Martha Lavey News

Performances begin in just five weeks for the third annual Next Up, continuing Steppenwolf Theatre Company's commitment to Chicago's next generation of theater artists. Next Up features three productions presented in rotating repertory, in collaboration with Northwestern University's MFA programs in Direction and Design. Next Up 2013 showcases the work of graduates of those programs with casts of professional Chicago actors-including nine alumni of the School at Steppenwolf: Fat Pig by Neil LaBute, directed by David Prete; The Drunken City by Adam Bock, directed by Johnny Michael DiResta; and The Internationalist by Anne Washburn, directed by Erin Murray.

Performances of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's highly anticipated world-premiere production of Head of Passes by ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney began April 4. Inspired by the Biblical Book of Job, ensemble member Tina Landau directs following her acclaimed collaboration with McCraney for the The Brother/Sister Plays (2010), with a cast featuring ensemble members Alana Arenas, Jon Michael Hill (May 21 - June 9) and Tim Hopper with James T. Alfred, Kyle Beltran (April 4 - May 19), Chris Boykin, Cheryl Lynn Bruce, Glenn Davis, Ron Cephas Jones and Jacqueline Williams. Head of Passes began previews April 4, 2013 (Opening Night is April 14, 2013; Press Performances are April 13 at 3pm and April 16 at 7:30pm) and runs through June 9, 2013 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble member Randall Arney directs fellow ensemble member William Petersen with Rae Gray this summer in Slowgirl by Greg Pierce. Performances of this Chicago premiere are in Steppenwolf's newly reconfigured Upstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Slowgirl begins previews July 18, 2013 (opening night is July 28; press performances are July 27 at 3pm and July 31 at 7:30pm) and runs through August 25. Tickets ($20 - $78) go on sale May 3 to the public through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org.

Due to high demand for tickets, Buzz22 Chicago's critically acclaimed production of She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen, directed by Scott Weinstein, adds a final late-night performance as part of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's fourth annual Garage Rep. This "clever, funny, moving, lively and delightfully geeky" (Chicago Tribune) play's last additional performance is Wednesday, April 17 at 10:30pm; this is the final extension.

The world-premiere production of Head of Passes by ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney, directed by ensemble member Tina Landau in the Downstairs Theatre, runs at Steppenwolf Theatre tonight, April 4 - June 9, 2013.

Below, check out the newly released trailer for Steppenwolf's production of The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter! The Birthday Party is directed by ensemble member Austin Pendleton and features ensemble members Ian Barford, Francis Guinan, Moira Harris and John Mahoney with Marc Grapey and Sophia Sinise.

Performances of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's highly anticipated world-premiere production of Head of Passes by ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney begin April 4. Inspired by the Biblical Book of Job, ensemble member Tina Landau directs following her acclaimed collaboration with McCraney for the The Brother/Sister Plays (2010), with a cast featuring ensemble members Alana Arenas, Jon Michael Hill (May 21 - June 9) and Tim Hopper with James T. Alfred, Kyle Beltran (April 4 - May 19), Chris Boykin, Cheryl Lynn Bruce, Glenn Davis, Ron Cephas Jones and Jacqueline Williams. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast and creative team in rehearsal below!

Performances of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's highly anticipated world-premiere production of Head of Passes by ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney begin April 4. Inspired by the Biblical Book of Job, ensemble member Tina Landau directs following her acclaimed collaboration with McCraney for the The Brother/Sister Plays (2010), with a cast featuring ensemble members Alana Arenas, Jon Michael Hill (May 21 - June 9) and Tim Hopper with James T. Alfred, Kyle Beltran (April 4 - May 19), Chris Boykin, Cheryl Lynn Bruce, Glenn Davis, Ron Cephas Jones and Jacqueline Williams. Head of Passes begins previews April 4, 2013 (Opening Night is April 14, 2013; Press Performances are April 13 at 3pm and April 16 at 7:30pm) and runs through June 9, 2013 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20 - $78) are on sale now.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Martha Lavey announced today the 2013/14 Subscription Season, including two world premieres, an American premiere and two Chicago premieres. The season begins in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre with Zinnie Harris's The Wheel, directed by ensemble member Tina Landau. Up next, ensemble member Austin Pendleton directs Tribes by Nina Raine. In the Upstairs Theatre, ensemble member Yasen Peyankov directs Russian Transport by Erika Sheffer. In April 2014, ensemble member Amy Morton directs the world premiere of The Way West by Mona Mansour. And in July 2014, the season concludes with the world premiere of The Qualms by Bruce Norris, directed by Pam MacKinnon.

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!

The critically-acclaimed 50th anniversary Broadway revival of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? will play its final performance today, March 3rd at 3:00 PM. The production, which began performances on Thursday, September 27, 2012 and officially opened on Saturday, October 13, 2012, at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street) will have played 159 performances.

Performances of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's fourth annual Garage Rep began February 15, 2013, featuring Bailiwick Chicago's See What I Wanna See, Buzz22 Chicago's She Kills Monsters and Theatre Seven of Chicago's BlackTop Sky. Under the leadership of Steppenwolf Associate Producer Jacob Padron, these innovative storefront companies perform in rotating repertory for a ten-week run through April 21, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at BLACKTOP SKY below!

Performances of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's fourth annual Garage Rep began February 15, 2013, featuring Bailiwick Chicago's See What I Wanna See, Buzz22 Chicago's She Kills Monsters and Theatre Seven of Chicago's BlackTop Sky. Under the leadership of Steppenwolf Associate Producer Jacob Padron, these innovative storefront companies perform in rotating repertory for a ten-week run through April 21, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at SHE KILLS MONSTERS below!

Performances of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's fourth annual Garage Rep began February 15, 2013, featuring Bailiwick Chicago's See What I Wanna See, Buzz22 Chicago's She Kills Monsters and Theatre Seven of Chicago's BlackTop Sky. Under the leadership of Steppenwolf Associate Producer Jacob Padron, these innovative storefront companies perform in rotating repertory for a ten-week run through April 21, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE below!

Steppenwolf for Young Adults' How Long Will I Cry?: Voices of Youth Violence by Miles Harvey tours to select public library branches as well as the Gary Comer Youth Center the week of March 11 - 16, 2013.