Conor McPherson's THE NIGHT ALIVE Begins Previews at Steppenwolf Tonight

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Chicago-premiere production of The Night Alive by Conor McPherson begins tonight. Henry Wishcamper directs a cast featuring ensemble members Francis Guinan and Tim Hopper with Helen Sadler, Dan Waller and M. Emmet Walsh. The world premiere of The Night Alive was produced at the Donmar Warehouse in 2013. The Night Alive begins previews tonight, September 18, 2014 (opening night is September 28; press performances are September 27 at 3pm and September 30 at 7:30pm) and runs through November 16, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St).

The kindness of strangers comes with complications. Tommy is getting by -- kind of: he is crashing in his uncle's ramshackle house in Dublin, dodging his estranged family, and plotting a parade of get-rich-quick scenes with his buddy Doc. Then one day he defends a destitute woman against a violent attack, and a fragile glimmer of hope appears as Tommy tends to her in his run-down room. From the author of The Weir, Shining City and The Seafarer comes this compelling new drama -- by turns funny and frightening, but always deeply human.

Understudies include ensemble member Alan Wilder, Isabel Ellison and Darren Hill.

Francis Guinan is a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble. He has appeared in more than 30 Steppenwolf productions including Tribes, The Birthday Party, The Book Thief, Time Stands Still, Endgame, American Buffalo, Fake, The Seafarer and August: Osage County. He has also appeared in productions for Northlight Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Writers' Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, TimeLine Theatre Company and American Blues Theater. Recent Television appearances include Boss, Mike and Molly and Chicago Fire. Film work includes roles in The Last Airbender, Hannibal, High Tide, Typing and The Double.

Tim Hopper's recent roles at Steppenwolf were Boris in Russian Transport and Dr. Anderson in Head of Passes. He directed Buena Vista for the 2013 First Look Repertory of New Work and Pursued by Happiness for the 2008 First Look Repertory. Recent television appearances include The Americans, Chicago Fire and The Good Wife. Films include School of Rock, To Die For and the upcoming Food.

Helen Sadler returns to Steppenwolf where she was last seen in Tribes. Regional credits include: The Whale (South Coast Repertory), Cymbeline (A Noise Within), Radiance (The Geffen Playhouse), Sense and Sensibility (Actor's Theatre of Louisville and Northlight Theatre). Chicago: The Maids (The Writers' Theatre), Blasted (A Red Orchid Theatre), Buried Child, A Taste of Honey and Hyde in Hollywood (Shattered Globe Theatre), War (Seanachai), Feydeau-Si-Deau (Theater Wit). TV credits: True Blood. Film credits: Too Late, Contagion, All the Marbles, Cass, Heavy, The Coldest Winter, Wednesday's Child, Credits, Keen, Hush Your Mouth. Voice over credits include Call of Duty (opposite Kevin Spacey), The Elder Scrolls, Walking your Octopus. Helen received her BA from University of Bristol, trained at The Poor School, London.

Dan Waller last appeared on the Steppenwolf stage in Three Sisters. Chicago theatrical credits include: Lay Me Down Softly, The Seafarer, Mojo-Mickybo, Our Father, A Whistle in the Dark and Journey's End (Seanachaí); The Pitmen Painters (Timeline Theatre); Sweet Bird of Youth, The Good Negro, Ghostwritten, and Talking Pictures (Goodman Theatre); Coast of Chicago (Walkabout/Lookingglass); To the Green Fields Beyond and Our Town (Writers' Theatre); MOJO (Mary-Arrchie); Killer Angels (Lifeline Theatre); Cider House Rules: Parts I&II (Famous Door). Regional: GNIT (Actors Theatre of Louisville) Grapes of Wrath (Cardinal Stage). Television credits: Leverage, Science Story, The Beast, Chicago Code, Crisis and Chicago PD. Film credits: Barefoot to Jerusalem, Repetition, Of Boys and Men, The Devil's Dominoes, Witless Protection, Transformers 3, At Any Price and Precious Mettle.

M. Emmett Walsh is considered to be one of America's pre-eminent character actors and his familiar face has been seen in over 100 feature films, over 150 television shows and numerous critically acclaimed stage performances. He has appeared in several seasons of regional theatre, years of summer stock and on Broadway in That Championship Season and Does the Tiger Wear a Necktie. He starred as Boss Finley in the critically acclaimed Tennessee Williams's Sweet Bird of Youth at the La Jolla Playhouse, and as patriarch Joe Keller in Arthur Miller's All My Sons at the famed Washington Arena Stage. He starred in Sam Shepard's revival of Buried Child as Dodge at the National Theatre in London to amazing reviews. His last stage appearance was as Jack in Wendy Wasserstein's Third at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. Notable film appearances include Blood Simple, Clean and Sober, Blade Runner, A Time To Kill, My Best Friend's Wedding, Wild Wild West, Straight Time, Albino Alligator, Snow Dogs, Racing Stripes, Free Willy 2, Camp Nowhere, Narrow Margin, White Sands, Missing In Action, Back To School, Harry and The Hendersons, The Music of Chance, Raising Arizona, Ordinary People, Wildcats, Serpico, The Jerk, Cannery Row, Brubaker, Slap Shot, Fletch, Alice's Restaurant and Little Big Man. Walsh's many TV credits cover television series, movies and miniseries, including regular and recurring roles on The Mind of the Married Man, Ed, NYPD Blue, Frasier, Home Improvement, The Flash, Unsub, The Sandy Duncan Show and Early Edition. Recent TV guest appearances include Army Wives and Damages. In addition, Walsh's distinctive voice was utilized by Ken Burns in his two landmark documentary series The Civil War and Baseball for PBS. He has done voiceover work for many animated films, TV Specials and Series.

The production team for The Night Alive includes: Todd Rosenthal (scenic design), Rachel Healy (costume design), Richard Woodbury (sound design and original music), Keith Parham (lighting design) and Cecilie O'Reilly (dialect coach). Additional credits include: Erica Daniels (casting), Deb Styer (stage manager) and Michelle Medvin (assistant stage manager).

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is America's longest standing, most distinguished ensemble theater, producing nearly 700 performances and events annually in its three Chicago theater spaces-the 515-seat Downstairs Theatre, the 299-seat Upstairs Theatre and the 80-seat Garage Theatre. Formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, Steppenwolf has grown into an ensemble of 44 actors, writers and directors. Artistic programming at Steppenwolf includes a five-play Subscription Season, a two-play Steppenwolf for Young Adults season and two repertory series: First Look Repertory of New Work, and Garage Rep. While firmly grounded in the Chicago community, nearly 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including Off-Broadway, Broadway, London, Sydney and Dublin. Steppenwolf has the distinction of being the only theater to receive the National Medal of Arts, in addition to numerous other prestigious honors including an Illinois Arts Legend Award and 12 Tony Awards. Martha Lavey is the Artistic Director and David Hawkanson is the Executive Director. Nora Daley is Chair of Steppenwolf's Board of Trustees. For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre and twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr.

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