The 2019 Christopher Durang Season continues with the farcical comedy,
Beyond Therapy
July 14 – August 18
*Beyond Therapy runs approximately two hours, with one ten-minute intermission.*
The 2019 Christopher Durang Season continues with the farcical comedy, Beyond Therapy. Bruce and Prudence are deeply into therapy. Prudence’s macho therapist is urging her to be more assertive, while Bruce’s wacky female therapist wants him to meet women by placing a personal ad. She does not fully comprehend that Bruce has a male lover who is not pleased by Bruce’s desire to date a woman. Bruce doesn’t know how to handle poor, nervous Prudence, and Prudence doesn’t know what to make of her unpredictable new boyfriend. They do learn to live beyond therapy in this comedic play. The cast includes Eclipse Ensemble Member Joe McCauley (Stuart). Guest Artists Lynne Baker (Charlotte), Siddhartha Rajan (Bob), Nick Freed (Bruce), Devi Reisenfeld (Prudence), Alex Rocha (Waiter), Kathy Burke (Understudy), Kevin O’Connell (Understudy), Glenn Garrabrant (Understudy), Jordan Tragash (Understudy), Elizabeth Wigley (Understudy) and Brandon Boler (Understudy).
Eclipse Theatre Company, the only Midwest theatre company to feature one playwright in one season, will continue their 2019 Christopher Durang Season this summer with a production of Beyond Therapy, with Rachel Lambert directing.
Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago, IL 60657
Some street parking; Wellington El stop (Brown). Pay and Display parking at Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church lots on Southport and on Oakdale. Disability accessible. Opening: Sunday, July 14, 2019, 3 p.m. (reception following) Previews Thursday-Saturday, July 11-13, at 7:30 p.m. Runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Closes Sunday, August 18, 2019 TICKETS: 773-935-6875, Athenaeum Box Office (open noon to last curtain, Wednesday-Sunday)
Online tickets at www.eclipsetheatre.com $30 for all regular performances (half-price rush tickets available) $20 for previews; $10 for industry members at previews with headshot/card $20 for each ticket in groups of ten or more, and for seniors (with ID) $20 for students (with ID)
CAST: Eclipse Ensemble Member Joe McCauley (Stuart). Guest Artists Lynne Baker (Charlotte), Johnard Washington (Bob), Nick Freed (Bruce), Devi Reisenfeld (Prudence), Alex Rocha (Waiter), Kathy Burke (Understudy), Kevin O’Connell (Understudy), Glenn Garrabrant (Understudy), Jordan Tragash (Understudy). STAFF: Eclipse Ensemble Members Zach Bloomfield (Casting Director), Ashley Bowman (Production Manager), Rachel Lambert (Director), Kevin Scott (Managing Director), Zach Wagner (Costume Designer). Guest Artists Kaycee Filson (Props), Matt Sharp (Lighting Designer), Sam Rausch (Set Designer), Corey Bradberry (Stage Manager), Sam Meyers (Assistant Stage Manager) and Alec Dickson (Sound Designer)
NEXT: The 2019 Christopher Durang Season will finish with Why Torture is Wrong, and the People who Love Them, directed by Eclipse Ensemble Member Steve Scott, opening in November 2019.
FUNDERS: The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and Eclipse Theatre’s many individual donors.
INFO: Eclipse Theatre Company presents the work of one playwright each season. Eclipse offers the audience an opportunity, unique in the Midwest, to journey through the playwright's works. Join Eclipse in exploring the breadth and depth of one playwright's artistic worlds.
One playwright, one season, one illuminating journey. Eclipse Theatre Company, 312-625-0422 info@eclipsetheatre.com, www.eclipsetheatre.com
Here at ChiIL Live Shows, Clutch has been a top favorite of ours for decades. We're thrilled they're still releasing new material and kickass covers, and we make a point to catch them live whenever they're playing close to home. We've even been known to road trip out a few states to see them in action, and we've spent two memorable new years eves shooting the band. I've interviewed frontman, Neil Fallon, and shot them from the photo pit more times than I can count. Check out this stellar tribute to the enduring genius of ZZ Top. Then check out the summer tour dates below and go already. "It should be fairly obvious by now that Clutch are huge fans of ZZ Top” states vocalist Neil Fallon. “They’re a band that we grew up listening to - and we still listen to them to this day. ‘Precious & Grace’, from their classic Tres Hombres LP, is easily one of our favorite ZZ Top songs and that’s really the only story behind the choice.” Clutch announce the release of “Precious And Grace”. The single is the second in a series of new studio recordings that comprise the newly launched Weathermaker Vault Series and the first new official music Clutch is making available since the release of their critically acclaimed album, Book Of Bad Decisions. Future tracks will follow as part of the new series throughout the 2nd half of 2019. These songs are bound to become another classic milestone in the band's stellar career. “Precious And Grace” was mixed by 6X Grammy Award winner and Clutch collaborator, Vance Powell (Wolfmother, The Raconteurs,Arctic Monkeys).
Check out the video here:
Clutch has curated their own Spotify playlist “Clutch’s Heavy Rotation” at this location: On Friday, Clutch will embark on a co-headlining tour of the US with Killswitch Engage that also includes Clutch’s curated Earth Rocker Festival in Inwood WV. Clutch & Killswitch Engage Co-Headline US Dates:
Tickets available here.
Fri/Jul 12th Syracuse, NY at SI Hall Sat/Jul 13th Inwood, WV at Earth Rocker Festival @ Shiley Acres Sun/Jul 14th Myrtle Beach, SC at House Of Blues Tue/Jul 16th Fort Wayne, IN at The Clyde Thu/Jul 18th Sioux City, IA at Hard Rock Casino Fri/Jul 19th Cadott, WI at Rock USA Festival Sat/Jul 20th Peoria, Il at Tailgate N' Tallboys Festival Mon/Jul 22nd Tulsa, OK at The Brady Theater Tue/Jul 23rd St. Louis, MO at The Pageant Thu/Jul 25th Bethlehem, PA at Sands Bethlehem Event Center Fri/Jul 26th Asbury Park, NJ at Stone Pony (Outdoors) Sat/Jul 27th Bangor, ME at Impact Music Festival Sun/Jul 28th Montreal, QC at Heavy Montreal Festival Tue/Jul 30th Huntington, NY at The Paramount Thu/Aug 1st Columbus, OH at Express Live (Outdoors) Fri/Aug 2nd Pittsburgh, PA at Stage AE (Outdoors) Sat/Aug 3rd Port Chester, NY at The Capitol Theater Sun/Aug 4th Worcester, MA at Palladium (Outdoors)
CLUTCH:
Neil Fallon - Vocals/Guitar Tim Sult - Guitar Dan Maines - Bass Jean-Paul Gaster - Drums/Percussion For more information, please visit the band’s website: www.pro-rock.com
Oak Brook Theater Celebrates 23 Years of Shakespeare-under-the-Stars
FIRST FOLIO THEATRE PRESENTS
HENRY V
JULY 10 - AUGUST 18
Ending its 23rd season outdoors, First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83.) presents HENRY V for its classic Shakespeare-under-the-Stars series. Directed by Artistic Associate Hayley Rice, HENRY V focuses on one of England’s most beloved rulers as he fights to save England and prove himself the rightful heir to the French throne. Audiences will thrill to the battle scenes as they experience the play the way it was intended to be performed – outside. Nothing beats being part of the action with the great Band of Brothers as Henry V leads them against an army ten times their own size at the Battle of Agincourt. One of Shakespeare’s most popular rousing adventures, HENRY V previews July 10 – 12, opens July 13 and will run through August 18, 2019. “We are excited to be exploring new angles of Shakespeare’s Henry V for our 28th production on our outdoor stage,” said director Hayley Rice. “With non-traditional casting and an emphasis on the intersection of antiquity and modernity, we at First Folio Theatre are proud to be sharing this with our audiences. As this will be the final production performed on the original stage my parents built, there is an extra opportunity to play with the set and stage in a way that has never previously been possible. It is very bittersweet for all of us, but we invite audiences to leave their preconceived notions of Shakespeare and Henry V and see the story in a brand new way this summer.” First Folio has announced that this will be the final production on its current outdoor stage, which has served First Folio since 1997. In order to properly address the needs of its aging stage structure, First Folio will be taking a hiatus from producing a summer show in 2020. After 23 seasons, the current structure is coming to the end of its usefulness and the theater needs to ensure that they have the time and funds to replace it properly. First Folio’s summer shows will return in 2021 with a new stage and they will continue on with the same quality Shakespeare-under-the-Stars, which launched First Folio back in 1997.
Starring in HENRY V are First Folio Artistic Associates Diana Coates as King Henry V and Lydia Berger Gray in the dual role of Chorus and Alice. The cast also features Robert McLean (Duke of Exeter and Mistress Quickly), Arielle Leverett (Mountjoy), Derek Jeck (Bardolph), Morgan Manasa (Fluellen), Mark Lancaster (Bishop of Canterbury and Gower) and Sean Sinitski (Pistol and the King of France). The ensemble includes Todd Douglas, Esther Fishbein, Madison Merkel, Shane Richlen, and Austyn Williamson. The production and design staff includes Angela Weber Miller (Scenic Design), Christopher Kriz (Original Music and Sound Design), Rachel Flesher (Stage Combat and Intimacy Design), Julie Ballard (Lighting Design), Stefanie Johnsen (Costume Design), Vivian Knouse (Properties Design) and Carrie Hardin (Vocal Design). The stage management team is led by Miranda Anderson (Stage Manager), with Sophie Goddard and Nikki Konomos as assistant stage managers. Performances take place at the Mayslake Peabody Estate, located at 1717 31st St., off Rt. 83, in Oak Brook. First Folio is easy to get to via the East-West Tollway (I-88) or the Stevenson Expressway (I-55). Free parking is available on the grounds. Preview tickets are $25. Regular priced tickets are $34 Wednesdays and Thursdays (seniors and students are $29), and $44 on Fridays through Sundays (seniors and students are $39). Special $10 tickets are available for children 14 and under for all summer shows. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by calling the box office at 630.986.8067 or online at www.firstfolio.org.
Expecting parents Josh and Michelle visit Josh’s mother, his ailing stepfather, and his outspoken half-sibling Ru in Josh’s small Missouri hometown, where Ru’s pro-Choice activism is causing a stir. Events including a chance encounter with his high school crush, soon move questions of life and death from the philosophical to the practical. With heart and humor, BURY ME’s recognizable characters face the ways in which life begins and ends. BURY ME will be performed at Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge, Chicago through July 28, 2019.
A semi-finalist for the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center's 2018 National Playwrights Conference, Frauenhoffer has developed full-length plays in association with companies including The New Colony, Sideshow Theatre, and Dandelion. Her one-act plays have been produced by American Blues Theatre, Commission Theatre Company, 20% Theatre Company, and the Chicago One Minute Play Festival, among others.
BURY ME will be directed by Chicago-based director, performer, and cultural critic Ben Kaye. Kaye directed the Chicago premieres of Nick Flynn’s ALICE INVENTS A LITTLE GAME and ALICE ALWAYS WINS, and his production of FORSYTHIAN DWELLER’S CLUB with Bittersweet Arts Co. enjoyed an award-winning run at the Minnesota Fringe Festival. He has directed or assistant directed with companies including world premiere productions with Nothing Without a Company, The Hypocrites, The New Colony, and Bittersweet Arts Co.
Kaye’s cast will include Gabriela Diaz and David Stobbe as Michelle and Josh, K. Holland as half-sibling Ru, Allison McCorkle as Josh’s mother Christy, Scott Olson as stepfather Mark, and Evey Reidy as the high school friend Amy. The production team will include Melissa Perkins (Costume Designer), Michelle E. Benda (Lighting Designer), Kaycee Filson (Properties Designer), Zoe Benditt (Dramaturg), Nina D'Angier (Scenic Designer), Emily Anderson (Sound Designer), Christina Casano (Assistant Director) and Devonte Washington (Stage Manager).
Top row L-R: Gabriela Diaz, K. Holland, Allison McCorkle.
Lower row L-R: Scott Olson, Evey Reidy, David Stobbe.
Opening July 6 at 7:30pm Press Opening: Tuesday, July 9 at 7:30pm July 11 – 28: Performances Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 4:00pm Rivendell Theatre 5779 N Ridge Ave, Chicago, IL 60660 Ticket prices $28.00. Discounts for industry and students available Tickets available by phone at 773-349-2342 or online at www.dandeliontheatre.com
Michelle and Josh didn't mean to get pregnant. Five months along, they return to Josh's rural hometown to visit his fiercely loving yet overworked mother, ailing stepfather, and outspoken teenage sibling. Upon their arrival in Pacific, Missouri, a fateful fender-bender brings new and old truths into the light and forces each of them to evaluate their beliefs about parenthood, in God, and in the plans that they've made for their lives.
BIOS
Brynne Frauenhoffer (Playwright) Raised in Missouri and educated in Oklahoma, Brynne now calls Chicago home. Her first full-length work, BURY ME, has been selected for readings at Echo Theater, Theatricum Botanicum, and Dandelion Theatre Company. She developed SYNCHRONICITY with The Writers Room at The New Colony, where it was selected for a staged reading. SYNCHRONICITY later won the 2016 Davey Foundation Theatre Grant, received a workshop at Salt Lake Acting Company, and was selected as a semi-finalist for the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center's 2018 National Playwrights Conference. JANE'S HEIR (IT'S BRONTE BITCH) was developed for Adapt Theatre Productions. Most recently, Commission Theatre Company produced a reading of Brynne's full-length PIZZA HUT HEARTBREAKER and Sideshow Theatre Company commissioned PRO-AM or The Freshness Initiative 2018. Brynne's short plays have been produced by American Blues Theater, Commission Theatre Company, 20% Theatre Company, and the Chicago One Minute Play Festival. As a script supervisor and director's assistant, she has worked on the world premieres of LOOK, WE ARE BREATHING (Rivendell Theatre Ensemble), AMERICAN BEAUTY SHOP (Chicago Dramatists), and A WORK OF ART (Chicago Dramatists). She also profiles Chicago theatremakers for PerformInk.
Currently, Brynne is devising AGE PLAY with The New Colony and creating SHITTY CHRISTIANS, OR TURN TO ROMANS 3:23 with some of her best friends for a reading at The Prop Thtr's Church of the New Play. This summer, she looks forward to workshopping THE YOUNG ONES with First Floor Theatre. BURY ME will be her first full-length production.
Ben Kaye (Director) Ben Kaye is a Chicago-based director, performer, cultural critic, and the Managing Director of Red Tape Theatre. He has directed, and assistant directed, on world premiere productions with Nothing Without a Company, The Hypocrites, and The New Colony, and his performance credits include work with Steep Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, Haven Theatre, and Porchlight Music Theatre. He directed the Chicago premiere of Nick Flynn's ALICED INVENTS A LITTLE GAME and ALICE ALWAYS WINS, and his production of FORSYTHIAN DWELLER’S CLUB with Bittersweet Arts Co. enjoyed an award-winning run at the Minnesota Fringe Festival. See more at thebenkaye.com.
DANDELION THEATRE Dandelion Theatre, founded in 2014 by Artistic Director Katherine Lamb, is committed to creating experiences that inspire and vitalize artists and audience members alike. It seeks to attain this by cultivating community, fostering the artistic process, and valuing truthful discourse.
Brown Paper Box Co. presents the Midwest Premiere of
Grace,
or the Art of Climbing
by L M Feldman
Thursday, June 6-Sunday, July 8, 2019
at Stage 773
Fresh off their Jeff Award nomination for Little Women the Musical and community-focused Holding On cabaret, tickets are now on sale for Brown Paper Box Co.’s Midwest premiere of Grace, or the Art of Climbing by L M Feldman running June 6-July 8, 2019 at Stage 773. Faced with a painful chapter in her life and fighting the inertia of depression, Emm decides to enter the world of competitive rock-climbing. Her quest through the rugged and humorous terrain of physical training and personal relationships charts the journey of a young woman suspended between love and loss, strength and fear, fathers and daughters, and the ardor and grace of being human. Brown Paper Box Co. is proud to present the Midwest premiere of this Barrymore Award Best New Play nominee and Kilroys List honorable mention. For additional information, performance times, artists’ bios, and tickets, please visit www.BrownPaperBox.org. “In this beautiful play, L M Feldman amplifies the complexities of mental illness without ever dismissing our lead character as a victim, allowing those of us who struggle with depression to see ourselves represented on stage as fully human,” says director Erin Shea Brady. “We recognize Emm's challenges as our own as she navigates heartbreak and loss, finding her footing in an unpredictable and ever-changing world. Feldman's story is unique, harnessing the power of physical theater to illustrate the importance of trust — in ourselves, in our bodies, and in the people around us.” The cast for Grace, or the Art of Climbing features Alex Molnar (Emm), Graham Carlson (Sam), James Lewis (Mick), Lynnette Li (Ky), Greg Mills (Abe), Elissa Newcorn (Dell), and Joshua Zambrano (Sims) with Cathleen Brumback and Jonathan Wilson as Understudies. The staff and design team includes Erin Shea Brady* (Director), Liz Cooper (Lighting Designer), Blake Cordell (Sound Designer), Zach Dries* (Photographer/Videographer), Evan Frank (Scenic Designer), Berit Godo (Assistant & Movement Director), Kaitlyn Guerrieri* (Front of House Manager), Adrian Hadlock (Props Designer), Jeremy Hollis* (Production Manager), Mary-Catherine Mikalayunas (Stage Manager), Charlie Sheets* (Graphic Designer), Kristi Szczepanek* (Casting Associate), and Jonathan Wilson (Climbing Consultant). * denotes Brown Paper Box Co. members About Brown Paper Box Co. Based in Chicago, Brown Paper Box Co. produces theatre that connects audiences to the heart of the story and to our shared human experience. By combining smart, simple design with clear storytelling, we make traditional pieces relevant and new work accessible. Erin Shea Brady* (Director) is thrilled and grateful to be directing Grace, or the Art of Climbing. Directing credits include: Everybody (Brown Paper Box Co.) and Cabaret, Annapurna (staged reading) and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (No Stakes Theater Project). Assistant Directing and Dramaturgy credits include productions at the Goodman, Jackalope, TimeLine, A Red Orchid, Northlight, and Remy Bumppo. Erin is a graduate of the directing program at Columbia College Chicago, and participated in the internship program at Steppenwolf, Jackalope's Playwright's Lab, and Goodman's Criticism in a Changing America bootcamp. Erin is a company member with BPBCo. & is currently pursuing her MSW at Loyola. She is a contributing writer & critic at PerformInk & Newcity Stage. L M Feldman (Playwright) is a queer, feminist playwright (and circus artist) who pens plays that are wildly theatrical but deeply intimate. Her plays include THRIVE, OR WHAT YOU WILL (Page 73 Residency, New Georges Audrey Residency); ANOTHER KIND OF SILENCE (Magic Theatre Virgin Play Festival, PlayPenn Conference, Playwrights Realm Fellowship, FEWW Prize Honorable Mention); AMANUENSIS (Georgetown University); A PEOPLE (Orbiter 3, Jewish Plays Project); THE EGG-LAYERS (Jane Chambers Honorable Mention, New Georges/Barnard College commission); GRACE, OR THE ART OF CLIMBING (Denver Center, Art House Productions, Nice People Theatre, ATCA/Steinberg New Play Award Nomination, Barrymore Nomination); ensemble-devised works, including GUMSHOE (New Paradise Labs + Free Library of Philadelphia + Rosenbach Museum), WAR OF THE WORLDS: PHILADELPHIA (Swim Pony + Drexel University), AND IF YOU LOSE YOUR WAY, OR A FOOD ODYSSEY (The Invisible Dog, New York Innovative Theatre Award Nomination), and others; and a baker's dozen of short plays. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, L is also a New Georges Affiliated Artist, a devised-work collaborator, a teacher of playwriting (Bryn Mawr College, Lantern Theatre/Jefferson Medical School, PlayPenn), and a freelance dramaturg. L has lived in seven cities and is now based in Philly – where she is an InterAct Core Playwright and a proud member of Orbiter 3.
Who: Brown Paper Box Co. What: Midwest Premiere of Grace, or the Art of Climbing by L M Feldman When: Thursday, June 6-Sunday, July 8, 2019 Where: Stage 773, 1225 W Belmont Ave. Chicago, IL 60657 Previews: Thursday, June 6, 2019 @ 7:30PM and Friday, June 7, 2019 @ 7:30PM Opening Performance: Saturday, June 8, 2019 @ 7:30PM Press Performance: Sunday, June 9, 2019 @ 2:30PM (matinee) and Monday, June 10, 2019 @ 7:30PM Regular Run: Friday, June 14, 2019 @ 7:30PM Saturday, June 15, 2019 @ 7:30PM Sunday, June 16, 2019 @ 2:30PM (matinee) Monday, June 17, 2019 @ 7:30PM Thursday, June 20, 2019 @ 7:30PM Friday, June 21, 2019 @ 7:30PM Saturday, June 22, 2019 @ 2:30PM (matinee) Saturday, June 22, 2019 @ 7:30PM Sunday, June 23, 2019 @ 2:30PM (matinee) Thursday, June 27, 2019 @ 7:30PM Friday, June 28, 2019 @ 7:30PM Saturday, June 29, 2019 @ 7:30PM Sunday, June 30, 2019 @ 2:30PM (matinee) Friday, July 6, 2019 @ 7:30PM Saturday, July 7, 2019 @ 7:30PM Sunday, July 8, 2019 @ 2:30PM (matinee) Tickets: On sale now at www.BrownPaperBox.org
The shortest of William Shakespeare’s tragedies, Macbeth has cemented itself as a tale that delves into the unhinged sanity of the title’s main character. With a focus on the dark side of humanity, Macbeth (played by Mighty Morphin Power Ranger’s Jason Narvy) and his lady (Stephanie Stroud) are overtaken by the supernatural as they continually give into their own greedy, lustful desires. Haunted by their own dastardly decisions, the pair fight to hold on to all their ill-gotten gains—by any means necessary.
The show runs Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30pm, as well as 2:00pm on Saturdays and Sunday.
Cast Duncan - Josh Bomba Porter - Mark Bernstein Macduff Family - Ella Bernstein Molly Gustafson Macduff’s Son - Jack Narvy Fleance - Rene Krall-Lanoue Macbeth - Jason Narvy Lady Macbeth - Stephanie Stroud Weird Sisters - Catherine Bustos, Wendy Venlos-Becker, Anne Ogden Murderers - Brandon Nelson, Chas Howard Seyton - Josh Marshall Banquo - Brian Bengtson Macduff - Ryan Smetana Angus - Corwyn Cullum Lennox - Dane Van Brocklin Ross - Nate Perez Lady Macduff - Amanda Hayes Malcolm - Warren Duncan General Siward - Michael Sullivan Young Siward - Nick Russell Sergeant - Eamon Gonzales Attendant - Brandon Ellis Serving Woman - Angela Matera Crew Stage Manager - Robert Pacheco Asst. Director - Angela Matera Lighting Design - Kara Grimm-Denholm Electrician - Garet Paholkotter Technical Advisor - Justin Glombicki Director - Brian Fruits Costumes/Make-Up - Alison Call, April Fruits House Manager - Corwyn Cullum Photos - Rachael Nuckles Graphic Design - Amy Moore Sound Design - Jonathan Hadley Saltbox is a Jeff Award Winning not-for-profit theatre company that opened 4 years ago producing shows in Oak Park and, most recently, graduating to Chicago in Season 3. Saltbox Theatre Collective - www.saltboxtheatre.org
Highly Anticipated Revival of Shepard’s Masterpiece Featuring
A New Generation of Steppenwolf Ensemble
I'll be ChiILin' with Chi, IL's legendary Steppenwolf Theatre Company for the press opening of True West on July 16th. Can't wait for this hotly anticipated revival!
Steppenwolf Theatre Companypresents its first ever revival of the play that launched the company onto the national scene in 1982, True West, directed by ensemble member Randall Arney. Through the lens of a new generation of Steppenwolf artists, the 2019 production stars ensemble members Jon Michael Hill (CBS’s Elementary; Steppenwolf, Lincoln Center, and Spike Lee’s Pass Over) and Namir Smallwood (Lincoln Center’s Pass Over and Pipeline). Joining Hill and Smallwood are ensemble member and original cast member Francis Guinan and celebrated Chicago actor Jacqueline Williams.
Previews began July 5 and the production is now playing through August 25 in the Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N Halsted St. Opening night is Sunday, July 14 at 6pm. Press performances are Sunday, July 14 at 6pm and Tuesday, July 16 at 7:30pm. Single tickets ($20-$96) are available through Audience Services at 312-335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.
In 1982, Steppenwolf exploded onto the American Theatre scene with its now legendary production of Sam Shepard's True West. This American classic traces the volatile relationship of Austin and Lee, estranged brothers who find themselves holed up together in their mother's well-kept suburban house with a typewriter, a set of golf clubs and the undeniable call of the desert. In its first Steppenwolf revival, our new generation of artists take on Shepard's masterpiece.
Steppenwolf’s original production of True West opened in 1982 with then fairly unknown actors Jeff Perry (Austin) and John Malkovich (Lee) playing the leads, alongside ensemble members Francis Guinan (Saul) and Laurie Metcalf (Mom), directed by Gary Sinise. With Sam Shepard's approval, Steppenwolf’s production transferred to Off-Broadway, where it opened at Cherry Lane Theatre in October 1982 with Gary Sinise taking on the role of ‘Austin.’ The show closed on August 4, 1984 after 762 performances. A television movie of the stage play, featuring Sinise and Malkovich, aired on the PBS series "American Playhouse" in January 1984.
Cast Bios Francis Guinan (Saul Kimmer) is a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble. He has appeared in more than 30 Steppenwolf productions including Downstate (both in Chicago and at the National Theatre), You Got Older, The Minutes, The Rembrandt, Hir, The Herd, The Night Alive, Tribes, The Birthday Party, The Book Thief, Time Stands Still, Endgame, American Buffalo, Fake, The Seafarer, August: Osage County and The Real Inspector Hound. Guinan also played the role of ‘Saul’ in the original 1982 production of True West.
Jon Michael Hill (Austin) has been a Steppenwolf ensemble member since 2007 and was last seen on Steppenwolf’s stage as Moses in Antoinette Nwandu’s Pass Over, which was filmed by Spike Lee and released by Amazon Studios. Hill reprised the role of Moses in the Lincoln Center Theater production the following year. Hill currently appears as ‘Detective Marcus Bell’ in the CBS-TV series Elementary. He was nominated for a Tony Award and won an Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World Award for his role as ‘Franco Wicks’ in the Broadway production of Superior Donuts by ensemble member Tracy Letts, a role which he originated at Steppenwolf. Hill has also performed at Steppenwolf in The Hot L Baltimore, The Tempest, Kafka on the Shore, The Unmentionables and others. Additional television and film credits include Detroit 1-8-7, Eastbound and Down, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Person of Interest.
Namir Smallwood (Lee) joined the Steppenwolf ensemble in March 2017, where he has been seen in Aziza Barnes’ BLKS, Steppenwolf for Young Adults’ Monster, Christina Anderson’s Man In Love and The Hot L Baltimore. Other Chicago credits include The Lost Boys of Sudan (Victory Gardens Theater); the world premiere of Philip Dawkins’ Charm (Northlight Theatre); The Grapes of Wrath (Gift Theatre) and East Texas Hot Links (Writers’ Theatre). Regional credits include Marin Theatre Company, Pillsbury House Theatre, Ten Thousand Things and Guthrie Theater. New York credits include Lincoln Center Theater’s productions of Pipeline by Dominique Morisseau and Pass Over by Antoinette Nwandu. Television credits include Chicago Fire and Betrayal. Jacqueline Williams (Mom) Steppenwolf credits include Familiar, The Christians, Airline Highway, Head of Passes (also at Mark Taper opposite Phylicia Rashad), Hot L Baltimore, Brother Sister Plays, and others. At the Goodman, she performed in Father Comes Home from the Wars, Pullman Porter Blues (some performances), stop. reset, Camino Real, Trinity River Plays, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Amen Corner, Ooh-Blah-Dee, and many others. Additional credits include Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Harvey, Man in the Ring, Gem of the Ocean, Fences, Caroline or Change, Electra (title role) at Court Theatre; Skeleton Crew, The Miser, Gees Bend at Northlight; The House That Will Not Stand, A Wonder in my Soul, Gospel of Loving Kindness, others at Victory Gardens. She toured with the Market Theatre of Johannesburg. She is a multi-award winner and has worked and toured extensively regionally. She performed on Broadway in Young Man From Atlanta and Off Broadway in From The Mississippi Delta (Oprah Winfrey co-produced), Talented Tenth, Mill Fire. TV/film credits include cast of Turks, recurring Mrs. Brown on The Chi, Officer Becerra on Chicago Fire/PD/Med, Warden Myers on Empire, Prison Break, Heartlock, The Break Up and The Lake House.
Director Bio Randall Arney has been a theater professional for more than 30 years and ensemble member and former artistic director of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre where his directing credits include Slowgirl, The Seafarer, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Death and the Maiden, Curse of the Starving Class, Killers and The Geography of Luck, among others. Arney also directed Steppenwolf’s world premiere of Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile, as well as the subsequent national and internationally acclaimed productions. Arney’s acting credits with Steppenwolf include Born Yesterday, Ghost in the Machine, The Homecoming, Frank’s Wild Years, You Can’t Take It with You, Fool for Love, True West (played ‘Saul’ in the Apollo remount), Balm in Gilead, and Coyote Ugly. As the artistic director for Steppenwolf from 1987 to 1995, Arney oversaw the creation of a new state-of-the-art theater which is Steppenwolf’s current home. Broadway transfers under his leadership include The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, The Song of Jacob Zulu (six Tony Award nominations) and The Grapes of Wrath (1990 Tony Award, Best Play). Arney recently served as the artistic director of the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles (1999 to 2017). In addition to his artistic programming and oversight at the Geffen, Arney has directed many productions for the theater, including Icebergs, Outside Mullingar, The Night Alive, Reasons to Be Pretty, Slowgirl, American Buffalo, Superior Donuts, The Female of the Species, Speed-the-Plow, and All My Sons. Arney has an M.F.A. degree in Acting from Illinois State University and has taught master classes and workshops at the University of California, Los Angeles; Steppenwolf, around the U.S., and in Tokyo. Member of SAG-AFTRA, SDC, and Equity. True West production team includes Todd Rosenthal (Scenic Design), Trevor Bowen (Costume Design), Ann G. Wrightson (Lighting Design), Richard Woodbury (Sound Design & Original Music), Ned Mochel (Fight Choreographer) and Gigi Buffington (Company Voice and Text Coach). Additional credits Laura Glenn (Production Stage Manager), Amanda Landis (Assistant Stage Manager), JC Clementz, CSA (Casting Director) and Jonathan Berry (Artistic Producer).
Production Details True West is now playing through August 25, 2019 in the Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Previews: July 5 – July 13, 2019; Press Performances: Sunday, July 14 at 6pm and Tuesday, July 16 at 7:30pm; Opening: July 14, 2019 at 6pm; Regular Run: July 16 – August 25, 2019. Curtain Times: Tuesday – Friday at 7:30pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm and 7:30pm; Wednesdays at 2pm.
Ticket Info: Previews: $20 – $78, Regular Run: $20– $96. Prices subject to change 20 for $20: Twenty $20 tickets are available for subscription shows on the day of the performance at 11am (Mon – Sat) and 1pm (Sun), by phone only. Limit 2 per person. Rush Tickets: Half-price rush tickets are available one hour before each show. tudent Discounts: Limited $15 student tickets are available online. (Limit 2 tickets. Must present a valid student ID for each ticket). steppenwolf.org/students. Group Tickets: All groups of 10 or more receive a discounted rate for any performance. Black Card Memberships are for audiences interested in extreme flexibility. Cards include six tickets for use any time, are valid for one year with the option to add additional tickets as needed. Perks include easy and free exchanges, access to seats before the general public, savings on single ticket prices and bar and restaurant discounts. Red Card Memberships are available for theatergoers under 30.More info at steppenwolf.org/memberships Audience Services: For tickets or more information, contact Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St) at 312-335-1650 or steppenwolf.org. Accessibility Committed to making the Steppenwolf experience accessible to everyone, performances featuring American Sign Language Interpretation, Open Captioning and Audio Description are offered during the run of each play. Assistive listening devices and large-print programs are available for every performance and the Downstairs and 1700 Theatres are each equipped with an induction hearing loop. All theaters feature wheelchair accessible seating and restrooms, and Front Bar features a push-button entrance, all-gender restrooms and accessible counter and table spaces. Accessible Performances: American Sign Language Interpretation: Sunday, July 28 at 7:30pm Open Captioning: Thursday, August 1 at 7:30pm and Saturday, August 17 at 3pm Audio Description and Touch Tour: Sunday, August 11 touch tour at 1:30; performance at 3pm
Visitor Information Steppenwolf is located at 1650 N Halsted St near all forms of public transportation, bike racks and Divvy bike stands. The parking facility ($13 or $15, cash or card) is located just south of our theater at 1624 N Halsted. Valet parking service ($15 cash) is available directly in front of the main entrance starting at 5pm on weeknights, 1pm on weekends and at 12noon before Wednesday matinees. Limited street and lot parking are also available. For last minute questions and concerns, patrons can call the Steppenwolf Parking Hotline at 312.335.1774. Sponsor Information Lead support for this production of True West is provided by Helen Zell and Northern Trust. ComEd is the 2018/19 Season Lighting Sponsor. United Airlines is the Official and Exclusive Airline of Steppenwolf. Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks Connected to the main lobby is Steppenwolf’s own Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks, offering a warm, creative space to grab a drink, have a bite, or meet up with friends and collaborators, day or night. Open Tuesdays – Sundays, Front Bar serves locally roasted coffee and espresso by Passion House Coffee Roasters and features food by The Goddess and Grocer. The menu focuses on fresh, accessible fare, featuring grab-and-go salads and sandwiches for lunch and adding shareable small plates and desserts for evening and post show service. www.front-bar.com.
Year of Chicago Theatre Steppenwolf Theatre Company is proud to be part of the 2019 Year of Chicago Theatre, presented by the City of Chicago and the League of Chicago Theatres. To truly fall in love with Chicago, you must go to our theatres. This is where the city bares its fearless soul. Home to a community of creators, risk-takers, and big hearts, Chicago theatre is a hotbed for exciting new work and hundreds of world premieres every year. From Broadway musicals to storefront plays and improv, there’s always a seat waiting for you at one of our 200+ theatres. Book your next show today at ChicagoPlays.com. Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation’s premier ensemble theater. Formed by a collective of actors in 1976, the ensemble members represent a remarkable cross-section of actors, directors and playwrights. Thrilling and powerful productions from Balm in Gilead and August: Osage County to Pass Over and Downstate—and accolades that include the National Medal of Arts and 12 Tony Awards—have made the theater legendary. Steppenwolf produces hundreds of performances and events annually in its three spaces: the 515-seat Downstairs Theatre, the 299-seat Upstairs Theatre and the 80-seat 1700 Theatre. Artistic programing includes a seven-play season; a two-play Steppenwolf for Young Adults season; Visiting Company engagements; and LookOut, a multi-genre performances series. Education initiatives include the nationally recognized work of Steppenwolf for Young Adults, which engages 15,000 participants annually from Chicago’s diverse communities; the esteemed School at Steppenwolf; and Professional Leadership Programs for arts administration training. While firmly grounded in the Chicago community, nearly 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Anna D. Shapiro is the Artistic Director and David Schmitz is the Executive Director. Eric Lefkofsky is Chair of Steppenwolf’s Board of Trustees. For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre, twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr and instagram.com/steppenwolfthtr.
