CHICAGO (CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM) — Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s star-studded ensemble will join 600 members of Chicago’s corporate, civic and cultural communities for

Steppenwolf’s premier fundraising event offers guests the unique opportunity to connect with Steppenwolf artists while enjoying theatrical entertainment, cocktails, a gourmet dinner, music and dancing with Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band, the opportunity to bid on once-in-lifetime auction items—and much more!

Single tickets and tables for GALA 2011 are currently available by contacting Steppenwolf’s Special Events Department at (312) 654-5632 or specialevents@steppenwolf.org.  Last year’s Gala raised over $1 million for Steppenwolf’s artistic and community programming.

GALA 2011 kicks off at Steppenwolf Theatre Company with a showcase of scenes from Steppenwolf’s production of The Hot L Baltimore directed by ensemble member Tina Landau, featuring ensemble members Alana Arenas, Kate Arrington, Jon Michael Hill, James Vincent Meredith, Yasen Peyankovand Molly Regan and the entire Hot L cast.

Following the performance, the party moves two blocks south to Blackhawk on Halsted, a 15,000 square-foot space featuring theatrically-inspired décor by Event Creative and a breathtaking view of Chicago’s skyline.

There, guests will enjoy a cocktail reception, a gourmet dinner prepared by Food for Thought Catering and the annual live auction (led by auctioneer Michael Davis of Hart Davis Hart Wine Co.) featuring once-in-a-lifetime adventures with Steppenwolf ensemble members and artists.  The evening wraps up with dancing and live music by Steppenwolf co-founder Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band and a late night DJ set.

Some of this year’s live auction prizes include:

• A private on-set visit for four to CBS’s hit TV series The Good Wife, including lunch with actor Josh Charles and Steppenwolf co-founder Terry Kinney at New York’s famed Bryant Park Grill.  Includes hotel stay and round-trip airfare.
• A private on-set visit for four to FOX’s hit comedy series Raising Hope, including lunch with Steppenwolf ensemble member Martha Plimpton and Steppenwolf actors Lucas Neff and Garret Dillahunt.  Includes hotel stay and round-trip airfare.
• Luxury seats for ten to a Chicago Cubs home game with Steppenwolf co-founder Gary Sinise, who will sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the 7^th inning stretch. A private jam session for eight with celebrity musicians Pat Sansone and John Stirrat of Wilco along with Steppenwolf ensemble members Alana Arenas and Jon Michael Hill at the Chicago Music Exchange.  Includes a gourmet dinner prepared by award-winning celebrity chef Rick Bayless.
• A unique evening for eight with the cast of Steppenwolf’s production of Penelope, including Steppenwolf ensemble members John Mahoney and Amy Morton.  Includes tickets to the performance, overnight stay in an Elysian Hotel suite and dinner at the hotel’s Ria Private Dining Room.

The GALA 2011 Co-Chairs include: Carole L. Brown, Kenneth J. Porrello, Michael R. Salem andStephanie B. Smith.

Event:              GALA 2011

Performance:   An exclusive showcase of scenes from The Hot L Baltimore, dancing and live music with Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band plus a late-night DJ set.

Details: Featuring a cocktail reception, dinner and live auction.

Date: Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 6:30 pm

Location: Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 1650 N. Halsted St.

Blackhawk on Halsted, 1460 N. Halsted St.

Tickets: To purchase tickets, contact Steppenwolf’s Special Events Department at (312) 654-5632 or specialevents@steppenwolf.org.

Deloitte is the GALA 2011 Lead Sponsor, David Herro and Jay Franke are the Raise the Paddle for Steppenwolf for Young Adults Sponsors, Liz and Eric Lefkofsky are the Live Auction Sponsors, Siebert Brandford Shank & Co. is the Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band Sponsor, Structured Development is the Event Venue Sponsor, the Elysian Hotel is the Official Hotel Partner, Ogilvy is the Official Marketing Partner and United Airlines is the Official Airline Partner.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago, IL (Martha Lavey, Artistic Director; David Hawkanson, Executive Director) is one of the nation’s leading ensemble theatres, producing up to 16 productions each year in its three Chicago theater spaces – including programming dedicated to the development of new plays and theatre for young adults.

Steppenwolf’s productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including off-Broadway, Broadway, London, Sydney and Dublin.  Formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, Steppenwolf has grown into an ensemble of 43 actors, writers and directors.

For additional information, visit www.steppenwolf.org, www.facebook.com/SteppenwolfTheatre andwww.twitter.com/SteppenwolfThtr.

Connect with Gary Sinese and other artists at Steppenwolf’s GALA 2011 fundraising event | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Detroit features an all-ensemble cast including Kevin Anderson, Kate Arrington, Ian Barford, Robert Breuler and Laurie Metcalf.

Detroit plays Sept. 9 – Nov. 7, 2010 in Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.

Picture-perfect couple Ben and Mary fire up the grill to welcome the new neighbors who’ve moved into the long-empty house next door.

Three barbeques later, the fledgling friendship veers out of control, shattering Ben and Mary’s carefully maintained semblance of success—with comic, unexpected consequences.

Detroit is a fresh, off-beat look at what happens when we dare to open ourselves up to something new.

Lisa D’Amour is a playwright and interdisciplinary artist whose works have been presented in New York and other major U.S. cities.  D’Amour has been commissioned to write two new plays for Steppenwolf over the next two years through support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

An actor, director and playwright, ensemble member Austin Pendleton began his artistic relationship with Steppenwolf directing the 1979 production of Say Goodnight, Gracie. His award-winning plays include Booth, Uncle Bob and Orson’s Shadow, which received its world premiere in the Steppenwolf’s Merle Reskin Garage.

Steppenwolf’s 2010-2011 season explores the theme of public/private self—how the public and private aspects of our lives unfold in an increasingly complex world.

The design team for Detroit includes: Kevin Depinet (sets), Rachel Healy (costumes), Kevin Rigdon (lights) and Josh Schmidt (sound), Tommy Rapley (choreography) and Matt Hawkins (fight choreography). Polly Carl is the Dramaturg,Michelle Medvin is the Stage Manager and Rose Marie Packer is the Assistant Stage Manager.

Title:  Detroit

Playwright: Lisa D’Amour

Director: ensemble member Austin Pendleton

Featuring: ensemble members Kevin Anderson (Kenny), Kate Arrington (Sharon), Ian Barford (Ben), Robert Breuler (Frank) and Laurie Metcalf (Mary).

Location: Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.

Dates: Previews: Sept. 9 – 18, 2010.

Press performances: Saturday, Sept. 18 at 3 pm and Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 7:30 pm.

Opening: Sunday, Sept. 19 at 6 pm.

Regular Run: Sept. 21 – Nov. 7, 2010.

Curtain Times: Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30 pm.

(Sunday evening performances through October 17 only)

Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday matinees on Oct. 20, 27 and Nov. 3 at 2 pm.

Note: There is no 3 pm or 7:30 pm. performance on Sunday, September 19.

Ticket prices: Previews: $20-$48

Regular Run: $20-$70

Twenty $20 tickets are available at Audience Services beginning at 11:00 am. on the day of each performance (1 pm for Sunday performances).  Half-price rush tickets are available one hour before each show.  Student discounts available.

Audience Services: 1650 N. Halsted St., 312-335-1650

Online ticketing available at steppenwolf.org

Accessible Performances:

Sign language interpreted performance: Sunday, October 17 at 7:30 pm

Audio described performance: Thursday, October 7 at 7:30 pm

Audio described performance with touch tour: Sunday, October 31 – 1:30 pm touch tour/3 pm curtain

Free post-show discussions, sponsored by AT&T, are offered after every performance.

Steppenwolf is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible.  Street and lot parking are available.  Assistive listening devices and large print programs are available for every performance.

Detroit was developed as part of Steppenwolf’s New Plays Initiative.  Steppenwolf is recognized as a national leader in the development and production of new work for the American canon. Through this initiative, the company maintains ongoing relationships with writers of international prominence and rigorously discovers and supports the work of early and mid-career playwrights.

Steppenwolf’s New Plays Initiative is generously sponsored by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, the Zell Family Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and members of the Directors Circle.

About Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon.

The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work.  Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 43 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting and textual adaptation.

For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/SteppenwolfTheatre and twitter.com/SteppenwolfThtr.

Steppenwolf kicks off its 2010-2011 season with “Detroit” Sept. 9 through Nov. 7 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

(left to right) Ensemble members Tracy Letts and Francis Guinan.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its 2009-2010 season, an exploration of the theme of belief, with American Buffalo by David Mamet, directed by ensemble member Amy Morton.

American Buffalo features ensemble members Francis Guinan and Tracy Letts with Patrick Andrews. American Buffalo plays Dec. 3, 2009 – Feb. 7, 2010 in Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.

The press performance is Saturday, Dec. 12 at 3pm.

In a cluttered, run-down Chicago junk shop, three small-time crooks plot to steal a valuable buffalo nickel. As the heist unravels, the men’s frustration and paranoia intensify.

Ensemble member Amy Morton directs this groundbreaking American play that weaves humor and menace throughout an emotionally charged struggle for identity and dominance.

World-renowned playwright and Chicago-area native David Mamet has a successful writing and directing career in theatre, film and television.

Steppenwolf has produced Mamet’s productions of The Water Engine and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Glengarry Glen Ross (also directed by ensemble member Amy Morton).

Amy Morton received a 2008 Best Actress Tony^® nomination for Steppenwolf’s August: Osage County on Broadway.  Her Steppenwolf directing credits include Dublin Carol, The Weir, The Pillowman, Love-Lies-Bleeding (also Kennedy Center) and Glengarry Glen Ross (also Dublin and Toronto).

The design team for American Buffalo includes: Kevin Depinet (sets), Nan Cibula-Jenkins (costumes), Pat Collins (lights), Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen (sound and original music) and Rick Sordelet (fight choreography).  Malcolm Ewen is the Stage Manager and Christine D. Freeburg is the Assistant Stage Manager.

• Title: American Buffalo
• Playwright: David Mamet
• Director: ensemble member Amy Morton
• Featuring: ensemble members Francis Guinan (Don) and Tracy Letts (Teach) with Patrick Andrews (Bob)
• Location: Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted Street
• Dates: Previews: Dec. 3 – 12, 2009
• Press performance: Saturday, Dec. 12 at 3pm
• Opening: Sunday, Dec. 13 at 6pm
• Regular Run: Dec. 15, 2009 – Feb.7, 2010

Curtain Times:

• Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30pm
• (Sunday evening performances through Jan. 10 only)
• Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3pm
• Wednesday matinees on Jan. 13, 20, 27 and Feb. 3 at 2pm

Note: there are no 7:30pm performances on Sunday, Dec. 13, Tuesday, Dec. 8, Thursday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve), Friday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) and Friday, Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day); there is no 3pm performance on Sunday, Dec. 13.

Ticket prices: Previews: $20-$53

Regular Run: $20-$77

Twenty $20 tickets are available at Audience Services beginning at 11:00 a.m. on the day of each performance (1:00 p.m. for Sunday performances).  Half-price rush tickets are available one hour before each show.  Student discounts available.

Audience Services: 1650 N. Halsted St., 312-335-1650

Online ticketing available at steppenwolf.org

The American Buffalo Wine Tasting Night: Enjoy wine and food pairings from Vinci Restaurant while our DJ spins tunes in our balcony lobby:  Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 6pm. Tasting and performance cost $60 per person.  For tickets and additional information, contact Audience Services.

The American Buffalo MaTEENée performance for high school students will be held on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 3pm. Tickets cost $15 and include: a ticket to the performance, lunch and a post-show discussion with actors featured in the production – hosted by Steppenwolf’s Young Adults Council.

Free post-show discussions are offered after every performance.

United Airlines is the corporate production sponsor of American Buffalo. Additional support for American Buffalo provided by The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation.

Steppenwolf is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible.  Street and lot parking are available.  Assistive listening devices are available for every performance.

American Buffalo is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

About the Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon.

The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work.

Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting and textual adaptation.

For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf Continues Its 2009-2010 Season with “American Buffalo,” Directed by Ensemble Member Amy Morton | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

“Ruined” (Goodman Theatre in a co-production with Manhattan Theatre Club), the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama that harrowingly scrutinizes the state of women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, shared the honor.

TimeLine Theatre’s heralded production of “The History Boys” was awarded top honors in the Production-Play (Midsize) category.

The Court Theatre’s much-lauded staging of “Caroline, or Change” walked away with several spumante statues, including Production-Musical (Large), Director-Musical (Charles Newell), and Actress in a Principal Role-Musical (E. Faye Butler).

The Jeff committee presented special decorations to both The Second City (Trubute Award) and Director-Producer William Pullinsi for over a half-century’s work in the Chicago theatre districts. The Second City will soon present a celebration of its 50th year in performance December 11-13 at its Piper’s Alley homestead.

As is custom for the yearly festivities, the Jeff Committee imbued its ceremony with a starry array of performances. Nominated play productions were presented by individual video features, while the 11 nominated musicals and revues graced the stage at the Northshore Center for the Performing Arts in live performance.

The celebration was directed by Michael Weber, produced by Jeff Equity Chair Diane Hires, and hosted by Chicago stage actors Elizabeth Ledo and Rob Lindley.

The Jeff Awards has been honoring Chicago theatre artists annually since it was established in 1968.

With up to 50 members representing a wide variety of backgrounds in theatre, the Jeff Awards is committed to celebrating the vitality of Chicago area theatre by recognizing excellence through its recommendations, awards, and honors.

The Jeff Awards evaluates over 250 theatrical productions and holds two awards ceremonies annually.

COMPLETE LIST OF JEFF EQUITY AWARD RECIPIENTS

PRODUCTION – PLAY – LARGE
“Ruined” – Goodman Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club
“The Seafarer” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company

PRODUCTION – PLAY – MIDSIZE
“The History Boys” – TimeLine Theatre Company

PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – LARGE
“Caroline, or Change” – Court Theatre

PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – MIDSIZE
“Tomorrow Morning” – Hillary A. Williams, LLC

PRODUCTION – REVUE
“Studs Terkel’s Not Working” – The Second City e.t.c.

ENSEMBLE
“The History Boys” – TimeLine Theatre Company

DIRECTOR – PLAY
Nick Bowling – “The History Boys” – TimeLine Theatre Company

DIRECTOR – MUSICAL
Charles Newell – “Caroline, or Change” – Court Theatre

DIRECTOR – REVUE
Matt Hovde – “Studs Terkel’s Not Working” – The Second City e.t.c.

SOLO PERFORMANCE
Max McLean – “Mark’s Gospel” – Fellowship for the Performing Arts

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY (Tie)
William L. Petersen – “Blackbird” – Victory Gardens Theater
Larry Neumann, Jr. – “A Moon for the Misbegotten” – First Folio Theatre

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Joseph Anthony Foronda – “Miss Saigon” – Drury Lane Oakbrook

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Saidah Arrika Ekulona – “Ruined” – Goodman Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
E. Faye Butler – “Caroline, or Change” – Court Theatre

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Alex Weisman – “The History Boys” – TimeLine Theatre Company

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Max Quinlan – “The Light in the Piazza” – Marriott Theatre

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Spencer Kayden – “Don’t Dress for Dinner” – The British Stage Company

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL (Tie)
Liz Baltes – “A Minister’s Wife”- Writers’ Theatre
Summer Smart – “The Light in the Piazza” – Marriott Theatre

ACTOR IN A REVUE
Mark David Kaplan – “Forbidden Broadway” – John Freedson, Harriet Yellin, Margaret Cotter

ACTRESS IN A REVUE
Amanda Blake Davis – “Studs Terkel’s Not Working” – The Second City e.t.c.

SCENIC DESIGN – LARGE
Lucy Osborne – “Twelfth Night” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

SCENIC DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Brian Sidney Bembridge – “The History Boys” – TimeLine Theatre Company

COSTUME DESIGN – LARGE
Mara Blumenfeld – “The Arabian Nights” – Lookingglass Theatre Company

COSTUME DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Rachel Laritz – “The Voysey Inheritance” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

LIGHTING DESIGN – LARGE
Christopher Akerlind – “Rock ‘n’ Roll” – Goodman Theatre

LIGHTING DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Jesse Klug – “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” – American Theater Company

SOUND DESIGN – LARGE
Ray Nardelli and Joshua Horvath – “Miss Saigon” – Drury Lane Oakbrook

SOUND DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Lindsay Jones – “The K of D: An Urban Legend” – The Route 66 Theatre Company

CHOREOGRAPHY
David H. Bell – “The Boys from Syracuse” – Drury Lane Oakbrook

ORIGINAL INCIDENTAL MUSIC
Dominic Kanza – “Ruined” – Goodman Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club

MUSIC DIRECTION
Doug Peck – “Caroline, or Change” – Court Theatre

NEW ADAPTATION – PLAY
Seth Bockley – “Jon” – Collaboraction

NEW WORK – PLAY
Lynn Nottage – “Ruined” – Goodman Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club

NEW ADAPTATION – MUSICAL
Josh Schmidt, Jan Tranen and Austin Pendleton – “A Minister’s Wife” – Writers’ Theatre

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Steve Tolin – “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” – Northlight Theatre

VIDEO DESIGN
Mike Tutaj – “Tomorrow Morning” – Hillary A. Williams, LLC

TRIBUTE AWARD
The Second City – 50th Anniversary

SPECIAL AWARD
William Pullinsi – Director and Producer – Outstanding Achievement for 50 Years in Theatre

Steppenwolf Theatre, Goodman Theatre and Other Chicago Venues Score Big at 41st Annual Jeff Equity Awards | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Tickets are currently on sale.

Joe Frank takes the Steppenwolf’s stage for an evening of spoken word and music in one of his most provocative pieces yet.

The depth of his work – essentially a philosophical inquiry – is what gives it its real significance.  Beneath every surreal flourish is a search for something to believe in: a yearning for love, a quest for self-acceptance.

While one critic has called Frank “the most brilliant comic in America,” another has described Frank’s stories as “inspired weirdness that feeds on pathos and irony.” Others have used the words “hypnotic,” “psychotic,” “disturbing” and “terrifying.”  All agree that Frank unfailingly manages to confound his audience’s expectations.

Cited as a source of inspiration by artists as diverse as Ira Glass, Charlie Kaufman and Beck, Frank’s shows are invariably laced with surreal comedy.

About Joe Frank

Joe Frank began his radio career in 1977 at WBAI, in New York City, and later served as co-anchor of National Public Radio’s All Things Considered in 1978.

Over the course of the next three decades he produced over 200 radio programs for KCRW and National Public Radio.

A Guggenheim Fellow, Frank has been honored with many major industry awards, including the George Foster Peabody Award, two Major Armstrong Awards and two Corporation for Public Broadcasting Awards for radio drama.

Over the years, Frank’s distinctive approach to making radio has inspired producers around the world to experiment with and stretch the medium beyond traditional boundaries.

Joe Frank’s regular weekly one-hour radio show airs in Chicago on WBEZ Sunday nights at 11pm.

For additional information, visit joefrank.com.

• Title: Joe Frank in Is There Something Wrong?: An Evening of Spoken Word and Music
• Location: Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre
• Dates:  Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009
• Curtain Times: 8pm
• Ticket prices: $29 ($15 student tickets available via phone and box office only)
• Audience Services: 1650 N. Halsted, 312-335-1650
• Online ticketing available at steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. Street and lot parking are available. Assistive listening devices are available for every performance.

About Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon.

The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work.

Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting and textual adaptation.

For more information, visit steppenwolf.org.

EDITORS NOTE: For high-res artwork, please e-mail drosenberg@steppenwolf.org or jsanders@steppenwolf.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

David Rosenberg, 312-654-5656
Communications Director
Steppenwolf Theatre Co.
drosenberg@steppenwolf.org

Steppenwolf Presents NPR’s Joe Frank in “Is There Something Wrong?: An Evening of Spoken Word and Music” Nov. 14 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Or make a surprise entrance through a trap door?

Find out when Steppenwolf Theatre Company opens the doors of its Scene Shop for the first time ever at BEHIND THE CURTAIN on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, at 7pm.

Guests at this inaugural fundraising event will experience a unique, behind-the-scenes look at Steppenwolf’s backstage production “secrets.”

BEHIND THE CURTAIN will include appetizers, cocktails, a silent auction and raffle plus the opportunity to meet behind-the-scenes professionals and designers including Todd Rosenthal, the Tony Award®-winning Scenic Designer of Steppenwolf’s August: Osage County – as well as Steppenwolf ensemble members including Alana Arenas and John Mahoney.

Guests will wander amongst sets and props from past productions including the jazz club from Carter’s Way and the automobile featured in the acclaimed 1988 production of The Grapes of Wrath.

Attendees will also get a “sneak peek” at the set under construction for Steppenwolf’s upcoming production of American Buffalo, opening this December.  The giant, floating flowers featured in last season’s production of The Tempest will also be on display and available for purchase.

The BEHIND THE CURTAIN silent auction will feature many items including:

• Two house seats to Steppenwolf’s production of Superior Donuts on Broadway including roundtrip airfare to New York.
• Two tickets to opening night of the national tour of Steppenwolf’s August: Osage County at Chicago’s Cadillac Place Theatre. The evening includes dinner with scenic designer Todd Rosenthal and technical director Russell Poole at Sepia.
• A vintage poster from the 1987 Steppenwolf’s production of “Burn.” This featuring ensemble members Joan Allen and John Malkovich.
• Set pieces and props from various Steppenwolf plays including the canvas from last season’s production of Art.

Tickets for BEHIND THE CURTAIN are still available and can be purchased at the door.

For assistance the day of the event, please contact David Rosenberg at (773) 505-1429 or Joseph Sanders at (575) 791-5891.

Enjoy a day of antiquing and lunch with Steppenwolf’s Properties Master Jenny DiLuciano.

Guests can also enter a raffle to win the opportunity to experience the upcoming Steppenwolf production of Endgame through the eyes and ears of our production team. Winners will enjoy a pre-show dinner at La Trattoria del Merlo, a backstage tour, watch the performance from the Stage Manager’s booth and listen via headset as the crew calls the show, followed by a meet-and-greet with the cast and crew.

Additionally, Takeshi Kata’s stunning flowers which were featured in the scenic design of last season’s production of The Tempest will also be available for purchase. Each flower comes with a certificate of authenticity and a reproduction of the Scenic Designer’s rendering.

Tickets for BEHIND THE CURTAIN cost $250 per person and are currently available by calling Steppenwolf’s Special Events Department at 312-654-5632 or specialevents@steppenwolf.org.

“When we set out to create a new event for Steppenwolf Theatre last year, our goal was to break the traditional fundraising model,” comments BEHIND THE CURTAIN Chair Greg Desmond. “We began by selecting an interactive party venue: the Steppenwolf Scene Shop which houses 34 years of production treasures.

In addition to raising funds for one of the nation’s leading theaters, BEHIND THE CURTAIN will also offer attendees an opportunity to mix and mingle with the industry’s top artists on the sets of some of our most memorable productions,“ adds Desmond.

The BEHIND THE CURTAIN Event Committee includes Greg Desmond (Chair), J. Robert Barr, Chris Broyles, Beth Boosalis Davis, M. Julie and Michael Gustafson, Michael J. Kennedy, Michael T. Noonan and Carrie Schloss.

Rubloff Residential Properties is the Corporate Sponsor of BEHIND THE CURTAIN. Additional contributions from: AlphaGraphics, Chicagoland Transportation Solutions, Inc., Frost, Grey Goose, Goose Island Brew Pub, Limelight Catering, V.I.P Valet Service and United Airlines.

• Name of event: Behind the Curtain
• Date: Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009
• Time: 7pm
• Location: Steppenwolf Scene Shop, 1010 N. Kolmar Ave.
• Description: A unique, behind-the-scenes experience at Steppenwolf’s scene shop including tours, cocktails, food, a silent auction and raffle.
• Ticket price: $250 per person. To purchase tickets, contact Steppenwolf’s Special Events Department at 312-654-5632 or specialevents@steppenwolf.org.

About Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon.

The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting and textual adaptation.

For additional information, please visit steppenwolf.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

David Rosenberg, 312-654-5656
Communications Director, Steppenwolf Theatre Co.
drosenberg@steppenwolf.org

Steppenwolf Presents First-Ever Look at Its Behind-the-Scenes Production Secrets at Inaugural “Behind the Curtain” Fundraiser Oct. 10 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

A new block of tickets for performances Nov. 3 – 8, 2009 will go on-sale Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009 at 11am.

The House on Mango Street, featuring Belinda Cervantes, Gina Cornejo, Sandra Delgado, Liza Fernandez, Ricardo Gutierrez, Christina Nieves, Tony Sancho and Mari Stratton, runs Oct. 13 – Nov. 8, 2009 in the Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. Note: weekday matinees (Tuesdays – Fridays) are reserved for school groups, with all additional performances available to the public.

Based on the celebrated novel by Chicago writer Sandra Cisneros and infused with lively original music, The House on Mango Street recounts a young girl’s colorful memories of growing up in one of Chicago’s culturally diverse neighborhoods. Esperanza Cordero dreams of life far away from her tiny home on rundown Mango Street in this unforgettable coming-of-age story about the universal experiences that shape who we are and what we believe.

The novel The House on Mango Street was featured as the Spring 2009 selection for the Chicago Public Library’s One Book, One Chicago initiative. Steppenwolf’s partnership with the Chicago Public Library encourages Chicagoans not only to read the admired work by Chicago writer Sandra Cisneros, but also to enjoy it on stage in a world premiere adaptation.

Tanya Saracho is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Teatro Luna, Chicago’s All-Latina Theater Ensemble and a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists and Teatro Vista. Her plays include Our Lady of the Underpass, Jarred: A Hoodoo Comedy and Kita y Fernanda.

Born and raised in Chicago, Sandra Cisneros is the award-winning author of numerous works including Bad Boys, My Wicked Wicked Ways, Loose Women, Women Hollering Creek and Other Stories, Hairs/Pelitos, Caramelo and Vintage Cisneros. This year, Cisneros is publishing a special 25th anniversary edition of The House on Mango Street.

The House on Mango Street design team includes: Collette Pollard (sets), Christine Pascual (costumes), J.R. Lederle (lights), Tamara Roberts (original music composition), Kevin O’Donnell (sound) Tamara Roberts (original music composition) and Joel Valentin-Martinez (choreography). Christine D. Freeburg is the stage manager and Deb Styer is the assistant stage manager.

• Title: The House on Mango Street
• Adaptor: Tanya Saracho
• Based on the novel: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
• Directed by: Hallie Gordon
• Featuring: Belinda Cervantes (Lucy, Sally, Sister), Gina Cornejo (Nenny, Avenue Boy, Sister), Sandra Delgado (Esperanza), Liza Fernandez (Cathy, Alicia, Rafaela, Sister, Woman), Ricardo Gutierrez (Papa, Uncle Nacho, Alicia’s Father, Mr. Benny), Christina Nieves (Rachel, Marin), Tony Sancho (Carlos, Tito, Marin’s Boyfriend, Cousin by First Communion, Man), and Mari Stratton (Mama, Mamacita, Very Fat Woman, Woman with Tiny Feet).
• Location: Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.

Dates: Oct. 13 – Nov. 8, 2009

Press Preview: Saturday, Oct. 17 at 3 p.m.

Public Performances:

• Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturdays at 3:00 & 7:30 p.m.
• Sundays at 3:00 p.m.

Note: weekday matinee performances are available for school groups only (Tuesdays – Fridays at 10 a.m.)

Ticket Price: $10-$20 ($15 student tickets available via phone/box office)

Target 2-for-1 Sunday Matinees: all tickets $10 on October 18 & 25 and November 1 and 8 at 3:00 p.m.

Audience Services: 1650 N. Halsted, (312) 335-1650

Online ticketing available at steppenwolf.org.

For information on Steppenwolf for Young Adult weekday school performances, contact the SYA Education Associate at (312) 654-5639.

About Steppenwolf for Young Adults

Steppenwolf for Young Adults’ unique approach combines play production with educational components to enhance arts education for young audiences, as well as their teachers and families. SYA creates two full-scale professional productions each season specifically for teens.

Working closely with the Chicago Public and metropolitan area schools and other community partners, SYA annually ensures access to the theater for more than 15,000 participants from Chicago’s diverse communities.

The initiative also includes post-show discussions with artists; classroom residencies led by Steppenwolf-trained teaching artists in more than 30 classrooms in 14 public high schools; professional development workshops for educators; and the Young Adult Council, an innovative year-round after school initiative that uniquely engages high school students in all areas of the theater’s operations.

Corporate support for The House on Mango Street is provided by American Express. Fidelity Investments is the Corporate Sponsor of Steppenwolf for Young Adults and the Fidelity Investments Inspire the Future Award. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Kraft Foods are Corporate Sponsors of Steppenwolf for Young Adults. Target is the Sponsor of the Target 2-for-1 Sunday Matinees.

The House on Mango Street was developed as part of Steppenwolf’s New Plays Initiative. Steppenwolf is recognized as a national leader in the development and production of new work for the American canon. Through this initiative, the company maintains ongoing relationships with writers of international prominence and rigorously discovers and supports the work of early and mid-career playwrights.

Steppenwolf is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. Street and lot parking are available. Assistive listening devices are available for every performance in the Upstairs or Downstairs Theatres.

About Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon.

The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work.

Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting and textual adaptation.

For additional information, please visit steppenwolf.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

David Rosenberg, 312-654-5656
Communications Director
Steppenwolf Theatre Co.
drosenberg@steppenwolf.org

Steppenwolf Theatre’s “The House on Mango Street” Announces One-Week Extension; Now Playing Through Nov. 8 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 2 at 11am.

Joe Frank takes the Steppenwolf’s stage for an evening of spoken word and music in one of his most provocative pieces yet.

The depth of his work – essentially a philosophical inquiry – is what gives it its real significance. Beneath every surreal flourish is a search for something to believe in: a yearning for love, a quest for self-acceptance.

While one critic has called Frank “the most brilliant comic in America,” another has described Frank’s stories as “inspired weirdness that feeds on pathos and irony.” Others have used the words “hypnotic,” “psychotic,” “disturbing” and “terrifying.”

All agree that Frank unfailingly manages to confound his audience’s expectations. Cited as a source of inspiration by artists as diverse as Ira Glass, Charlie Kaufman and Beck, Frank’s shows are invariably laced with surreal comedy.

Joe Frank began his radio career in 1977 at WBAI, in New York City, and later served as co-anchor of National Public Radio’s All Things Considered in 1978. Over the course of the next three decades he produced over 200 radio programs for KCRW and National Public Radio.

A Guggenheim Fellow, Frank has been honored with many major industry awards, including the George Foster Peabody Award, two Major Armstrong Awards and two Corporation for Public Broadcasting Awards for radio drama.

Over the years, Frank’s distinctive approach to making radio has inspired producers around the world to experiment with and stretch the medium beyond traditional boundaries. Joe Frank’s regular weekly one-hour radio show airs in Chicago on WBEZ Sunday nights at 11pm.

For additional information, visit joefrank.com.

Title: Joe Frank in Is There Something Wrong?: An Evening of Spoken Word and Music

Location: Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre

Date: Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009

Curtain Time: 8pm

Ticket prices: $29 ($15 student tickets available via phone and box office only)

Audience Services: 1650 N. Halsted, 312-335-1650

Online ticketing available at steppenwolf.org

About Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Steppenwolf is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. Street and lot parking are available. Assistive listening devices are available for every performance.

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon.

The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting and textual adaptation. For more information, visit steppenwolf.org.

For high-res artwork, please e-mail drosenberg@steppenwolf.org or jsanders@steppenwolf.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

David Rosenberg, 312-654-5656
Communications Director, Steppenwolf Theatre Co.
drosenberg@steppenwolf.org

Steppenwolf Presents NPR’s Joe Frank in “Is There Something Wrong? An Evening of Spoken Word and Music” Nov. 14 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

“We are honored to be the first arts organization in the U.S. to receive this distinguished recognition,” comments Steppenwolf’s Executive Director David Hawkanson.  “This is a tribute to the entire Steppenwolf family – our talented artists, dedicated administrators, extraordinary production team and ambitious apprentices.  We’ve worked very hard as a team to create an exceptional work environment – and will continue to make it a top priority,” adds Hawkanson.

The Top Small Workplaces list showcases exceptional employers that have built workplace environments that foster teamwork, flexibility and professional growth while providing an atmosphere and benefits that encourage employee loyalty.

A national panel of small business experts chosen by the Wall Street Journal and Winning Workplaces judged the finalists based on specific metrics and qualitative assessments of their success in creating workplaces that nurture, challenge and reward employees.  A complete list of winners can be found at wsj.com/reports (article) or winningworkplaces.org.

About Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Founded in 1976, Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation’s foremost ensemble theatre. The theatre’s workforce includes 77 full-time staff members, 340 part-time/seasonal employees, 60 trustees and 42 ensemble members (the theatre’s artistic core comprised of actors, playwrights and directors).

Steppenwolf provides exceptional benefits for both full- and part-time employees including a competitive 401(k) plan and healthcare benefits unparalleled in the arts industry.

Steppenwolf is dedicated to the training of early-career arts professionals through apprenticeship and internships programs, as well as cultivating mentoring and management skills among its junior staff.  Additionally, the organization supports its employees’ desire to be involved in the Chicago theatre community beyond their commitments at Steppenwolf.

Steppenwolf’s mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon.

For additional information, please visit steppenwolf.org.

Winning Workplaces is an Evanston, Illinois-based non-profit organization whose mission is to help small and mid-size organizations create better workplaces.

MEDIA CONTACT:

David Rosenberg, 312-654-5656
Communications Director, Steppenwolf Theatre Co.
drosenberg@steppenwolf.org

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Named One of Nation’s Top Small Workplaces by the Wall Street Journal | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

BEHIND THE CURTAIN will include appetizers, cocktails, a silent auction and raffle plus the opportunity to meet behind-the-scenes professionals and designers including Todd Rosenthal, the Tony Award®-winning Scenic Designer of Steppenwolf’s August: Osage County.

The BEHIND THE CURTAIN silent auction will feature many items including:

• Two house seats to Steppenwolf’s production of Superior Donuts on Broadway including roundtrip airfare to New York.
• Two tickets to opening night of the national tour of Steppenwolf’s August: Osage County at Chicago’s Cadillac Place Theatre. The evening includes dinner with scenic designer Todd Rosenthal and technical director Russell Poole at Sepia.

Enjoy a day of antiquing and lunch with Steppenwolf’s Properties Master Jenny DiLuciano.

• A vintage poster from the 1987 Steppenwolf’s production of Burn This featuring ensemble members Joan Allen and John Malkovich.
• Set pieces and props from various Steppenwolf plays including the canvas from last season’s production of Art.

Guests can also enter a raffle to win the opportunity to experience the upcoming Steppenwolf production of Endgame through the eyes and ears of our production team. Winners will enjoy a pre-show dinner at La Trattoria del Merlo, a backstage tour, watch the performance from the Stage Manager’s booth and listen via headset as the crew calls the show, followed by a meet-and-greet with the cast and crew.

Additionally, Takeshi Kata’s stunning flowers which were featured in the scenic design of last season’s production of The Tempest will also be available for purchase. Each flower comes with a certificate of authenticity and a reproduction of the Scenic Designer’s rendering.

Tickets for BEHIND THE CURTAIN cost $250 per person and are currently available by calling Steppenwolf’s Special Events Department at 312-654-5632 or specialevents@steppenwolf.org.

“When we set out to create a new event for Steppenwolf Theatre last year, our goal was to break the traditional fundraising model,” comments BEHIND THE CURTAIN Chair Greg Desmond. “We began by selecting an interactive party venue: the Steppenwolf Scene Shop which houses 34 years of production treasures. In addition to raising funds for one of the nation’s leading theaters, BEHIND THE CURTAIN will also offer attendees an opportunity to mix and mingle with the industry’s top artists on the sets of some of our most memorable productions,“ adds Desmond.

The BEHIND THE CURTAIN Event Committee includes Greg Desmond (Chair), J. Robert Barr, Chris Broyles, Beth Boosalis Davis, M. Julie and Michael Gustafson, Michael J. Kennedy, Michael T. Noonan and Carrie Schloss.

Rubloff Residential Properties is the Corporate Sponsor of BEHIND THE CURTAIN. Additional contributions from: AlphaGraphics, Chicagoland Transportation Solutions, Inc., Frost, Grey Goose, Goose Island Brew Pub, Limelight Catering, V.I.P Valet Service and United Airlines.

• Name of event: Behind the Curtain
• Date: Saturday, October 10, 2009
• Time: 7:00 p.m.
• Location: Steppenwolf Scene Shop, 1010 N. Kolmar Ave.
• Description: A unique, behind-the-scenes experience at Steppenwolf’s scene shop including tours, cocktails, food, a silent auction and raffle.
• Ticket price: $250 per person. To purchase tickets, contact Steppenwolf’s Special

Events Department at 312-654-5632 or specialevents@steppenwolf.org.

About Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon.

The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting and textual adaptation.

For additional information, please visit steppenwolf.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

David Rosenberg, 312-654-5656
Communications Director, Steppenwolf Theatre Co.
drosenberg@steppenwolf.org

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Presents First Ever “Behind the Curtain” Fundraiser Saturday, October 10 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The production, featuring Belinda Cervantes, Gina Cornejo, Sandra Delgado, Liza Fernandez, Ricardo Gutierrez,Christina Nieves, Tony Sancho and Mari Stratton runs October 13 – November 1, 2009 in the Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. Weekday matinees (Tuesdays – Fridays) are reserved for school groups, with all additional performances available to the public.

The press performance is Saturday, October 17 at 3pm.

Based on the celebrated novel by Chicago writer Sandra Cisneros and infused with lively original music, The House on Mango Street recounts a young girl’s colorful memories of growing up in one of Chicago’s culturally diverse neighborhoods. Esperanza Cordero dreams of life far away from her tiny home on rundown Mango Street in this unforgettable coming-of-age story about the universal experiences that shape who we are and what we believe.

The novel The House on Mango Street was featured as the Spring 2009 selection for the Chicago Public Library’s One Book, One Chicago initiative. Steppenwolf’s partnership with the Chicago Public Library encourages Chicagoans not only to read the admired work by Chicago writer Sandra Cisneros, but also to enjoy it on stage in a world premiere adaptation.

Tanya Saracho is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Teatro Luna, Chicago’s All-Latina Theater Ensemble and a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists and Teatro Vista. Her plays include Our Lady of the Underpass, Jarred: A Hoodoo Comedy and Kita y Fernanda. Born and raised in Chicago, Sandra Cisneros is the award-winning author of numerous works including Bad Boys, My Wicked Wicked Ways, Loose Women, Women Hollering Creek and Other Stories, Hairs/Pelitos, Caramelo and

Vintage Cisneros. This year, Cisneros is publishing a special 25^th anniversary edition of The House on Mango Street.

The House on Mango Street design team includes: Collette Pollard (sets), Christine Pascual (costumes), J.R. Lederle(lights), Tamara Roberts (original music composition), Kevin O’Donnell (sound) and Joel Valentin-Martinez (choreography). Christine D. Freeburg is the stage manager and Deb Styer is the assistant stage manager.

Title: The House on Mango Street

Adaptor:Tanya Saracho

Based on the novel: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Directed by: Hallie Gordon

Featuring: Belinda Cervantes (Lucy, Sally, Sister), Gina Cornejo(Nenny, Avenue Boy, Sister),Sandra Delgado (Esperanza), Liza Fernandez (Cathy, Alicia, Rafaela, Sister, Woman), Ricardo Gutierrez (Papa, Uncle Nacho, Alicia’s Father, Mr. Benny), Christina Nieves (Rachel, Marin), Tony Sancho (Carlos, Tito, Marin’s Boyfriend, Cousin by First Communion, Man), and Mari Stratton (Mama, Mamacita, Very Fat Lady, Woman with Tiny Feet).

Location: Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted Street

Dates: October 13 – November 1, 2009

Press Preview: Saturday, October 17 at 3 p.m.

Public Performances:

• Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturdays at 3:00 & 7:30 p.m.
• Sundays at 3:00 p.m.

Weekday matinee performances are available for school groups only (Tuesdays- Fridays at 10 a.m.)

Ticket Price: $20 ($15 student tickets available via phone/box office)

Audience Services: 1650 N. Halsted, (312) 335-1650

Online ticketing available at steppenwolf.org.

For information on Steppenwolf for Young Adult weekday school performances, contact the SYA Education Associate at (312) 654-5639.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults’ unique approach combines play production with educational components to enhance arts education for young audiences, as well as their teachers and families. SYA creates two full-scale professional productions each season specifically for teens.

Working closely with the Chicago Public and metropolitan area schools and other community partners, SYA annually ensures access to the theater for more than 15,000 participants from Chicago’s diverse communities. The initiative also includes post-show discussions with artists; classroom residencies led by Steppenwolf-trained teaching artists in more than 30 classrooms in 14 public high schools; professional development workshops for educators; and the Young Adult Council, an innovative year-round after school initiative that uniquely engages high school students in all areas of the theater’s operations.

Corporate support for The House on Mango Street is provided by American Express. Fidelity Investments is the Corporate Sponsor of Steppenwolf for Young Adults and the Fidelity Investments Inspire the Future Award. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Kraft Foods are Corporate Sponsors of Steppenwolf for Young Adults. Target is the Sponsor of the Target 2-for-1 Sunday Matinees.

The House on Mango Street was developed as part of Steppenwolf’s New Plays Initiative. Steppenwolf is recognized as a national leader in the development and production of new work for the American canon. Through this initiative, the company maintains ongoing relationships with writers of international prominence and rigorously discovers and supports the work of early and mid-career playwrights.

Steppenwolf is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. Street and lot parking are available. Assistive listening devices are available for every performance in the Upstairs or Downstairs Theatres.

About Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon.

The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting and textual adaptation. For additional information, please visit steppenwolf.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

David Rosenberg, 312-654-5656
Communications Director, Steppenwolf Theatre Co.
drosenberg@steppenwolf.org

Steppenwolf for Young Adults Begins Its 2009-2010 Season with World Premiere of “The House on Mango Street” Oct. 13 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

American Buffalo features ensemble members Francis Guinan and Tracy Letts with Patrick Andrews. American Buffalo plays Dec. 3, 2009 – Feb. 7, 2010 in Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.

The press performance is Saturday, December 12 at 3pm.

(left to right) Ensemble members Tracy Letts and Francis Guinan.

In a cluttered, run-down Chicago junk shop, three small-time crooks plot to steal a valuable buffalo nickel. As the heist unravels, the men’s frustration and paranoia intensify.  Ensemble member Amy Morton directs this groundbreaking American play that weaves humor and menace throughout an emotionally charged struggle for identity and dominance.

World-renowned playwright and Chicago-area native David Mamet has a successful writing and directing career in theatre, film and television.  Steppenwolf has produced Mamet’s productions of The Water Engine and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Glengarry Glen Ross (also directed by ensemble member Amy Morton).  Amy Morton received a 2008 Best Actress Tony^® nomination for Steppenwolf’s August: Osage County on Broadway.  Her Steppenwolf directing credits include Dublin Carol, The Weir, The Pillowman, Love-Lies-Bleeding (also Kennedy Center) and Glengarry Glen Ross (also Dublin and Toronto).

The design team for American Buffalo includes: Kevin Depinet (sets), Nan Cibula-Jenkins (costumes), Pat Collins (lights) and Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen (sound and original music).  Malcolm Ewen is the Stage Manager and Christine D. Freeburg is the Assistant Stage Manager.

• Title: American Buffalo
• Playwright: David Mamet
• Director: Ensemble member Amy Morton
• Featuring: Ensemble members Francis Guinan (Don),Tracy Letts (Teach), Patrick Andrews (Bob).
• Location: Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.
• Previews: December 3–12, 2009
• Press performance: Saturday, Dec. 12 at 3pm.
• Opening: Sunday, December 13 at 6pm.
• Regular Run: December 15, 2009 – February 7, 2010
• Curtain Times: Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30pm. (Sunday evening performances through January 10 only) Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3pm. Wednesday matinees on January 13, 20 & 27 and February 3 at 2pm.

Note: There are no 7:30pm performances on Sunday, December 13, Tuesday, December 8, Thursday, December 24 (Christmas Eve), Friday, December 25 (Christmas Day) and Friday, January 1 (New Year’s Day); there is no 3:00 p.m. performance on Sunday, December 13.

• Ticket prices: Previews: $20-$53; Regular Run: $20-$77

Twenty $20 tickets are available at Audience Services beginning at 11:00 a.m. on the day of each performance (1:00 p.m. for Sunday performances).  Half-price rush tickets are available one hour before each show.  Student discounts available.

• Audience Services: 1650 N. Halsted St., 312-335-1650

Online ticketing available at steppenwolf.org

The American Buffalo Wine Tasting Night: Enjoy wine and food pairings from Vinci Restaurant while our DJ spins tunes in our balcony lobby:  Wednesday, December 23 at 6pm. Tasting and performance cost $60 per person.  For tickets and additional information, contact Audience Services.

The American Buffalo MaTEENée performance for high school students will be held on Saturday, February 6 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets cost $15 and include: a ticket to the performance, lunch and a post-show discussion with actors featured in the production – hosted by Steppenwolf’s Young Adults Council.

Free post-show discussions are offered after every performance.

United Airlines is the corporate production sponsor of American Buffalo.

Steppenwolf is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible.  Street and lot parking are available.  Assistive listening devices are available for every performance.

American Buffalo is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

About the Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon.

The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work.  Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting and textual adaptation.  For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf Continues Its 2009-2010 Season With the Amy Morton-Directed “American Buffalo” Beginning Dec. 3 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Sandra Delgado, Belinda Cervantes and Christina Nieves.

Based on the novel The House on Mango Street by celebrated Chicago writer Sandra Cisneros, Mango Street is the touching and humorous story of a young girl growing up in one of Chicago’s Latino neighborhoods. Esperanza Cordero dreams of a new life far away from her tiny home on rundown Mango Street in this classic coming-of-age story about those defining experiences that shape our beliefs and help us discover who we are.

The novel The House on Mango Street was featured as the Spring 2009 selection for the Chicago Public Library’s One Book, One Chicago initiative. Steppenwolf’s partnership with the Chicago Public Library encourages Chicagoans not only to read the admired work by Chicago writer Sandra Cisneros, but also to enjoy it on stage in a world premiere adaptation.

Tanya Saracho is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Teatro Luna, Chicago’s All-Latina Theater Ensemble and a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists and Teatro Vista. Her plays include Our Lady of the Underpass, Jarred: A Hoodoo Comedy and Kita y Fernanda. Born and raised in Chicago, Sandra Cisneros is the award-winning author of numerous works including Bad Boys, My Wicked Wicked Ways, Loose Women, Women Hollering Creek and Other Stories, Hairs/Pelitos, Caramelo and Vintage Cisneros. This year, Cisneros is publishing a special 25th anniversary edition of The House on Mango Street.

The Mango Street design team includes: Collette Pollard (sets), Christine Pascual (costumes), J.R. Lederle (lights), Tamara Roberts (original music composition) and Victoria Delorio (sound). Chris Freeburg is the stage manager.

Featuring: Belinda Cervantes (Lucy, Sally), Gina Cornejo (Nenny, Avenue Boy), Sandra Delgado (Esperanza), Liza Fernandez (Alicia, Cathy, Rafaela), Ricardo Gutierrez (Papa, Uncle Nacho, Mr. Benny, Alicia’s Father), Christina Nieves (Rachel, Marin), Tony Sancho (Tito, Carlos, Bum, Marin’s Boyfriend, Man, Heckler), and Mari Stratton (Mama, Woman with Tiny Feet, Big Woman, Mamacita).

Location: Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted

Dates: October 13 – November 1, 2009

Public Performances: Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 3:00 & 7:30pm; Sundays at 3pm.

Weekday matinee performances are available for school groups only (Tuesdays- Fridays at 10am)

Ticket Price: $20 ($15 student tickets available via phone/box office)

Audience Services: 1650 N. Halsted, (312) 335-1650

Online ticketing available at steppenwolf.org.

For information on Steppenwolf for Young Adult weekday school performances, contact the SYA Education Associate at 312-654-5639.

About Steppenwolf for Young Adults

Steppenwolf for Young Adults’ unique approach combines play production with educational components to enhance arts education for young audiences, as well as their teachers and families. SYA creates two full-scale professional productions each season specifically for teens.

Working closely with the Chicago Public and metropolitan area schools and other community partners, SYA annually ensures access to the theater for more than 15,000 participants from Chicago’s diverse communities.

The initiative also includes post-show discussions with artists; classroom residencies led by Steppenwolf-trained teaching artists in more than 30 classrooms in 14 public high schools; professional development workshops for educators; and the Young Adult Council, an innovative year-round after school initiative that uniquely engages high school students in all areas of the theater’s operations.

Corporate support for Mango Street is provided by American Express.

Target is the Sponsor of the Target 2-for-1 Sunday Matinees.

Mango Street was developed as part of Steppenwolf’s New Plays Initiative. Steppenwolf is recognized as a national leader in the development and production of new work for the American canon. Through this initiative, The company maintains ongoing relationships with writers of international prominence and rigorously discovers and supports the work of early and mid-career playwrights.

Steppenwolf is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. Street and lot parking are available. Assistive listening devices are available for every performance in the Upstairs or Downstairs Theatres.

About the Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon.

The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting, filmmaking and textual adaptation. For additional information, please visit steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf For Young Adults Launches 2009-2010 Season With “The House on Mango Street” Beginning October 13 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

“We are thrilled to welcome these three innovative Chicago theatre companies to produce in a new rotating repertory model under the Visiting Company Initiative,” comments Artistic Director Martha Lavey.  “In response to the current challenges facing emerging theatre companies, we are happy to be handing over Steppenwolf’s Garage Theatre as a collaborative space for their work.  We also look forward to being in conversation with these emerging artists and their audiences next season as the productions at Steppenwolf, including those of these companies in residence, explore the power of belief and its ability to illuminate what’s authentic in our lives,” adds Lavey.

Dog & Pony Theatre Company presents  “The Twins Would Like To Say”
a new play written and directed by Seth Bockley and Devon de Mayo

A promenade performance that breathes life into the extraordinary true story of identical twins June and Jennifer Gibbons.  The young girls made a secret and powerful pact that went unbroken for over 20 years: speak to no adult, decide everything together, do everything in unison. But in the privacy of their room, the girls’ fantasy life blossomed as they wrote hyper-kinetic novels of teenage lust and rebellion.

Pavement Group presents “punkplay”
by Gregory Moss, directed by David Perez

A sonic mix-tape frames the story of two boys stuck in suburban 80′s adolescence.  When Duck and Mickey discover punk roc, it’s like nothing they’ve ever heard:  it’s fast, it’s hot and it’s angry.  The boys find punk in all its righteous fury a self-defining belief system in a world where everyone thinks, looks and talks the same.

Thirteen Pocket presents “Adore”
written and directed by Stephen Louis Grush

Two desperate men find each other over the internet, beginning a complex and strange relationship until finally they meet… both fulfilling each other’s ultimate fantasies.  Based on the disturbing true events that made headlines, Adore explores how self-loathing leads these two men through a sexual underworld of fetish chat rooms and cannibalism, as they search for a kind of love incomprehensible to the rest of society.

About The Companies:

Founded in 2002, Dog & Pony Theatre Company is committed to producing vital works by new and emerging playwrights whose use of language and convention are daring and highly imaginative. As an eclectic collective of artists with backgrounds in theatre, public broadcasting, political activism and religious studies, Dog & Pony is particularly drawn to work with social and cultural relevance.  Krissy Vanderwarker, Artistic Director.  dogandponychicago.org.

Pavement Group commits itself to providing dynamic performance opportunities for the next generation of theatre artists, arts managers and audiences. We dedicate ourselves to new plays. Pavement Group endeavors to make contact with an audience previously unspoken to. The company strives to lay the foundation-both pragmatic and institutional-that fosters fresh plays and makes contact with new audiences. Through development, dramaturgy, and the pairing of playwrights and directors, Pavement Group provides the artistic and practical atmosphere needed for great plays to reach fruition.  David Perez, Aristic Director.  pavementgroup.org.

Thirteen Pocket is a vehicle for the development and offering of original works.  We will explore all mediums of artistic communication in the pursuit of a more specific and individual connection with as many members of our community as possible.  With this endeavor, we plan to investigate the necessity of all art forms and their ability to evoke change.  Our want is to assault apathy with a deep conviction, and to ignite in those around us the need for action.  Stephen Louis Grush, Artistic Director.
thirteenpocket.com.

About Steppenwolf’s Visiting Companies Initiative

Steppenwolf’s Visiting Companies Initiative provides the opportunity for other theater companies to present work in all three of Steppenwolf’s theaters.  These residencies are supported by the artists and staff at Steppenwolf and help create relationships with visiting companies, enriching the artistic dialogue among its artists and audiences.

Support for this project comes through the “Leading for the Future Initiative,” a program of the Nonprofit  Finance Fund, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon.

The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work.  Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting and textual adaptation.

For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf’s Visiting Companies Initiative Presents Three Productions February 2010 From Dog & Pony Theatre, Pavement Group and Thirteen Pocket | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The press performance is Tuesday, September 22 at 7:30 p.m.

In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigateshow “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth.

Ensemble member Eric Simonson recently completed a documentary on the late Studs Terkel for HBO. Simonson received a Tony® nomination for his direction of Steppenwolf’s The Song of Jacob Zulu with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and directed an Oscar®-nominated documentary about the acclaimed South African singing group. Simonson received an Oscar® for Best Documentary Short for his film A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin in 2006. Other directing credits at Steppenwolf include Honest (also playwright), Carter’s Way (also playwright), Slaughterhouse-Five (also adaptor) and Nomathemba (Hope).

The design team for Fake includes: Todd Rosenthal (sets), Karin Kopischke (costumes), Joe Appelt (lights) and Barry Funderburg (sound and composition). Michelle Medvin is the Stage Manager and Kathleen Petroziello is the Assistant Stage Manager.

• Title: Fake
• Playwright/Director: ensemble member Eric Simonson
• Featuring: ensemble members Kate Arrington (Rebecca Eastman, Katarina Meras), Francis Guinan (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Jonathan Cole) and Alan Wilder (Richard Woodbury, Paul Moody) with Coburn Goss (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Doug Arnt) and Larry Yando (Charles Dawson, Henry Billings).
• Location: Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.
• Dates: Previews: September 10 – 19, 2009
• Opening: Sunday, September 20 at 6:00 p.m.
• Press performance: Tuesday, September 22 at 7:30 p.m.
• Regular Run: September 22 – November 8, 2009

Curtain Times:

• Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30 p.m.
• (Sunday evening performances through October 18 only)
• Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m.
• Wednesday matinees on October 21, 28 and Nov. 4 at 2:00 p.m.
• Note: there is no 7:30 p.m. performance on Tuesday, Sept. 15; there is no 3:00 p.m. performance on Sunday, Sept. 20.
• Ticket prices: Previews: $20-$48
• Regular Run: $20-$70
• Twenty $20 tickets are available at Audience Services beginning at 11:00 a.m. on the day of each performance (1:00 p.m. for Sunday performances). Half-price rush tickets are available one hour before each show. Student discounts available.

Audience Services: 1650 N. Halsted, 312-335-1650

Online ticketing available at steppenwolf.org

The Fake Wine Tasting Night: Enjoy wine and food pairings from Vinci Restaurant while our DJ spins tunes in our balcony lobby: Wednesday, September 30 at 6pm. Tasting and performance cost $60 per person. For tickets and additional information, contact Audience Services.

Free post-show discussions are offered after every performance.

Harris Bank is the production sponsor of Fake.

Steppenwolf is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. Street and lot parking are available. Assistive listening devices are available for every performance.

Fake was developed as part of Steppenwolf’s New Plays Initiative. Steppenwolf is recognized as a national leader in the development and production of new work for the American canon. Through this initiative, the company maintains ongoing relationships with writers of international prominence and rigorously discovers and supports the work of early and mid-career playwrights.

Steppenwolf’s New Plays Initiative is generously sponsored by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, the Zell Family Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and members of the Directors Circle.

Fake was originally commissioned by the Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director, Barry Grove, Executive Producer with funds provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

About Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon.

The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting and textual adaptation. For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

David Rosenberg, 312-654-5656
drosenberg@steppenwolf.org
Communications Director
Steppenwolf Theatre Co.

Steppenwolf Theatre Presents “Fake,” A New Play Written and Directed by Ensemble Member Eric Simonson | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

First Look Repertory of New Work runs July 22 – Aug. 9, 2009 in The Merle Reskin Garage Theatre, 1624 N. Halsted St. All tickets are $20.

The First Look Repertory of New Work 2009 productions:

• Honest
  Written and directed by ensemble member Eric Simonson
  Wednesday, July 22 – Sunday, August 9, 2009

  Featuring Martin McClendon, Katherine Cunningham, Erik Hellman, Lucas Neff and Kelly O’Sullivan.

  Guy, author of a best-selling memoir about his downward spiral into drug addiction and homelessness, comes face-to-face with a prying reporter, snooping for a scandal. Their tense showdown over truth versus creative license leads to shocking revelations that could jeopardize both their livelihoods.

• Sex with Strangers
  By Laura Eason
  Directed by associate artist Jessica Thebus
  Thursday, July 23 – Sunday, August 9, 2009

  Featuring Amy J. Carle and Stephen Louis Grush.Ethan Strange is a hot young scenester whose online journal of sexscapades have turned him into the “it” boy of the blogosphere. Olivia is an attractive 30-something whose own writing career has crapped out. After they hook up, sex turns into dating and dating into something more—but their online exploits threaten to destroy their real-life connection.

• Ski Dubai
  By Laura Jacqmin
  Directed by Lisa Portes
  Friday, July 24 – Sunday, August 9, 2009

  Featuring ensemble member James Vincent Meredith with Cliff Chamberlain, Hillary Clemens, Jennifer Coombs, Sadieh Rifai and Rani Waterman.

  Rachel, a young Environmental Friendliness Consultant, moves from New York to steamy Dubai to work on a man-made island teeming with skyscrapers and luxury hotels. Trying to uphold her “green” principles in a hotbed of capitalism, she navigates a stream of quirky displaced internationals battling loneliness and isolation in a flashy, modern pseudo-city.

The First Look 2009 Playwrights

Laura Eason is the author of more than 15 plays, both original works and adaptations. Previous productions at Steppenwolf include When the Messenger is Hot (also at 59E59, NYC), A Tale of Two Cities and Huck Finn. Her plays have been produced and developed in New York at New York Theatre Workshop, WET, New Georges, MCC, Andhow and Vital Theatre and produced regionally at Lookingglass, Walkabout, Two River Theater and Theatre Schmeater. Laura is an Affiliated Artist of New Georges and a playwright member of the Women’s Project Lab in New York and an Ensemble Member and the former Artistic Director of Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago.

Laura Jacqmin is the winner of the 2008 Wasserstein Prize, a $25,000 award for emerging female playwrights. Her plays have been produced and developed with Ars Nova, 2econd Stage Theatre, Aurora Theatre Company, Victory Gardens Theater and The 24 Hour Plays Off Broadway at the Atlantic Theater. Jacqmin will be the artist-in-residence at the Center on Age and Community in Milwaukee this fall and is an adjunct faculty member at Carthage College.

Eric Simonson, a Steppenwolf ensemble member since 1993, recently completed a documentary on the late Studs Terkel for HBO. He received a Tony® nomination for his direction of Steppenwolf’s The Song of Jacob Zulu with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and directed an Oscar®-nominated documentary about the acclaimed South African singing group. Simonson received an Oscar® for Best Documentary Short for his film A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin in 2006. Other directing credits at Steppenwolf include Carter’s Way (also playwright), Slaughterhouse-Five (also adaptor) and Nomathemba (Hope). His new play Fake will be presented during Steppenwolf’s 2009-2010 Season.

The designers for First Look 2009 are: Kevin Depinet (sets), Myron Elliott (costumes), J.R. Lederle (lights) and Joseph Fosco (sound). Jonathan Templeton is the Lead Stage Manager, Jonathan Nook and Lauren Hickman are the Stage Managers, Kimberly Senior and Ed Sobel are the Program Directors and Whitney Dibo is the Program Assistant.

The First Look Repertory of New Work also includes First Look 101, a unique three-month experience that takes enrolled participants on a backstage journey through all aspects of the new play development process – from the first rehearsal to the final performance. The program is limited to 101 members and is open to anyone interested in, and wanting to know more about, creating new plays. First Look 101 runs June 1, 2009 – August 9, 2009. This year’s First Look 101 is SOLD OUT.

First Look Repertory of New Work is a developmental process that culminates in performance before an audience, rather than in a staged reading or workshop presentation. Scripts undergo significant revision during the workshop/rehearsal process and may be revised even after being publicly presented during First Look. They are presented with full, if minimal, design support because in Steppenwolf’s view, the design process is an integral aspect of play development. The intent is to prime the plays for future production at other theaters across the country.

First Look has gained both local and national recognition since its inception in 2005. Seven of the twelve plays presented during First Look’s first four seasons have enjoyed subsequent world premieres at other theaters, including: Jason Wells’ Perfect Mendacity produced at Asolo Repertory Theatre in Florida; Wells’ Men of Tortuga also at Asolo (followed by a second production at Profiles Theater in Chicago); Butcher of Baraboo by Marisa Wegrzyn produced by 2econd Stage Theatre in New York; 100 Saints You Should Know by Kate Fodor produced by Playwrights Horizons in New York; Spare Change by Mia McCullough produced by Stage Left Theatre in Chicago; Gary by Melinda Lopez produced by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre in Massachusetts; and When The Messenger is Hot by Laura Eason produced by 59E59 Theaters in New York.

Individual tickets to First Look Repertory of New Work cost $20. A First Look Pass to all three plays is available for $45. Tickets are available at www.steppenwolf.org or by calling Audience Services at 312-335-1650. First Look 101 costs $75 ($45 for students with valid ID) and includes access to all First Look 101 events, plus tickets to all three First Look Repertory productions. This year’s First Look 101 is SOLD OUT.

Visit steppenwolf.org for more information on the First Look Repertory or New Work.

Steppenwolf is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. Street and lot parking are available. Assistive listening devices are available for every performance.

Special thanks to The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for supporting new American plays at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and for their sponsorship of the First Look Repertory of New Work.

About the Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon.

The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting, filmmaking and textual adaptation.

MEDIA CONTACT:

David Rosenberg, 312-654-5656
drosenberg@steppenwolf.org
Communications Director
Steppenwolf Theatre Co.

Steppenwolf Presents Fifth Annual First Look Repertory of New Work: “Honest,” “Sex with Strangers” and “Ski Dubai” July 22 – August 9 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The Broadway cast includes Steppenwolf ensemble members Jon Michael Hill, Yasen Peyankov and James Vincent Meredith with Jane Alderman, Kate Buddeke, Cliff Chamberlain, Michael Garvey, Robert Maffia and Michael McKean. Superior Donuts is written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning ensemble member Tracy Letts and directed by ensemble member Tina Landau. The play enjoyed a sold-out, world-premiere at Steppenwolf Theatre Company last summer.

Superior Donuts will follow Letts’ Tony Award-winning play August: Osage County (which had also its sold-out, world-premiere at Steppenwolf) into The Music Box Theatre (239 West 45^th Street) with previews beginning Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009 and an official opening on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. Tickets for Superior Donuts are on sale through Telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200. The Music Theatre box office will open on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009.  Superior Donuts will perform Tuesdays at 7pm, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2pm and Sundays at 3pm.

Arthur Przybyszewski owns a decrepit donut shop in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. Franco Wicks, a black teenager who is his only employee, wants to change the shop for the better. This provocative comedy, set in the heart of one of Chicago’s most diverse communities, explores the challenges of embracing the past and the redemptive power of friendship.

The Steppenwolf production of Superior Donuts is produced on Broadway by Jeffrey Richards, Jean Doumanian, Steve Traxler and Jerry Frankel, the producing team behind Steppenwolf’s August: Osage County.

About the Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon.

The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting, filmmaking and textual adaptation.  For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

David Rosenberg, 312-654-5656
drosenberg@steppenwolf.org
Communications Director
Steppenwolf Theatre Co.

Full Casting Announced for Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s Production of Superior Donuts | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Guests at this inaugural fundraising event will experience a unique, behind-the-scenes look at Steppenwolf’s backstage production “secrets.”

BEHIND THE CURTAIN will include appetizers, cocktails and a unique silent auction featuring the stunning flowers displayed in The Tempest, autographed items from other Steppenwolf productions including August: Osage County and exclusive backstage experiences at Steppenwolf. Guests can also enter a raffle to win the opportunity to experience a Steppenwolf production through the eyes and ears of our production team.

Tickets for BEHIND THE CURTAIN cost $250 per person and are currently available by calling Steppenwolf’s Special Events Department at 312-654-5632 or specialevents@steppenwolf.org.

• Name of event: Behind the Curtain
• Date: Saturday, October 10, 2009
• Time: 7pm
• Location: Steppenwolf Scene Shop, 1010 N. Kolmar Ave.
• What: A unique, behind-the-scenes experience at Steppenwolf’s scene shop including tours, cocktails, food, a silent auction and raffle.
• Ticket price: $250 per person. To purchase tickets, contact Steppenwolf’s Special Events Department at 312-654-5632 or specialevents@steppenwolf.org.

The BEHIND THE CURTAIN Event Committee includes Greg Desmond (Chair), J. Robert Barr, Chris Broyles, Beth Boosalis Davis, M. Julie and Michael Gustafson, Michael J. Kennedy, Michael T. Noonan and Carrie Schloss.

About the Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon.

The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work.  Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting, filmmaking and textual adaptation.  For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

David Rosenberg, 312-654-5656
drosenberg@steppenwolf.org
Communications Director
Steppenwolf Theatre Co.

Learn the Backstage Prodution Secrets of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company During its “Behind the Curtain” Fundraiser | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Mr. McKean originated the role during Superior Donuts’ sold-out, world premiere at Steppenwolf last summer. Full casting will be announced shortly.

Superior Donuts will follow Letts’ Tony Award-winning play August: Osage County (which also had its world-premiere at Steppenwolf) into The Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street) with previews beginning Wednesday, September 16, 2009 and an official opening on Thursday, October 1, 2009. Tickets for Superior Donuts are on sale through Telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200. The Music Theatre box office will open on Wednesday, August 19, 2009.

Arthur Przybyszewski owns a decrepit donut shop in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. Franco Wicks, a black teenager who is his only employee, wants to change the shop for the better. This provocative comedy, set in the heart of one of Chicago’s most diverse communities, explores the challenges of embracing the past and the redemptive power of friendship.

Michael McKean most recently appeared on Broadway in the critically acclaimed 2008 revival of Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming, for which he received a Drama Desk award for Best Ensemble. His other Broadway credits include the 2006 Tony Award winning revival of The Pajama Game, Accomplice (Theatre World Award) and Hairspray. Off-Broadway: Woody Allen’s A Second Hand Memory. London: Love Song. TV: Series regular on Laverne & Shirley, Dream On, Sessions, Tracy Takes On, Saturday Night Live, Primetime Glick. Guest appearances include Friends, The X Files, The Simpsons, Law & Order, Smallville, Alias, Boston Legal. Film: This is Spinal Tap (also co-wrote), Clue, Coneheads, The Brady Bunch Movie, True Crime, Jack, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration, Joshua, The Grand, many more. Composed music for several of the above and co-wrote (with Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy) the Grammy-winning theme to A Mighty Wind and the Oscar-nominated “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow,” written with wife Annette O’Toole.

Tracy Letts (Playwright) received the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for best Play for his critically-acclaimed play August: Osage County, which played for more than a year and a half on Broadway following sold-out runs at Steppenwolf in 2007 and the National Theatre in London in 2008. Mr. Letts is also the author of Man from Nebraska, which was produced at Steppenwolf in 2003 and was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize; Killer Joe, which has been produced in Chicago, London and New York; and Bug, which has played in New York, Chicago and London.

Tina Landau (Director) most recently directed The Tempest and Tracy Letts’ Superior Donuts at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, where she is an ensemble member, as well as The Time of Your Life (also Seattle Rep, A.C.T.), The Diary of Anne Frank, The Cherry Orchard, and Charles Mee’s Berlin Circle and Time to Burn, among others. She recently directed the world premieres of Tarell McCraney’s In the Red and Brown Water at the Alliance and McCarter Theaters, Paula Vogel’s A Civil War Christmas at Long Wharf Theatre and the Off-Broadway premiere of McCraney’s Wig Out! at the Vineyard Theatre. Tina’s work as a writer and director include Of Thee I Sing (Paper Mill Playhouse), Beauty (La Jolla Playhouse), Space (Steppenwolf, NY’s Public Theatre, Mark Taper Forum), Stonewall (En Garde Arts), 1969 (Actors Theater of Louisville), Floyd Collins with composer Adam Guettel (Playwrights Horizons, Prince Music Theatre, Old Globe, the Goodman) and Dream True with composer Ricky Ian Gordon (Vineyard Theater). Other directing credits include Iphigenia 2.0 (Signature), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (McCarter/PaperMill), and the Broadway revival of Bells Are Ringing. Ms. Landau teaches at Yale School of Drama and is the co-author, with Anne Bogart, of The Viewpoints Book.

The Steppenwolf production of Superior Donuts is produced on Broadway by Jeffrey Richards, Jean Doumanian, Steve Traxler and Jerry Frankel, the producing team behind Steppenwolf’s August: Osage County.

About Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon. The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting, filmmaking and textual adaptation. For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

David Rosenberg, 312-654-5656
drosenberg@steppenwolf.org

Michael McKean to Star in Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s Broadway Production of Superior Donuts | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.