Casting Announced for Cromer-Directed STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at Writer's Theatre

Writers' Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce casting for Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by David Cromer. The cast includes Natasha Lowe (Blanche), Matt Hawkins (Stanley), Danny McCarthy (Mitch), Jenn Engstrom (Eunice), Loren Lazarine (Steve), Esteban Andres Cruz (Pablo), Stacy Stoltz (Stella), Carolyn E. Nelson (Colored Woman/Matron), Derek Hasenstab (Doctor) and Ryan Hallahan (Young Collector).

The production runs May 4-July 11, 2010, at Writers' Theatre, 325 Tudor Court in Glencoe. Tickets are on sale, beginning Tuesday, March 2, through the Writers' Theatre box office, 376 Park Avenue, Glencoe; 847-242-6000; www.writerstheatre.org.

One of Chicago's foremost directors takes on one of the country's greatest plays. After staging last season's nationally acclaimed production of Picnic, David Cromer returns to Writers' Theatre. Hailed a "genius" by The Wall Street Journal and fresh from his Broadway debut, Cromer directs Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, A Streetcar Named Desire.

Blanche DuBois, an aging southern belle, arrives unexpectedly on the doorstep of her sister Stella and her explosive brother-in-law Stanley. Over the course of one hot and steamy New Orleans summer, Blanche's fragile façade slowly crumbles, wreaking havoc on Stella and Stanley's already turbulent relationship. Embodying the turmoil and drama of a changing nation, A Streetcar Named Desire strips Williams' tortured characters of their illusions, leaving a wake of destruction in their path.

A Streetcar Named Desire, written by Tennessee Williams and directed by David Cromer, will play its first performance on May 4, 2010 and will officially open on May 13, 2010. The production will play its final performance on July 11, 2010.

Schedule: Tuesdays & Wednesdays: 7:30 p.m.;Thursdays & Fridays: 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays: 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; Sundays: 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.;Wednesday Matinees: 2:00 p.m., June 9 and 30 only. There will be no performances on July 4 or 6:00 p.m. performances on June 13 or July 11

The Writers' Theatre is located at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe, IL. Prices for all performances range from $40 - $65. The Box Office is located at 376 Park Avenue, Glencoe, IL. For tickets call 847-242-6000 or www.writerstheatre.org.

About the artists
David Cromer (Director) returns to Writers' Theatre where he directed Picnic, Booth, The Price and Oscar Remembered. Most recently he directed When the Rain Stops Falling at Lincoln Center Theater. Broadway credits: Brighton Beach Memoirs. New York credits: Our Town (Barrow Street Theatre, 2009 Obie and Lortel Awards for Direction), Adding Machine (Minetta Lane Theatre, 2008 Obie and Lortel Awards for Direction) and Orson's Shadow (Barrow Street Theatre). Other Chicago credits include: Come Back, Little Sheba (Shattered Globe); Cider House Rules (Famous Door); Angels in America (Journeymen); The Dazzle, Golden Boy, Orson's Shadow (Steppenwolf). Regional credits include: The Glass Menagerie (Kansas City Repertory); The Farnsworth Invention, SantaLand Diaries, Orson's Shadow (Alley Theatre).

Esteban Andres Cruz (Pablo) has appeared in Hey! Dancin! (Factory Theatre) and Jesus Hopped the A Train (Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actor in a Principal Role, Raven Theatre). He has also appeared at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, The Oak Park Festival Theatre, Piven Theatre, Halcyon Theatre, Apollo Theater and Theatre at the Center. Esteban is co-creator and performer in the late-night smash hit The Game Show Show...& Stuff! at Lakeshore Theater. Esteban has developed and appeared in his one-person show, Stuffed! (Strawdog Theatre, Lakeshore Theatre and Raven Theatre Company). He is a recent graduate from The School at Steppenwolf and IO and is an improviser on several teams in the city.

Jenn Engstrom (Eunice) appeared at A Red Orchid Theatre in The Fastest Clock in the Universe, Kimberly Akimbo, The Hothouse and Eric LaRue. She also appeared in The Great Society (Famous Door), Sky Girls (Northlight); Hot l Baltimore (Mary-Arrchie), The Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage (Defiant) and The Incident and Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been...(Next). In 2001, Jen appeared in Steppenwolf's London production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Ryan Hallahan (Young Collector) is a recent graduate of Illinois State University and has been seen as Clifford in Sideman at The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre.

Derek Hasenstab (Doctor) has performed in Aladdin, Sunday in the Park with George and Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream (Chicago Shakespeare), Oedipus Complex (Goodman), A Home at the End of the World and Cloud Nine (About Face Theatre), Dealer's Choice, Phyro Giants!, Was and Ecstasy (RoadWorks Productions) and The Buddy Holly Story, A Christmas Carol, I Hate Hamlet and The Foreigner (After Dark Award, Drury Lane Oakbrook). Regional credits include The Glass Menagerie (Kansas City Repertory) and Metamorphoses (Mark Taper Forum). He performed the role of Zazu in the Broadway National Tour of The Lion King.

Matt Hawkins (Stanley Kowalski) returns to Writers' Theatre after directing the fight choreography for Rosencrantz And Guildentstern are Dead. Recent directing credits include Cabaret (The Hypocrites), Red Noses (Strawdog Theatre Company) and Hatfield & McCoy (The House Theatre of Chicago). He has worked with The Royal Shakespeare Company, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Court Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Neo-Futurists, Redmoon Theater and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. He is a founding member of The House Theatre of Chicago, an artistic associate and resident director with Strawdog, an artistic associate with 500 Clown and the recipient of two Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards. Upcoming projects include directing American Theatre Company's Silver Project followed by remounting his production of Red Noses with Strawdog. Hawkins is a graduate of the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. He is married to Stacey Stoltz.

Loren Lazerine (Steve) recently appeared Awake and Sing! at Northlight Theatre after living in Los Angeles for 14 years. Chicago credits include the first main stage Cabbie in Famous Door's long running Hellcab at The Organic Theater Company, Ivanhoe Theater, Edinburgh International Festival and an Israel Tour; Julius Caeser (Next Theatre Company), Holy Ghosts (Shattered Globe Theatre), Neil La Bute's Lepers (Cafe Voltaire), Never Come Morning (Prop Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), Glengarry GLen Ross and Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been directed by Anna D. Shapiro (Big Game Theatre). Film credits include Fast And Furious 4, The Big Tease, Asylum, Boogie Nights Hijacking Hollywood, Double Bang, Light It Up and Hellcab. Television credits include Frasier, CSI, Pushing Daisies, Las Vegas, Gilmore Girls, According To Jim, Navy NCIS, Criminal Minds, An American Family on P.B.S, Kitchen Confidential, Girlfriends and Caveman, among many others.

Natasha Lowe (Blanche DuBois) returns to Writers' Theatre after appearing in Picnic as Flo Owens and Sheila in Benefactors. Chicago credits include Angels In America, Parts I and II (Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Ensemble, The Journeymen Theater), Betty's Summer Vacation (RoadWorks Productions), Golden Boy (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), The Boarding House, The Front Page (Next Theatre Company), Pledge of Allegience (American Blues Theater Theater), Meridian (Joseph Jefferson Citation for Best Supporting Actress), 1,001 Afternoons In Chicago (Prop Theatre and Live Bait Theater), Lydie Breeze and Women and Water (Big Game Theatre).

Danny McCarthy (Mitch) makes his Writers' Theatre debut. Chicago credits include Abigail's Party, The Unseen (A Red Orchid Theater), The Pillowman (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), Seranading Louis (RoadWorks Productions) and Take Me Out (About Face Theatre). Film credits include The Express, Derailed, Fred Clause and Alleyball. Television credits include Agent Danny Hale in Prison Break.

Carolyn E. Nelson (Colored Woman & Matron) has been seen in Chicago in The Little Foxes (Shattered Globe Theatre), Katrina: The Girl who Wanted her Name Back (Adventure Stage Theatre), numerous family productions at ETA Creative Arts Foundation and Flyin' West (Thymly Theatre). Regionally, she appeared at Des Moines Playhouse Theatre, Rat Pac Theatre and Rialto Theatre Company. She can be seen in numerous commercials.

Stacy Stoltz (Stella Kowalski) has appeared in Over the Tavern (Noble Fool Theatricals at Pheasant Run Resort), Frankenstein, The Hairy Ape, Our Town, Miss Julie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Henry 5, Blood Wedding, Camille/La Traviata, Balm In Gilead (The Hypocrites), 4.48 Psychosis (The Hypocrites at Steppenwolf Theatre Company), Dave DaVinci Saves the Universe, Hatfield and Mccoy, Hope Springs Infernal and The Rocket Man (The House Theatre of Chicago). Off-Broadway credits include The 4th Graders Present an Unnamed Love Suicide (59E59 Theatres). Stoltz is a company member with The Hypocrites and The House Theatre of Chicago. She is married to Matt Hawkins.

ABOUT WRITERS' THEATRE
Writers' Theatre is a professional company focusing on the Word and the Artist. Remaining true to the intention of the playwright and nurturing the artist stand at the center of the mission. Now in its 18th season, the company both revives classic scripts and cultivates new works and adaptations while invigorating them with fresh energy in the intimacy of its venues. Founded in 1992, Writers' Theatre performed exclusively at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Avenue for the first 12 years. In the fall of 2003, the organization opened a new 108 seat performance venue at 325 Tudor Court. Today, Writers' Theatre continues to produce in both spaces, maintaining an intimate theatrical experience for audiences. Since 2000, the subscriber base has grown almost 250%, from 1,500 to more than 5,200 today. With an operating budget of $3.3 million, Writers' Theatre is supported by a staff of 18 full-time employees and a 31-member Board of Trustees.

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