Photo Flash: First Look at Steppenwolf's THE BURIALS

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) begins its 2016/17 season with The Burials, a world premiere by acclaimed playwright Caitlin Parrish, directed by Erica Weiss. Inspired by the enduring Greek tragedy, Antigone, the production explores the aftermath of a mass shooting and how one family and one community respond to the tragedy in unique ways. SYA curates numerous workshops, residencies and post-show events to engage both students and adults in the conversation. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look below!

Previews began October 5, and public performances are October 8 (3pm and 7:30pm), October 14 (7:30pm), October 15 (3pm), and October 22 (3pm and 7:30pm). School performances are Tuesday through Friday at 10am and are reserved for school groups only. The press performance is Saturday, October 8 at 3pm. A study guide is available online here. Tickets to public performances ($20; $15 with student I.D.) are available through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org.

Sophie is everything an upstanding young millennial should be: engaged, devoted to her family, and a likely valedictorian. But her life is shattered when her brother goes on a high school shooting rampage. Thrust into the national spotlight, Sophie finds herself torn between defying the narrative being woven about her brother in the media, and stopping the father she loves from using the rampage for his own political ends. Inspired by Antigone, The Burials is a modern tale of civic responsibility and the gun epidemic in America.

The nine-person cast includes Aurora Adachi-Winter (Brianna), Stephanie Andrea Barron (Janette), Joel Boyd (Jayden), Olivia Cygan (Sophie), Matt Farabee (Ben Martin), Coburn Goss (Ryan Martin), Ty Olwin (Greg), Becca Savoy (Chloe) and Kristina Valada-Viars (Zoe/Mrs. Souder).

The Burials production team includes Courtney O'Neill (scenic design), Alarie Hammock (costume design), J.R. Lederle (lighting design), Matt Chapman (sound design), Joseph Burke (projection design) andRachel Flesher (fight choreographer). Additional credits include Tess Golden (stage manager) and JC Clementz and Tam Dickson (casting) and Hallie Gordon (artistic producer).

Photo Credit: Michael Brosilow

Ty Olwin (Greg) and Olivia Cygan (Sophie)

Kristina Valada-Viars (Mrs.Souder) and Olivia Cygan (Sophie)

Coburn Goss( Ryan Martin), Kristina Valada-Viars (Zoe), Olivia Cygan (Sophie) and Becca Savoy (Chloe)

Olivia Cygan (Sophie Martin) and Coburn Goss( Ryan Martin)

Becca Savoy (Chloe Martin), Coburn Goss (Ryan Martin) and Olivia Cygan (Sophie Martin)

Stephanie Andrea Barron (Janette), Olivia Cygan (Sophie Martin), Joel Boyd (Jayden), Becca Savoy (Chloe) and Joel Boyd (Jayden)

Becca Savoy (Chloe), Joel Boyd (Jayden), Stephanie Andrea Barron (Janette) and Olivia Cygan (Sophie)

Olivia Cygan (Sophie Martin), Coburn Goss (Ryan Martin) and Becca Savoy (Chloe Martin)

Olivi Caygan (Sophie) and Becca Savoy (Chloe)