Pictured: Atra Asdou

Lookingglass Theatre Company has announced the cast and designers for the world premiere of “Act(s) of God,” by Ensemble Member Kareem Bandealy, directed by Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman.

The production features Artistic Associates Atra Asdou (Fiancée), Walter Briggs (Youngest) and Anthony Irons (Middle), with Shannon Cochran (Mother) and Kristina Valada-Viars (Eldest).

The creative team includes Artistic Associate Brian Sidney Bembridge (scenic and lighting design), Ensemble Member Mara Blumenfeld (costume design), Artistic Associate Rick Sims (sound design/composition), Amanda Herrmann (properties design), Matt Hawkins (fight choreographer) and Tess Golden (stage manager).

As a family gathers for an overdue dinner, a mysterious envelope arrives with astonishing news. They soon find themselves scrambling to welcome a visitor of cosmic proportion. “The force, ‘God,’ acts in the play much as in life: invisibly, mysteriously. And so the fun of it all has to do with how God (whether externalized, internalized, or altogether put aside) works on the family—how it brings them together or pulls them apart…much as in life,” notes Bandealy.

“At its core, this is a dark comedy about family and how we navigate these deep and at times tricky relationships when our views don’t align. This show is about so much more than whether or not you believe; it’s about our most basic connections to one another, and Kareem’s sharp writing and wit gives us the perfect access point to a subject that has made more than one family dinner take a turn toward awkward,” comments Stillman.

“Act(s) of God” runs February 13–April 7, 2019 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago’s Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. “Act(s) of God” is recommended for ages 13+. For more information visit lookingglasstheatre.org.