Martha Plimpton to be Honored by Steppenwolf's WOMEN IN THE ARTS, 3/15

Steppenwolf ensemble member and three-time Tony® and Emmy® nominee Martha Plimpton will be the guest of honor at the 2nd annual Steppenwolf Salutes WOMEN IN THE ARTS fundraising luncheon on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 12:00 pm at The W Chicago - City Center, 172 West Adams St. Ms. Plimpton will be interviewed about her stage, television and film career by Steppenwolf Artistic Director Martha Lavey in a format similar toInside The Actors Studio. Ensemble member Joan Allen was honored at last year's inaugural Steppenwolf Salutes WOMEN IN THE ARTS fundraiser.

Proceeds from Steppenwolf Salutes WOMEN IN THE ARTS will benefit Steppenwolf's Professional Leadership Program, a nationally-recognized training program young professionals seeking hands-on experience in theater administration, production and technology. The program includes apprenticeships, internships and a multicultural fellowship.

Tickets for Steppenwolf Salutes WOMEN IN THE ARTS start at $200 and are currently on sale. To purchase tickets or learn about additional sponsorship opportunities, contact Steppenwolf's Special Events Department at (312) 654-5632,specialevents@steppenwolf.org or online at www.steppenwolf.org/luncheon.

The Committee for the 2nd annual Steppenwolf Salutes WOMEN IN THE ARTS includes: Leigh Bienen, Elizabeth H. Connelly, Christie Hefner, Leslie Hindman, Candace Jordan, Donna La Pietra, Christine M. Long, Jan Melk, Lynn Lockwood Murphy, Susan Payne, Smita N. Shah, Colette Cachey Smithburg and Helen Zell.

Harris Bank is Lead Sponsor of Steppenwolf Salutes WOMEN IN THE ARTS, Crain's Chicago Business is Co-Sponsor and the Elysian Hotel is the Official Hotel Partner.

Martha Plimpton has achieved myriad success on stage, screen, and television and can currently be seen starring in the new FOX television series Raising Hope, which was recently picked up for a second season. Ms. Plimpton made her film debut in Alan J. Pakula's Rollover. She has gone on to star in over 30 films including The Goonies, The Mosquito Coast,Running on Empty, Beautiful Girls, Parenthood, 200 Cigarettes and Pecker. On the big screen, she can next be seen co-starring opposite Peter Stormare in Small Town Murders Songs directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly. The film premiered at this year's Toronto Film Festival.

On stage, Martha most recently starred opposite Stockard Channing in Pal Joey for the Roundabout Theater Company and garnered her third Tony® Nomination for the performance, as well as a Drama Desk Nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical and a Drama League Nomination. In 2008, Plimpton starred in Top Girls for the Manhattan Theatre Club opposite Marisa Tomei (Tony® Nomination, Best Featured Actress in a Play, Drama League Nomination) and starred in Lincoln Center Theatre's production of William Shakespeare's Cymbeline. In 2007, Plimpton starred with Ethan Hawke, Jennifer Ehle and Billy Crudup in Tom Stoppard's three-play, nine-hour epic, The Coast of Utopia, produced by the Lincoln Center Theatre (Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Tony® Award Nomination) and "Helena" in The Public Theatre's Shakespeare in the Park production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (Drama League Award Nomination), directed by Daniel Sullivan. Other memorable performances include starring opposite Oliver Platt in Conor McPherson's Shining City for Manhattan Theatre Club, False Servant at Classic Stage Company (Drama League Award Nomination), Hurlyburlydirected by Scott Ellis, Hobson's Choice (Obie Award), Sixteen Wounded. In Chicago, she appeared in The Playboy of the Western World, The Glass Menagerie, The Libertine and, as director, Absolution with Steppenwolf Theater Company. As a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble, she joined the company in receiving the National Medal of Arts Award in 1998.

Memorable television guest star appearances include Law & Order: SVU, which garnered Martha an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, Grey's Anatomy, Fringe, The Good Wife and How to Make it in America. Ms. Plimpton resides in New York City.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago, IL (Martha Lavey, Artistic Director; David Hawkanson, Executive Director) is one of the nation's leading ensemble theatres, producing up to 16 productions each year in its three Chicago theater spaces - including programming dedicated to the development of new plays and theatre for young adults. Steppenwolf'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.