HEREAFTER, AN IMMERSIVE THEATRE EXPERIENCE POPS BACK UP IN SOUTH DOWNTOWN

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/3/20

Prepare to be swept into a powerful multi-sensory experience when HEREafter, an immersive theatre production, returns for Episode 2, after premiering Episode 1 to sold out audiences in fall of 2019. This one-of-a-kind production engulfs the audience in the story of a family thrown into chaos after the death of their matriarch.

“HEREafter Episode 2 is our creative team’s answer to the question: how do we navigate togetherness safely and offer an intimate experience during a global pandemic? We wanted to create a space where the physical restrictions we are all experiencing right now feel less hindering,” said Co-Director Kelly Bartnik. “HEREafter tells the story of dealing with grief, so its themes translate to this time where we are all grieving in our own ways. We hope that through this production, we can create some sense of togetherness.”

The HEREafter team’s goal is to put the safety and health of the audience and the cast members first and foremost throughout this experience. In order to ensure this, each performance will take place first from the convenience of the audience members’ cars and then move guests into an outdoor, open-air environment where social distancing will be enforced – all while maintaining the feeling of being completely entrenched in the show’s narrative. Audience capacity is also extremely limited to ensure appropriate physical distancing.

Touchless check-in and enhanced sanitizing practices, including cleaning and sanitizing the chairs between each show, are being implemented. All audience members will be six feet apart and required to wear masks upon exiting their cars and all cast members will have their faces covered during the performance.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.freshtix.com/organizations/here. Please note due to the nature of the performance, late entry will not be permitted. In addition, a smartphone with data capabilities is necessary to enjoy the full experience.

About HEREafter, Episode 2:  Co-founded by Kelly Bartnik and Kathleen Wessel, HEREafter is an integrative pop-up theater experience from talent involved in NYC’s smash hit, “Sleep No More.” This unique Atlanta-based performance, HEREafter, popped up in the fall of 2019 and is returning again for part 2 of the whirlwind story. The five Atlanta-based cast members of HEREafter wrote and pre-recorded monologues, which were mixed and scored by New York-based sound designer John Glover, minimizing the need for spoken text. Coupled with choreography and staging by co-directors Kelly Bartnik (New York City) and Kathleen Wessel (Atlanta) in collaboration with the performers, the soundscore reveals inner and outer monologues, moving through grief and towards healing.