Steppenwolf Presents A PARALLELOGRAM 7/1-8/29

Steppenwolf Theatre Company concludes its 2009-2010 season, an exploration of the theme of belief, with A Parallelogram a new play by Bruce Norris, directed by ensemble member Anne D. Shapiro. A Parallelogram features ensemble members Kate Arrington and Tom Irwin with Tim Bickel and Marylouise Burke. A Parallelogram plays July 1 - August 29, 2010 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. The press performances are Saturday, July 10 at 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday, July 13 at 7:30 p.m.

If you knew your fate-would you accept it? Or try to change it? Bee is a young woman who believes she has an uncanny ability to see the future, and maybe even alter it. From the award-winning team that brought you The Unmentionables and The Pain and the Itch comes this dark, funny world premiere about a woman bent on reinventing her own destiny-and possibly the world.

Bruce Norris has an ongoing collaboration with Steppenwolf where his plays The Unmentionables, The Pain and the Itch, We All Went Down to Amsterdam, The Infidel and Purple Heart (also in Galway, Ireland) were commissioned and produced. Anna D. Shapiro won a 2008 Tony® Award for her direction of Steppenwolf's critically-acclaimed production of August: Osage County. Other Steppenwolf directing credits include the 2008-2009 season production of Up as well as The Crucible, Three Days of Rain, Drawer Boy, I Never Sang for My Father and Man from Nebraska. She is also head of the Graduate Directing Program at Northwestern University.

The design team for A Parallelogram includes: Todd Rosenthal (sets), Mara Blumenfeld (costumes), James F. Ingalls (lights), Rob Milburn & Michael Bodeen (sound). Laura D. Glenn is the Stage Manager and Christine D. Freeburg is the Assistant Stage Manager.

Title: A Parallelogram
Playwright: Bruce Norris
Director: ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro
Featuring: ensemble members Kate Arrington (Bee) and Tom Irwin (Jay) with Tim Bickel (JJ) and Marylouise Burke (Bee 2, 3, 4).
Location: Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.

Dates: Previews: July 1 - 10, 2010
Press performances: Saturday, July 10 at 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday, July 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Opening: Sunday, July 11 at 7:00 p.m.
Regular Run: July 13, 2010 - August 29, 2010

Curtain Times: Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30 p.m.
(Sunday evening performances through August 15 only)
Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday matinees on August 11, 18 & 25 at 2:00 p.m.
Note: there are no 7:30 p.m. performances on Sunday, July 4 and Tuesday, July 6; there is no 3:00 p.m. performance on Sunday, July 4.

Ticket prices: Previews: $20-$48
Regular Run: $20-$70
Twenty $20 tickets are available at Audience Services beginning at 11:00 a.m. on the day of each performance (1:00 p.m. for Sunday performances). Half-price rush tickets are available one hour before each show. Student discounts available.

Audience Services: 1650 N. Halsted St., 312-335-1650
Online ticketing available at www.steppenwolf.org

Explore: the World of A Parallelogram - Saturday, August 14 (time and location TBD). A free event in a new series celebrating the themes and ideas in our shows. Explore involves an innovative artistic presentation reflecting show themes, participation from a Chicago community partner and a relaxed atmosphere with food, drink and live music.

A Parallelogram Wine Tasting Night: Enjoy wine and food pairings from Vinci Restaurant with live musical entertainment in our balcony lobby: Wednesday, July 21 at 6:00 p.m. Tasting and performance cost $60 per person. For tickets and additional information, contact Audience Services.

The A Parallelogram MaTEENée performance for high school students will be held on Saturday, July 17 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets cost $15 and include: a ticket to the performance, food and a post-show discussion with actors featured in the production - hosted by Steppenwolf's Young Adults Council (use source code: 6679).

Accessible Performances:
Sign language interpreted performance: Wednesday, July 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Audio described performance: Thursday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Free post-show discussions, sponsored by AT&T, are offered after every performance.

Corporate support for A Parallelogram is provided by PEAK6 Investments LLP.

Additional support for A Parallelogram is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

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.

Steppenwolf's New Plays Initiative is generously sponsored by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, the Zell Family Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and members of the Directors Circle.

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 and textual adaptation. For additional information, visit www.steppenwolf.org, www.facebook.com/SteppenwolfTheatre and www.twitter.com/SteppenwolfThtr.

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