Steppenwolf Theatre Appoints Aaron Carter as Director of New Play Development

Steppenwolf Theatre Company today announces the appointment of Aaron Carter as the theater's new Director of New Play Development effective July 8, 2013. Carter has served as Steppenwolf's literary manager since 2011.

"Aaron has been an exciting colleague in the artistic office for two seasons and we look forward to this opportunity to expand his purview in the cultivation of our writers and ensemble. He will assume greater leadership in the public square engagement with our audiences and be a vital conduit in the conversation between our artists and audiences. He's a wonderful writer and critical thinker and a real asset to Steppenwolf," comments Artistic Director Martha Lavey.

As Director of New Play Development, Aaron Carter will lead Steppenwolf's new play commissioning program and contribute to the strategic thinking that drives the theater's audience engagement initiatives. Through these initiatives, the theater strives to create greater transparency into the creative process for Steppenwolf's audience of life-long learners and critical thinkers. Carter also plans to refine strategies that connect Steppenwolf to writers, and to facilitate a more robust dialogue between ensemble members and working playwrights.

Aaron Carter was recently appointed Director of New Play Development at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, where he is completing his second season. As a dramaturg at Steppenwolf, Aaron has offered research and development support to new plays by Christina Anderson, Lisa D'Amour, Heidi Stillman and others. As a playwright, Aaron's work focuses on race, faith and obscure performance skills. His play Start Fair was originally developed at Next Theatre Company, and was recently workshopped with ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro at Steppenwolf.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is America's longest standing, most distinguished ensemble theater, producing nearly 700 performances and events annually in its three Chicago theater spaces-the 515-seat Downstairs Theatre, the 299-seat Upstairs Theatre and the 80-seat Garage Theatre. Formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, Steppenwolf has grown into an ensemble of 43 actors, writers and directors. Artistic programming at Steppenwolf includes a five-play Subscription Season, a two-play Steppenwolf for Young Adults season and three repertory series: First Look Repertory of New Work, Garage Rep and Next Up. While firmly grounded in the Chicago community, nearly 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including Off-Broadway, Broadway, London, Sydney and Dublin. Steppenwolf has the distinction of being the only theater to receive the National Medal of Arts, in addition to numerous other prestigious honors including an Illinois Arts Legend Award and 12 Tony Awards. Martha Lavey is the Artistic Director and David Hawkanson is the Executive Director. Nora Daley is Chair of Steppenwolf's Board of Trustees. For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre and twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr.

Photo Credit: Joel Moorman

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