John Malkovich Hosts Trunk Show to Support Steppenwolf

Chicago—Steppenwolf ensemble member, John Malkovich will host a trunk show for The John Malkovich Uncle Kimono Autumn/Winter 2005-2006 Menswear Collection. As part of Malkovich’s ongoing efforts to support the performing arts, a percentage of the sales revenue will benefit Steppenwolf Theatre Company. The trunk sale will take place on May 21, 2005 from 10:00am to 5:00pm in Yondorf Hall, located on the second floor of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company Administrative Building, 758 W North Avenue. The event is part of an expansion of Malkovich’s innovative benefits program, which began in 2004 to provide a new source of revenue to theaters and playhouses. At the presentation, guests will order Uncle Kimono designs at 20% off the retail price. A percentage of the sales revenue will benefit Steppenwolf Theatre Company. "It's John's way of giving back to the arts," says Francesco Rulli, President of the design company mrs.mudd, which he co-founded with Malkovich in 2002. “Uncle Kimono is a men’s wear collection which has resonance of late 1950’s Californian beach boys, some Palm Springs Rat Pack, a tough of lounge lizards, and a recollection of a Swiss banker who’s been let go,” explains John Malkovich. Uncle Kimono, which debuted in 2003 as offshoot of mrs.mudd, is a complete line of men’s clothing and accessories designed by Malkovich. John Malkovich has been a Steppenwolf ensemble member since 1976, and has worked with Steppenwolf on 30 productions. The John Malkovich Uncle Kimono Autumn/Winter 2005-2006 Menswear Collection sale is one of the many events surrounding Malkovich’s return to the Steppenwolf stage for the world premiere of Lost Land. The production, written by Stephen Jeffreys, is directed by Terry Johnson and features ensemble members Martha Lavey, John Malkovich and Yasen Peyankov. Malkovich will also apply his design skills to the production, serving as costume designer for Lost Land, which runs March 31st – June 5th in the Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre. The trunk show will take place in Yondorf Hall, located on the 2nd floor of the Steppenwolf Administrative Building at 758 W North Ave.. The event will run from 10:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday, May 21, 2005. Parking is available in the Steppenwolf parking garage, just west of the Administrative Building. The garage opens at 1:30 on Saturday. Additional parking is available behind Borders at the corner of North & Halsted. 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 ongoing group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of thirty-six artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting, filmmaking and textual adaptation.