Leea Ayers

Judith Moreland’s cunning production for the Fountain Theatre sneaks up behind you, gooses, tickles, sings, brays and pretty much does everything but give everyone in the audience a wedgie.

The Fountain Theatre will inaugurate their new outdoor stage with Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ 2014 Obie Award-winning AN OCTOROON, with previews beginning June 11, 2021. Judith Moreland directs the cast of Leea Ayers, Matthew Hancock, Mara Klein, Hazel Lozano, Rob Nagle, Kacie Rogers, Vanessa Claire Stewart and Pam Trotter. Between final rehearsals, Matthew, who plays the playwright’s alter-ego among other characters, made some time to answer a few of my inquiries.

Casting is complete and rehearsals begin this week for the Los Angeles premiere of a radical, incendiary and subversively funny Obie award-winning play by MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” recipient Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

Aziza Barnes's BLKS is often funny, often vulgar, and sometimes heartbreaking. Now in a world premiere staging at Steppenwolf, BLKS chronicles 24 hours in the lives of three young black women in their early 20s living in New York City. Barnes's playwriting is achingly real and naturalistic, while also showcasing the playwright's poetic chops. In Octavia (Nora Carroll), Imani (Celeste Cooper), and June (Leea Ayers), Barnes has given us three unique and beautifully written characters navigating a tumultuous moment in their young lives.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of BLKS by award-winning poet and playwright Aziza Barnes and directed by Nataki Garrett. BLKS began previews December 7, 2017, opening night is Monday, December 18 and the production runs through January 28, 2018 in the Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N Halsted St. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of BLKS by award-winning poet and playwright Aziza Barnes and directed by Nataki Garrett. An uproarious and frank play, the acclaimed Chicago-based cast features ensemble member Namir Smallwood (Justin /Sosa/Dominican Dude) with Leea Ayers (June), Nora Carroll (Octavia), Celeste Cooper (Imani), Danielle Davis (Ry) and Kelly O'Sullivan (That Bitch on the Couch/White Woman). BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of BLKS by award-winning poet and playwright Aziza Barnes and directed by Nataki Garrett.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of BLKS by award-winning poet and playwright Aziza Barnes and directed by Nataki Garrett. An uproarious and frank play, the acclaimed Chicago-based cast features ensemble member Namir Smallwood (Justin /Sosa/Dominican Dude) with Leea Ayers (June), Nora Carroll (Octavia), Celeste Cooper (Imani), Danielle Davis (Ry) and Kelly O'Sullivan (That Bitch on the Couch/White Woman). Below, check out an interview with playwright Aziza Barnes as she talks about BLKS!

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of BLKS by award-winning poet and playwright Aziza Barnes and directed by Nataki Garrett. An uproarious and frank play, the acclaimed Chicago-based cast features ensemble member Namir Smallwood (Justin /Sosa/Dominican Dude) with Leea Ayers (June), Nora Carroll (Octavia), Celeste Cooper (Imani), Danielle Davis (Ry) and Kelly O'Sullivan (That Bitch on the Couch/White Woman). BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

In conjunction with the world premiere of BLKS by acclaimed poet/playwright Aziza Barnes this December, Steppenwolf Theatre Company has collaborated with Barnes to bring a beautiful lineup of Black artists, queer artists, women-identified artists, artists of color and their communities to Steppenwolf's LookOut Series. The BLKS Salon Series celebrates the themes and conversations sparked by Barnes's play an ingenious portrait of a day in the life of four young black women in New York City.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of BLKS by award-winning poet and playwright Aziza Barnes and directed by Nataki Garrett.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announces full casting for its upcoming productions of BLKS by poet Aziza Barnes (December 7, 2017 - January 28, 2018); You Got Older by Clare Barron (January 25 - March 11, 2018); and Steppenwolf for Young Adults' production of The Burn by Philip Dawkins (February 14 - March 3, 2018).

Earthquakes in London has been extended through March 18. With the original run close to sold out, there are now eight more opportunities to catch this "dazzling," "epic" production! 

Steep Theatre will present the first professional U.S. production of Tony nominee and Olivier Award-winning playwright Mike Bartlett's Earthquakes in London, opening January 26, 2017. Steep's production opens on the heels of another Chicago production of this enormously exciting playwright's work, the critically-acclaimed King Charles III at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Earthquakes will be helmed by one of Chicago's most exciting talents, Steep Ensemble Member and Jeff Award-winning director Jonathan Berry.  Berry recently directed Steppenwolf Theatre's Constellations, and, over the years, has consistently produced some of Steep's most notable shows, including Season 15's Posh by Laura Wade, which won the Non-Equity Jeff Award for Best Ensemble, and was nominated for Best Director and Best Production. 

As global destruction approaches, the lives of a climate scientist and his three estranged daughters come crashing unexpectedly back together. The wildly epic Earthquakes in London embodies the chaos of today's society, and asks us what matters most when everything's falling apart.

Steep Theatre will present the first professional U.S. production of Tony nominee and Olivier Award-winning playwright Mike Bartlett's Earthquakes in London, opening January 26, 2017. Steep's production opens on the heels of another Chicago production of this enormously exciting playwright's work, the critically-acclaimed King Charles III at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Earthquakes will be helmed by one of Chicago's most exciting talents, Steep Ensemble Member and Jeff Award-winning director Jonathan Berry.  Berry recently directed Steppenwolf Theatre's Constellations, and, over the years, has consistently produced some of Steep's most notable shows, including Season 15's Posh by Laura Wade, which won the Non-Equity Jeff Award for Best Ensemble, and was nominated for Best Director and Best Production. 

Jackalope Theatre Company wraps up its 8th season with The 7th Annual Living Newspaper Festival. In homage to the 1930's Living Newspapers of the Federal Theatre Project, Jackalope has assembled an exciting group of Chicago playwrights, directors, and actors to dramatize stories ripped from recent newspaper headlines.

The Theatre School at DePaul University is pleased to present August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone on the Fullerton Stage at The Theatre School at DePaul University.  The production, directed by Phyllis E. Griffin, premieres on Friday, November 6, and runs through Sunday, November 15, 2015. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. Previews are on November 4 and 5, at 7:30 PM. 

The Theatre School at DePaul University is pleased to present Elemeno Pea by Molly Smith Metzler in the Sondra and Denis Healy Theatre, located in The Theatre School building at Racine and Fullerton. The production is directed by Brian Balcom, MFA Directing candidate, Class of 2016. Opening Night is tonight, February 13, and the production will run through Sunday February 22, 2015. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. Previews are on February 11 and 12, at 7:30 PM.

The Theatre School at DePaul University is pleased to present Elemeno Pea by Molly Smith Metzler in the Sondra and Denis Healy Theatre, located in The Theatre School building at Racine and Fullerton. The production is directed by Brian Balcom, MFA Directing candidate, Class of 2016. Opening Night is Friday, February 13, and the production will run through Sunday February 22, 2015.