Chicago--Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s Arts Exchange program presents Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, in the World Premiere of an adaptation by Lydia Diamond, directed by Hallie Gordon, featuring Alana Arenas, Monifa M. Days, Noelle Hardy, TaRon Patton, Libya V. Pugh, Chavez Ravine, Phillip Edward VanLear and Sati Word. The production begins performances on February 1, 2005, in the Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted. All tickets are $10. Additional public performances have been added on February 20, 26 and 27 at 11:00 a.m. Target is the Exclusive Corporate Sponsor of The Bluest Eye. The Chicago Community Trust is the Exclusive Sponsor of the Arts Exchange Production Series. Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye is a story about the tragic life of a young black girl in 1940's Ohio. Eleven year-old Pecola Breedlove wants nothing more than to be loved by her family and schoolmates. Instead, she faces constant ridicule and abuse. Blaming her dark skin, she prays for blue eyes, sure that love will follow. With rich language and bold vision, this story examines the standards of beauty, a young girl’s coming of age and the devastating events she endures. The cast for The Bluest Eye includes Alana Arenas (Pecola Breedlove), Monifa M. Days (Frieda), Noelle Hardy (Maureen Peal), TaRon Patton (Mama), Libya V. Pugh (Claudia), Chavez Ravine (Mrs. Breedlove), Phillip Edward VanLear (Cholly) and Sati Word (Soaphead Church & Junior). The designers for The Bluest Eye are Stephanie Nelson (set), Alison Heryer (costumes), J.R. Lederle (lights) and Victoria DeIorio (sound). Ann Boyd is the choreographer, Deb Styer is the stage manager and Lenora Inez Brown is the dramaturg. Public performances are scheduled for February 5, 12, 13 and 19, 2005 at 11 a.m. Tickets for the public performances are $10 and can be purchased through Audience Services. Audience Services hours are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. everyday and 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on days with evening performances. The phone number for Audience Services is (312) 335-1650. Tickets can be ordered online at www.steppenwolf.org. All tickets for weekday student matinees are $7.50 and can be purchased through the Group Sales Manager, at (312) 654-5629 or Arts Exchange Education Coordinator, at (312) 654-5639. This project was commissioned and developed through Steppenwolf's New Play Initiative. Steppenwolf’s New Plays Initiative is generously sponsored by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, the Zell Family Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Vince Club Family Foundation, the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, and support from the members of the Directors Circle. Steppenwolf's Arts Exchange Program is sponsored by the Target Foundation, the William Randolph Hearst Foundations, the Arie and Ida Crown Memorial, Kraft Foods, Avy and Marcie Stein, The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, the Dr. Scholl Foundation, Chicago Tribune Foundation, The Northern Trust Company, The Albert Pick, Jr. Fund, Allstate Foundation, the Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Foundation, Patrick and Anna M. Cudahy Fund, and The Grover Hermann Foundation. Polk Bros. Foundation is the sponsor of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Teacher Workshops offered in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools Office of Language and Culture and the Chicago Teachers' Center. The Chicago Community Trust is the Exclusive Sponsor of the Arts Exchange Production Series. ITW Foundation is the sponsor of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Family Series. This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and by a CityArts Program 4 grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. Steppenwolf's Arts Exchange is a citywide partner of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) School Partner Program Steppenwolf Theatre Company is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. Street and lot parking are available. Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s Arts Exchange program presents theater to students, teachers and families through professional productions, workshops and mentoring. 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 on-going group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of thirty-five artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting, filmmaking, and textual adaptation.