Chasing Nirvana: A 90s Alt-Rock Musical poster with wings and rock band silhouettes

At a glance

A nostalgic, music-filled journey through 1990s alt-rock, CHASING NIRVANA follows an awkward young musician chasing her dreams while navigating love, identity, and the rocky road to finding herself.

Oct. 2, 3, 2026

Genre: Musical

Audience: PG-13

Runtime: 2.5 hours (plus intermission)

Tickets Cast List

About the show

Inaugural Louise ImMasche Striving Artists Fund production


Travel back to the heyday of Gen X, when twentysomethings were trying to figure out who they were beyond the walls of Shermer High School—and discovering that reality does indeed bite. Presley Martin is an endearingly awkward, hot mess of a musician who’s hoping her band might be the next Nirvana. While reaching on tiptoe for the stars, she loses her balance and winds up flirting with rock bottom instead.


With the resurgence of 1990s culture, CHASING NIRVANA feels simultaneously nostalgic and current. Driven by catchy 90’s alt-rock music, the story appeals to a multi-generational audience, as it examines life’s big questions: Who will love me? Why am I here? What really matters?


Packed with heart, humor, and a healthy dose of pop-culture wisdom, we follow Presley’s journey as she navigates a Bermuda love triangle and risks losing herself in the void between two very different dreams. Will she find her own sense of nirvana?


By

Anj Riffel

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

90s music to get you in the mood for our Stiving Artists debut musical

Cast and Creative Team

Smiling woman in a dark blue sleeveless top against a dark background
Smiling man in a blue shirt with arms crossed against a plain light background
Smiling person with long dark hair in a black V-neck shirt, standing outdoors with blurred greenery.
Smiling person in a blue patterned top against a dark background

Cast

Vivi Riffel

Presley
This original production is funded by the Louise ImMasche Striving Artists Fund. CLICK HERE to learn more about the fund or make a contribution to support new work by unpublished playwrights.