Chicago--Steppenwolf Theatre Company proudly introduces the First Look Repertory of New Work, an inaugural program featuring developmental productions of three new plays in rotation. Accompanying the performances is a series of readings, lectures and events regarding the development of new work. Audiences will be able to attend all three productions on August 7, 2005. A national panel on the topic of new plays will be held on Sunday, August 21, 2005. Performances will take place in The Merle Reskin Garage Theatre, August 4-28, 2005. All tickets are $15.
Steppenwolf has a long history cultivating new plays and playwrights. "When we support new work, we move the art forward: we challenge existing assumptions about storytelling, about the relationship between actor and audience," notes Director of New Play Development Edward Sobel, who serves as Project Director. "There was some talk in the industry of plays being workshopped to death, and never seeing a full-blown production. First Look Repertory of New Work combines the new play workshop process with the end goal of a fully staged production." First Look offers a unique experience to three writers, providing their work a national platform, and partnering for an unprecedented backstage journey with members of our audience.
An extremely talented pool of actors, directors, designers, playwrights and dramaturgs, including ensemble member directors Amy Morton (The Dresser) and Anna D. Shapiro (The Pain and the Itch), as well as Hallie Gordon (The Bluest Eye) are involved in First Look Repertory of New Work. Returning to the Steppenwolf stage are Alana Arenas (The Bluest Eye), Darrell W. Cox (Orange Flower Water), Matt DeCaro (Glengarry Glen Ross), Nathan Kiley (Purple Heart), Keith Kupferer (Things Being What They Are), Heather Prete (The Time of Your Life), Joe Van Slyke (One Arm) and Ben Viccellio (Cherry Orchard). Chicago actors making their Steppenwolf debut include Annabel Armour, Levi Holloway and Thomas Edson McElroy.
The new work includes:
A BLAMELESS LIFE
August 4, 7, 11, 14, 20, 26 and 27, 2005
By Joel Drake Johnson
Directed by ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro
Featuring Annabel Armour, Jeffrey Baumgartner, K.K. Dodds, Nathan Kiley and Joe Van Slyke
A married couple waits at the mall for their son to pick them up in their fancy new car. It is a perfect capitalist pastoral: springtime flower pots overflow, Mom munches a bag of peanuts and Dad cradles his new pet goldfish in a bag. But when their son fails to arrive, their lives are changed irrevocably.
THE SPARROW PROJECT
August 5, 7, 12, 13, 18, 21 and 27, 2005
By Melanie Marnich
Directed by Hallie Gordon
Featuring Alana Arenas, Levi Holloway and Heather Prete
Sara and Sammie are trust-funded twins living in a dirty NYC studio on a diet of drugs and rice. When Sara brings home Texas tourist Dolly, the twins do everything they can to suck her into their aimless world. But there’s something about Dolly...
MEN OF TORTUGA
August 6, 7, 13, 19, 20, 25 and 28, 2005
By Jason Wells
Directed by ensemble member Amy Morton
Featuring Matt DeCaro, Darrell W. Cox, Keith Kupferer, Thomas Edson McElroy and Ben Viccellio
In an undisclosed location with their cell phones off, three men scheme with a “weapons specialist” to eliminate a member of the opposition. But how best to do the deed? And more importantly, do their ends justify their means?
The designers of all three productions in First Look Repertory of New Work include Keith Pitts (sets), J.R. Lederle (lights), Ana Kuzmanic (costumes) and Martha Wegener (sound). The dramaturgs are Ann Filmer (A Blameless Life), Heidi Coleman (The Sparrow Project) and Sarah Gubbins (Men of Tortuga). The lead stage manager is Deb Styer, the production assistant is Baleigh Isaacs and the directors' assistant is Joanie Schultz. The Project Director is Edward Sobel.
Curtain times are as follows:
A Blameless Life
August 14 and 27, 2005 at 3:00 p.m.
August 4, 11, 20 and 26, 2005 at 8:00 p.m.
The Sparrow Project
August 13 and 21, 2005 at 3:00 p.m.
August 5, 12, 18 and 27, 2005 at 8:00 p.m.
Men of Tortuga
August 20 and 28, 2005 at 3:00 p.m.
August 6, 13, 19 and 25, 2005 at 8:00 p.m.
On August 7, 2005, audiences will be able to attend all three performances. Curtain times for August 7th are: A Blameless Life at 1:00 p.m., The Sparrow Project at 4:00 p.m. and Men of Tortuga at 7:00 p.m.
A national panel on the topic of new plays will be held on Sunday, August 21, 2005. Literary managers, playwrights and dramaturgs from around the country will attend the productions and discuss the nature of new work in American theater. To date, panelists include Wendy Goldberg, Artistic Director of the O'Neill Playwrights Conference and Megan Monaghan, Literary Manager of South Coast Repertory.
Steppenwolf Theatre Company has a long history of cultivating emerging playwrights. The New Plays Initiative, formalized in 1995, commissions and develops new plays for the Steppenwolf stage and beyond.
The Sara Lee Foundation is the Exclusive Production Sponsor of First Look Repertory of New Work.
The Steppenwolf Merle Reskin Garage Theatre is a point of entry for a next generation of theater artists at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. The company’s most intimate performance space, the Steppenwolf Merle Reskin Garage Theatre showcases the work of emerging actors, directors, writers and designers and is dedicated to nurturing the best new voices in the American theater.
Steppenwolf Theatre Company 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 ongoing group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of thirty-five artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting, filmmaking and textual adaptation.
###