Photo Flash: First Look at THE GLASS MENAGERIE and More in Steppenwolf's NEXT UP 2012
This month, Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its commitment to Chicago's next generation of theater artists with the second annual Next Up: three productions presented in rotating repertory, June 5 – 24, 2012 in The Steppenwolf Garage (1624 N Halsted St)-LIFE AND LIMB, SOUTH OF SETTLING and THE GLASS MENAGERIE. Check out photos from all three productions below!
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 Rosenthal-both members of the Northwestern faculty-as well as Steppenwolf Associate Artistic Director Erica Daniels.
Life and Limb by Keith Reddin, directed by Emily Campbell, runs June 5 – 24, 2012 in The Steppenwolf Garage (1624 N Halsted St).
Life and Limb features Audrey Francis as Doina; Chris Froseth as Tod; Roman Harris-MacDonald as Chris; Tom Hickey as Sam, Eric and Jerry; Jürgen Hooper as Franklin; Leonard Kraft as Grandfather; and Grace Rex as Effie. The creative team includes Scenic Designer Courtney O'Neill, Costume Designer Sally Dolembo, Lighting Designer Will Kirkham, Props Master Katie McDermott, Casting Director Erica Daniels, Stage Manager Rose Packer and Assistant Directors Matthew Moynihan, Sophie Rich and Abby Williamson.
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 veteran's story.
South of Settling, a new play by Emily Schwend, directed by Adam Goldstein, runs June 6 – 23, 2012 in The Steppenwolf Garage (1624 N Halsted St).
South of Settling features Joey deBettencourt as Paulie Wheaton; Keith Kupferer as Irwin Deckhouse; Jeff Trainor as Randall; Janet Ulrich Brooks as Kate Deckhouse; and Nicole Wiesner as Amy. The creative team includes Scenic Designer Sarah Watkins, Costume Designer Kelsey Ettman, Lighting Designer Rebecca Jeffords, Props Master Sarah Burnham, Casting Director Erica Daniels, Stage Manager Jon Nook and Assistant Director Jeff Meyer.
Kate and Irwin Deckhouse's quiet, orderly life turns topsy-turvy with the surprise arrival of Kate'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, runs June 7 – 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 O'Connor;and Aaron Roman Weiner as Tom Wingfield. The creative team includes Scenic Designer William Boles, Costume Designer Sally Dolembo, Lighting Designer Rebecca Jeffords, Props Master Sarah Burnham, Casting Director Erica Daniels, Stage Manager Cassie Wolgamott, Assistant Director Jacob Watson and Dramaturg Joseph Pindelski.
In Tennessee Williams' 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.
Tickets to Next Up ($15 – $20) are on sale now through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St), by phone at 312-335-1650 and at steppenwolf.org. Passes to all three plays are available for $45.
For more about Steppenwolf Theatre Company, visit steppenwolf.org, or find the organization on Facebook and Twitter.
Photo credit: Michael Brosilow
Effie (Grace Rex) surprises her husband Franklin (Jurgen Hooper) with ice cream in LIFE AND LIMB
Tod (Chris Froseth) explains his post-war plans to Franklin (Jurgen Hooper) in LIFE AND LIMB
Effie (Grace Rex) greets husband Franklin (Jurgen Hooper) when he returns from the Korean War in LIFE AND LIMB
Doina (Audrey Francis) and Effie (Grace Rex) a stuck knitting in LIFE AND LIMB
Effie (Grace Rex) dances with her husband Franklin (Jurgen Hooper) in LIFE AND LIMB
Sam (Tom Hickey) interviews Franklin (Jurgen Hooper) for a job in LIFE AND LIMB
(center rear) Jerry (Tom Hickey) manages (left to right) Effie (Grace Rex), Chris (Roman Harris-MacDonald), Grandfather (Leonard Kraft) and Doina (Audrey Francis) as they shop for groceries in LIFE AND LIMB
Irwin (Keith Kupferer) and Kate Deckhouse (Janet Ulrich Brooks) discuss Paulie's family life in SOUTH OF SETTLING
Randall (Jeff Trainor) and his new wife Amy (Nicole Wiesner) plan for their future in SOUTH OF SETTLING
Kate Deckhouse (Janet Ulrich Brooks) speaks with Paulie (Joey deBettencourt), one of her students in SOUTH OF SETTLING
Kate Deckhouse (Janet Ulrich Brooks) discusses her familial past with Amy (Nicole Wiesner) in SOUTH OF SETTLING
Randall (Jeff Trainor) seeks advice from Irwin Deckhouse (Keith Kupferer) in SOUTH OF SETTLING
Kate Deckhouse (Janet Ulrich Brooks) shares an awkward pause with Amy (Nicole Wiesner) in SOUTH OF SETTLING
A night at home with the Wingfields: Laura (Leah Karpel), Tom (Aaron Roman Weiner) and Amanda (Kathy Scambiatterra) in THE GLASS MENAGERIE
Tom Wingfield (Aaron Roman Weiner) narrates to the audience in THE GLASS MENAGERIE
Laura Wingfield (Leah Karpel) plays with her little glass figurines in THE GLASS MENAGERIE
Amanda (Kathy Scambiatterra) scolds her daughter Laura (Leah Karpel) when she discovers she hasn’t been attending her classes for weeks in THE GLASS MENAGERIE
The gentleman caller Jim O’Connor (Brett Schneider) charms Amanda (Kathy Scambiatterra) as Tom (Aaron Roman Weiner) looks on in THE GLASS MENAGERIE
Jim (Brett Schneider) and Laura (Leah Karpel) share a moment alone together in THE GLASS MENAGERIE
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