STEPPENWOLF FOR YOUNG ADULTS ANNOUNCES CASTING FOR WILLIAM GOLDING’S LORD OF THE FLIES

download (1)Steppenwolf for Young Adults is pleased to announce casting for the upcoming production of William Golding’s Lord of the FliesHalena Kays directs a cast featuring William BurkeSpencer CurnuttLane FloresRudy GalvanRyan HeindlCale ManningBrendan MeyerLance NewtonTy OlwinAdam Shalzi and Dan Smeriglio in Nigel Williams’s stage adaption of Golding’s classic novel. Lord of the Fliesruns October 16 – November 10, 2013. Performances Tuesday through Friday at 10am are reserved for school groups only; public performances are scheduled Friday at 7:30pm (except October 18), Saturday at 3 and 7:30pm, and Sunday at 3pm. Single tickets ($20) are on sale now through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org. School group tickets are available through Education Assistant Lauren Sivak at 312-654-5643.

A plane wreck strands a group of English boys on a deserted island during wartime. As they slowly explore their newfound freedom, what starts out as fun and games turns into a vicious battle for power when the boys split into two opposing tribes: one that strives for civility and another that delights in savage violence. The competition escalates into a dangerous, frightening climax, as this thrilling classic looks into the darker parts of human nature where it’s civilization vs. savagery and the mob vs. morality.

When the game turns deadly, how will you play? Steppenwolf for Young Adult’s 2013/14 season includes William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and Leveling Up by Deborah Zoe Laufer: two plays, one new and one classic, where young people navigate tricky moral landscapes—and must confront personal accountability for their choices—in games both virtual and real.

The production team for Lord of the Flies includes: Lizzie Bracken (scenic design), Alison Siple (costume design), Jared Moore (lighting design) and Mike Tutaj (sound and projection design). Additional credits include: Erica Daniels (casting), Frances Limoncelli(dramaturg), Ryan Bourque (fight coordinator), Leah Urzendowski (movement), Eva Breneman (dialect) and Laura D. Glenn (stage manager).


Steppenwolf for Young Adults
 unique approach combines play production with educational components to enhance arts education for young audiences, as well as their teachers and families. SYA creates two full-scale professional productions each season specifically for teens. Working closely with the Chicago Public and metropolitan area schools and other community partners, SYA annually ensures access to the theater for more than 12,000 participants from Chicago’s diverse communities. The initiative also includes post-show discussions with artists; classroom residencies led by Steppenwolf-trained teaching artists in more than 30 classrooms in 14 public high schools; professional development workshops for educators; and the Young Adult Council, an innovative year-round after-school initiative that uniquely engages high school students in all areas of the theater’s operations.

Target is the sponsor of the Target 2-for-1 Sunday Matinees.

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 12 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, visitsteppenwolf.orgfacebook.com/steppenwolftheatre and twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr.