Where We Stand
A FILMED PLAY
By Donnetta Lavinia Grays
Directed by Tamilla Woodard
Featuring Donnetta Lavinia Grays
Streaming now through August 31, 2021
Run time: 70 minutes
What does community mean? And what do we owe to one another? When a man who has been shunned by his town makes a deal on behalf of it with a mysterious stranger, he must stand before his community to ask for forgiveness in the hopes that they might answer these enduring questions as they determine his fate. Through poetic verse and music, this work challenges our capacity to forgive and our ideas of mercy and who might deserve it.
Following the production, viewers will be invited to make a stand and cast their vote to either punish this man for the crimes he has committed by sending him back to the outskirts of town and, in exchange, make our wealth a reality; or absolve this man of his crimes and keep him here among us, knowing that we will be left with this destruction and must rebuild on our own from nothing.
Join us for this remarkable storytelling tour-de-force about community and accountability.
Watch & Listen
Press Articles & Reviews
“Enchanting lyrics and flourishes of humor" – The New York Times
"Point-of-the-spear relevance” – New York Magazine
“Grays is an extraordinary storyteller!" – Theatermania
Artists
Playwright Donnetta Lavinia Grays
Composer Donnetta Lavinia Grays
Director Tamilla Woodard‡
Scenic Design Claire DeLiso+
Costume Design Ntokozo Fuzunina Kunene+
Film Producer Dean Lynes
Editor David Lee Roberts, Jr.
Stage Manager Norman Anthony Small*
Artistic Producers Leelai Demoz & Kenya Hall
Archival Producer Leelai Demoz
CAST
Additional Staff: Nehemiah Luckett (Musical Director & Musical Dramaturg), c2 (Captioning), Bridget Melton (Audio Description)
Special Thanks to Adam Alonso and Daniel Perez from BUILD Chicago, Noah Sheldon (Noahsheldon.com) and Megan Shuchman.
The World Premiere of Where We Stand was co-produced in 2020 by WP Theater: Lisa McNulty, Producing Artistic Director Michael Sag, Managing Director and by Baltimore Center Stage: Stephanie Ybarra, Artistic Director, Michael Ross, Executive Director.
Captured Performance was originally produced and presented by Baltimore Center Stage, Baltimore; Stephanie Ybarra, Artistic Director, Michael Ross, Managing Director.
Archival Photos are courtesy of Patricia Evans©, Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago, BUILD Chicago, Sun-Times Media LLC, Chicago History Museum, Brad Knight, Max Bender, Stephan Vance, Taylor Wilcox, Artist Mac — CC by-SA 2.0© and Chris Diers — CC by-SA 2.0©.
Steppenwolf Theatre Company is a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for nonprofit professional theater.
* denotes a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers.
+ denotes a member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829 of the IATSE.
‡ denotes a member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.
Log in now
All virtual members will receive an email with their unique login username and password, as well as instructions. This login information grants you access to one viewing session of this exclusive virtual event. If you would like to see more detailed log in instructions, please watch this video or read the Virtual Content FAQ.
GET ACCESS WITH A VIRTUAL MEMBERSHIP
This show is one of six virtual productions on the Steppenwolf NOW virtual stage featuring breakthrough stories written by America’s most talented voices. Get access to ALL SIX productions by purchasing a Steppenwolf NOW virtual membership. Learn more at steppenwolf.org/now.
Sponsors
LEAD STEPPENWOLF NOW SPONSORS
Anne and Don Phillips
Helen Zell
PREMIER STEPPENWOLF NOW SPONSOR
Robert and Louise Sanborn
GRAND PRODUCTION SPONSORS
Marian and Fruman Jacobson
Accessibility Services sponsored by John Hart and Carol Prins
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
Log in now
All virtual members will receive an email with their unique login username and password, as well as instructions. This login information grants you access to one viewing session of this exclusive virtual event. If you would like to see more detailed log in instructions, please watch this video or read the Virtual Content FAQ.
GET ACCESS WITH A VIRTUAL MEMBERSHIP
This show is one of six virtual productions on the Steppenwolf NOW virtual stage featuring breakthrough stories written by America’s most talented voices. Get access to ALL SIX productions by purchasing a Steppenwolf NOW virtual membership. Learn more at steppenwolf.org/now.
Sponsors
LEAD STEPPENWOLF NOW SPONSORS
Anne and Don Phillips
Helen Zell
PREMIER STEPPENWOLF NOW SPONSOR
Robert and Louise Sanborn
GRAND PRODUCTION SPONSORS
Marian and Fruman Jacobson
Accessibility Services sponsored by John Hart and Carol Prins
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.