WELCOME
GARY SINISE AND I MET FIRST. Sophomores at Highland Park High School north of Chicago, we fell in love with acting under the tutelage of an inspiring teacher, Barbara Patterson. The rest of the first generation of Steppenwolf's ensemble of actors and directors met in the Theater Department at Illinois State University. After graduation we continued working together because we admired each other's talent and we shared a passionate belief. We believed that the best way to create great theater and grow as artists was as an ensemble. We wanted the self determination to work on plays we loved, in an environment we controlled, which at its best was full of trust and risk.
Our training in school was eclectic and pragmatic, no single "method" dominated. Its roots trace back to the American interpreters of Stanislavski, but it is equally true that the movies and television we most admired were also our teachers. Our training at Steppenwolf has come through doing lots of plays together over the past twenty-eight years.
About 10 years ago I was bitten by an idea for a school. Those of us who had grown up in this theater with its own particular brand of actor "driven" ensemble work, should be able to share something vital about its values and methods. If we could do that, we would offer something unique to the world of actor training.
Artistic Director Martha Lavey, Associate Artist Anna Shapiro, Artistic Consultant Sheldon Patinkin and I brainstormed until we had fashioned a 10 week curriculum, taught by ensemble members and artists intimate with our work.
Our goal was to create a curriculum that would enable talented actors to practice their craft by "doing" and "feeding" off of each other. We wanted it to be driven by values we grew up with: specificity, instinct, emotional truth, trust, abandon. Values that we believe underlie great acting and great ensemble work.
A curriculum is only as good as its teachers and Steppenwolf's are extremely experienced and talented actors and directors. They love their craft and are tremendously skilled at creating an environment in which you'll feel both safe and challenged to do your best work. Our students have unfailingly praised the faculty's knowledge, commitment and passion.
As we approach our 10th summer, the chorus of student response is that the School at Steppenwolf is not only unique, it is inspiring. For me the school epitomizes the best of Steppenwolf — a place where trust and risk lead to growth. A beautiful reminder of why we fell in love with acting in the first place.
Jeff Perry, Co-Founder
The School at Steppenwolf / Steppenwolf Theatre Company / Steppenwolf Films
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