Radically Vulnerable, Outrageously Hilarious
A bold remix of America’s ugly history
ABOUT THIS SHOW
The recently widowed “Mother of America” lies helpless in her Mount Vernon bed, ravaged by illness and attended to by the very enslaved people who will be free the moment she dies. The form-shifting fever dream takes us deep into the ugly, uncomfortable and thorny ramifications of America’s original sin. Both fantastical and fraught with cruel reality, this Chicago premiere from a daring new voice pulls no punches as it puts our idols, and ourselves, on trial.
COVID-19 UPDATE
Mid-way through the rehearsal process—with heavy but protective hearts for our artists, staff and audiences—we decided to postpone the production of The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington until the 2021/22 season. While later than anticipated, we can’t wait to share this stunning work by playwright James Ijames with you in a future season!
While we wait—anxious to get back in the rehearsal room and bring the production to its full life—take an insider’s look into the work that had already begun… and share in our excitement for what’s yet to come.
Watch & Listen
Running Time
Content Advisory
Steppenwolf does not proactively offer advisories about the content of shows, as sensitivities vary from person to person. Click below to learn more about the content of the show.
If you have further questions, contact the box office at 312-335-1650.
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Program Articles
Cast & Artists
The Artists
- Author James Ijames
- Director Whitney White
- Scenic Designer Clint Ramos
- Costume Designer Izumi Inaba
- Lighting Designer Amith Chandrashaker
- Sound Designer Justin Ellington
- Fight & Intimacy Choreographer Rachel Flesher
- Company Voice, Text & Dialect Coach Gigi Buffington
- Production Stage Manager Laura D. Glenn
- Assistant Stage Manager Mary Hungerford
- Artistic Producer Patrick Zakem Patrick Zakem
- Casting Director JC Clementz
Featured Ensemble Members
Reviews
"The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington is theatrical discovery of the best kind—a terrific script not to be missed..." – DC Metro Theater Arts
"Ijames lets his imagination loose with Miz Martha. The result is a skewered history that, like satire through the ages, has the ring of truth" – Newsworks
"James Ijames has crafted a superbly written, emotionally compelling, and morally challenging play... This exceptional new work will have legs to run on for as long as America exists" – The Philadelphia Inquirer
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