Parker Players Theater Co. presents Dead Man's Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl

Parker Players Theater Company Presents

Dead Man’s Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl

Directed by Richard Dominick

Barrington, Illinois - Parker Players Theater Company is proud to announce its upcoming production of Dead Man’s Cell Phone, written by Sarah Ruhl and directed by Richard Dominick. The play runs from October 17 through November 9, 2025 at The Barrington, located at 540 W Northwest Highway, Barrington, IL.

About the Show

Dead Man’s Cell Phone explores the unexpected ripple effects that begin when Jean, an otherwise ordinary woman, answers a cell phone ringing at a table in a café - the phone of a stranger who has just died. From there she is swept into a whirlwind of eccentric relatives, a grieving widow, a flirtation with the afterlife, and the ways that technology mediates and distorts identity, connection, memory, and grief. The comedy is surreal, poignant, and sharp.

Creative Team and Cast

- Director: Richard Dominick

- Scenic Design: Dan McHugh and Emily Douville

- Light and Sound Design: Ray Harris

- Costume Design: Judy Tolle

- Properties Designer: Marilou Niggemann

- Stage Manager: Marcela Ferrarone

- Fight Choreography: Alison Dorneheggen

Cast includes

- Gabor Mark as A Dead Man / Gordon

- Jennifer McHugh as A Woman / Jean

- Marge Uhlarik-Boller as Mrs. Gottlieb, Gordon’s mother

- Danielle Zuckerman as The Other Woman / The Stranger

- Jocelyn Adamski as Hermia, Gordon’s widow

- Dean Gallagher as Dwight, Gordon’s brother

Performance Dates and Ticket Information

- Dates: October 17 - November 9, 2025

- Venue: The Barrington, 540 W Northwest Highway, Barrington, IL 60010

- Showtimes: Evening performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM; Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM

- Tickets: General seating. Theater doors and bar open one hour prior to showtime. No exchanges or refunds once tickets are purchased.

About Parker Players Theater Company

Parker Players is a small, visionary, and fearless theater company serving Barrington, Illinois and the surrounding area. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, its mission is to deliver high-quality theater that bridges the gap between audience and artist. The company hosts a full season of productions, embraces new and thought-provoking works, and fosters community connection through the arts.

Why This Matters

In a time when digital devices dominate communication, Dead Man’s Cell Phone offers a fresh lens into how technology shapes our relationships, our grief, and our sense of self. Under Richard Dominick’s direction, this production aims to provoke reflection as much as it entertains-using surreal moments and comedic twists to illuminate universal truths about love, loss, and the voices we leave behind.