David Schmitz News

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro announced today the addition of Rajiv Joseph and Karen Rodriguez to the world-renowned Steppenwolf ensemble. An Obie Award-wining and Pulitzer Prize finalist playwright, Rajiv Joseph's Guards at the Taj was produced at Steppenwolf this past May to great acclaim. Karen Rodriguez, a celebrated Chicago-based actor, recently performed at Steppenwolf in The Doppelganger (an international farce) and The Rembrandt, and will be featured in this season's world premiere of Isaac Gomez's La Ruta, in a role written specifically for her.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) announces the full casting for its first show of the 2018/19 season, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. This Tony Award-winning play is adapted by Simon Stephens, based on the book by Mark Haddon and directed by Steppenwolf Artistic Producer Jonathan Berry.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is pleased to announce the complete casting and directors for the first four shows of its 2018/19 season: Downstate by Pulitzer Prize-winning ensemble member Bruce Norris; Familiar by Danai Gurira; La Ruta by Isaac Gomez; and A Doll's House, Part 2 by Lucas Hnath. Directors Danya Taymor (Familiar) and Robin Witt (A Doll's House, Part 2) are added to the 2018/19 director lineup. Single tickets for Downstate and Familiar will go on sale Friday, August 10 at 11am. Single tickets for La Ruta and A Doll's House, Part 2 will go on sale Friday, October 19 at 11am. Classic, Black Card, Red Card and Directors Circle Memberships are currently on sale through Audience Services at 312-335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company began producing ensemble-driven plays in a church basement in the suburbs of Chicago in 1976. Today the company is a leader in the American Theater proudly based in Chicago with more than 50 groundbreaking actors, directors and playwrights who call Steppenwolf their artistic home. While deeply rooted in the Chicago community, the impact of Steppenwolf's work is felt nationwide.

Steppenwolf's LookOut Series and Mark Cortale are pleased to present Christine Ebersole with Seth Rudetsky as pianist and host. The one-night-only event takes place Monday, July 30, 2018 at 6:30pm in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted).

Steppenwolf's LookOut Series is pleased to announce their exciting Summer 2018 lineup, which includes offerings from more than 20 different artists and groups ranging from standup to theatre to live music to a live podcast episode and more! LookOut's Summer 2018 lineup provides audiences with a variety of reasons to step out of the heat, grab a cool drink from Front Bar and head into Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre to experience diverse artists and genres.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's world-renowned ensemble was joined by more than 675 civic, cultural and business leaders for the 2018 Gala on Saturday, May 12, 2018, raising over $1.3 million for Steppenwolf's artistic, educational and community programming. The major fundraising event, which had record-breaking attendance, was held at a new location not far from the theatre, 1340 N Cherry Avenue, and was designed and produced by Jeffrey Foster for Frost Chicago. Attendees celebrated 42 seasons of groundbreaking ensemble theatre with an evening of festivity emceed by actor Rainn Wilson, well-known for his role as "Dwight Schrute" on NBC's award-winning comedy, The Office and currently starring in The Doppelganger (an international farce) at Steppenwolf. Comedian, actor, director and producer Chris Rock, who starred in the world premiere Broadway production of The Motherf**ker with the Hat directed by Steppenwolf Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro, joined as the guest auctioneer alongside Christie's Robbie Gordy.

Now in rehearsals, Steppenwolf Theatre Company is thrilled to present Guards at the Taj, a stunning tale about the search for beauty in desperate circumstances, written by acclaimed playwright Rajiv Joseph (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo). As previously announced, ensemble member Amy Morton directs this Chicago premiere, featuring the original cast members, Omar Metwally (Humayun) and Arian Moayed (Babur), who were last seen on Steppenwolf's stage together in Homebody/Kabul. Morton directed the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway world premiere, which won the 2016 Obie Award for Best New American Play.

Steppenwolf's LookOut series is proud to present The Yard's production ofcolumbinus by the United States Theatre Project, written by Stephen Karam and PJ Paparelli. Directed byMechelle Moe and performed by The Yard's 15 young-person ensemble, columbinus runs Thursday, May 3 - Saturday, May 26 in the 1700 Theatre. Press date is Friday, May 4 at 8pm. Tickets ($15 - $25) to columbinusare on sale now through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org. Red and Black Card Members can use their credits toward columbinus, and Black Card members get 2-for-1 tickets.

Steppenwolf Education and Nicholas Senn High School Senior Drama Ensemble are proud to present a student-devised performance exploring the planning and pressures inherent in youth-driven social justice activism and leadership.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) announces its exciting 2018/19 season: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, the Tony Award-winning play adapted by Simon Stephens based on the book by Mark Haddon, directed by Steppenwolf Artistic Producer Jonathan Berry; and the world premiere of Radical by acclaimed playwright Matthew-Lee Erlbach, inspired by the book White American Youth by Christian Picciolini, directed by SYA Artistic Director Hallie Gordon. SYA's 2018/19 Season explores the question, "When You Feel Lost, How Do You Find Your Way?"

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's 2017/18 Multicultural Fellows are proud to present Crafting a Cohort, a free event that aims to unite people of color and members of the queer community (POC/Queer Folx) in various levels of theatre career tracks by providing a space for discussion and connection.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announces an exciting new matching gift campaign to help make the Steppenwolf experience accessible for people with disabilities (as well as their friends and families) with a gift to Steppenwolf's Art Access campaign. Art Access is a one week campaign to raise funds for Steppenwolf's accessibility services. All gifts between April 9-16 will be matched up to $10,000 by Skadden. Gifts to Steppenwolf's Art Access campaign can be made at https://www.steppenwolf.org/support-us/art-access.

Pulitzer and Tony-winning playwright Tracy Letts ("August: Osage County") brings his insightful new comedy to the Mark Taper Forum. Directed by Dexter Bullard, the Steppenwolf production of "Linda Vista" will be produced by Center Theatre Group at the Mark Taper Forum January 9 through February 17, 2019. The opening is set for January 16.

In conjunction with the world premiere of The Doppelganger (an international farce) by Matthew-Lee Erlbach, Steppenwolf Theatre Company is offering four free events on select Sundays during the run of the show. Each discussion is a fun and casual chance for audience members to engage with experts on topics associated with the production. Space is limited. RSVP through Audience Services at 312.335.1650 or at steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf's LookOut series is proud to present The Yard's production of columbinus by the United States Theatre Project, written by Stephen Karam and PJ Paparelli. Directed by Mechelle Moe and performed by The Yard's 15 young-person ensemble, columbinus runs Thursday, May 3 - Saturday, May 26 in the 1700 Theatre.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company celebrates 42 seasons of innovative ensemble theatre with an evening of celebration emceed by actor Rainn Wilson, who will be starring in The Doppelganger (an international farce) at Steppenwolf this spring and is well-known for his role as "Dwight Schrute" on NBC's award-winning comedy The Office. Comedian, actor, director and producer Chris Rock, who is best known for his standup comedy and who starred in the world premiere Broadway production of The Motherf**ker with the Hat directed by Steppenwolf Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro, will be the guest auctioneer alongside Christie's Robbie Gordy.

Rehearsals kicked off today for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's highly anticipated world premiere comedy, The Doppelganger (an international farce) written by Chicagoland native Matthew-Lee Erlbach (Showtime's Masters of Sex, Off-Broadway's Handbook for an American Revolutionary).

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere production of Guards at the Taj by acclaimed playwright Rajiv Joseph, directed by ensemble member Amy Morton. A stunning tale about the search for beauty in desperate circumstances, the Steppenwolf production will feature the original cast members, Omar Metwally (Humayun) and Arian Moayed (Babur), whom Amy Morton directed in the Off-Broadway world premiere which received rave reviews when it premiered in 2015 and won the 2016 Obie Award for Best New American Play.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro and Executive Director David Schmitz proudly unveiled today the 2018/19 Season.