Steppenwolf Theatre Company Blog – Chicago Theater, World-Class Ensemble

According to recent article in the Chicago Tribune, 27 public school children have been murdered in Chicago this year.

This begins to approach the number of students killed at Virginia Tech in April. While our media was saturated with the Virginia Tech incident, the Tribune is the first major news outlet to cite these Chicago deaths en masse.

No, this posting will not be a diatribe about the prevalence of violence nor the debate over the right to bear arms in our culture. We are merely a theater site, after all. (more…)

Steppenwolf stage manager Laura Glenn – who has been with the company for nearly 20 years – notes her experiences working on the 18-week run of Betrayal in the Upstairs Theatre with ensemble members Ian Barford, Tracy Letts and Amy Morton.

January 27th – Performance #4
Ian was just heart-breaking in scene 9 – “Prince of Desolation” – just very simple and open-hearted.

February 17th – Performance #25
It was a tough day in the Venice scene; Tracy’s back went out. While on the bed, he also had some…how shall I say…burping issues. Amy got through the scene—almost.

March 4th – Performance #43
The soundtrack of today’s performance: hacking, wheezing, sneezing, coughing and maybe even some snoring! At times, these sounds were louder than the scene shift music. Then, of course, there was some perfectly timed audience “reactions,” like: Last line of play. [Big sneeze from audience] Blackout. (more…)

The Steppenwolf All-Stars is the team that represents Steppenwolf in the Chicago Theatre softball league. The All-stars have existed in one form or another ever since the company moved from Highland Park into the city. Back then, as mythology goes, John Malkovich was a hot blooded, fire breathing coach who wouldn’t hesitate to yank Gary Sinise or Terry Kinney from the lineup if he felt they didn’t come with their game face on. Jeff Perry had a reputation for being ejected from games for arguing calls.

Currently, the Steppenwolf All-stars is made up primarily of administrative and production staff peppered with the occasional ensemble member such as Ian Barford who boasts an impressive batting average and a rocket arm. The season begins in May and ends in July with the playoffs going into August.

1. Why does Robert maintain his friendship with Jerry?

2. Who is the biological father of Ned?

3. Is Judith having an affair herself?

4. Why doesn’t Jerry tell Robert about Sam falling off his bike?

5. Has Robert ever beaten Emma?

6. Has Robert had affairs?

7. Why is Jerry so fixated on tossing Charlotte in the air?

There are no wrong answers.

Ensemble member and director of The Diary of Anne Frank Tina Landau and associate artistic director David New in conversation with guests at an event on May 6 co-sponsored with Gerber/Hart Library, the Midwest’s largest and most extensive library documenting the LGBT struggle.