Chicago's new generation of theater artists are showcased in Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Next Up -

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Second Annual Partnership with Northwestern University features three plays

In Rotating Repertory in the Steppenwolf Garage, June 5-24, 2012

CHICAGO, IL â€“ This June Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its commitment to Chicagoâ€™s next generation of theater artists with the second annual NEXT UP: three productions presented in rotating repertory June 5 â€“ 24, 2012 in The Steppenwolf Garage (1624 N. Halsted St.). NEXT UP is presented in collaboration with Northwestern University’s MFA programs in Direction and Design, and features the work of graduates of those programs with casts of professional Chicago actors: Life and Limb by Keith Reddin, directed by Emily Campbell; South of Settling by Emily Schwend, directed by Adam Goldstein; and The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, directed by Laley Lippard. The directors and designers make their Steppenwolf debut under the mentorship of Steppenwolf staff and artists, including ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro and scenic designer Todd Rosenthalâ€”both members of the Northwestern facultyâ€”as well as Steppenwolf Associate Artistic Director Erica Daniels.

â€œItâ€™s thrilling to have the Steppenwolf/Northwestern collaboration continue for a second year, building on the success and lessons learned from our inaugural NEXT UP,â€ comments ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro, head of Northwestern Universityâ€™s MFA Directing Program. â€œSteppenwolf has made a commitment to the development of emerging artists; this multi-year mentor/mentee experience is vital to the careers of these very talented theater-makers.â€

Â Steppenwolf Theatre Companyâ€™s Second Annual NEXT UPÂ

Life and Limb by Keith Reddin

directed by Emily Campbell

June 5 â€“ 24, 2012 in The Steppenwolf Garage (1624 N. Halsted St.)

Life and Limb

features Grace Rex as Effie; JÃ¼rgen Hooper as Franklin; Audrey Francis as Doina; Chris Froseth as Tod; Tom Hickey as Sam, Eric and Jerry; Roman Harris-MacDonald as Chris; and Leonard J. Kraft as Grandfather. The creative team includes Scenic Designer Courtney Oâ€™Neill, Costume Designer Sally Dolembo and Lighting Designer Will Kirkham.Â

Wounded in Korea, Franklin returns home minus an arm and a future. With zero prospects for work and a faltering marriage, he struggles to regain his life. When he finally lands a job, Franklin finds himself working for a sadistic manufacturer of artificial limbs. Deadpan, cold-blooded and comic, Life and Limb is not your typical veteranâ€™s story.

South of Settling by Emily Schwend

directed by Adam Goldstein
June 6 â€“ 23, 2012 in The Steppenwolf Garage (1624 N. Halsted St.)

South of Settling features Janet Ulrich Brooks as Kate Deckhouse; Keith Kupferer as Irwin Deckhouse; Nicole Wiesner as Amy; Jeff Trainor as Randall; and Joey deBettencourt as Paulie Wheaton. The creative team includes Scenic Designer Sarah Watkins, Costume Designer Kelsey Ettman and Lighting Designer Rebecca Jeffords.

Kate and Irwin Deckhouseâ€™s quiet, orderly life turns topsy-turvy with the surprise arrival of Kateâ€™s long estranged cousin Amy and her brand new husband Randall. Deckhouse hospitality is put to the test as family secrets are unlocked and hard truths confronted. South of Settling explores how much our dreams and desires are shaped by others, for better or worse.

The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams

directed by Laley Lippard

June 7 â€“ 24, 2012 in The Steppenwolf Garage (1624 N. Halsted St.)

The Glass Menagerie features Leah Karpel as Laura Wingfield; Kathy Scambiatterra as Amanda Wingfield; Brett Schneider as Jim Oâ€™Connor; and Aaron Roman Weiner as Tom Wingfield. The creative team includes Scenic Designer William Boles, Costume Designer Sally Dolembo and Lighting Designer Rebecca Jeffords.

In Tennessee Williamsâ€™ classic autobiographical play, poet and dreamer Tom Wingfield weaves truth and imagination to conjure up his younger self and the family he escaped long ago. Life in the Wingfield household chafes: his overbearing mother Amanda yearns for the glamour of her past; his fragile, shy sister, Laura believes happiness is out of reach; and a young Tom fights to realize his dreamed-for future.

Performance Schedule

NEXT UP plays Tuesdays through Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 1pm, 5pm and 9pm; and Sundays at 4pm and 8pm. The complete schedule is as follows:

Life and LimbÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â South of SettlingÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The Glass MenagerieÂ Â Â Â Â Â

Tuesday, 6/5 at 8pm*Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wednesday, 6/6 at 8pm*Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Thursday, 6/7 at 8pm*

Friday, 6/8 at 8pmÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Saturday, 6/9 at 5pm**Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Saturday, 6/9 at 9pm**

Saturday, 6/9 at 1pm**Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sunday, 6/10 at 8pmÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sunday, 6/10 at 4pm

Wednesday, 6/13 at 8pmÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Thursday, 6/14 at 8pmÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tuesday, 6/12 at 8pm

Saturday, 6/16 at 5pmÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Saturday, 6/16 at 9pmÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Friday, 6/15 at 8pm

Sunday, 6/17 at 8pmÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sunday, 6/17 at 4pmÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Saturday, 6/16 at 1pm

Thursday, 6/21 at 8pmÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tuesday, 6/19 at 8pmÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wednesday, 6/20 at 8pm

Saturday, 6/23 at 9pmÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Friday, 6/22 at 8pmÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Saturday 6/23 at 5pm

Sunday, 6/24 at 4pmÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Saturday, 6/23 at 1pmÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sunday, 6/24 at 8pm

* Â Preview performance

** Press performance

Tickets to NEXT UP ($15 â€“ $20) go on sale Friday, March 23, 2012. Passes to all three plays are available for $45. Tickets will be available at www.steppenwolf.org, 1650 N. Halsted St. or at 312-335-1650. Steppenwolf is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. Street and lot parking are available.

Support for NEXT UP comes through the â€œLeading for the Future Initiative,â€ a program of the Nonprofit Finance Fund, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago, IL (Martha Lavey, Artistic Director; David Hawkanson, Executive Director) is one of the nationâ€™s leading ensemble theatres, producing up to 16 productions each year in its three Chicago theater spaces â€“ including programming dedicated to the development of new plays and theatre for young adults. Steppenwolfâ€™s productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including off-Broadway, Broadway, London, Sydney and Dublin. Formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, Steppenwolf has grown into an ensemble of 43 actors, writers and directors. For additional information, visit www.steppenwolf.org, www.facebook.com/SteppenwolfTheatre and www.twitter.com/SteppenwolfThtr.

Currently on stage are Time Stands Still by Pulitzer Prize-winner Donald Margulies, directed by ensemble member Austin Pendleton (through May 13, 2011) in Steppenwolfâ€™s Upstairs Theatre (1650 N. Halsted St.); and Garage Rep (through April 8, 2012) in The Steppenwolf Garage (1624 N. Halsted St.), featuring Oohrah! by Bekah Brunstetter, directed by Brad Akin, presented by LiveWire Chicago; Hit the Wall by Ike Holter, directed by Eric Hoff, presented by The Inconvenience; and He Who, written and directed by Michael Montenegro, presented by Theatre Zarko.

Upcoming productions in the 2011/12 season include: The March, based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow, adapted for the stage and directed by ensemble member Frank Galati (April 5 â€“ June 10, 2012) in Steppenwolfâ€™s Downstairs Theatre (1650 N. Halsted St.); and Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov, adapted by ensemble member Tracy Letts, directed by ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro (June 28 â€“ August 26, 2012) in Steppenwolfâ€™s Downstairs Theatre (1650 N. Halstead St.).

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