Wally World
A TWO-ACT RADIO PLAY
By Isaac Gómez
Co-directed by Isaac Gómez and Lili-Anne Brown
Featuring ensemble members Cliff Chamberlain, Audrey Francis, Sandra Marquez and Karen Rodriguez with Danny Bernardo, Sydney Charles, Kevin Curtis, Leslie Sophia Perez, Marvin Quijada and Jacqueline Williams
Streaming now through August 31, 2021
Run time: 2 hours and 20 minutes
It's Christmas Eve and a group of Wally World employees are about to lose it. On the one day of the year the mega-department superstore is supposed to close its doors, secrets come to life that may destroy more than their holiday cheer. Their manager Andy is doing everything in her power to keep her store in line and her employees in check. But can hard truths from her past ruin everything she's ever worked for? Wally World is a festive, poignant examination of finding magic in the mundane as 10 employees do everything they can to find purpose in a place that has never seen purpose in them.
Wally World is one of six virtual productions on the Steppenwolf NOW virtual stage. Get access to all six productions with the purchase of a virtual membership for only $75. Discounts available for essential workers, artists, students and teachers. Find more information at steppenwolf.org/now.
Resources
Learn more about the Wally World characters and follow along with the radio play using this character guide.
Playwright Isaac Gómez has created a Spotify playlist to get you in the holiday spirit of the show. Take a listen!
Check out this behind-the-scenes conversation with sound designer Aaron Stephenson and marketing staff member Gin To: Hearing the Snow Falling: A Glimpse Into the Sound Design in Wally World.
Watch & Listen
CAST & ARTISTS
Artists
Playwright Isaac Gómez
Co-Directors Isaac Gómez and Lili-Anne Brown‡
Sound Design Aaron Stephenson
Dramaturg Polly Hubbard
Script Supervisor & Assistant Dramaturg Brenna Barborka
Artistic Producer Patrick Zakem
Production Manager Claire Haupt
Casting Director JC Clementz, CSA
Production Stage Manager Christine D. Freeburg*
Assistant Production Stage Manager Laura D. Glenn*
CAST
Dan Danny Bernardo*
Mark Cliff Chamberlain†*
Ariadna Sydney Charles*
Jax Kevin Curtis*
Amy Audrey Francis†*
Andy Sandra Marquez†*
Karla Leslie Sophia Perez
Miguel Marvin Quijada
Janie Karen Rodriguez†*
Estelle Jacqueline Williams*
Originally commissioned and developed through Sideshow Theatre Company Freshness Initiative.
Wally World received a developmental workshop at DETOUR: A Festival New Work at WaterTower Theatre in Addison, Texas in 2018.
Developed in the Colorado New Play Summit by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Company.
Additional Staff: Joel Moorman (Creative Director), Martha Wegener (Sound Engineer), Lowell Thomas (Video Producer), Matthew Chapman (Music Coordinator), David Chu & Captioning Coalition (Captioning)
Special Thanks to Erin Cook, Rashaad Hall, Elise Hausken and an extra special thanks to Andrea Gomez and her associates at a superstore a lot like Wally World, who inspired many of these characters.
Steppenwolf Theatre Company is a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for nonprofit professional theater.
† denotes a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble.
* denotes a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers.
‡ denotes a member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.
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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.
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Sponsor
Grand production sponsor
The Orlebeke Foundation