Steppenwolf For Young Adults Launches 2009-10 Season With THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET 10/13-11/1

Steppenwolf for Young Adults launches its 2009-2010 season with Mango Street by Tanya Saracho, based on the novel The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros and directed by Hallie Gordon. The production, featuring Belinda Cervantes, Gina Cornejo, Sandra Delgado, Liza Fernandez, Ricardo Gutierrez, Christina Nieves, Tony Sancho and Mari Stratton runs October 13 - November 1, 2009 in the Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. Weekday matinees (Tuesdays - Fridays) are reserved for school groups, with all additional performances available to the public.

Based on the novel The House on Mango Street by celebrated Chicago writer Sandra Cisneros, Mango Street is the touching and humorous story of a young girl growing up in one of Chicago's Latino neighborhoods. Esperanza Cordero dreams of a new life far away from her tiny home on rundown Mango Street in this classic coming-of-age story about those defining experiences that shape our beliefs and help us discover who we are.

The novel The House on Mango Street was featured as the Spring 2009 selection for the Chicago Public Library's One Book, One Chicago initiative. Steppenwolf's partnership with the Chicago Public Library encourages Chicagoans not only to read the admired work by Chicago writer Sandra Cisneros, but also to enjoy it on stage in a world premiere adaptation.

Tanya Saracho is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Teatro Luna, Chicago's All-Latina Theater Ensemble and a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists and Teatro Vista. Her plays include Our Lady of the Underpass, Jarred: A Hoodoo Comedy and Kita y Fernanda. Born and raised in Chicago, Sandra Cisneros is the award-winning author of numerous works including Bad Boys, My Wicked Wicked Ways, Loose Women, Women Hollering Creek and Other Stories, Hairs/Pelitos, Caramelo and

Vintage Cisneros. This year, Cisneros is publishing a special 25th anniversary edition of The House on Mango Street.

The Mango Street design team includes: Collette Pollard (sets), Christine Pascual (costumes), J.R. Lederle (lights), Tamara Roberts (original music composition) and Victoria Delorio (sound). Chris Freeburg is the stage manager.

Featuring: Belinda Cervantes (Lucy, Sally), Gina Cornejo (Nenny, Avenue Boy), Sandra Delgado (Esperanza), Liza Fernandez (Alicia, Cathy, Rafaela), Ricardo Gutierrez (Papa, Uncle Nacho, Mr. Benny, Alicia's Father), Christina Nieves (Rachel, Marin), Tony Sancho (Tito, Carlos, Bum, Marin's Boyfriend, Man, Heckler), and Mari Stratton (Mama, Woman with Tiny Feet, Big Woman, Mamacita).

Location: Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted

Dates: October 13 - November 1, 2009

Public Performances: Fridays at 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays at 3:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Sundays at 3:00 p.m.

Weekday matinee performances are available for school groups only (Tuesdays- Fridays at 10 a.m.)

Ticket Price: $20 ($15 student tickets available via phone/box office)

Audience Services: 1650 N. Halsted, (312) 335-1650

Online ticketing available at www.steppenwolf.org

For information on Steppenwolf for Young Adult weekday school performances, contact the SYA Education Associate at (312) 654-5639.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults' unique approach combines play production with educational components to enhance arts education for young audiences, as well as their teachers and families. SYA creates two full-scale professional productions each season specifically for teens. Working closely with the Chicago Public and metropolitan area schools and other community partners, SYA annually ensures access to the theater for more than 15,000 participants from Chicago's diverse communities. The initiative also includes post-show discussions with artists; classroom residencies led by Steppenwolf-trained teaching artists in more than 30 classrooms in 14 public high schools; professional development workshops for educators; and the Young Adult Council, an innovative year-round after school initiative that uniquely engages high school students in all areas of the theater's operations.

Corporate support for Mango Street is provided by American Express.

Target is the Sponsor of the Target 2-for-1 Sunday Matinees.

Mango Street was developed as part of Steppenwolf's New Plays Initiative. Steppenwolf is recognized as a national leader in the development and production of new work for the American canon. Through this initiative, The company maintains ongoing relationships with writers of international prominence and rigorously discovers and supports the work of early and mid-career playwrights.

Steppenwolf is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. Street and lot parking are available. Assistive listening devices are available for every performance in the Upstairs or Downstairs Theatres.

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company's mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon. The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting, filmmaking and textual adaptation. For additional information, please visit www.steppenwolf.org.

Photo: Sandra Delgado, Belinda Cervantes and Christina Nieves.

Photo by Saverio Truglia.