Photo Flash: First Look at Steppenwolf Theatre's HOW LONG WILL I CRY?

Next on stage as part of the Steppenwolf for Young Adults' (SYA) season is the world premiere of How Long Will I Cry?: Voices of Youth Violence by Miles Harvey. How Long Will I Cry? is directed by Edward Torres as part of the citywide, season-long Now Is The Timeinitiative with Chicago Public Library and other local cultural organizations. Public performances of How Long Will I Cry? are March 2, 4, 9, 18 and 23 in Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). How Long Will I Cry? also tours select Chicago Public Library branches and partner locations, March 11 - 16, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production in the photos below!

Journalist, playwright and DePaul University professor Miles Harvey participates in a post-show discussion with filmmaker of The Interrupters and author ofThere Are No Children Here, Alex Kotlowitz, and Founder and CEO of Kids Off The Block, Inc., Diane Latiker, whose story is featured in the play following the performance on Monday, March 4. Miles Harvey also participates in a post-show discussion following the performance on Monday, March 18. On Saturday, March 23, Steppenwolf will welcome award-winning author of Gang Leader for a Day and Freakonomics contributor Sudhir Venkateshfor a post-show discussion following the performance. Mr. Venkatesh has written extensively about Chicago's urban poor and gang culture.

Woven together from interviews gathered by journalist Miles Harvey and his students at DePaul University, How Long Will I Cry? provides raw, truthful insight into the problem of youth violence. By giving voice to those who know the tragic consequences of violence first-hand-families of the victims, residents of crime-ridden neighborhoods and especially young people-How Long Will I Cry? inspires all of us to join together in search of a solution.

"How Long Will I Cry?: Voices of Youth Violence is a culmination for me of more than three years of thinking about youth violence in the city of Chicago," comments Hallie Gordon, Artistic and Education Director for Steppenwolf for Young Adults. "It is a concern that both the playwright, Miles Harvey, and his students from DePaul University shared and over the past two years have investigated with compassion and honesty. It is why Now Is The Time was started, a city wide initiative to stop youth violence and intolerance. This piece shows the power the arts can have on very real issues. This piece is a call to action to stop the trend of youth violence in Chicago. Now is the time."

Now Is The Time is a year-long conversation about how young people can make positive change in their communities and stop the trend of youth violence and intolerance. Through major projects taking place throughout 2012/13, Chicago Public Library, Facing History and Ourselves, and Steppenwolf Theatre Company join forces to activate this conversation in our city's many neighborhoods. They are joined by dozens of other organizations and institutions around the city, including a coalition of Chicago's finest theater companies, Now is the Time to ACT. Learn more at nowisthetimechicago.org.

The cast of How Long Will I Cry? features Carlos Rogelio Diaz (Berly Valladares/Ernie Purnell, March 11 - 23), Charles Gardner (Deshon), Tara Mallen (Joy McCormack), J. Salomé Martinez, Jr. (Berly Valladares/Ernie Purnell, February 26 - March 10; Frankie Valencia/Max Cerda, March 11 - 23), Shannon Matesky (DaisyCamacho/Ora), Jessie David Perez (Narcisco Gatica/Jamie), Gabriel Ruiz (Frankie Valencia/Max Cerda, February 26 - March 10), Mark Smith (Pastor Brooks), March Ulrich (Narrator) and Celeste Williams (Diane Latiker/T-Awannda Piper).

The production team for How Long Will I Cry? includes: William Boles (scenic design), Sally Dolembo (costume design), J.R. Lederle (lighting design),Gregor Mortis (sound design) and Michael Fernandez (projection design). Additional credits include: Erica Daniels (casting), Terrence Mosely (assistant director), Kelli Simpkins (artistic consulting), Megan Shuchman (dramaturgy) and Tess Golden (stage manager). Photos and bio information for all artists are available upon request.

Tickets to public performances of How Long Will I Cry?: Voices of Youth Violence ($20) are currently on sale through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org. Tickets to the performances on Saturday, March 2 and 9 are 2-for-1. Student Discounts: a limited number of $15 student tickets are available through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St) or by calling 312-335-1650. Must present a valid student ID for each ticket. School Performances are currently on sale. Contact SYA Education Assistant Lauren Sivak at 312-654-5643. Adult Groups: all groups of 10 or more receive a discounted rate for any performance throughout the season. For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org/groups. Tour Performances: admission to the tour performances March 11 - 16 is free, though a reservation is required. Please call the library branch as listed to reserve tickets.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults' unique approach combines play production with educational components to enhance arts education for young audiences, as well as their teachers and families. SYA creates two full-scale professional productions each season specifically for teens. Working closely with the Chicago Public and metropolitan area schools and other community partners, SYA annually ensures access to the theater for more than 12,000 participants from Chicago's diverse communities. The initiative also includes post-show discussions with artists; classroom residencies led by Steppenwolf-trained teaching artists in more than 30 classrooms in 12 public high schools; professional development workshops for educators; and the Young Adult Council, an innovative year-round after school initiative that uniquely engages high school students in all areas of the theater's operations.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is America's longest standing, most distinguished ensemble theater, producing nearly 700 performances and events annually in its three Chicago theater spaces-the 515-seat Downstairs Theatre, the 299-seat Upstairs Theatre and the 80-seat Garage Theatre. Formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, Steppenwolf has grown into an ensemble of 43 actors, writers and directors. Artistic programming at Steppenwolf includes a five-play Subscription

Season, a two-play Steppenwolf for Young Adults season and three repertory series: First Look Repertory of New Work, Garage Rep and Next Up. While firmly grounded in the Chicago community, nearly 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including Off-Broadway, Broadway, London, Sydney and Dublin. Steppenwolf has the distinction of being the only theater to receive the National Medal of Arts, in addition to numerous other prestigious honors including an Illinois Arts Legend Award and nine Tony Awards. Martha Lavey is the Artistic Director and David Hawkanson is the Executive Director. Nora Daley is Chair of Steppenwolf's Board of Trustees. For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre and twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr.

Photo Credit: Michael Brosilow

Deshon (Charles Gardner), Pastor Brooks (Mark Smith) and Max Cerda (Gabriel Ruiz) along with the ensemble read the names of young people killed in Chicago.

Narrator (Mark Ulrich) reads the names of young people killed in Chicago.

Diane Latiker (Celeste Williams) and Ora (Shannon Matesky) attend a neighborhood barbeque.

Joy McCormack (Tara Mallen) speaks with her son, Frankie (Gabriel Ruiz).

Pastor Brooks (Mark Smith) comforts a grieving mother (Celeste Williams) and her son (Charles Gardner).

A gang member (Jessie David Perez) tries to purchase a gun.

Daisy (Shannon Matesky) recounts how she and Frankie (Gabriel Ruiz) first met.

(facing forward) Berly Valladares (J. Salomé Martinez Jr.) appears before the court.