Vanessa Stalling to Direct HOOKMAN at Steep Theatre

Steep Theatre is thrilled to announce that Vanessa Stalling will direct the ensemble's spring 2017 production of Lauren Yee's Hookman.

Vanessa Stalling is the Artistic Director of Oracle Productions. In addition to her work at Oracle, Vanessa's Chicago area directing credits include The House Theatre, Stage Left, Red Tape, Actors Gymnasium, and Redmoon Theater. Most recently, Vanessa adapted and directed United Flight 232 from Laurence Gonzales' Flight 232 for The House Theatre, which was nominated for several Jeff Awards, including best production and best director. Vanessa is also known for her work as a core artist of Redmoon, where she enjoyed performing, directing, and serving as Associate Artistic Director. Her Redmoon directing credits including a remount of The Cabinet, which toured Brazil as part of the FILO Festival, Last of My Species, Winter Pageant, Princess Club, Twilight Orchard, and roaming performances for President Obama's White House Halloween Celebrations. She is the current Michael Maggio Directing Fellow at The Goodman Theatre.

With Ms. Stalling on board, Steep's 2016-17 slate is set, with the world premiere of of Alex Lubischer's Bobbie Clearly directed by Josh Sobel (opening next week), Mike Bartlett's Earthquakes in London directed by Jonathan Berry, Hookman, and Cordelia Lynn's Lela & Co. directed by Robin Witt.

Steep's Midwest premiere of Lauren Yee's Hookman will open April 20, 2017. Yee's work has been produced around the country, including Chicago's Victory Gardens and The Goodman. Her plays The Tiger Among Us and King of the Yees were both featured on the 2015 Kilroys list, which showcases un- or under-produced plays by female and trans playwrights. Hookman has previously had a production at Encore Theatre in San Francisco and a reading at Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre in New York.

Steep's 16th Season

The World Premiere of
Bobbie Clearly
By Alex Lubischer
Directed by Josh Sobel
September 29 - November 5, 2016

Nobody from the town of Milton, Nebraska ever gave much thought to Bobbie before the tragedy in the cornfield. Two years later, it's hard for them to think of much else. In the darkly comic Bobbie Clearly, a community opens up about life in the aftermath and making sense of senseless violence.

Earthquakes in London
By Mike Bartlett
Directed by Jonathan Berry
January 26 - March 4, 2017

As global destruction approaches, the lives of a climate scientist and his three estranged daughters come crashing, unexpectedly back together. The wildly epic Earthquakes in London embodies the chaos of today's society, while reminding us that our very surviVal May depend on our connections to our families, to our communities, and to our shared world.

The Midwest Premiere of
Hookman
By Lauren Yee

Directed by Vanessa Stalling
April 20 - May 27, 2017

Who hasn't heard the urban legend about the Hookman? Lexi's mother certainly warned her about him, and now, after a tragic accident, Lexi begins seeing him everywhere. Hookman is a lethally sharp slasher comedy about death, growing up, what it means to be a woman, and the ever-present threat of being murdered by a man with a hook for a hand.

The U.S. Premiere of
Lela & Co.
By Cordelia Lynn
Directed by Robin Witt
July 13 - August 19, 2017

Instinct, tenacity, biting humor, and trust in the future keep Lela alive as her world closes in around her. Based on a true story, Lela & Co. is an eerily funny and enthralling story about the horrifying enterprise of war and a girl who may or may not have eaten some frosting.

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