David Hawkanson News

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's world-renowned ensemble will join more than 600 members of Chicago's corporate, civic and cultural communities for Gala 2014 tonight, May 3, 2014.

The second annual Arts Alliance Illinois 'Voices of a Creative State' benefit luncheon features MacArthur Fellow and American playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney as the keynote speaker today, June 2, 2014 at the Palmer House Hilton Chicago (17 E. Monroe). Celebrating the powerful role that the arts can and should play in the civic life of Illinois, the benefit will also honor long-time arts supporters Richard and Susan Kiphart with the Citizen Advocate Award in recognition of their vision and civic leadership in providing heightened visibility to the value of the arts.

The Steppenwolf Theatre Company Ensemble has announced its newest member, playwright Bruce Norris. Among his many accomplishments, Norris is the author of The Qualms, playing July 3 - August 31 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre. Since 2000, Steppenwolf has produced seven of Norris's plays, including Clybourne Park and the world premieres of A Parallelogram, The Unmentionables, The Pain and the Itch, We All Went Down to Amsterdam, Purple Heart and The Infidel.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is now accepting applications for Garage Rep 2015, which presents the work of three of Chicago's most innovative emerging theater companies in rotating repertory under Steppenwolf's banner. Chicago theater companies with a track record of production excellence and inventive approaches to attracting multigenerational audiences are encouraged to apply. The sixth annual Garage Rep is presented in Steppenwolf's Garage Theatre, March - April 2015 (specific dates to be announced at a later date).

Casting is nearly complete for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's world-premiere production of The Way West by Mona Mansour. Ensemble member Amy Morton directs a cast of six featuring ensemble member Martha Lavey with Ira Amyx, Caroline Neff, Deirdre O'Connell, Zoe Perry and Gabe Ruiz. This wryly funny play-with music-about the contemporary quirks of our American spirit is the recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. The Way West begins previews tonight, April 3, 2014 (opening night is April 13; press performances are April 12 at 3pm and April 15 at 7:30pm) and runs through June 8, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St).

The second annual Arts Alliance Illinois 'Voices of a Creative State' benefit luncheon features MacArthur Fellow and American playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney as the keynote speaker on Monday, June 2, 2014 at the Palmer House Hilton Chicago (17 E. Monroe). Celebrating the powerful role that the arts can and should play in the civic life of Illinois, the benefit will also honor long-time arts supporters Richard and Susan Kiphart with the Citizen Advocate Award in recognition of their vision and civic leadership in providing heightened visibility to the value of the arts.

Hundreds of Chicago's young arts supporters gather for a high-energy evening of music, dancing, cocktails, impressive local cuisine and auction at Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council's 2014 Red or White Ball tonight, March 28, 2014 at 9pm, with the highly anticipated VIP Reception beginning at 7:30pm.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company has announced the line-up for Late Night @ Garage Rep, a series of cross-genre performances Today nights during Garage Rep 2014, starting tonight, March 6. The line-up includes a performance by Salonathon; the play with music, Duo: 1 Is 1, 2 Is Math; Kevin Coval and Young Chicago Authors; James Anthony Zoccoli's Wiggerlover [whiteboy+blackdad=greyareas]; Ian Belknap's one-man Bring Me The Head Of James Franco, That I May Prepare a Savory Goulash In The Narrow And Misshapen Pot Of His Skull; The Gift Theatre's improv group, Natural Gas; and Chicago Dance Crash's Follow The Reader.

Hundreds of Chicago's young arts supporters gather for a high-energy evening of music, dancing, cocktails, impressive local cuisine and auction at Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council's 2014 Red or White Ball on Friday, March 28, 2014 at 9pm, with the highly anticipated VIP Reception beginning at 7:30pm. The signature event for the city's most active young professionals will be hosted at Chicago's sleek, contemporary Venue One (1044 W Randolph St). Proceeds from the Red or White Ball benefit Steppenwolf for Young Adults, the theater's nationally recognized arts education program, which annually impacts more than 15,000 students, teachers and families. This year's event takes it to the next level, in line with the Steppenwolf for Young Adults' production, Leveling Up.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents Garage Rep 2014, featuring The New Colony's reWILDing Genius, Prologue Theatre Company's Saturday Night/Sunday Morning and Walkabout Theater Company's The Wild.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's world-renowned ensemble will join more than 600 members of Chicago's corporate, civic and cultural communities for Gala 2014 on Saturday, May 3, 2014. This year, Steppenwolf's premier fundraising event takes place entirely on the theater's North Halsted campus, offering guests the unique opportunity to connect with Steppenwolf artists in their artistic home while enjoying theatrical entertainment, cocktails, a gourmet dinner, music and dancing with Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band, the opportunity to bid on once-in-a-lifetime auction items-and much more! Following cocktails and a special performance in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre, guests will make their way to a theatrically-designed tent created by Event Creative.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents an evening with 16-time Grammy Award-winner Sting on behalf of his forthcoming musical, The Last Ship, on February 24, 2014 at 7:30pm. For one night only, this benefit event features Sting in conversation with musician, BAFTA nominee and The Last Ship cast member, Jimmy Nail. The pair will also perform songs from the new musical, joined by Emmy Award-nominee Rob Mathes on piano. Funds raised at the event support Steppenwolf's Artistic Development Fund, a special fund created by the theater to provide enhanced resources for large scale productions initiated by our artists and to mount new plays. A limited number of tickets ($250) go on sale to the public February 5 at 11am through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St) and at 312-335-1650.

Casting is nearly complete for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's world-premiere production of The Way West by Mona Mansour. Ensemble member Amy Morton directs a cast of six featuring ensemble member Martha Lavey with Ira Amyx, Caroline Neff, Deirdre O'Connell, Zoe Perry and Gabe Ruiz. This wryly funny play-with music-about the contemporary quirks of our American spirit is the recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. The Way West begins previews April 3, 2014 (opening night is April 13; press performances are April 12 at 3pm and April 15 at 7:30pm) and runs through June 8, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St).

Steppenwolf Theatre Company has announced the line-up for Late Night @ Garage Rep, a series of cross-genre performances Thursday nights during Garage Rep 2014, starting March 6. The line-up includes a performance by Salonathon; the play with music, Duo: 1 Is 1, 2 Is Math; Kevin Coval and Young Chicago Authors; James Anthony Zoccoli's Wiggerlover [whiteboy+blackdad=greyareas]; Ian Belknap's one-man Bring Me The Head Of James Franco, That I May Prepare a Savory Goulash In The Narrow And Misshapen Pot Of His Skull; The Gift Theatre's improv group, Natural Gas; and Chicago Dance Crash's Follow The Reader.

The League of Chicago Theatres proudly announces the election of the Executive Committee Members and the appointment of four new members to The Board of Directors. The Executive Committee includes Board Chair Kate Lipuma, Executive Director, Writers Theatre; Vice Chair Rachel Kraft, Executive Director, Lookingglass Theatre Company; Treasurer Heather Schmucker, Associate Producer, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre; and Secretary Dan McArdle, Managing Director, The Neo-Futurists. Elected by members of the League, newly-elected Board Members include Brittany Barnes, Managing Director, Pavement Group; Peter Handler, Program Director, Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; Bill Melamed, Chief Marketing and Development Officer, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago; and Regina Taylor, Artistic Collective, Goodman Theatre.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company has announced the casting and creative teams for Garage Rep 2014, featuring The New Colony's reWILDing Genius, Prologue Theatre Company's Saturday Night/Sunday Morning and Walkabout Theater Company's The Wild.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company and ensemble member Tracy Letts, Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning playwright of August: Osage County, hosts Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale and Julianne Nicholson as the guests of honor at the fifth annual Steppenwolf Salutes Women in the Arts fundraising luncheon today, December 9, 2013 at 12 noon at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago (120 E Delaware Pl).

Casting is complete for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Chicago-premiere production of Tribes by Nina Raine. Ensemble member Austin Pendleton directs a cast featuring ensemble members Alana Arenas, Francis Guinan and Molly Regan with Steve Haggard, Russell Harvard and Helen Sadler. The American premiere of Tribes was Off-Broadway at Barrow Street Theater in 2012, and also featured Harvard, alongside ensemble member Jeff Perry; Harvard was recently featured in the Mark Taper Forum production as well.