Photo Flash: Steppenwolf's SLOWGIRL, Now Playing Through 8/25

This summer, Steppenwolf ensemble member-and former artistic director-Randall Arney returns to Chicago to stage Greg Pierce's hit play, Slowgirl, which premiered at Lincoln Center Theater in 2012. Arney reunites with fellow ensemble memberWilliam Petersen in the role of Sterling (the two first appeared on stage together in Steppenwolf's 1980 production of Balm in Gilead); the two-hander also includes Rae Gray (The Book Thief) as Becky. A playwright with "impressive writing chops" who "builds suspense, releases tension through laughs and grabs your attention with life-or-death stakes" (NY1), Pierce's plays later travels to Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, where Arney currently serves as artistic director, as part of the 2013/14 season. Slowgirl began 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 in Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre. Tickets ($20 - $78) are on sale now through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org. Check out a first look below!

In the wake of a harrowing accident at a house party in Massachusetts, a teenager flees to her uncle's isolated retreat in the Costa Rican jungle to await, or avoid, the repercussions. As the reclusive Sterling (Petersen) and his impulsive niece, Becky (Gray), get reacquainted over the course of a week, startling details about their pasts slowly unfold. Performed in the newly configured intimate Upstairs Theatre,Slowgirl is a compelling story about owning your past-and getting on with your life.

The production team for Slowgirl includes: Takeshi Kata (scenic design), Janice Pytel (costume design), Daniel Ionazzi (lighting design) andRichard Woodbury (sound design and original music). Additional credits include: Erica Daniels (casting), Laura D. Glenn (stage manager) and Brianna Perry (production assistant).

Tickets to Slowgirl ($20 - $78) are currently on sale through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org. 20 for $20: twenty $20 tickets are available through Audience Services beginning at 11am on the day of each performance (1pm for Sundayperformances). Rush Tickets: half-price rush tickets are available one hour before each show. Student Discounts: a limited number of $15 student tickets are available online using promo code "SLOWGIRL15". Limit 2 tickets per student; must present a valid student ID for each ticket. For additional student discounts, visit steppenwolf.org/students. Group Tickets: all groups of 10 or more receive a discounted rate for any performance throughout the season. For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org/groups.

Photos by Michael Brosilow