#THEATRE: “BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB” AND “MAYBE HAPPY ENDING” RECEIVE TONY NOMINATIONS | “LIFE AFTER” NOW PLAYING

Yonge Street Theatricals (Linda Barnett & Natalie Bartello) is thrilled that two of its current Broadway productions, the highly celebrated musicals Buena Vista Social Club and Maybe Happy Ending, both received 2025 Tony Award Nominations for Best Musical this morning.

In total, Buena Vista Social Club and Maybe Happy Ending combined for 20 nominations across all categories.Presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, the 78th Annual Tony Awards will return to the legendary Radio City Music Hallin New York City on Sunday, June 8.

Yonge Street’s acclaimed new musical LIFE AFTER is also currently playing at Toronto’s storied CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre. Following rave reviews and an extension due to popular demand, the show plays through next Saturday, May 10 only.

LIFE AFTER first debuted at the Toronto Fringe Festival in Summer 2016. It features a book, music & lyrics by Britta Johnson, one of Canada’s most acclaimed young musical theatre writers, and is directed by Annie Tippe.

Canadian critics raved:

“Britta Johnson’s astounding chamber work is brought to life in a slick production with a knockout cast. Sonically, her score is more akin to the works of Sondheim – dense, layered and richly coloured. Annie Tippe’s slick production, moving between scenes with dreamlike ease, pays close attention to the smallest of details. Isabella Esler, onstage for the entirety of Johnson’s 90-minute musical, is superb. And she’s surrounded by an ensemble cast that’s equally strong.”- Toronto Star

“At its core, LIFE AFTER is a poignant and powerful exploration of grief – one of those rare experiences that is both universal and at the same time unique and deeply personal. Johnson, Tippe, and company manage to deftly capture both of those elements in this musical – bringing a sense of familiarity and authenticity without ever relying on tropes or shortcuts as they explore this complex theme. It’s as if Johnson trusts her audience to feel and experience this piece, rather than simply watch it. Her book rewards them with many a warm, hearty laugh to accompany the tears. The humour in the show is such an authentic part of grief and, I suspect, is a huge reason why it works so well.” – BroadwayWorld

“The show’s tender excavation of grief’s ambiguities hasn’t lost any power in its transfer to a bigger house; in fact, it’s clearer than ever.” – Intermission Magazine 

LIFE AFTER is the celebrated and luminous musical that played Toronto’s Canadian Stage and Musical Stage Company in 2017 in a sold-out run at the Berkeley Street Theatre. It was subsequently produced at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre and Chicago’s Goodman Theatre. Now it returns to Toronto’s CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre in a major new production helmed by Tony Award and Olivier Award-winning producers Yonge Street Theatricals for a strictly limited engagement.

Despite being a famous self-help author, Frank Carter’s optimistic advice offers little solace to his 16-year-olddaughter, Alice. After his untimely death, Alice embarks on a quest for truth, unravelling the events that changed her family forever. Filled with heart, and extraordinary music, the show offers a powerful exploration of love, memory, and the journey of moving forward.

LIFE AFTER is a “stirring, fully original” (Chicago Tribune) new musical, “exquisite from start to finish” (BroadwayWorld) that moves through the complexities of life with wit, humour and grace.

LIFE AFTER‘s cast features Isabella Esler (First National Tour of Beetlejuice the Musical) with Jake Epstein (Beautiful and Spider-Man Broadway), Chilina Kennedy (Beautiful, Jesus Christ Superstar and Mamma Mia! Broadway) and Mariand Torres (Lempicka and Wicked Broadway). Alongside them, Valeria Ceballos (First National Tour of Dear Evan Hansen), Jay Davis (Dear Evan Hansen Mirvish), Kaylee Harwood (First National Tour Beautiful, Titanique (Mirvish/Segal)), Arinea Hermans (Pollyanna Theatre Aquarius), Isidora Kecman (The Louder We Get Theatre Calgary), Zoë O’Connor (Frozen Neptune Theatre), Eva Petris (Mamma Mia! Thousand Islands Playhouse) and Julia Pulo (Original Canadian cast of Six).

LIFE AFTER’s creative team includes Ann Yee (choreography), Lynne Shankel (music supervisor / orchestrations & arrangements), Tony Award winner Todd Rosenthal (scenic design), Tony Award nominee Sarafina Bush (costume design), five-time Tony Award nominee Japhy Weideman (lighting design), Tony Award winner Kai Harada (sound design), Haley Parcher (sound design), Greg Dougherty and Wendy Churton (production managers),and Kate Sandeson (production stage manager). Canadian Casting by Dayton Walters Casting and New York Casting by Tara Rubin Casting.

We checked it out recently. More here:

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Tickets are available now at mirvish.com/shows/life-after.

(Photo credit: Michael Cooper)

#THEATRE: “LIFE AFTER” PREMIERES IN TORONTO AT CAA ED MIRVISH THEATRE

It isn’t every day we get an invite to Theatre, so it’s always a pleasure when it happens. Such an emotional experience seeing Britta Johnson‘s LIFE AFTER, a new Canadian Musical playing now till May 10, 2025 at CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre.

The Musical which has won multiple DORA Awards already, centers on a teen girl named Alice who is trying to make sense of her father’s sudden passing, beginning to question if she caused it all after they had a disagreement on her birthday. Some phenomenal performances from this Ensemble Cast which includes Isabella Esler in the lead role, supported by Jake Epstein, Mariand Torres, Chilina Kennedy, Valeria Ceballos and Julia Pulo. The story is told concisely at 90 minutes, no intermission, but packed with vulnerability and heart.

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Tickets here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#THEATRE: “LIFE AFTER” IS NOW IN PERFORMANCE AT CAA MIRVISH THEATRE

Yonge Street Theatricals (Linda Barnett & Natalie Bartello) has released new production photos for LIFE AFTER, the acclaimed new musical now in performances at CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre. With book, music & lyrics by Britta Johnson, one of Canada’s most acclaimed young musical theatre writers, the limited engagement has been extended due to popular demand and runs through May 10 only as part of the 2024/25 Off-Mirvish Season.

LIFE AFTER is the celebrated and luminous musical that premiered in Toronto in 2017 and played a sold-out run at the Berkeley Street Theatre. It was subsequently produced at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre and Chicago’s Goodman Theatre. Now it returns to Toronto’s CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre in a major new production helmed by Tony Award and Olivier Award-winning producers Yonge Street Theatricals for a strictly limited engagement.

Despite being a famous self-help author, Frank Carter’s optimistic advice offers little solace to his 16-year-olddaughter, Alice. After his untimely death, Alice embarks on a quest for truth, unravelling the events that changed her family forever. Filled with heart, and extraordinary music, the show offers a powerful exploration of love, memory, and the journey of moving forward.

LIFE AFTER is a “stirring, fully original” (Chicago Tribune) new musical, “exquisite from start to finish” (BroadwayWorld) that moves through the complexities of life with wit, humour and grace.

LIFE AFTER‘s cast features Isabella Esler (First National Tour of Beetlejuice the Musical) with Jake Epstein (Beautiful and Spider-Man Broadway), Chilina Kennedy (Beautiful, Jesus Christ Superstar and Mamma Mia! Broadway) and Mariand Torres (Lempicka and Wicked Broadway). Alongside them, Valeria Ceballos (First National Tour of Dear Evan Hansen), Jay Davis (Dear Evan Hansen Mirvish), Kaylee Harwood (First National Tour Beautiful, Titanique (Mirvish/Segal)), Arinea Hermans (Pollyanna Theatre Aquarius), Isidora Kecman (The Louder We Get Theatre Calgary), Zoë O’Connor (Frozen Neptune Theatre), Eva Petris (Mamma Mia! Thousand Islands Playhouse) and Julia Pulo (Original Canadian cast of Six).

Led by director Annie Tippe, LIFE AFTER’s creative team includes Ann Yee (choreography), Lynne Shankel (music supervisor / orchestrations & arrangements), Tony Award winner Todd Rosenthal (scenic design), Tony Award nominee Sarafina Bush (costume design), five-time Tony Award nominee Japhy Weideman (lighting design), Tony Award winner Kai Harada (sound design), Haley Parcher (sound design), Greg Dougherty and Wendy Churton (production managers),and Kate Sandeson (production stage manager). Canadian Casting by Dayton Walters Casting and New York Casting by Tara Rubin Casting.

Tickets are available now at mirvish.com/shows/life-after.

(Photo credit: Michael Cooper)