Photo Flash: Steppenwolf for Young Adults Unveils Artwork for THE BURIALS

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) begins its 2016/17 season with The Burials, a world premiere by acclaimed playwright Caitlin Parrish, directed by Erica Weiss. Inspired by the enduring Greek tragedy, Antigone, the production explores the aftermath of a mass shooting and how one family and one community respond to the tragedy in unique ways. SYA curates numerous workshops, residencies and post-show events to engage both students and adults in the conversation. Scroll down for a look at the show's artwork!

Sophie is everything an upstanding young millennial should be: engaged, devoted to her family, and a likely valedictorian. But her life is shattered when her brother goes on a high school shooting rampage. Thrust into the national spotlight, Sophie finds herself torn between defying the narrative being woven about her brother in the media, and stopping the father she loves from using the rampage for his own political ends. Inspired by Antigone, The Burials is a modern tale of civic responsibility and the gun epidemic in America.

SYA Artistic Director Hallie Gordon comments, "Given how hauntingly familiar this type of violence is, by relating the enormity of a story like Antigone to the epic nature of gun violence, we aim to ask how each of us can help to imagine a world without this type of tragedy and how we can inspire young people to help us lead the charge in doing so."

"We wanted to take this story, which is a story about young people, and make it epic. We wanted to give young people a voice and elevate it," says director Erica Weiss. "We were privileged to be able to go to high schools around Chicagoland and talk to students about what their experiences have been growing up in a country where gun violence, and specifically school shootings, is a very real possibility. It was important for us to reflect and listen to the way that students experience this reality," shares playwright Caitlin Parrish.

The nine-person cast includes Aurora Adachi-Winter, Stephanie Andrea Barron, Joel Boyd, Olivia Cygan, Matt Farabee, Coburn Goss, Ty Olwin, Becca Savoyand Kristina Valada-Viars.

The Burials production team includes Courtney O'Neill (scenic design), Alarie Hammock (costume design), J.R. Lederle (lighting design), Matt Chapman (sound design), Joseph Burke (projection design) and Rachel Flesher (fight choreographer). Additional credits include Tess Golden (stage manager) and JC Clementz and Tam Dickson (casting) and Hallie Gordon (artistic producer).

Public performances are October 8 (3pm and 7:30pm), October 14 (7:30pm), October 15 (3pm), and October 22 (3pm and 7:30pm). School performances are Tuesday through Friday at 10am and are reserved for school groups only. The press performance is Saturday, October 8 at 3pmTickets to public performances ($20; $15 with student I.D.) are available through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org.

Photo Credit: Michelle Nolan