Martha Lavey News

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is now accepting applications for Garage Rep 2015, which presents the work of three of Chicago's most innovative emerging theater companies in rotating repertory under Steppenwolf's banner. Chicago theater companies with a track record of production excellence and inventive approaches to attracting multigenerational audiences are encouraged to apply. The sixth annual Garage Rep is presented in Steppenwolf's Garage Theatre, March - April 2015 (specific dates to be announced at a later date).

Casting is nearly complete for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's world-premiere production of The Way West by Mona Mansour. Ensemble member Amy Morton directs a cast of six featuring ensemble member Martha Lavey with Ira Amyx, Caroline Neff, Deirdre O'Connell, Zoe Perry and Gabe Ruiz. This wryly funny play-with music-about the contemporary quirks of our American spirit is the recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. The Way West begins previews tonight, April 3, 2014 (opening night is April 13; press performances are April 12 at 3pm and April 15 at 7:30pm) and runs through June 8, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St).

Hundreds of Chicago's young arts supporters gather for a high-energy evening of music, dancing, cocktails, impressive local cuisine and auction at Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council's 2014 Red or White Ball tonight, March 28, 2014 at 9pm, with the highly anticipated VIP Reception beginning at 7:30pm.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include a first look at the Broadway company of MOTHERS AND SONS, a peek into rehearsals of THE WAY WEST with Amy Morton, coverage of opening night of BLITHE SPIRIT starring Angela Lansbury, and more!

Chicago audiences depart for the country's western edge to experience the reality of the modern-day American dream in the world premiere of Mona Mansour's funny and insightful new play, The Way West, at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Ensemble member Amy Morton is at the helm following her Tony Award-nominated portrayal of Martha in Steppenwolf's production of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? on Broadway. The cast of six features Ira Amyx, ensemble member Martha Lavey, Caroline Neff, Deirdre O'Connell,Zoe Perry and Gabe Ruiz. The Way West begins previews April 3, 2014 (opening night is April 13; press performances are April 12 at 3pm and April 15 at 7:30pm) and runs through June 8, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast and creative team in rehearsal below!

Chicago audiences depart for the country's western edge to experience the reality of the modern-day American dream in the world premiere of Mona Mansour's funny and insightful new play, The Way West, at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Ensemble member Amy Morton is at the helm following her Tony Award-nominated portrayal of Martha in Steppenwolf's production of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? on Broadway. The cast of six features Ira Amyx, ensemble member Martha Lavey, Caroline Neff, Deirdre O'Connell, Zoe Perry and Gabe Ruiz. The Way West begins previews April 3, 2014 (opening night is April 13; press performances are April 12 at 3pm and April 15 at 7:30pm) and runs through June 8, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20 - 78) are on sale now at steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company has announced the line-up for Late Night @ Garage Rep, a series of cross-genre performances Today nights during Garage Rep 2014, starting tonight, March 6. The line-up includes a performance by Salonathon; the play with music, Duo: 1 Is 1, 2 Is Math; Kevin Coval and Young Chicago Authors; James Anthony Zoccoli's Wiggerlover [whiteboy+blackdad=greyareas]; Ian Belknap's one-man Bring Me The Head Of James Franco, That I May Prepare a Savory Goulash In The Narrow And Misshapen Pot Of His Skull; The Gift Theatre's improv group, Natural Gas; and Chicago Dance Crash's Follow The Reader.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Martha Lavey announced today the 2014/15 Subscription Season, including a series of premieres; one remaining title will be announced at a later date. The season begins in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre with Conor McPherson's The Night Alive, directed by Henry Wishcamper. Up next, Joe Mantello directs the world premiere of Airline Highway by Lisa D'Amour. In the Upstairs Theatre, Robert O'Hara directs Marie Antoinette by David Adjmi. And in April 2015, ensemble member K. Todd Freeman directs The Herd by Rory Kinnear.

Hundreds of Chicago's young arts supporters gather for a high-energy evening of music, dancing, cocktails, impressive local cuisine and auction at Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council's 2014 Red or White Ball on Friday, March 28, 2014 at 9pm, with the highly anticipated VIP Reception beginning at 7:30pm. The signature event for the city's most active young professionals will be hosted at Chicago's sleek, contemporary Venue One (1044 W Randolph St). Proceeds from the Red or White Ball benefit Steppenwolf for Young Adults, the theater's nationally recognized arts education program, which annually impacts more than 15,000 students, teachers and families. This year's event takes it to the next level, in line with the Steppenwolf for Young Adults' production, Leveling Up.

Previews are underway for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Chicago-premiere production of Russian Transport by Erika Sheffer, "a gritty but often humorous portrait of the immigrant nuclear family" (Time Out New York). Bulgarian-born ensemble member Yasen Peyankov is at the helm of what Variety declared a "thoughtful, well-written domestic drama with something original to say about immigrant families living by old world values in a new world culture." The cast of five features ensemble members Tim Hopper, Mariann Mayberry and Alan Wilder with Aaron Himelstein andMelanie Neilan. Russian Transport opens February 16; press performances are February 15 at 3pm and February 18 at 7:30pm) and runs through May 11, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20 - 78) are on sale now at steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents Garage Rep 2014, featuring The New Colony's reWILDing Genius, Prologue Theatre Company's Saturday Night/Sunday Morning and Walkabout Theater Company's The Wild.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's world-renowned ensemble will join more than 600 members of Chicago's corporate, civic and cultural communities for Gala 2014 on Saturday, May 3, 2014. This year, Steppenwolf's premier fundraising event takes place entirely on the theater's North Halsted campus, offering guests the unique opportunity to connect with Steppenwolf artists in their artistic home while enjoying theatrical entertainment, cocktails, a gourmet dinner, music and dancing with Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band, the opportunity to bid on once-in-a-lifetime auction items-and much more! Following cocktails and a special performance in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre, guests will make their way to a theatrically-designed tent created by Event Creative.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents an evening with 16-time Grammy Award-winner Sting on behalf of his forthcoming musical, The Last Ship, on February 24, 2014 at 7:30pm. For one night only, this benefit event features Sting in conversation with musician, BAFTA nominee and The Last Ship cast member, Jimmy Nail. The pair will also perform songs from the new musical, joined by Emmy Award-nominee Rob Mathes on piano. Funds raised at the event support Steppenwolf's Artistic Development Fund, a special fund created by the theater to provide enhanced resources for large scale productions initiated by our artists and to mount new plays. A limited number of tickets ($250) go on sale to the public February 5 at 11am through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St) and at 312-335-1650.

Casting is nearly complete for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's world-premiere production of The Way West by Mona Mansour. Ensemble member Amy Morton directs a cast of six featuring ensemble member Martha Lavey with Ira Amyx, Caroline Neff, Deirdre O'Connell, Zoe Perry and Gabe Ruiz. This wryly funny play-with music-about the contemporary quirks of our American spirit is the recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. The Way West begins previews April 3, 2014 (opening night is April 13; press performances are April 12 at 3pm and April 15 at 7:30pm) and runs through June 8, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St).

Rehearsals are underway for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Chicago-premiere production of Russian Transport by Erika Sheffer, "a gritty but often humorous portrait of the immigrant nuclear family" (Time Out New York). Bulgarian-born ensemble member Yasen Peyankov is at the helm of what Variety declared a "thoughtful, well-written domestic drama with something original to say about immigrant families living by old world values in a new world culture." The cast of five features ensemble members Tim Hopper, Mariann Mayberry and Alan Wilder with Aaron Himelstein and Melanie Neilan. Russian Transport begins previews February 6, 2014 (opening night is February 16; press performances are February 15 at 3pm and February 18 at 7:30pm) and runs through May 11, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20 - 78) are on sale now at steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company has announced the line-up for Late Night @ Garage Rep, a series of cross-genre performances Thursday nights during Garage Rep 2014, starting March 6. The line-up includes a performance by Salonathon; the play with music, Duo: 1 Is 1, 2 Is Math; Kevin Coval and Young Chicago Authors; James Anthony Zoccoli's Wiggerlover [whiteboy+blackdad=greyareas]; Ian Belknap's one-man Bring Me The Head Of James Franco, That I May Prepare a Savory Goulash In The Narrow And Misshapen Pot Of His Skull; The Gift Theatre's improv group, Natural Gas; and Chicago Dance Crash's Follow The Reader.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's highly anticipated Chicago-premiere production of Tribes by Nina Raine, following the hit Off-Broadway production in 2012. Ensemble member Austin Pendleton is at the helm. The cast of six features ensemble members Alana Arenas, Francis Guinan and Molly Regan with Steve Haggard, Helen Sadler, and John McGinty in the central role of Billy; McGinty joins the cast direct from Guthrie Theater's production in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Tribes began previews December 5, 2013 (opening night is December 15; press performances are December 14 at 3pm and December 17 at 7:30pm) and runs through February 9, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Steppenwolf Theatre Company has announced the casting and creative teams for Garage Rep 2014, featuring The New Colony's reWILDing Genius, Prologue Theatre Company's Saturday Night/Sunday Morning and Walkabout Theater Company's The Wild.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company and ensemble member Tracy Letts, Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning playwright of August: Osage County, hosts Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale and Julianne Nicholson as the guests of honor at the fifth annual Steppenwolf Salutes Women in the Arts fundraising luncheon today, December 9, 2013 at 12 noon at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago (120 E Delaware Pl).

Casting is complete for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Chicago-premiere production of Tribes by Nina Raine. Ensemble member Austin Pendleton directs a cast featuring ensemble members Alana Arenas, Francis Guinan and Molly Regan with Steve Haggard, Russell Harvard and Helen Sadler. The American premiere of Tribes was Off-Broadway at Barrow Street Theater in 2012, and also featured Harvard, alongside ensemble member Jeff Perry; Harvard was recently featured in the Mark Taper Forum production as well.