OPEN EYE MAINSTAGE

A comic reflection on the ride of love and loss, LIFE SUCKS just may lead you to the opposite conclusion.
EXTENDED through November 12!

Open Eye Theatre and Girl Friday Productions are partnering up to produce the regional professional premiere of LIFE SUCKS by Aaron Posner, a cheeky revisioning of Anton Chekhov’s classic UNCLE VANYA that is at once irreverent, poignant, hopeful, raw, highly theatrical, and yes, very funny. A group of old friends, estranged relations, and lifelong enemies gather to grapple with life’s thorniest questions—and each other. What could possibly go wrong?

With seven extraordinary actors filling the tiny Open Eye stage with passion, hilarity, and many shots of vodka, this acclaimed contemporary play considers longing and the meaning of life in a way that is fresh, heartfelt, and surprisingly moving.

“Comic gold…Filled with laughs and anarchic asides…Posner’s ear for comedy is reminiscent of Mel Brooks in his prime.” –BroadwayWorld.com

  • TICKETS

    $30 — General Admission
    $24 — Seniors
    $18 — Students
    $15 — Economic Accessibility

    A limited number of $15 Economic Accessibility tickets are available online for all performances. If not sold out, a limited number of pay as able tickets will be available at the door. View our ticketing policy.

    AGE RECOMMENDATION: Ages 14 and up.

  • PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

    Thursday, Oct 12, 7:30pm Opening
    Friday, Oct 13, 7:30pm
    Saturday, Oct 14, 7:30pm
    Sunday, Oct 15, 2:00pm *
    Thursday, Oct 19, 7:30pm
    Friday, Oct 20, 7:30pm
    Saturday, Oct 21, 7:30pm
    Sunday, Oct 22, 2:00pm *
    Thursday, Oct 26, 7:30pm
    Friday, Oct 27, 7:30pm
    Saturday, Oct 28, 7:30pm
    Sunday, Oct 29, 2:00pm *
    Thursday, Nov 2, 7:30pm
    Friday, Nov 3, 7:30pm SOLD OUT
    Saturday, Nov 4, 7:30pm SOLD OUT
    Sunday, Nov 5, 2:00pm *

    NEW SHOWS JUST ADDED!

    Thursday, Nov 9, 7:30pm
    Friday, Nov 10, 7:30pm
    Saturday, Nov 11, 7:30pm SOLD OUT
    Sunday, Nov 12, 2:00pm * CLOSING

    All Sunday matinee performances of LIFE SUCKS are masking-required. All other shows are masking-optional.

    RUN TIME: 2 hours with intermission

  • ACCESSIBILITY

    Contact us at 612-874-6338 or boxoffice@openeyetheatre.org for accessibility information and requests. Learn more.

  • COVID PRECAUTIONS

    All audience members will be required to wear masks during our Sunday performances. All other shows are masking-optional.

    The masking policy will be posted on the door.

    View our COVID-19 Policy.

BUY TICKETS 
Back row (standing): Taj Ruler, Jim Ramlet, Elizabeth Efteland. Front row (sitting): Sam Landman, Kirby Bennett, Jonathan Feld. Front right: Georgia Doolittle. Photo by Nicole Neri.

CREATIVE TEAM

Director – Joel Sass
Lighting – Kathy Maxwell
Costume Design – Claire Looker
Set Design – Joel Sass
Sound Design – C. Andrew Mayer
Fight and Intimacy Coach – Annie Enneking
Stage Manager – Penny Kissinger
Understudies – Eric Knutson, Bob Malos, Victoria Pyan, and Melanie Wehrmacher

MEET THE ARTISTS

  • Kirby Bennett

    Babs

  • Georgia Doolittle

    Ella

  • Elizabeth Efteland

    Sonia

  • Jonathan Feld

    Doctor Aster

  • Sam Landman

    Vanya

  • Jim Ramlet

    “The Professor”

  • Taj Ruler

    Pickles

  • Joel Sass

    Director

What Audiences and Critics are Saying

“I love a contemporary take on a classic play, especially when it's as smart and funny and poignant as LIFE SUCKS.” – Florence Brammer on MPR

“I was already posting about how great the show was at intermission. I’ve been telling all of my friends to see it.” – Audience Member

“As always, Joel Sass directs the show with a mixture of invention and insight, as the staging employs every inch of Open Eye's tiny stage.” – Ed Huyck

“This show was incredible!!! The cast is amazing, so fun and thought provoking. A wonderful play.” – Audience Member

“This is a fantastic production and I urge everyone to see it.” – The Stages of MN

“Highest recommendation, friends — make sure to catch this tour de force offered by Twin Cities theatre luminaries. This team nails it!” – Audience Member

“Overall, I found the show to be brilliant, really. Thought provoking and beautiful, sad, lonely, well staged, and gorgeously costumed.” – Twin Cities Geek

 

Visit Open Eye Theatre

506 E. 24th Street
Minneapolis, MN

Free parking is available in the lot on the southeast corner of 24th Street and Portland Avenue, courtesy of Lutheran Social Services.