Richard Woodbury News

The New Group launches its 2013-2014 season with the New York premiere of the Geffen Playhouse production of The Jacksonian, by Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley. Directed by Tony Award winner Robert Falls, this production features Ed Harris, Glenne Headly, Amy Madigan, Bill Pullman and Juliet Brett. Previews begin October 25 in advance of an Official Opening Night on Thursday, November 7 at 7:00pm. A limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated through December 15 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (The Acorn Theatre / 410 West 42nd Street).

By popular demand, Steppenwolf Theatre Company has extended the hit summer production of Slowgirl by Greg Pierce, directed by ensemble member Randall Arney, and featuring ensemble member William Petersen with Rae Gray. Slowgirl continues for six additional performances, through September 1. Tickets to the additional performances of Slowgirl ($20 - $78) go on sale today, August 6 at 11am through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted), at 312-335-1650 or at steppenwolf.org.

What does it mean to be a stranger in your own skin? In a foreign land? Steppenwolf Theatre Company encourages audiences to confront these difficult questions of deceit, displacement and dependency in Amy Herzog's Belleville, directed by Anne Kauffman. The conversation continues with Explore: The World of Belleville, when Steppenwolf brings together Northwestern University professor Laura Kipnis and Steppenwolf Artistic Director Martha Lavey for a deeper discussion of Belleville.

What does it mean to be a stranger in your own skin? In a foreign land? Steppenwolf Theatre Company encourages audiences to confront these difficult questions of deceit, displacement and dependency in Amy Herzog's Belleville, directed by Anne Kauffman. The conversation continues with Explore: The World of Belleville, when Steppenwolf brings together Northwestern University professor Laura Kipnis and Steppenwolf Artistic Director Martha Lavey for a deeper discussion of Belleville.

Slowgirl began previews July 18, 2013 (opening night is July 28; press performances are July 27 at 3pm and July 31 at 7:30pm) and runs through August 25 in Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre. Tickets ($20 - $78) are on sale now through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org. Check out a first look below!

This summer, Steppenwolf ensemble member-and former artistic director--Randall Arney returns to Chicago to stage Greg Pierce's hit play, Slowgirl, which premiered at Lincoln Center Theater in 2012. Arney reunites with fellow ensemble member William Petersen in the role of Sterling (the two first appeared on stage together in Steppenwolf's 1980 production of Balm in Gilead); the two-hander also includes Rae Gray (The Book Thief) as Becky. A playwright with 'impressive writing chops' who 'builds suspense, releases tension through laughs and grabs your attention with life-or-death stakes' (NY1), Pierce's plays later travels to Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, where Arney currently serves as artistic director, as part of the 2013/14 season.

Performances of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's season-concluding, Chicago-premiere production of Belleville by Amy Herzog begin June 27. Obie Award-winning director Anne Kauffman-who staged the play's acclaimed world premiere at Yale Repertory Theatre in 2011 and earlier this season Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop-makes her Steppenwolf debut directing ensemble members Alana Arenas and Kate Arrington with Chris Boykin andCliff Chamberlain. Belleville begins previews tonight, June 27, 2013 (Opening night is July 7 and runs through August 25 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20 - $78) are on sale now.

This summer, Steppenwolf ensemble member-and former artistic director--Randall Arney returns to Chicago to stage Greg Pierce's hit play, Slowgirl, which premiered at Lincoln Center Theater in 2012. Arney reunites with fellow ensemble member William Petersen in the role of Sterling (the two first appeared on stage together in Steppenwolf's 1980 production of Balm in Gilead); the two-hander also includes Rae Gray (The Book Thief) as Becky. A playwright with 'impressive writing chops' who 'builds suspense, releases tension through laughs and grabs your attention with life-or-death stakes' (NY1), Pierce's plays later travels to Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, where Arney currently serves as artistic director, as part of the 2013/14 season.

Performances of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's season-concluding, Chicago-premiere production of Belleville by Amy Herzog begin June 27. Obie Award-winning director Anne Kauffman-who staged the play's acclaimed world premiere at Yale Repertory Theatre in 2011 and earlier this season Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop-makes her Steppenwolf debut directing ensemble members Alana Arenas and Kate Arrington with Chris Boykin andCliff Chamberlain. Belleville begins previews June 27, 2013 (Opening night is July 7 and runs through August 25 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20 - $78) are on sale now.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble member Randall Arney directs fellow ensemble member William Petersen with Rae Gray this summer in Slowgirl by Greg Pierce. Performances of this Chicago premiere are in Steppenwolf's newly reconfigured Upstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Slowgirl begins previews July 18, 2013 (opening night is July 28; press performances are July 27 at 3pm and July 31 at 7:30pm) and runs through August 25. Tickets ($20 - $78) go on sale May 3 to the public through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company concludes the 2012/13 subscription season with the Chicago premiere of Belleville by Amy Herzog, directed by Anne Kauffman. Belleville features ensemble members Alana Arenas and Kate Arrington with Chris Boykin and Cliff Chamberlain. Belleville begins previews June 27, 2013 (Opening night is July 7; Press performances are July 6 at 3pm and July 9 at 7:30pm) and runs through August 25 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20 - $78) go on sale Friday, April 26 at 11am.

'Should a woman sleep with a man she finds repellent if by doing so she serves a greater good?' (New York Times) is among the questions of William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, at Goodman Theatre in a new production directed by Artistic Director Robert Falls. Falls sets his production of Shakespeare's dark comedy against the backdrop of New York City circa 1970s-an era in which economic challenges, urban flight and the sexual revolution transformed one of the greatest cities in the world into one of the most troubled.

'Should a woman sleep with a man she finds repellent if by doing so she serves a greater good?' (New York Times) is among the questions of William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, at Goodman Theatre in a new production directed by Artistic Director Robert Falls. Falls sets his production of Shakespeare's dark comedy against the backdrop of New York City circa 1970s-an era in which economic challenges, urban flight and the sexual revolution transformed one of the greatest cities in the world into one of the most troubled.

The world-premiere production of the Goodman-commissioned Teddy Ferrara by Pulitzer Prize finalist Christopher Shinn is directed by Evan Cabnet. This stirring exploration of an on-campus tragedy features Liam Benzvi (Gabe), Patrick Clear (University President), Rashaad Hall (Nicky), Ryan Heindl (Teddy Ferrara), Christopher Imbrosciano (Jay), Jax Jackson (Jaq), Dev Kennedy and Fawzia Mirza (Campus Police), Paloma Nozicka (Jenny), Adam Poss (Drew), Josh Salt (Tim), Kelli Simpkins (Ellen) and Janet Ulrich Brooks (University Provost). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

Rehearsals are underway for the world-premiere production of the Goodman-commissioned Teddy Ferrara by Pulitzer Prize finalist Christopher Shinn, praised as 'among the most provocative and probing of American playwrights today' (The New York Times). Evan Cabnet directs this stirring exploration of an on-campus tragedy with a cast that includes Liam Benzvi (Gabe), Patrick Clear (University President), Rashaad Hall (Nicky), Ryan Heindl (Teddy Ferrara), Christopher Imbrosciano (Jay), Jax Jackson (Jaq), Dev Kennedy and Fawzia Mirza (Campus Police), Paloma Nozicka (Jenny), Adam Poss (Drew), Josh Salt (Tim), Kelli Simpkins (Ellen) and Janet Ulrich Brooks (University Provost). The design team includes Jenny Mannis (Costume Designer), Keith Parham (Lighting Designer), Lee Savage (Set Designer) and Richard Woodbury (Sound Designer). Rehearsal photos, headshots and bio information can be found in the Press Room. Teddy Ferrara runs February 2 - March 3, 2013 in the Owen Theatre (opening night is Monday, February 11). Tickets ($14 - $45; subject to change) are now on sale and are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Teddy, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn).

Goodman Theatre announces casting for the world-premiere production of Teddy Ferrara by Pulitzer Prize finalist Christopher Shinn, praised as 'among the most provocative and probing of American playwrights today' (The New York Times) and noted as having 'his finger firmly on both the political and dramatic pulse of our times" (The Telegraph). A Goodman Theatre Commission-and part of the Goodman's 2011 New Stages festival-Teddy Ferrara, directed by Evan Cabnet, explores what happens when a tragedy sparks a movement--and the truth gets lost along the way.

One of the nation's most prominent of the many productions of "A Christmas Carol" that crop up like greenery this time of year is the one at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. Now in its 35th annual outing, it's a warm, thought-provoking and timeless tale of redemption and good will, humanity and universality that, surprisingly , shares with Jonathan Larson's "Rent" an immediate central theme. "No day but today" might very well be a line from Charles Dickens' short 1843 novel of the same name, as pithy and wise as the novel's, and this show's, ending line: "God bless us, everyone."

Casting is complete for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's season-closing production of Belleville by Amy Herzog, directed by Anne Kauffman. Chris Boykin and Cliff Chamberlain join the previously announced cast, ensemble members Alana Arenas and Kate Arrington. Belleville begins previews June 27, 2013 (Opening Night is July 7; Press Performances are July 6 at 3pm and July 9 at 7:30pm) and runs through August 25 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20 - $73) go on sale April 26, 2013 at 11am (prices are subject to change).