Pictured: (top, l to r) Kelly Levander, Madelyn Loehr, Jordan McGinnis and Samuel Pate. (bottom, l to r) Charles Glenn, Karla Rennhofer and Daniel Stewart.

Akvavit Theatre has announced the cast and design team for FAMILY DRAMA: 2 Norwegian Plays appearing in a double bill September 24 – October 13 at Rivendell Theatre in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood.

The two one-acts presented in partnership with the International Voices Project, include the U.S. premiere of GOLIATH by Maria Tryti Vennerød, translated by May-Brit Akerholt and directed by Co-Artistic Director Kirstin Franklin and THE RETURNING by Fredrik Brattberg, translated by Henning Hegland and directed by Lee Peters.

The cast of GOLIATH includes Kelly Levander, Madelyn Loehr, Jordan McGinnis and Samuel Pate. The cast of THE RETURNING includes Charles Glenn, Karla Rennhofer and Daniel Stewart.

GOLIATH retells the classic biblical story as an epic family drama: Goliath, the dominant older brother who, once in his childhood, was outshone by his clever, heroic little brother David. Ever since, Goliath has had to live with the myth of the events, the legend of his brother, the shame of his loss and their mother’s favoring of David. Time has come for revenge.

In THE RETURNING, we meet a mother and a father grieving the loss of their son, Gustav, whom they assume to be dead. The funeral is breathtaking, where they have filled the coffin with things reminding them of Gustav. After some time goes by, they return to their daily lives. The parents manage to go on with their life. But then one day there is a knock on the door, upsetting all of their newfound peace…

The production team includes Milo Bue (scenic design), Lily Walls (costume design), Tony Adams (lighting design), Timothy McNulty (sound design), Letitia Guillaud (props design), R&D Choreography (violence design), Tyler Skafgaard (assistant director, Goliath), Izzy Tortuga (assistant director, The Returning), Harrison Ornelas (technical director), Hannah Harper-Smith (stage manager) and Nicholas Hittner-Cunningham (assistant stage manager).

More information is available at chicagonordic.org.