Martha Lavey News

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's world-renowned ensemble will join more than 600 members of Chicago's corporate, civic and cultural communities for Gala 2014 on Saturday, May 3, 2014. This year, Steppenwolf's premier fundraising event takes place entirely on the theater's North Halsted campus, offering guests the unique opportunity to connect with Steppenwolf artists in their artistic home while enjoying theatrical entertainment, cocktails, a gourmet dinner, music and dancing with Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band, the opportunity to bid on once-in-a-lifetime auction items-and much more! Following cocktails and a special performance in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre, guests will make their way to a theatrically-designed tent created by Event Creative.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents an evening with 16-time Grammy Award-winner Sting on behalf of his forthcoming musical, The Last Ship, on February 24, 2014 at 7:30pm. For one night only, this benefit event features Sting in conversation with musician, BAFTA nominee and The Last Ship cast member, Jimmy Nail. The pair will also perform songs from the new musical, joined by Emmy Award-nominee Rob Mathes on piano. Funds raised at the event support Steppenwolf's Artistic Development Fund, a special fund created by the theater to provide enhanced resources for large scale productions initiated by our artists and to mount new plays. A limited number of tickets ($250) go on sale to the public February 5 at 11am through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St) and at 312-335-1650.

Casting is nearly complete for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's world-premiere production of The Way West by Mona Mansour. Ensemble member Amy Morton directs a cast of six featuring ensemble member Martha Lavey with Ira Amyx, Caroline Neff, Deirdre O'Connell, Zoe Perry and Gabe Ruiz. This wryly funny play-with music-about the contemporary quirks of our American spirit is the recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. The Way West begins previews April 3, 2014 (opening night is April 13; press performances are April 12 at 3pm and April 15 at 7:30pm) and runs through June 8, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St).

Rehearsals are underway for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Chicago-premiere production of Russian Transport by Erika Sheffer, "a gritty but often humorous portrait of the immigrant nuclear family" (Time Out New York). Bulgarian-born ensemble member Yasen Peyankov is at the helm of what Variety declared a "thoughtful, well-written domestic drama with something original to say about immigrant families living by old world values in a new world culture." The cast of five features ensemble members Tim Hopper, Mariann Mayberry and Alan Wilder with Aaron Himelstein and Melanie Neilan. Russian Transport begins previews February 6, 2014 (opening night is February 16; press performances are February 15 at 3pm and February 18 at 7:30pm) and runs through May 11, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20 - 78) are on sale now at steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company has announced the line-up for Late Night @ Garage Rep, a series of cross-genre performances Thursday nights during Garage Rep 2014, starting March 6. The line-up includes a performance by Salonathon; the play with music, Duo: 1 Is 1, 2 Is Math; Kevin Coval and Young Chicago Authors; James Anthony Zoccoli's Wiggerlover [whiteboy+blackdad=greyareas]; Ian Belknap's one-man Bring Me The Head Of James Franco, That I May Prepare a Savory Goulash In The Narrow And Misshapen Pot Of His Skull; The Gift Theatre's improv group, Natural Gas; and Chicago Dance Crash's Follow The Reader.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's highly anticipated Chicago-premiere production of Tribes by Nina Raine, following the hit Off-Broadway production in 2012. Ensemble member Austin Pendleton is at the helm. The cast of six features ensemble members Alana Arenas, Francis Guinan and Molly Regan with Steve Haggard, Helen Sadler, and John McGinty in the central role of Billy; McGinty joins the cast direct from Guthrie Theater's production in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Tribes began previews December 5, 2013 (opening night is December 15; press performances are December 14 at 3pm and December 17 at 7:30pm) and runs through February 9, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Steppenwolf Theatre Company has announced the casting and creative teams for Garage Rep 2014, featuring The New Colony's reWILDing Genius, Prologue Theatre Company's Saturday Night/Sunday Morning and Walkabout Theater Company's The Wild.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company and ensemble member Tracy Letts, Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning playwright of August: Osage County, hosts Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale and Julianne Nicholson as the guests of honor at the fifth annual Steppenwolf Salutes Women in the Arts fundraising luncheon today, December 9, 2013 at 12 noon at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago (120 E Delaware Pl).

Casting is complete for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Chicago-premiere production of Tribes by Nina Raine. Ensemble member Austin Pendleton directs a cast featuring ensemble members Alana Arenas, Francis Guinan and Molly Regan with Steve Haggard, Russell Harvard and Helen Sadler. The American premiere of Tribes was Off-Broadway at Barrow Street Theater in 2012, and also featured Harvard, alongside ensemble member Jeff Perry; Harvard was recently featured in the Mark Taper Forum production as well.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company and ensemble member Tracy Letts, Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning playwright of August: Osage County, hosts Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale and Julianne Nicholson as the guests of honor at the fifth annual Steppenwolf Salutes Women in the Arts fundraising luncheon on Monday, December 9, 2013 at 12 noon at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago (120 E Delaware Pl).

Steppenwolf Theatre Company and ensemble member Tracy Letts, Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning playwright ofAugust: Osage County, will host Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale and Julianne Nicholson as the guests of honor at the fifth annual Steppenwolf Salutes Women in the Arts fundraising luncheon on Monday, December 9, 2013 at 12 noon (location TBD). All three of these dynamic women are featured in Letts's highly anticipated film adaptation of August: Osage County. This year's event will featured a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the film, in addition to an insightful conversation with Lewis, Martindale and Nicholson, moderated by Letts in a format similar to Inside the Actors Studio. Previous honorees at Steppenwolf Salutes Women in the Arts include ensemble members Joan Allen and Martha Plimpton, Julianna Margulies and Mary-Louise Parker.

EXPO CHICAGO, The International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, in conjunction with Choose Chicago and Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events(DCASE), present EXPO ART WEEK, a citywide celebration of arts and culture with over 100 special events, institutions, museums, galleries, theaters and restaurants participating, Sept. 16 – 22, 2013. For an entire list of EXPO ART WEEK events including Chicago gallery openings, visitexpochicago.com/visitors/expo-art-week.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the American premiere of The Wheel by Zinnie Harris. Ensemble member Tina Landau directs Harris's epic, a work of magic realism chronicling the trials of Beatriz as she attempts to reunite a young girl with her father in nineteenth-century Spain. Landau's cast of 17 features ensemble members Joan Allen (in her first appearance on stage at Steppenwolf since 1991), Robert Breuler, Tim Hopper, Ora Jones and Yasen Peyankov. The National Theatre of Scotland commissioned and produced the world premiere of The Wheel in 2011. The Wheel begins previews tonight, September 12, 2013 (Opening night is September 22; Press performances are September 21 at 3pm and September 24 at 7:30pm) and runs through November 10 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St).

Rehearsals recently began at Steppenwolf Theatre Company for the American premiere of The Wheel by Zinnie Harris. Ensemble member Tina Landau directs Harris's epic, a work of magic realism chronicling the trials of Beatriz as she attempts to reunite a young girl with her father in nineteenth-century Spain. Landau's cast of 17 features ensemble members Joan Allen (in her first appearance on stage at Steppenwolf since 1991), Robert Breuler, Tim Hopper, Ora Jones and Yasen Peyankov. The National Theatre of Scotland commissioned and produced the world premiere of The Wheel in 2011.The Wheel begins previews September 12, 2013, with an opening night officially set for September 22. The Wheel runs through November 10 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20 - $82) go on sale tomorrow, August 9 at 11am. Check out a first look at Allen and the cast in rehearsal below!

The Dramatists Guild of America recently held their Second National Conference Having Our Say: Our History, Our Future, on August 22-25, 2013 in Chicago, IL. The conference included keynote speeches, legal and business seminars, workshops, and conversations with theatre elite. Participating Council and visiting artists include Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Gretchen Cryer, Rebecca Gilman, Carol Hall, Winnie Holzman, David Ives, Lisa Kron, Martha Lavey, Bobby Lopez, Terrence McNally, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Marsha Norman, Theresa Rebeck, Stephen Schwartz, Jeff Sweet, John Weidman, George C. Wolfe, and Charlayne Woodard. Check out a look back at the national conference below!

The Dramatists Guild of America is pleased to announce their Second National Conference Having Our Say: Our History, Our Future, which will be held from today, August 22-25, 2013 in Chicago, IL.

Rehearsals begin next week at Steppenwolf Theatre Company for the American premiere of The Wheel by Zinnie Harris. Ensemble member Tina Landau directs Harris's epic, a work of magic realism chronicling the trials of Beatriz as she attempts to reunite a young girl with her father in nineteenth-century Spain. Landau's cast of 17 features ensemble members Joan Allen (in her first appearance on stage at Steppenwolf since 1991), Robert Breuler, Tim Hopper, Ora Jones and Yasen Peyankov. The National Theatre of Scotland commissioned and produced the world premiere of The Wheel in 2011. The Wheel begins previews September 12, 2013 (Opening night is September 22; Press performances are September 21 at 3pm and September 24 at 7:30pm) and runs through November 10 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20 - $82) go on sale tomorrow, August 9 at 11am.