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

Hi, I’m Polly and I play the role of Jean in Dead Man’s Cell Phone. My character, Jean, is shy and old fashioned, so I wish I could post on this blog with a fountain pen or a typewriter.

We just finished our first week of rehearsal and I feel happy and exhausted. We told all sorts of stories in rehearsal, mostly funny stories, but some sad ones too.

It takes a while to adjust to being in a new place. Ensemble member Molly Regan, who plays Mrs. Gottlieb, and I both came in from New York, so we are being housed in Steppenwolf apartments about a block from the theater. It is great to be so close to work. One of my favorite things about doing plays out of town is living in a new place. It makes me think that I am in the circus. And in a way, I am!

I grew up in Evanston and I lived in Chicago for a while, so I am delighted to be back! I worked at Steppenwolf about ten years ago when I directed Goodbye Stranger by Carrie Luft, as part of the New Plays Lab.

Rehearsals are held in a romantic old meeting hall on North Ave. As the child of an architect, I love it. It is the perfect place for working on this play. So often rehearsals are held in windowless, fluorescent-lit rooms. I am grateful to Steppenwolf for providing such an inspiring space in which to work; it makes it so much easier.

I am very excited to be working with Jessica Thebus. Her direction is playful and stimulating. Picture us all running around indoors shaking umbrellas!

Did I mention that the cast is fantastic?
I promise to report back more later…

This entry was posted by Polly Noonan on Tuesday, March 4th, 2008 at 4:08 am and is filed under Dead Man's Cell Phone. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.