Imagine you have been tasked with giving a presentation about your life in front of God. What are the things that truly matter to you?
And when we die, what, if anything, do we take with us to the grave?
These are the questions explored in “Everybody,” a play where roles are determined by lottery at each performance. As the Usher promises, it’s possible that no two shows will be alike.
“‘Everybody’ is a show about someone who is going to die and what they learn about life from the experience” said Kelsey Grace Kidd (’25), the costume designer for the production.
“Everybody” will premiere at the Annie Russell Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m. The following showtimes are Friday, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 23 at 4 p.m.
The show runs approximately one hour and 30 minutes without intermission. You can purchase tickets and view the full schedule for “Everybody” here.
Written by American playwright, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, the play was a 2018 Pulitzer Prize Finalist in Drama.
A modern take on the classic Medieval morality play, “Everyman,” “Everybody” blends elements of comedy with existential quandaries about life and death as the characters take on the role of abstract concepts.
After learning they are slated to die, the character Everybody is desperate not to go alone, and attempts to bring along Friendship, Kinship, Stuff (worldly possessions), Love, and Understanding.
Designing costumes for a production with a rotating cast posed unique challenges. “I was very daunted by the idea of having multiple actors wear one costume or having each actor have costumes they may never wear,” Kidd said. “We decided to have copies of every outfit for each actor.”
Kidd noted that her experience designing costumes for “The Prom” helped prepare her, as that production had three times as many costumes.
Costuming aside, the structure of “Everybody” requires adaptability on part of the cast. “All the actors have worked very hard and perform the show amazingly,” said Kidd. “I hope the audience appreciates how the actors are genuinely in a lottery system and that every show will be different.”
In one of the only non-rotating roles in the production, Death is portrayed by guest artist and Rollins alum Clay Rivers.
Rivers describes his portrayal of Death as that of “a nice guy having a bad day.” “My approach was to make him somebody that people can sympathize with,” said Rivers. “He’s got one job. He has to get Everybody to God, and there’s all these obstacles that are thrown in his way.”
Rivers is the founder and president of Our Human Family, a nonprofit that advocates for racial equity, allyship, and inclusion.
As part of Rollins’ Black History Month celebration, Rivers will return to the Annie Russell Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 27 for a public talk titled “Fiat Lux: Focusing Your Light” from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Rivers described his talk as a reflection on self-acceptance and embracing both our strengths and flaws. “Everybody has this light inside of them,” said Rivers. “You have to be true to yourself.”
On what audiences should take away from “Everybody,” Rivers said, “Life is short. And it goes by in the blink of an eye. Everything matters, even the things you don’t think matter.”
The Annie Russell Theatre will be presenting “Everybody” from February 20 to February 23. For more information on the play and upcoming productions, visit the Annie Russell’s current season page.
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