The mission of First Look Repertory of New Work is to develop plays for future production at Steppenwolf and other theaters across the country. Since its inception five years ago, nine of the fifteen plays presented during First Look’s first five seasons have enjoyed subsequent world premieres at other theaters, including: Sarah Gubbins' Fair Use produced at Actors' Express in Atlanta, 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. Eason's Sex with Strangers, produced in last year's First Look Rep, will be part of Steppenwolf’s upcoming 2010-2011 season.

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.