Casting Announced For Steppenwolf's 3rd Annual NEXT UP; May 28 – June 16, 2013

Next-Up-gifSteppenwolf Theatre Company is proud to announce casting for the upcoming third annual Next Up, continuing Steppenwolf’s commitment to Chicago’s next generation of theater artists. Next Up features three productions presented in rotating repertory, May 28 – June 16, 2013 in the Garage Theatre

(1624 N Halsted St), in collaboration with Northwestern University’s MFA programs in Direction and Design. Next Up 2013 showcases the work of graduates of those programs with casts of professional Chicago actors—including nine alumni of the School at Steppenwolf: Fat Pig by Neil LaBute, directed by David Prete;The Drunken City by Adam Bock, directed by Johnny Michael DiResta; and The Internationalist by Anne Washburn, directed by Erin Murray. The directors and designers make their Steppenwolf debut under the mentorship of Steppenwolf staff and artists, including ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro, director Jessica Thebus and scenic designer Todd Rosenthal—all of whom are members of the Northwestern faculty—as well as Steppenwolf Associate Artistic Director Erica Daniels.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s Third Annual Next Up

Fat Pig                                                                              

By Neil LaBute

Directed by David Prete

May 28 – June 16, 2013 in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St)
Fat Pig features Josh BywaterBaize BuzanAnne Joy and JJ Phillips.The creative team includes Chelsey Batson (scenic and costume design), Rebecca Barrett (lighting design), Kevin O’Donnell (sound design),Kathleen Petroziello (stage manager) and Brianna Parry (assistant stage manager).

How many insults can you hear before you have to stand up and defend the woman you love? Tom faces just that question when he falls for Helen, a bright, funny, sexy young woman who happens to be plus-sized—and then some. As Tom explains his new relationship to his shallow (although shockingly funny) co-workers, Fat Pig questions whether anyone can really see past the surface.

The Drunken City

By Adam Bock

Directed by Johnny Michael DiResta

May 29 – June 15, 2013 in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St)

The Drunken City features Audrey FrancisEmjoy GavinoAndrew GoettenBrian KingDarci Nalepa andSean Parris. The creative team includes Yu Shibagaki (scenic designer), Stephanie Cluggish (costume design), Rebecca Barrett (lighting design), Kevin O’Donnell (sound design), Jonathan Nook (stage manager) and Mary Hungerford (assistant stage manager).

The sparkle of glittery pink cocktails lures three brides-to-be into the city for an epic bar crawl. After a stirring encounter with a handsome stranger, the evening takes a surreal turn that threatens the very future they came to celebrate. In the ups and downs of modern love, sometimes what looks like a drunken party foul might actually be a new beginning.

The Internationalist

By Anne Washburn

Directed by Erin Murray

May 30 – June 16, 2013 in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St)

The Internationalist features Tony BuzzutoAmy J. CarleAndrew CarterJohn GrayNicholas Harazinand Kelly O’Sullivan. The creative team includes Stephanie Cluggish (scenic designer), Chelsey Batson(costume design), Rebecca Barrett (lighting design), Kevin O’Donnell (sound design), Michelle Medvin(stage manager) and Jennifer McClendon (assistant stage manager).

Lowell, an American on a business trip abroad, is met at the airport by a beautiful colleague. They spend the night together and he thinks he’s in one of those great American movies with travel, romance, adventure and life-changing experience. The next day at the office he discovers that he’s actually in one of those foreign films where nothing is as it seems, there is no moral, and most importantly: no subtitles.

Performance Schedule

Next Up plays Tuesdays through Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 1pm, 5pm and 9pm; and Sundays at 4pm and 8pm. The complete schedule is as follows:

 

Fat Pig                                                       The Drunken City                                    The Internationalist        

Tuesday, 5/28 at 8pm                                 Wednesday, 5/29 at 8pm                         Thursday, 5/30 at 8pm*

Friday, 5/31 at 8pm                                   Saturday, 6/1 at 5pm                              Saturday, 6/1 at 8pm**

Saturday, 6/1 at 1pm                                   Sunday, 6/2 at 8pm                                  Sunday, 6/2 at 4pm

Wednesday, 6/5 at 8pm                               Thursday, 6/6 at 8pm                                Tuesday, 6/4 at 8pm

Saturday, 6/8 at 5pm                                   Saturday, 6/8 at 9pm                                Friday, 6/7 at 8pm

Sunday, 6/9 at 8pm                                     Sunday, 6/9 at 4pm                                  Saturday, 6/8 at 1pm

Thursday, 6/13 at 8pm                                 Tuesday, 6/11 at 8pm                               Wednesday, 6/12 at 8pm

Saturday, 6/15 at 9pm                                 Friday, 6/14 at 8pm                                  Saturday 6/15 at 5pm

Sunday, 6/16 at 4pm                                   Saturday, 6/15 at 1pm                              Sunday, 6/16 at 8pm

  •   Preview performance

** Press performance

Tickets to Next Up ($20) go on sale Friday, March 29, 2013. Passes to all three plays are available for $45. Tickets will be available at steppenwolf.org, 1650 N Halsted St or at 312-335-1650. Steppenwolf is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. Street and lot parking are available.

Support for Next Up comes through the “Leading for the Future Initiative,” a program of the Nonprofit Finance Fund, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Additional funding for Next Up has been provided by the Northwestern University School of Communication, the Theatre and Interpretation Center at Northwestern University and the Northwestern University Department of Theatre. OptionsHouse is the Garage Series Sponsor.

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-seatDownstairs 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.orgfacebook.com/steppenwolftheatre and twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr.

Currently on stage is The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter, directed by ensemble member Austin Pendleton (through April 28, 2013) in the Upstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St); and Garage Rep, featuring BlackTop Skyby Christina Anderson, directed by Cassy Sanders, presented by Theatre Seven of Chicago; See What I Wanna See, words and music by Michael John LaChiusa, directed by Lili-Anne Brown, music direction by James Morehead; and She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen, directed by Scott Weinstein, presented by Buzz22 Chicago (through April 21, 2013) in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St). The 2012/13 Subscription Seasonconcludes with Belleville by Amy Herzog, directed by Anne Kauffman (June 27 – August 25, 2013) in the Downstairs Theatre.