Hell in a Handbag Productions has announced the full cast and production team for the revival of its 2013 production L’IMITATION OF LIFE.

Adapted by Ricky Graham and Running with Scissors and directed by ensemble member Stevie Love, L’IMITATION OF LIFE features Handbag ensemble member Ed Jones as Lana Turner with Robert Williams as Annie Johnson. Ensemble member Chazie Bly plays Steve Martin, along with Katherine Bellantone, as Suzie Turner and Ashley J. Hicks as Sara Jane Johnson. Allison Petrillo and Chase Wheaton-Werle round out the cast as various characters.

Pictured (top, l to r): Katherine Bellantone, Chazie Bly, Ashley J. Hicks and Ed Jones. (bottom, l to r), Allison Petrillo, Chase Wheaton-Werle and Robert Williams.

The production team for L’IMITATION OF LIFE includes: Samantha Gribben (scenic design), Garry Nocco (costume design), Rachel Lake (lighting design), Sebby Woldt (sound design), Keith Ryan (wig design), Sydney Genco (make-up design), Adrian Hadlock (props design), Lana Whittington (violence coordinator) and AJ Wright (production manager).

From the press release: “In this hilarious parody of the 1959 film Imitation of Life, Lana Turner is a determined white widow and single mother with aspirations of becoming a Broadway sensation. When Lana meets Annie Johnson, a struggling single African-American mother, the two team up and take on the world as Lana does “whatever it takes” to make it in show business – while Annie takes care of the homestead and raises both daughters. The two women face insurmountable challenges led by their daughters. There’s the blonde, perky and “so white it’s frightening” Suzie, daughter of Lana Turner, and the raven-haired rebellious light-skinned beauty, Sara Jane, daughter of Annie. Sara Jane learns the hard truth about acceptance and the color of your skin – especially when she tries to ‘pass’ as white.”

L’IMITATION OF LIFE will play March 31 – May 6, 2018 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. For more information visit handbagproductions.org.