Jonathan Berry News

The hit comedy series BALLERS and INSECURE will kick off their new seasons back-to-back SUNDAY, AUG. 12 on HBO.

With the original run and four-week extension completely sold out, Steep Theatre Company is adding three more performances of Simon Stephens' Birdland on June 10, 14, and 15. With the ensemble's next production (Penelope Skinner's Linda directed by Robin Witt) right around the corner, June 15 will be the last chance to catch this runaway hit at Steep.

CBS today unveiled its 2018-2019 primetime lineup featuring three new comedies, five new dramas and the return of the critically acclaimed MURPHY BROWN. The new series will join 24 returning hits to build on the success of America's Most Watched Network.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's world-renowned ensemble was joined by more than 675 civic, cultural and business leaders for the 2018 Gala on Saturday, May 12, 2018, raising over $1.3 million for Steppenwolf's artistic, educational and community programming. The major fundraising event, which had record-breaking attendance, was held at a new location not far from the theatre, 1340 N Cherry Avenue, and was designed and produced by Jeffrey Foster for Frost Chicago. Attendees celebrated 42 seasons of groundbreaking ensemble theatre with an evening of festivity emceed by actor Rainn Wilson, well-known for his role as "Dwight Schrute" on NBC's award-winning comedy, The Office and currently starring in The Doppelganger (an international farce) at Steppenwolf. Comedian, actor, director and producer Chris Rock, who starred in the world premiere Broadway production of The Motherf**ker with the Hat directed by Steppenwolf Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro, joined as the guest auctioneer alongside Christie's Robbie Gordy.

Now in rehearsals, Steppenwolf Theatre Company is thrilled to present Guards at the Taj, a stunning tale about the search for beauty in desperate circumstances, written by acclaimed playwright Rajiv Joseph (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo). As previously announced, ensemble member Amy Morton directs this Chicago premiere, featuring the original cast members, Omar Metwally (Humayun) and Arian Moayed (Babur), who were last seen on Steppenwolf's stage together in Homebody/Kabul. Morton directed the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway world premiere, which won the 2016 Obie Award for Best New American Play.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) announces its exciting 2018/19 season: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, the Tony Award-winning play adapted by Simon Stephens based on the book by Mark Haddon, directed by Steppenwolf Artistic Producer Jonathan Berry; and the world premiere of Radical by acclaimed playwright Matthew-Lee Erlbach, inspired by the book White American Youth by Christian Picciolini, directed by SYA Artistic Director Hallie Gordon. SYA's 2018/19 Season explores the question, "When You Feel Lost, How Do You Find Your Way?"

Due to popular demand, Steppenwolf Theatre Company has extended the world premiere comedy, The Doppelganger (an international farce) written by Matthew-Lee Erlbach (Showtime's Masters of Sex, Off-Broadway's Handbook for an American Revolutionary), through June 2 with the original cast.

With the original run completely sold out, Steep Theatre Company is adding sixteen more performances of Simon Stephens' Birdland. Tickets for the extension will go on sale at 3:00pm on Monday, April 16, and they're expected to sell very quickly. Tickets will be available at steeptheatre.com/birdland.

Vietgone by Qui Nguyen is the Vietnamese-American playwright's own creation story-a telling of his parents' 1975 refugee camp romance in a "geek theater" spectacle that's at turns affecting, sage, raucous, and fantastical. A screenwriter for Marvel Studios and founder of Obie Award-winning company Vampire Cowboys, Nguyen's work champions representation and diversity on stage while dripping with pop culture nods, contemporary music, and action-adventure narrative. The production pairs this Studio-commissioned playwright with director and Studio Cabinet member Natsu Onoda Power. Drawing on Vietgone's comic book aesthetics, Studio's Stage 4 is transformed into a garage concert with a live band and original funk-rock-punk-n-roll score, giving audiences a front row seat to this anything-but-typical story of boy meets girl.

When you can have whatever you want, whenever you want it, what do you ask for next? When you've pushed every boundary until there's nothing left to hold you in, how do you find your way back home? Birdland is a sexy, searing exploration of empathy and the impact of unchecked privilege by Olivier and Tony Award winner Simon Stephens.

In conjunction with the world premiere of The Doppelganger (an international farce) by Matthew-Lee Erlbach, Steppenwolf Theatre Company is offering four free events on select Sundays during the run of the show. Each discussion is a fun and casual chance for audience members to engage with experts on topics associated with the production. Space is limited. RSVP through Audience Services at 312.335.1650 or at steppenwolf.org.

When you can have whatever you want, whenever you want it, what do you ask for next? When you've pushed every boundary until there's nothing left to hold you in, how do you find your way back home? Birdland is a sexy, searing exploration of empathy and the impact of unchecked privilege by Olivier and Tony Award winner Simon Stephens.

Today American Theater Company announced that it was shutting its doors after 33 years. Under the direction of late Artistic Director PJ Paparelli, American Theater Company made its name as one of the most groundbreaking and well-regard storefront theaters in Chicago. Among other productions, ATC staged the world premieres of Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer Prize winner Disgraced and Stephen Karam's The Humans. In ATC's most recent era, Artistic Director Will Davis staged innovative pieces with a clear and unique vision. I have many fond memories of seeing productions at ATC, and below are some of my favorites. Farewell, American Theater Company. Chicago will miss you dearly.

Rehearsals kicked off today for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's highly anticipated world premiere comedy, The Doppelganger (an international farce) written by Chicagoland native Matthew-Lee Erlbach (Showtime's Masters of Sex, Off-Broadway's Handbook for an American Revolutionary).

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere production of Guards at the Taj by acclaimed playwright Rajiv Joseph, directed by ensemble member Amy Morton. A stunning tale about the search for beauty in desperate circumstances, the Steppenwolf production will feature the original cast members, Omar Metwally (Humayun) and Arian Moayed (Babur), whom Amy Morton directed in the Off-Broadway world premiere which received rave reviews when it premiered in 2015 and won the 2016 Obie Award for Best New American Play.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro and Executive Director David Schmitz proudly unveiled today the 2018/19 Season.

Jonathan Berry returns this spring to Steep to direct the U.S. premiere of Simon Stephens' Birdland. Stephens, who won the Tony and Olivier Awards for his The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, is Steep's Associate Playwright, and Birdland will be the fifth of his plays to be produced by the Edgewater ensemble. Steep Ensemble Member and Jeff Award-winning director Jonathan Berry recently directed Steppenwolf Theatre's You Got Older and The Crucible. Over the years, he has consistently produced some of Steep's most notable shows, including last year's sweeping epic Earthquakes in London and Laura Wade's Posh, which won the Non-Equity Jeff Award for Best Ensemble, and was nominated for Best Director and Best Production.

Steppenwolf presents Clare Barron's YOU GOT OLDER. Both darkly humorous and deeply touching, YOU GOT OLDER follows a young woman who moves back home to care for her cancer-stricken father, after suffering a few personal crises of her own. YOU GOT OLDER was scheduled to open February 5th, but was delayed two days due to the passing of long-time ensemble member John Mahoney. YOU GOT OLDER will run through March 11th.

The reviews are in for Steppenwolf's production of YOU GOT OLDER! After cancelling its Monday opening night due to the passing of long-time ensemble member John Mahoney, YOU GOT OLDER opened this past Wednesday at Steppenwolf, where it will continue to run through March 11th.

When it rains it pours! This saying applies to our lives when things are either going for or against us. For Mae, the central character in Clare Barron's YOU GOT OLDER now in its Chicago premiere at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, life changes have poured on her. And these changes are certainly not for the better. Or are they?