Written by Richard Strand

A magical fantasy about perception and identity

Directed by Leah Smith

To celebrate their 20th anniversary, Vanessa and Brian take a road trip in hopes of reinvigorating a flagging marriage. Lost in the California mountains, they arrive at the restaurant of a ski lodge in the middle of July. The restaurant is open for business although Vanessa and Brian appear to be its only customers. Three locals encountered by the couple – the owner of the lodge, a teenage waitress, and a resident ski-bum with a French accent – recognize Vanessa as their very dear friend Annabella, even though Vanessa’s shy, mousy personality is nothing like the descriptions of the amazing, vivacious and magical Annabella. However, in trying to assert that she is in no way like Annabella, Vanessa discovers her own magical powers – powers that could either save or destroy her twenty-year marriage. ANNABELLA IN JULY is a fast paced comedy from Richard Strand, the playwright who wrote THE REALIZATION OF EMILY LINDER, BUTLER, and BUZZ.

March 15 - May 5, 2024

Curtain Times:
Please note new evening curtain times!

Fridays | 8 P.M.
Saturdays | 3 P.M. & 8 P.M.
Sundays | 2 P.M.

The Theatre always opens one hour before curtain time. Please arrive early as we have General Seating. The Rep is famous for starting exactly on time.

*Please note, due to the intimacy of the theatre, latecomers will not be seated.

The Playwright

Richard Strand wrote his first play in 1976, a one-act entitled Harry and Sylvia. That play won two national awards, was published by Hunter Press and a full-length version of that same play, entitled Clown, premiered at Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago. Since that time he has had premieres at GeVa Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Performance Network, New Jersey Repertory Company, Detroit Repertory Theatre, The Z Collective and a number of other venues. His plays are published by Samuel French, Dramatists Play Service and Applause Books. Two of his plays, The Bug and The Death of Zukasky premiered at The Humana Festival at Actors Theatre of Louisville. The Bug has been translated into German, Italian, French, Greek, and Spanish. His more recent play Ben Butler premiered at New Jersey Repertory and opened off-Broadway at 59E59. Annabella in July premiered at North Coast Repertory Theatre in 2022.  Detroit Repertory Theater has produced three of Mr. Strand’s scripts, including the premiere of Buzz.  He currently lives in California with his wife, Mary Lynn. He recently retired from Mt. San Antonio College where he taught Stagecraft, History of Theater and Playwriting.

The Company

Leah Smith (Director) Ms. Smith has been with the Rep since her first appearance in Jar the Floor in 2002. She is particularly honored to direct Annabella in July after being a fan of Richard Strand’s plays for a decade. She stage managed his play Buzz, acted in The Realization of Emily Linder, and was a most enthusiastic audience member at his play, now titled Ben Butler. At the Rep, she has been an actor 13 times, directed 10 times, stage managed 9 shows, and is now the executive artistic director of the DRT. She is a proud member of AEA, and prouder to be a part of this legendary Detroit cultural institution.

Annabelle Young (Vanessa) is thrilled to be back on the Detroit Rep stage! She was seen previously in Fairview and Sweat. Over the last decade she has worked at many theatres in Michigan including, Tipping Point, Open Book, the Matrix, the Dio, and the Ringwald. She sends all the love and gratitude to Stephen and her family for the constant love and support. Annabelle would like to thank Leah for this incredible opportunity and YOU for supporting live theatre at the Detroit Rep!

Antoine McKay (Brian) was most recently seen on the Rep stage in August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. He is an actor, writer and director hailing from the MidWest. He began acting at a young age, honed his skills at Eastern Michigan University's theatre arts program and studied under world-famous acting coach, Uta Hagen. Mr. McKay began his professional acting career at the Second City's Main Stages in Detroit and Chicago, where he wrote and performed in over 20 critically acclaimed shows. Credits include starring roles in countless commercials and television appearances on programs including Detroit 187 (ABC), ER (NBC), Prison Break (FOX), Sports Action Team (NBC). Feature films as The Weatherman, with Nicholas Cage, Someone to Eat Cheese With, alongside Jeff Garland, Standing in the Shadows of Motown, and Osso Bucco, with Mike Starr. Recent appearances were in FOX's breakout hit show Empire and Comedy Central's Review and South Side. Antoine would like to thank his lovely wife Michelle and their children for all of their love and support.

Rosie DeSantis (Camelia) A 4th-generation Eastsider, graduate of the Experimental Theater Wing at New York University, and Mosaic Youth Theater of Detroit alum, Rosie DeSantis (they/them) is trained in devised theater-making, theater applied to group therapy practices, and the Grotowski method of acting. Their professional debut as a playwright and director, the audience-involved immersive game-theater piece honoring the late Aiyana Stanley-Jones, Letters in the Dirt, earned them a spot on No Proscenium Magazine’s 2018 list of 25 Immersive Companies & Creators to Watch in New York, and was nominated for three awards by the New York Innovative Theatre Foundation, including Outstanding Full-Length Script. This is their first professional role as an actor. They would like to thank DRT & Leah for the opportunity, Mom, Cath, & Joseph for their support, and their friends for being family. 

X’ydee Alexander (Piper) is an actor and dancer working between Detroit and LA. She has taken acting classes and workshops with the Detroit Rep, Goteri Creative Arts, Fernando Community Arts Centre, and Hollywood High. Her acting credits include The Silent Tease, Aladdin, and Bring It On - the Musical. She is excited to be in her first production here at the Detroit Rep!

Samer Ajluni (Alexander) is grateful to be making his fourth appearance in a production at the Detroit Rep.  Previously he was on stage in My Soldiers in 2010, Forgiving John Lennon in 2011, and Harmony Park in 2018. He has performed at many local theatres over the years. Most recently he took part in the 48hrs in Detroit Theatre Festival with The Detroit Public Theatre in 2019 and in the Gaza Monologues at the Arab American National Museum. He also appeared in the film It’s A Life Worth Living currently on YouTube. He received his training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and has a B.S. from Eastern Michigan University.  He is a member of Actors Equity Association.