Martha Lavey News

'Conversations with Extraordinary People' is a regular program series presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and sponsored by The Whitehall Hotel and Fornetto Mei Restaurant. Martha Lavey is a Steppenwolf ensemble member and has been the company's Artistic Director since 1995. Join her at Maxim's: The Nancy Goldberg International Center, 24 E. Goethe Street Wednesday, September 24, 6 pm reception, 6:30 pm conversation $25

The popular series THEATER TALK returns the first week in October for a new season of lively and entertaining interviews relating to the world of the stage and particularly the 2008-09 theater season in New York. Viewers may see it on public television (see list at end of release) or online at www.cuny.tv/series/theatertalk.

Tony Kushner has been named the first recipient of the 'Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award,' it was officially announced today at a press conference in New York City. The award, which was established earlier this year by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, will be presented at a ceremony on Tuesday, October 21, at 620 Loft & Garden at Rockefeller Center. The honor comes with a cash prize of $200,000, making this by far the largest award ever created to honor and encourage artistic achievement in the American theater.

Steppenwolf Traffic presents Dream Chicago, a collection of short stories and songs exploring the 'Chicago Dream.'

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is pleased to announce casting for the London engagement of its Pulitzer and Tony Award®-winning American play August: Osage County by ensemble member Tracy Letts (Tony® Award - Best Play), directed by ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro (Tony® Award - Best Director), playing an eight-week engagement at the National Theatre (Lyttelton Theatre) November 21, 2008 - January 21, 2009.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company has announced casting for the London engagement of its Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning American play August: Osage County by ensemble member Tracy Letts (Tony Award - Best Play), directed by ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro (Tony Award - Best Director), playing an eight-week engagement at the National Theatre (Lyttelton Theatre) November 21, 2008 - January 21, 2009.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is proud to announce its Pulitzer and Tony Award®-winning American play August: Osage County by ensemble member Tracy Letts, directed by ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro, will play an eight-week engagement at London's National Theatre (Lyttelton Theatre) November 21, 2008 - January 21, 2009. For ticket information and performance times, visit www.nationaltheatre.org.uk. Casting will be announced shortly.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company has launched a free, bi-weekly podcast featuring unique interviews with Steppenwolf artists about their work on-stage and behind-the-scenes, hosted by Associate Artistic Director David New. New podcast episodes are available every other Wednesday on Steppenwolf's website and iTunes.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced that its Pulitzer and Tony Award®-winning American play August: Osage County by ensemble member Tracy Letts, directed by ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro, will play an eight-week engagement at London's National Theatre (Lyttelton Theatre) November 21, 2008 - January 21, 2009. Casting will be announced shortly.

Steppenwolf Traffic presents Dream Chicago, a collection of short stories and songs exploring the 'Chicago Dream.'

The Guthrie Theater announced that Broadway theater columnist and 'Theater Talk' co-host Michael Riedel and 'Theater Talk' producer and co-host Susan Haskins will moderate a historic panel discussion with Guthrie Director Joe Dowling, The Children's Theatre Company Artistic Director Peter Brosius, Chicago Shakespeare Theater Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Steppenwolf Artistic Director Martha Lavey on Monday, August 4 at 7:30 p.m. on the Guthrie's Wurtele Thrust Stage. The discussion will be taped for national broadcast. Tickets are priced from $15 to $35 and are on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE and online at www.guthrietheater.org.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced its 2008-2009 Subscription Season, exploring the theme of the imagination. The season opens with Kafka on the Shore, adapted for the stage and directed by ensemble member Frank Galati, based on the work by Haruki Murakami and featuring ensemble members Francis Guinan and Jon Michael Hill. The season continues with The Seafarer by Conor McPherson, directed by ensemble member Randall Arney and featuring ensemble member Francis Guinan, Tom Irwin, John Mahoney and Alan Wilder. Following The Seafarer is Art by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton and directed by ensemble member Rick Snyder. The fourth play is The Tempest by William Shakespeare, directed by ensemble member Tina Landau and featuring ensemble members Alana Arenas, K. Todd Freeman, Frank Galati, Jon Michael Hill, Yasen Peyankov and Alan Wilder.

The Guthrie Theater announced that Broadway theater columnist and 'Theater Talk' co-host Michael Riedel and 'Theater Talk' producer and co-host Susan Haskins will moderate a historic panel discussion with Guthrie Director Joe Dowling, The Children's Theatre Company Artistic Director Peter Brosius, Chicago Shakespeare Theater Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Steppenwolf Artistic Director Martha Lavey on Monday, August 4 at 7:30 p.m. on the Guthrie's Wurtele Thrust Stage. The discussion will be taped for national broadcast. Tickets are priced from $15 to $35 and are on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE and online at www.guthrietheater.org.

The Guthrie Theater announced today that Broadway theater columnist and 'Theater Talk' co-host Michael Riedel and 'Theater Talk' producer and co-host Susan Haskins will moderate a historic panel discussion with Guthrie Director Joe Dowling, The Children's Theatre Company Artistic Director Peter Brosius, Chicago Shakespeare Theater Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Steppenwolf Artistic Director Martha Lavey on Monday, August 4 at 7:30 p.m. on the Guthrie's Wurtele Thrust Stage. The discussion will be taped for national broadcast. Tickets are priced from $15 to $35 and are on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE and online at www.guthrietheater.org. Due to the nature of the event several seats will be obstructed view. To ensure the best seat location, tickets should be purchased in advance.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced its Pulitzer and Tony Award®-winning American play August: Osage County by ensemble member Tracy Letts, directed by ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro, will play an eight-week engagement at London's National Theatre (Lyttelton) beginning in November 2008.

Rondi Reed has been a Steppenwolf member since 1979, and has appeared in over 60 Steppenwolf productions. Rondi most recently appeared and to great acclaim at that, as Madame Morrible in the Chicago production of Wicked, proving she can do just about anything on a stage! Her many Broadway credits include The Grapes of Wrath, Rise and Fall of Little Voice and of course her current Best Featured Actress in a Play Tony nominated role of Mattie Fae Aiken in Tracy Lett's August: Osage County. We caught with up her at the Tony Nominee's Brunch where she discussed the play and its journey from Chicago to Broadway.

Never at a loss for Incredible Talent, Steppenwolf Theatre's Tracy Letts wins the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for 'August: Osage County.'