Life After (musical)

The musical follows the story of Alice Carter, a teenage girl who is confronted with the unexpected death of her father, Frank Carter, a charismatic self-help author. As Alice attempts to understand her father's life and reconcile her feelings of anger, guilt, and sorrow, she is joined and supported by her mother Beth, her sister Kate, best friend Hannah, and her English teacher Ms. Hopkins. Alice slowly uncovers layers of her father's past that challenge her initial perceptions, leading her on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance.^[2]

Johnson began to write the songs for the musical based on the grief she was experiencing after the death of her father.^[1] When she was 18, Johnson further developed the concept for the musical as a playwright-in-residence at the Paprika Festival in Toronto.^[1] After she first performed the musical at the 2016 Toronto Fringe Festival, the musical caught the attention of Yonge Street Theatricals as well as Toronto-based theatre companies The Musical Stage Company and Canadian Stage Company.^[3] Johnson then further developed and expanded Life After into a full-length musical as part of a residency with The Musical Stage Company.^[3]

Life After was first presented as part of the 2016 Toronto Fringe Festival. The musical was performed at the Theatre Passe Muraille from July 1–10, 2016. It won the Paul O’Sullivan Prize for Musical Theatre, awarded to the best script, as well as the Patron's Pick for musical theatre.^[4]

Following this success, it was developed into a full musical with The Musical Stage Company and the Canadian Stage Company, in Toronto.^[4] It began performances at the Berkeley Street Theatre on September 23, 2017, and was supposed to close on October 22, 2017. However, due to popular demand, the musical was extended by one week until October 29, 2017.^[5] This production was nominated for 12 Dora Awards, winning 6, including Best Musical Theatre Production and Best New Musical.^[6]

The musical received its American premiere at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. It began performances on March 22, 2019, before closing on April 28, 2019. The musical starred Sophie Hearn as Alice Carter and Bradley Dean as Frank Carter, and was directed by Barry Edelstein.^[2]

Shortly after the San Diego production closed, it was announced that the musical would transfer to the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.^[7] It was scheduled to open in August 2021, however it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[1]

Life After then played at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Performances began on June 11, 2022, and it closed on July 17, 2022.^[8] The production was further developed, and included an expanded set and new direction by Annie Tippe.^[9] It starred Samantha Williams as Alice Carter and Paul Alexander Nolan as Frank Carter.^[8]

Life After returned to Toronto, where it played at the Ed Mirvish Theatre.^[9] The production began performances on April 16, 2025 and closed on May 10, 2025.^[10] The pre-Broadway engagement starred Isabella Esler as Alice Carter and Jake Epstein as Frank Carter.^[11][12]

Role	Toronto[13]	San Diego[2]	Chicago[8]	Toronto[14]
	2017	2019	2022	2025
Alice Carter	Ellen Denny	Sophie Hearn	Samantha Williams	Isabella Esler
Frank Carter	Dan Chameroy	Bradley Dean	Paul Alexander Nolan	Jake Epstein
Kate Carter	Rielle Braid	Charlotte Maltby	Skyler Volpe	Valeria Ceballos
Hannah	Kelsey Verzotti	Livvy Marcus	Lucy Panush	Julia Pulo
Beth Carter	Tracy Michailidis	Mamie Parris	Bryonha Marie Parham	Mariand Torres
Ms. Hopkins	Trish Lindström	Dan’yelle Williamson	Jen Sese	Chilina Kennedy
The Furies	Neema Bickersteth Barbara Fulton Anika Johnson	Ximone Rose Mackenzie Warren Charlotte Mary Wen	Ashley Pérez Flanagan Lauryn Hobbs Chelsea Williams	Kaylee Harwood Arinea Hermans Zöe O'Connor

• "Frank's Message #1" – Frank
• "Alice Finds Out" – Beth, Kate, Hannah, Furies
• "The Funeral" – Beth, Kate, Hannah, Ms. Hopkins, Frank, Furies
• "If I Knew" – Alice, Furies
• "Impromptu Debate" – Alice, Frank
• "Control What You Can" – Kate, Alice, Beth, Frank
• "Dedication #1" – Beth, Furies
• "Route 33" – Frank
• "The Party" – Hannah, Frank, Alice, Furies
• "Route 33 (reprise) / Beth and Kate at Home" – Frank, Alice, Beth, Kate
• "Maybe it's Your Fault" – Kate, Alice, Furies
• "Back at School" – Furies
• "Forgive Yourself" – Ms. Hopkins, Frank, Beth, Kate, Alice, Furies
• "Frank's Message #2" – Frank
• "Dedication #2" – Beth, Furies
• "A Moment" – Kate, Alice, Beth, Frank, Ms. Hopkins, Furies
• "Frank on the Porch" – Frank, Furies
• "Moving" – Ms. Hopkins
• "Wallpaper" – Beth
• "Will I Grow?" – Alice, Furies
• "Snow" – Alice, Frank
• "Poetry" – Alice