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

This weekend, I spent a chunk of time researching an article about The Seafarer I’m writing for the program. I rashly agreed to write about Baldoyle—the Dublin suburb in which the play is set—despite my complete and utter ignorance about the region. So, I’ve been spending some time at the library. Now I know I’m outing myself as a massive dork by saying this, but it’s actually kind of fun for me. While reading about Baldoyle’s geography and history, I’ve been able to create an imaginative map of this place I’ve never visited. I’m dreaming up an idea of what it might mean to be from there.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what the idea of place means in our work. Last season, Steppenwolf received a lot of gratifying attention as August: Osage County made a splash in New York City. But while Tracy Letts won national awards and was wooed by international producers, he was writing a play about home. Superior Donuts was, Tracy said, a “love letter to Chicago.” (more…)

As summer draws to a close, and we begin a new season, I’m reminded of ways in which the challenges of doing something truly different and new may be severe, but the rewards compensate in equal measure. As I write, downstairs in our rehearsal room Frank Galati is hard at work on a brand new piece, Kafka on the Shore, which promises to be a moving and thrilling experience. Just a few weeks ago, our First Look Rep concluded successfully, with Jason Wells‘ play Perfect Mendacity already scheduled for a world premiere production at the Asolo Theatre in Florida this Spring, and some percolating world premiere interest for the other two plays from the Rep as well.

Something else happened at the end of the summer that could have significant impact on Chicago, and particularly on playwrights in Chicago, for years to come. A former agent at a highly respected agency in NY has moved to Chicago and started her own company to represent clients based here. There has not been, to my knowledge, a licensed agency representing playwrights in Chicago for many, many years. Particularly encouraging is this agent’s interest in identifying Chicago playwrights and exporting their work nationally and internationally. Imagine a Chicago where playwrights not only come to gain experience, exposure and collaborative relationships they then leave behind for the greener pastures of New York or Los Angeles, but instead come to do all those things and stay. They sustain a life and career in the theater living and writing here, because someone is working hard everyday to ensure they are getting the national attention and remuneration they deserve. In a season when many eyes turned to Chicago as a theater city, particularly with respect to a community that generates and supports new work, it’s a beautiful notion. No doubt this agent will find challenges, but a tip of the hat to her for doing something new and very much needed.

Things are busy at Steppenwolf as we get ready to begin the new season. Our first Visiting Company, the Hypocrites, are already in performance with The Threepenny Opera in the Garage Theatre. Across the street in Yondorf Rehearsal Hall, the cast of Kafka on the Shore are just beginning to do run-thrus of the play as they prepare to move across the street to the Downstairs Theatre on Sunday to begin technical rehearsals. In preparation for that our scenic and lighting crews are mounting the expansive set and focusing lights.

Just outside the theatre spaces themselves, the lobbies are undergoing a facelift – new paint and carpeting.

We look forward to finishing up all our preparatory work and having you join us as we kick off the 2008-2009 Steppenwolf season when the seats fill up and the lights go down for the first preview performance of Kafka on the Shore next Thursday.

What the hell is this play about? Cats and dogs talk, Johnnie Walker and Colonel Sanders make an appearance, Oedipus and his complex makes his rounds, and people walk around with half their shadow looking for an entrance stone. So begins the journey into Kafka on the Shore.

Aug 2008 - rehearsals begin with the normal pleasantries, i.e., we finally get to meet the members of the cast. And then, like the knights in King Arthur’s court, the players of the round table emerge to greet us, i.e. people from costumes, set design, administration, P.R, stage managers, interns, etc. My initial reaction - I don’t think there are this many people involved on Broadway. (more…)

Ensemble member Ian Barford in yesterday’s performance of Dream Chicago in Millennium Park.  Explore more moments from this production.