Steppenwolf Presents THE HOT L BALTIMORE, Opens 3/24/2011

Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its 2010-2011 season with The Hot L Baltimore by Lanford Wilson, directed by ensemble member Tina Landau. The production features ensemble members Alana Arenas, Kate Arrington, K. Todd Freeman, James Vincent Meredith, Yasen Peyankov and Molly Regan with Kimberly Hébert Gregory, Sean Allan Krill, TaRon Patton, Namir Smallwood, Samuel Taylor, Allison Torem and Jacqueline Williams. The Hot L Baltimore plays March 24 - May 29, 2011 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. The press performances are Saturday, April 2 at 3 pm and Tuesday, April 5 at 7:30 pm.

The Hotel Baltimore used to be the swankiest place in town-now it has a date with the wrecking ball. Eviction notices just went out to its residents, who live on the fringes of society and call the seedy hotel home. This acclaimed play from the author of Balm in Gilead is filled with everyday humanity-unexpectedly intimate and moving. Helmed by visionary director Tina Landau, The Hot L Baltimore reveals the private lives of an unconventional community about to be turned inside out.

Steppenwolf's defining 1980 production of Lanford Wilson's Balm in Gilead later transferred Off-Broadway. Other plays by the Pulitzer Prize winner seen at Steppenwolf include The Fifth of July, Home Free, his translation of Three Sisters (1985) and Burn This. Tina Landau's Steppenwolf directing credits include The Brother/Sister Plays, Superior Donuts by ensemble member Tracy Letts (also on Broadway), The Tempest, The Diary of Anne Frank, Cherry Orchard, The Time of Your Life, The Berlin Circle and her own play, Space.

Steppenwolf's 2010-2011 season explores the theme of public/private self-five stories that examine how the public and private aspects of our lives unfold in an increasingly complex world.

The production team for The Hot L Baltimore includes: James Schuette (sets), Ana Kuzmanic (costumes), Scott Zielinski (lights) and Rob Milburn & Michael Bodeen (sound and original composition). Deb Styer is the Stage Manager and Rose Marie Packer is the Assistant Stage Manager.

Title: The Hot L Baltimore
Playwright: Lanford Wilson
Director: Ensemble member Tina Landau
Featuring: Ensemble members Alana Arenas (Jackie), Kate Arrington (Suzy), K. Todd Freeman (Bill Lewis), James Vincent Meredith (Mr. Katz), Yasen Peyankov (Mr. Morse) and Molly Regan (Millie) with Kimberly Hébert Gregory (April Green), Sean Allan Krill (The Man), TaRon Patton (Mrs. Oxenham), Namir Smallwood (Jamie), Samuel Taylor (Paul Granger III), Allison Torem (The Girl) and Jacqueline Williams (Mrs. Bellotti).
Location: Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.

Dates: Previews: March 24 - April 2, 2011
Press performances: Saturday, April 2 at 3 pm and Tuesday, April 5 at 7:30 pm
Opening: Sunday, April 3 at 6 pm
Regular Run: April 5- May 29, 2011

Curtain Times: Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30 pm
(Sunday evening performances through May 8 only)
Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 pm
Wednesday matinees on May 11, 18 & 25 at 2 pm
Note: There is no 7:30 pm performance on Tuesday, March 29; there is no 3 pm performance on Sunday, April 3; the evening performance on Sunday April 3 begins at 6 pm; there is no 3 pm or 7:30 pm performance on Saturday, May 7.

Ticket prices: Previews: $20-$50
Regular Run: $20-$73
20 for $20: Twenty $20 tickets are available at Audience Services beginning at 11 am on the day of each performance (1 pm for Sunday performances).
Rush Tickets: Half-price rush tickets are available one hour before each show. Student Discounts: $15 student tickets are available online using promo code: "HOTEL15" (Limit 2 tickets. Must present a valid student ID for each ticket). For additional student discounts, visit www.steppenwolf.org/students.

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

Accessible Performances:
Sign language-interpreted performance: Sunday, May 1 at 7:30 pm
Audio described performance: Thursday, April 21 at 7:30 pm
Audio described performance with touch tour: Sunday, May 29: 1:30 pm touch tour/3 pm curtain

Wine Tasting
Wednesday, April 13 at 6 pm in the Balcony Lobby.
Join us for hilarious, true stories, inspired by The Hot L Baltimore from 2nd Story storytellers with DJ White Russian, delicious wine, food and a ticket to the performance. Tickets cost $55 and are available by contacting Audience Services at (312) 335-1650 (use code 7452).

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

Corporate support for The Hot L Baltimore is provided by American Express and PEAK6 Investments.

Steppenwolf is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. Street and lot parking are available. Assistive listening devices and large print programs are available for every performance.

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 43 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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