The Evanston 2nd Act Players will be returning to on-stage, in-person performances this fall with a world premiere of a new play, So Now, What? The show will be produced at Evanston’s Northminster Presbyterian Church, where the 2nd Act Players have been in residence since 2017. Performance dates are Nov. 10, 11 at 7 p.m., Nov. 12 at 3 p.m., Nov. 17,18 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 19 at 3 p.m.
So Now, What? follows its main character, Frankie, as he tries to make peace with his past, present and an uncertain future, all while dealing with two heart attacks, Covid and the ghost of his father.
For more information about the show and the Evanston 2nd Act Players, go to Http://evanston2ndactplayers.com
Stage veteran Edward Voci, who has performed with the Lyric Opera and sits on the board of the Oak Park Festival Theatre, will star as Frankie.
2nd Act Players’ veteran actor Phil Troyk, last seen on the 2nd Act Players’ stage in 2018 as Sonny in New Year’s Eve at Grandma’s House, will play Frankie’s Dad.
Jeanne Scurek, who has performed with such Chicago-area theaters as Red Twist, Citadel, Oil Lamp and the Windy City Playhouse, among many others, will play Frankie’s wife Alice.
Sandra Samargis, who has performed with Second City and Flash in the Park Shakespeare, will play Nurse Evans while north shore theater veteran.
Ann Strong, last seen earlier this year in Let Me Down Easy at Oakton College, will play Nurse Strickland.
For tickets go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/694193961827?aff=oddtdtcreator
The 2nd Act Players last did an in-person show in late 2019. Covid drove the theater online, where it did shows in 2020 and 2021 before suspending operations in late 2021 as it awaited the completion of major renovations in its church/theater location.
“We weren’t sure we’d ever come back at one point,” says co-founder John N. Frank. But when the church called this year to say they were ready for us, we felt we had to do at least one more show so that Covid was not the reason we shut down for good.”
