by Arielle Leverett, the puppet/robot (cunningly designed by Jabberwocky Marionettes)
becomes an ingratiating presence...”
— Kerry Reid, Chicago Reader
“There is a lot to love about AFTER THE BLAST... Pretty much perfect for our era... Boler’s [performance] is an amazing feat of acting, as is Leverett’s ability to breathe life into
a metallic robot.”
— Karen Topham, Chicago OnStage
“Kazan’s dialog is fresh and crisp... This minimalist set design (by Therese Ritchie) is enhanced by the lighted colored cubes in Cat Davis’ lighting design.”
— Nancy Bishop, Third Coast Review

CREATIVE TEAM

  • ZOE KAZAN | Playwright

  • JD CAUDILL* | Director

  • ADRIANA RODRIGUEZ | Stage Manager

  • ALLISON PETRILLO | Assistant Director

  • JACOB SHAFFER | Assistant Stage Manager

  • JEN MICKELSON | Intimacy Director

  • JABBERWOCKY MARIONETTES | Puppet Designer

  • THERESE RITCHIE* | Scenic Designer

  • CAT DAVIS* | Lighting Designer

  • JESSICA VAN WINKLE | Costume Designer

  • RAE SEGBAWU | Sound Designer

  • ANDREW “AJ” MORLEY | Props Designer

  • EVAN SPOSATO | Technical Director

UNDERSTUDIES

  • ERIN WILLIAMS | Anna U/S

  • CARLOS WAGENER-SOBRERO | Oliver U/S

  • CHRISTIAN SIEBERT | Arthur & Sam U/S

  • TAYLOR B. HILL | Carrie U/S

  • FAIZ SIDDIQUE | Patrick & Lowes U/S

  • JULIE MITRE | Margarita U/S

*denotes BNT ensemble members