Director's Note

Ever wonder what would happen if a messenger from the afterlife were to snatch your soul before it was your time? If this is something that worries you, there are plenty of films that address this very topic, including Here Comes Mr. Jordon ('41), Heaven Can Wait ('78), and, most recently, Down to Earth ('01) starring Chris Rock. And all of these films have one thing in common… they're all adaptations of Harry Segall's original 1930s theatrical comedy, Heaven Can Wait.

Some critics have described Segall's original script as “clumsy,” but most admit that the story itself is timeless and comedic (which explains why it has been adapted again and again). When I first read the text, I saw such potential for an entertaining show with fabulous roles for young actors. So, my thinking was that with a bit of editing—okay, maybe a lot of editing—we could produce a comedic show, tackle different character types and have fun in the process.

Before casting, I cut over 10 characters and edited the script. I also decided to change the gender of some of the roles (particularly Jordan , who is the “head” messenger from above), giving women a stronger presence onstage. Then, during rehearsals the company enjoyed finding discrepencies in the script and collectively we further edited the text. After much hard work (and at times even fun!), we hope you enjoy our interpretation of Heaven Can Wait.