Steppenwolf Theatre to Host EXPLORE: THE WORLD OF BELLEVILLE Talk with Laura Kipnis, 8/4

What does it mean to be a stranger in your own skin? In a foreign land? Steppenwolf Theatre Company encourages audiences to confront these difficult questions of deceit, displacement and dependency in Amy Herzog's Belleville, directed by Anne Kauffman. The conversation continues with Explore: The World of Belleville, when Steppenwolf brings together Northwestern University professor Laura Kipnis and Steppenwolf Artistic Director Martha Lavey for a deeper discussion of Belleville.

Explore: The World of Belleville is on Sunday, August 4, 2013 at 6:30pm in Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). The lobby opens at 5:30pm. Explore events are free, but space is limited. Call Audience Services at 312-335-1650 to make a reservation. Belleville runs through August 25 in the Downstairs Theatre.

Laura Kipnis is a cultural critic whose work focuses on sexual politics, aesthetics, emotion, acting out, bad behavior and various other crevices of the American psyche. She joins Steppenwolf Artistic Director Martha Lavey for a lively conversation inspired by her much discussed book Against Love: A Polemic and the intersections her themes have with Belleville. French food, music and one free drink per person are also included.

The cast of Belleville features ensemble members Alana Arenas and Kate Arrington with Chris Boykin and Cliff Chamberlain. The production team includes: James Schuette (scenic design), Janice Pytel (costume design), Matt Frey (lighting design), and Richard Woodbury (sound design and original music). Additional credits include: Matt Hawkins (fight choreography), Cecilie O'Reilly (dialect coach), Erica Daniels (casting), Deb Styer (stage manager) and Christine D. Freeburg (assistant stage manager).

Newly married American expats Zack (Chamberlain) and Abby (Arrington) live an enviably hip existence in the colorful, multi-ethnic neighborhood of Belleville, Paris, renting an apartment from their Senegalese landlords, Alioune (Boykin) and Amina (Arenas). But when a series of small, unexpected encounters escalates the tension between them, some surprising cracks in the foundation of their isolated yet idyllic life begin to show. Belleville is a taut, edgy psychological thriller that asks: does anyone really know who they're with?

Tickets to Belleville ($20 - $78) are currently on sale through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org. Use code 14128 for a special 2-for-1 ticket offer valid for either performance on Sunday, August 4.

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 12 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.

Pictured: Abby (ensemble member Kate Arrington) consoles her husband Zack (Cliff Chamberlain). Photo Credit: Michael Brosilow.