Erika Sheffer News

Rehearsals are underway for the Steppenwolf-commissioned world premiere production of Erika Sheffer's The Fundamentals, directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov, who also directed Sheffer's Russian Transport at Steppenwolf in 2014. The cast features ensemble member Alana Arenas as Millie, a Manhattan hotel maid with higher aspirations, alongside ensemble members Caroline Neff and Alan Wilder with Audrey Francis and Armando Riesco. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Rehearsals are underway for the Steppenwolf-commissioned world premiere production of Erika Sheffer's The Fundamentals, directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov, who also directed Sheffer's Russian Transport at Steppenwolf in 2014.

Charlotte Hope (Myranda in Game of Thrones, Allied, A United Kingdom), Jack Fortune (King Lear, Route Irish, Sparkling Cyanide), Barnaby Kay (A Streetcar Named Desire, The Real Thing, Wuthering Heights) and Gary Shelford (Twelfth Night, Angry Young Man) join the previously announced multi award-winning, international star Ed Harris (forthcoming HBO series from J.J. Abrams & Jonathan Nolan; Westworld, Pollock, The Hours and The Truman Show), Golden Globe winner Amy Madigan (Twice in a Lifetime, Roe vs. Wade), and Jeremy Irvine (War Horse, The Railway Man, Now is Good) to complete the cast in Sam Shepard's Pulitzer & Obie prize winning play, Buried Child, following a critically acclaimed New York run earlier this year.

One of the finest actors of his generation, Jeremy Irvine (Steven Spielberg's War Horse, The Railway Man, Now is Good and forthcoming films Fallen, Billionaire Boys Club, and This Beautiful Fantastic) will make his West End debut in Sam Shepard's Pulitzer & Obie prize winning play, Buried Child.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announces complete casting for two upcoming Chicago premiere productions: Lucas Hnath's The Christians directed by ensemble member K. Todd Freeman (December 1, 2016 - January 29, 2017) in the Downstairs Theatre; and Straight White Men written and directed by Young Jean Lee (February 2, 2016 - March 19, 2017) in the Upstairs Theatre.

On Monday, September 26, 2016 at 7:30pm, Works & Process at the Guggenheim presents a discussion with the creators and excerpts of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's The Fundamentals by Erika Sheffer prior to the play's world premiere on November 10.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, is pleased to announce the recipients of the first round of the 2016 Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards. The awards, totaling $580,000, allow 15 productions extra time in the development and rehearsal of new plays with the entire creative team, helping to extend the life of the play after its first run. Two more rounds of recipients will be announced later this year.

The Fall of 2016 will see Chicago bursting with new works and adaptations. Long regarded as the leader in the U.S. for producing new work, Chicago companies will stage a record number of new plays making their world premieres in Chicago. More than 250 companies of the Chicago theater community typically produce more than 100 world premieres each season.  

Works & Process at the Guggenheim is pleased to announce its fall 2016 season.

Works & Process at the Guggenheim is pleased to announce its fall 2016 season. Since 1984 the performing-arts series has championed new works and offered audiences unprecedented access to leading creators and performers. Each intimate program blends performance with stimulating conversation with the creators, and takes place in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum's Frank Lloyd Wright-designed, 285-seat Peter B. Lewis Theater. Described by the New York Times as 'an exceptional opportunity to understand something of the creative process,' Works & Process is produced by founder Mary Sharp Cronson. A season preview video is available and further details can be found at worksandprocess.org.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced today the complete cast for Erika Sheffer's The Fundamentals, a smart and searing look at America's corporate culture through the story of a Manhattan hotel maid with higher aspirations. Directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov, the cast features ensemble members Alana Arenas (Millie), Caroline Neff (Stellan) and Alan Wilder (Abe) with Audrey Francis(Eliza) and Armando Riesco (Lorenzo). Peyankov and Sheffer last collaborated on Steppenwolf's 2014 Chicago premiere of Russian Transport, which also featured ensemble member Alan Wilder. Previews begin November 10, 2016 and the show runs through December 23, 2016 in Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N Halsted.Single tickets ($20 - $89) go on sale Friday, August 5 at 11am. 2016/17 season subscriptions and memberships are currently on sale through Audience Services at 312-335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced today the complete cast for Erika Sheffer's The Fundamentals, a smart and searing look at America's corporate culture through the story of a Manhattan hotel maid with higher aspirations.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere of BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, a rowdy dark comedy written by 2015 Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Adly Guirgis and directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov.

Last night, Jesse Eisenberg's THE SPOILS recently had its press night at Trafalgar Studios. His third play, The Spoils originally ran Off-Broadway in 2015 at The Pershing Square Signature Center. The London production stars Eisenberg, Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones), Katie Brayben(Beautiful - The Carole King Musical), Annapurna Sriram (Billions) and Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory), and plays until August 13. It's directed by The New Group's Scott Elliott. To book tickets, call 0844 871 7632 or visit atgtickets.com

Last night, Jesse Eisenberg's THE SPOILS had its press night at Trafalgar Studios. His third play, The Spoils originally ran Off-Broadway in 2015 at The Pershing Square Signature Center. The London production stars Eisenberg, Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones), Katie Brayben (Beautiful - The Carole King Musical), Annapurna Sriram (Billions) and Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory), and plays until August 13. It's directed by The New Group's Scott Elliott. To book tickets: 0844 871 7632, atgtickets.com

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is pleased to announce the final two directors in the 2016/17 Subscription Season-Dexter Bullard will direct the world premiere production of ensemble member Tracy Letts's Linda Vista and Hallie Gordon will direct the Chicago premiere of Taylor Mac's Hir.

? Steppenwolf Theatre Company will to welcome Sandra Marquez and Caroline Neff to its world-renowned ensemble. Both have performed in multiple shows with the company and can currently be seen on Steppenwolf's stages in Mary Page Marlowe and The Flick respectively. Marquez and Neff are the first two members added under Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro.

The New Group has announced additional guests for post-show talkbacks at The Sensuality Party, with playwrights Thomas Bradshaw (Burning, Intimacy) and Erika Sheffer (Russian Transport) joining in the conversation at Brooklyn College following the 7:00pm performances on May 2 and May 3, respectively, and Wallace Shawn (Aunt Dan and Lemon, The Fever, Marie and Bruce) joining at LaGuardia Community College following the 2:30pm performance on May 11.

Performances begin tonight for The Sensuality Party, a new play by Justin Kuritzkes, presented by The New Group as part of the company's 2015-2016 season. This New York premiere, directed by Danya Taymor, features Catherine Combs, Jeff Cuttler, Katherine Folk-Sullivan, Jake Horowitz, Layla Khoshnoudi and Rowan Vickers.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced today the complete cast for the Chicago premiere of BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, a rowdy dark comedy written by 2015 Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Adly Guirgis and directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov. The cast features London-born actor Eamonn Walker as ex-cop Pops.