CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY’S EIGHTH ANNUAL FIRST LOOK REPERTORY OF NEW WORK
Steppenwolf Theatre Company is proud to announce casting for the upcoming eighth annual First Look Repertory of New Work, featuring three developmental productions of new plays presented in rotating repertory July 29 – August 25, 2013 in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St). First Look 2013 includes: Buena Vista by Edith Freni, The Gospel of Franklin by Aaron Carter and Annie Bosh is Missing by Janine Nabers. The 2013 festival also features readings of three new plays during Professionals’ Weekend (August 8 – 11), including Tempo by Mike Batistick, Your Name Will Follow You Home by Carlos Murillo and BARBECUE by Robert O’Hara. Tickets to First Look Repertory of New Work are on sale now at steppenwolf.org/firstlook, 1650 N Halsted St or 312-335-1650.
Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s Eighth Annual
First Look Repertory of New Work
Buena Vista
A new play by Edith Freni
Directed by ensemble member Tim Hopper
Buena Vista features Leah Karpel, Rich Komenich, Luigi Sottile and Karen Vaccaro.
When Noah shows up at his family’s isolated Colorado cabin, he discovers his estranged mother has been squatting there for months. Then Dad walks in—questioning the reason for his son’s retreat—and Noah’s weekend getaway turns into a bizarre, snowed-in family nightmare. A series of revelations ignite Buena Vista’s surreal conclusion, unfolding in a frozen wooden box at 12,000 feet above sea level.
The Gospel of Franklin
A new play by Aaron D. Carter
Directed by Robert O’Hara
The Gospel of Franklin features Rob Fenton, Tim Frank, Keith D. Gallagher, Gavin Lawrence and Julian Parker.
Franklin is a man of God with a talent for recognizing people who suffer in secret. A working-class black man, he mentors young white men at the factory with a preacher’s zeal. But when Franklin himself needs help, it is his son William who comes to the rescue. The Gospel of Franklin is a warm, fiercely intelligent play that asks the question: can you save someone who doesn’t want to be saved?
Annie Bosh is Missing
A new play by Janine Nabers
Directed by Shade Murray
Annie Bosh is Missing features Jennifer Avery, Brittany Burch, Ian Paul Custer, Caroline Neff, David Seeber, Krenée A. Tolson and Phillip Edward Van Lear.
Annie Bosh is back. 22 years old and fresh out of rehab, she finds herself working in a bowling alley, living in her mother’s ritzy subdivision, and desperate to move on with her life. Slipping out of the front gates, Annie wanders the chaotic streets of a post-Hurricane Katrina Houston, but what exactly is she looking for?
The production team for First Look 2013 includes William Boles (scenic design), Heather Gilbert (lighting design) and Kevin O’Donnell (sound design). Additional credits include: Erica Daniels (casting), Cassie Wolgamott (lead stage manager), Michelle Medvin (stage manager) and Jon Nook (stage manager).
Performance Schedule
First Look Repertory of New Work plays Wednesday through Friday at 8pm; and Saturday and Sunday at 1pm, 4:30pm and 8pm. The complete schedule is as follows:
Buena Vista The Gospel of Franklin Annie Bosh is Missing
July 29 at 8pm* August 2 at 8pm* July 31 at 8pm*
August 3 at 4:30pm* August 3 at 1pm* August 3 at 8pm*
August 4 at 4:30pm* August 4 at 8pm* August 4 at 1pm*
August 9 at 8pm* August 8 at 8pm* August 7 at 8pm*
August 10 at 1pm** August 10 at 4:30pm** August 10 at 8pm**
August 11 at 4:30pm August 11 at 1pm August 11 at 8pm
August 15 at 8pm August 14 at 8pm August 16 at 8pm
August 17 at 8pm August 17 at 4:30pm August 17 at 1pm
August 18 at 1pm August 18 at 8pm August 18 at 4:30pm
August 21 at 8pm August 23 at 8pm August 22 at 8pm
August 24 at 4:30pm August 24 at 1pm August 24 at 8pm
August 25 at 8pm August 25 at 4:30pm August 25 at 1pm
* Preview performance
Tickets to First Look Repertory of New Work ($20) are on sale now. Student tickets ($15) are available with valid ID. Passes to all three plays are available for $45. Tickets are available at steppenwolf.org/firstlook, 1650 N Halsted St or at 312-335-1650.
The mission of First Look Repertory of New Work is to develop plays for future production at Steppenwolf and other theaters across the country. Since its inception, 12 of the 21 plays presented during First Look’s first seven seasons have enjoyed subsequent world premieres at other theaters, including: Sarah Gubbins’ Fair Use, produced by Actors’ Express in Atlanta, Georgia; Jason Wells’ Perfect Mendacity, produced by Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida; Wells’s Men of Tortuga, also produced by Asolo, with a second production at Profiles Theater in Chicago; The Butcher of Baraboo by Marisa Wegrzyn, produced by 2econd Stage Theatre in New York, with a second production at A Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago; 100 Saints You Should Know by Kate Fodor, produced by Playwrights Horizons in New York; Spare Change by Mia McCullough, produced by Stage Left Theatre in Chicago; Gary by Melinda Lopez, produced by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre in Massachusetts; When The Messenger is Hot by Laura Eason, produced by 59E59 Theaters in New York; Eason’s Sex with Strangers, produced as part of Steppenwolf’s 2010/11 subscription season; Pursued by Happiness by Keith Huff, produced by Road Theater Company in Los Angeles, California; The North Plan by Jason Wells, produced by Portland Center Stage, with a second production at Theater Wit in Chicago; and Oblivion by Carly Mensch is scheduled for Westport Country Playhouse in Connecticut this fall.
The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust is the Production Sponsor of First Look Repertory of New Work.
Steppenwolf Theatre Company is America’s longest standing, most distinguished ensemble theater, producing nearly 700 performances and events annually in its three Chicago theater spaces—the 515-seat Downstairs Theatre, the 299-seat Upstairs Theatre and the 80-seat Garage Theatre. Formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, Steppenwolf has grown into an ensemble of 43 actors, writers and directors. Artistic programming at Steppenwolf includes a five-play Subscription Season, a two-play Steppenwolf for Young Adults season and three repertory series: First Look Repertory of New Work, Garage Rep and Next Up. While firmly grounded in the Chicago community, nearly 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including Off-Broadway, Broadway, London, Sydney and Dublin. Steppenwolf has the distinction of being the only theater to receive the National Medal of Arts, in addition to numerous other prestigious honors including an Illinois Arts Legend Award and nine Tony Awards. Martha Lavey is the Artistic Director and David Hawkanson is the Executive Director. Nora Daley is Chair of Steppenwolf’s Board of Trustees. For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre and twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr.