The Great Beyond |
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John Marsaglia |
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Kylie Atkins |
Lisa Gifford |
Kitt Astrophe |
Follow Us:
The Great Beyond reunites two sisters who have lost their beloved father and whose contentious relationship with each other remains unresolved. At the urging of their husband and girlfriend, respectively, the sisters decide to conduct a seance to contact their deceased father. Amazingly, this seance does produce the result they hoped for … in a completely unexpected way. The Great Beyond is a comic drama about loss, hope and finding the power to believe.
Steven Dietz's 30 plays and adaptations have been seen at more than 100 regional theatres as well as off-Broadway. International productions have been seen in more than 20 countries. In 2019, Dietz was once again named one of the 20 Most-Produced Playwrights in America by American Theatre magazine. Recent world premieres include How a Boy Falls (Northlight Theatre, Chicago), Dracula: Mina's Quest (ACT Theatre, Seattle), The Great Beyond (Actor's Theatre of Charlotte) and The Ghost of Splinter Cove (Charlotte Children's Theatre). Upcoming premieres include Gaslight (Cincinnati Shakespeare Company/Merrimack Repertory Theatre) and Murder on the Links (North Coast Repertory Theatre/Laguna Playhouse). Dietz was awarded the American Theatre Critics Association’s Steinberg New Play Citation for Bloomsday; the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays Award for both Fiction and Still Life with Iris; the PEN America Literary Award in Drama for Lonely Planet; and the Edgar® Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure. Other widely produced plays include Becky’s New Car, This Random World, Last of the Boys, Rancho Mirage, Shooting Star, Yankee Tavern, Inventing van Gogh, Private Eyes, Rocket Man, God’s Country and The Nina Variations. Dietz taught in the MFA playwriting and directing program at the University of Texas at Austin for 12 years. He currently serves as a Dramatists Guild “Traveling Master” teaching workshops in playwriting, story making and collaboration across the United States. Dietz and his wife, playwright Allison Gregory, divide their time between Austin and Seattle.
Upcoming Show
UPCOMING SHOWS
SORRY WRONG CHIMENY: DEC 5-14
David Tuttle is moonlighting as a department store Santa so that he can buy his wife a fur for Christmas. He tells her he’s working late at the office, but she finds out he isn’t at the office. A suspected other woman, hypnotism, the notorious Santa burglar Kris Kreigle and his gun-toting fiancée, and a confused policeman add up to a rollicking tale that is hilarious Christmas entertainment any time of year.
STEEL MAGNOLIAS: MARCH 16-22, 2026
The action is set in Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are “anybody” come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town’s rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, ("I’m not crazy, I’ve just been in a bad mood for forty years"); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M’Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a “good ole boy.” Filled with hilarious repartee and not a few acerbic but humorously revealing verbal collisions, the play moves toward tragedy when, in the second act, the spunky Shelby (who is a diabetic) risks pregnancy and forfeits her life. The sudden realization of their mortality affects the others, but also draws on the underlying strength—and love—which give the play, and its characters, the special quality to make them truly touching, funny and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad.
LEAVING IOWA: MAY 15-24, 2026
Don Browning, a middle-aged writer, who returns home and decides to finally take his father's ashes to his childhood home, as requested. But when Don discovers Grandma's house is now a grocery store, he begins traveling across Iowa searching for a proper resting place for his father. This father-and-son road trip shifts smoothly from the present to Don's memories of the annual, torturous vacations of his childhood. Don's existential journey leads him to reconcile his past and present at the center of the United States.
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Sponsors
Cast
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LEVELS OF SUPPORT
| Stage Hand | $0.01 | $99.99 | |
| Actor | $100.00 | $249.99 | |
| Director | $250.00 | $499.99 | |
| Producer | $500.00 | AND UP |
Our Donors
Thank you for your support!
Stage Hands:
| Barbara | Nielsen |
| Becky | Scaman |
| Charlyn | Gowler |
| Eric | Johnston |
| Jacob | Roller |
| Krystal | Olivier |
| Kylie | Atkins |
| Lisa | Bruno |
| Margaret | Marsaglia |
| Melinda | Hogan |
| Nicole | Schaeffer |
| Robert | Marsaglia |
| Victoria | Szczypkowski |
Actor:
| Karen | Marsaglia |
Our Producers:
| Forrest | McCormack |
Creative Team
John Marsagila
Brian Pross
Colleen Stroup
Tamera Malebranche
LOCAL COMMUNITY THEATRE'S
LOCAL COMMUNITY THEATRE'S
Engle Lane Theatre: https://englelane.org/
Stage 212: https://www.stage212.org/
Joliet Drama Guild: https://www.thejolietdramaguild.com/
Plainfield Arts Community Theatre:
Meet the Company
Kitt Astrophe
Kitt Astrophe is excited to be making her stage debut in The Great Beyond! She hopes to add more credentials to her next bio. Kitt is thankful for both the strangers and her loved ones who have supported her in this journey.
Lisa Gifford
Lisa Gifford is thrilled to be part of this production. Recent local acting credits include Charlotte Hay in Moon Over Buffalo (2025, Engle Lane Theatre, Streator, IL), Ensemble in The Wedding Singer (2025, Engle Lane Theatre, Streator, IL), Karen in Jake's Women (Spring 2024, Stage 212, La Salle, IL), and Viney in The Miracle Worker (2025, Stage 212, La Salle, IL). Upcoming this November, she will appear as Ugly Duckling in Shrek with River Valley Players in Henry, IL—an absolute dream, performing alongside her two older children, who are featured as Young Shrek and in the ensemble. After a 20-year hiatus from theatre, Lisa returned one year ago and loves nothing more than seeing the same spark ignite in her children, sharing with them a love for the craft of the stage.
In addition to acting, Lisa has served as Master Electrician and Lighting Designer for Festival 56 and currently for Carthage College, her alma mater, building on a strong background in lighting design. Her work on Picasso at the Lapin Agile (2007, Carthage College) received national recognition for lighting design. Lisa holds a degree in Theatre and the Performing Arts and is thrilled to be reconnecting with her passion, contributing to the theatre and the communities it supports.
Jim Welch
Jim Welch is happy once again to be performing on the MTG stage in The Great Beyond. Jim will also be directing our MTG winter production of "Steel Magnolias," scheduled to open March 13th. Another classic reboot from Jim's theatrical repertoire. (Go to Morristheatreguild.org for audition information)
Jim last portrayed Paul Sheldon in the MTG's presentation of Misery.
You may also have seen Jim on stage in other MTG hits, such as, “The Odd Couple”, “The Alto's”, “Over the River and Through the Woods” and "Squabbles." He also portrayed Herr Schultz in The Just Passing By Theatre Companies production of “Cabaret”.
Jim has directed such stage hits for the MTG such as, “Lost In Yonkers” “Wait Until Dark”, “Steel Magnolias” and “Bill W & Dr Bob."
Jim is employed with Heniff Transportation as a hazmat tanker driver and loves spending time with his family. Jim is a diehard White Sox fan and enjoys boating, fishing, and swimming, and relaxing at his cottage on Delavan Lake Wisconsin, and camping at The Grundy Co Rod & Gun Club. Jim has been a board member for the Morris Theatre Guild for 38 years, and is currently serving as Vice President. He is looking forward to many years ahead with the MTG
Kylie Atkins
After a year long hiatus, Kylie Atkins has returned to the stage at MTG to perform her first play! Kylie has only ever done musicals such as “Into The Woods” at Stage 212 and “The Wedding Singer” this year at Engle Lane Theatre, and a handful of others, but is so excited to try something new and out of her comfort zone. She is a Peru, Illinois native and currently resides in Ingalls Park, IL. When she’s not working as an Administrative Assistant, Kylie likes to play video games, craft, and spend time with her 2 kittens, Elouise and Dishy. She hopes you enjoy her performance as a Medium, especially during the séance scene…
William Gillespie
William lives in Morris. Bill has been in many productions with Morris Theatre Guild. Some of Bill’s most recent shows were: " Star on the Door", “Squabbles”, “Sex Please We’re Sixty”, “Fox on the Fairway”, “On Golden Pond” (Engle Lane) and “I Hate Hamlet” (Lat 41). Bill has appeared with several other community theatre stages from IVVC, Lat 41 and Engle Lane. Bill has three children and is an avid down hill skier and mountain climber.
Miranda Uvias
Miranda is a seventh grade homeschool student who has recently taken interest in theater. "And Then They Came For Me" is the first play she has casted in. She likes to draw and write in her journal. She loves listening to music and playing the drums and keyboard. Miranda is the oldest out of four girls and loves being their boss at times. She enjoys playing softball in the spring. Her favorite things to do is backing, dancing and swimming.
John Marsagila
Brian Pross
Colleen Stroup
Tamera Malebranche
Sponsors
Morris Theatre Guild is a not-for-profit group formed in 1973 to create theatrical productions for our local communities. Our purpose is to promote the interest of the public, our patrons, and the general membership of the guild in the theatrical arts, to educate all interested persons in the various skills involved in theatre, to cultivate artistic expression and provide opportunities to participate and experience live theatre in our area.
Getting Involved
Become a Director
Morris Theatre Guild is always looking for directors. If you are interested please use the link below to fill out the application and when you are done email it to: info@morristheatreguild.org
Become a Volunteer
Morris Theatre Guild is always looking for volunteers If you are interested, please use the link below to fill out the application and when you are done email it to: info@morristheatreguild.org
Did you know that we now have Gift Cards available for purchase? Please see the box office or visit our website. www.morristheatreguild.org
AUDITIONS
Steel Magnolia
Show Dates: March 13-22, 2026
Audition Dates: Jan 4th 2:00-4:30 & Jan 5th 6:30-8:30
Truvy Jones – 40ish. Southern Belle, big personality, huge heart. Owner of a small town in-home beauty salon; she knows everyone’s business and is full of advice. Loves doing hair and nails and making others look fabulous.
Annelle Dupuy-Desoto – 19ish. Shy, private, creative, and quirky, she is new to town and seeks out a job as a hair stylist at Truvy’s salon. Annelle is kind and gracious towards the woman she meets in the beauty salon.
Clairee Belcher – 66ish. Widow of the former mayor of Chinquapin. She is wealthy and, like Truvy, knows everyone’s business. She is the sarcastic member of the group who loves to laugh and poke fun. Lifelong close friend of Ouiser.
Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie – 25ish. Excited bride-to-be and the daughter of M’Lynn. Kind, hopeful, a dreamer, loved by all. She is obsessed with the color pink. She has Type 1 Diabetes and refuses to be seen as fragile.
M’lynn Eatenton – 50ish. Mother of Shelby. Loving, over-protective, and feels the need to be in control of everything in her world. She is especially concerned for her daughter’s health and meddles from a place of love.
Ouiser (pronounced “Weezer”) Boudreaux – 66ish. Wealthy curmudgeon. Acerbic but loveable. Unique personality and sense of humor. Lifelong friend to Clairee; the two of them act like bickering siblings.
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