Steppenwolf Theatre Presents Sex with Strangers, Closes 5/15

Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its 2010-2011 season with Sex with Strangers by Laura Eason directed by associate artist Jessica Thebus. The production features ensemble member Sally Murphy with Stephen Louis Grush. Sex with Strangers closes May 15, 2011 in Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.  

Ethan is a hot young writer whose online journals of "sexcapades" are the buzz of the blogosphere. Olivia is an attractive 30-something whose own writing career is fizzling. They hook up, sex turns into dating and dating into something more complicated. A break-out hit at Steppenwolf's 2009 First Look Repertory, Sex with Strangers explores how we invent our identity - online and off - and what happens when our private lives become public domain.

Laura Eason, a longtime member of the Lookingglass Theatre ensemble, is the author of more than 15 plays, both original works and adaptations. Previous productions at Steppenwolf include When the Messenger is Hot, A Tale of Two Cities and Huck Finn. Jessica Thebus directed Sex with Strangers during Steppenwolf's 2009 First Look Repertory of New Work. Other Steppenwolf directing credits include Intimate Apparel, Dead Man's Cell Phone, No Place Like Home, When the Messenger is Hot (also 59E59 Theaters, NYC) and Sonia Flew.

Steppenwolf's 2010-2011 season explores the theme of public/private self-five stories that examine how the public and private aspects of our lives unfold in an increasingly complex world.

The production team for Sex with Strangers includes: Todd Rosenthal (sets), Ana Kuzmanic (costumes), J.R. Lederle (lights) and Andre Pluess and Kevin O'Donnell (sound and original music). Chris Freeburg is the Stage Manager and Kathleen Petroziello is the Assistant Stage Manager.

Title: Sex with Strangers
Playwright: Laura Eason
Director: Associate artist Jessica Thebus
Featuring: Ensemble member Sally Murphy (Olivia) with Stephen Louis Grush (Ethan)
Location: Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.

Dates: Previews: January 20 - 29, 2011
Press performances: Saturday, January 29 at 3 pm and Tuesday, February 1 at 7:30 pm
Opening: Sunday, January 30 at 6 pm
Regular Run: February 1- May 15, 2011

Curtain Times: Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30 pm
(Sunday evening performances through April 10 only)
Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 pm
Wednesday matinees on April 13, 20, 27 and May 4, 11 at 2 pm
Note: There is no 7:30 pm performance on Saturday, May 7. The matinee performance on Sunday, January 30 begins at 2 pm.

Ticket prices: Previews: $20-$50
Regular Run: $20-$73
Twenty $20 tickets are available at Audience Services beginning at 11 am on the day of each performance (1 pm for Sunday performances). Half-price rush tickets are available one hour before each show. Student discounts available.

Audience Services: 1650 N. Halsted St., 312-335-1650
Online ticketing available at www.steppenwolf.org.

Accessible Performances:
Sign language-interpreted performance: Sunday, March 27 at 7:30 pm
Audio described performance: Thursday, March 17 at 7:30 pm
Audio described performance with touch tour: Sunday, May 8: 1:30 pm touch tour / 3 pm curtain

Free post-show discussions, sponsored by AT&T, are offered after every performance.

Steppenwolf is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. Street and lot parking are available. Assistive listening devices and large print programs are available for every performance.

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company's mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon. The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 43 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting and textual adaptation. For additional information, visit www.steppenwolf.org, www.facebook.com/SteppenwolfTheatre and www.twitter.com/SteppenwolfThtr.

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