Obie-Winning YOU GOT OLDER to Make Chicago Debut at Steppenwolf This Winter

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere production of the Obie Award-winning play You Got Older, written by Clare Barron and directed by Jonathan Berry.

As previously announced, this bawdy, irreverent and touching play will feature ensemble members Glenn Davis (Mac), Audrey Francis (Hannah), Francis Guinan (Dad) and Caroline Neff (Mae), along with Emjoy Gavino (Jenny), David Lind (Matthew) and Gabriel Ruiz (Cowboy).

You Got Older begins previews on January 25, 2018, opening night is Monday, February 5, 2018 and the production runs through March 11, 2018 in the Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N Halsted St. Press performances are Monday, February 5 at 7:30pm and Wednesday, February 7 at 7:30pm; Single tickets ($20 - $89) are available through Audience Services at 312-335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

There's a haunted place between where we started and where we need to be that finds the most tender among us-and breaks them open. In You Got Older, Clare Barron's bawdy, irreverent and touching new play, Mae, brokenhearted and unemployed, returns home to care for her ailing father and escape the loneliness of a life that just can't seem to get off the ground.

Director Jonathan Berry shares, "Clare's work manages to be both remarkably intimate in its exploration of relationships, while, at the same time, embracing a vocabulary that is ferociously bold and singularly theatrical. To be able to introduce this exciting new voice to Chicago audiences, collaborating with these remarkable ensemble actors whose work continues to inspire and challenge, feels like incredible good fortune. I cannot wait to get to work on this fresh and hilarious new look at what it is to hold tight to a disappearing childhood while struggling to avoid the realities of getting older."

Clare Barron's plays have been produced by Page 73, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Clubbed Thumb and The Bushwick Starr, and will be presented by Playwright Horizons in 2018. She is the recipient of an Obie Award, the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award and the Page 73 Playwriting Fellowship. Barron was also the co-winner of the inaugural 2015 Relentless Award established in honor of Philip Seymour Hoffman for her play Dance Nation.

Jonathan Berry joined the Steppenwolf staff as Artistic Producer and Director of The School at Steppenwolf in June 2015. A prolific director, he began his work in Chicago as Steppenwolf's Artistic Office intern in 1998, and has continued a strong relationship with the company since. His Steppenwolf directing credits include Nick Payne's Constellations, Melinda Lopez's Gary for First Look and The Crucible and A Separate Peace for Steppenwolf for Young Adults, as well as assisting on The Weir, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Mother Courage and Her Children and This is Our Youth. Since 2009, Berry has taught Viewpoints for the School at Steppenwolf. A company member of both Steep and Griffin Theatres, Berry has also directed for many Chicago companies, including Goodman Theatre, Steep, Griffin, Remy Bumppo, Redtwist, Lifeline, and The Gift.

Steppenwolf is located at 1650 N Halsted St near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. The parking facility consists of both a covered garage ($12 cash or card) and an open-air lot, located just south of our theater at 1624 N Halsted. Valet parking service ($14 cash) is available directly in front of the main entrance at 1650 N Halsted St starting at 5pm on weeknights, 1pm on weekends and at 12 noon before Wednesday matinees. Street and lot parking are also available. For last minute questions and concerns, patrons can call the Steppenwolf Parking Hotline at (312) 335-1774. Committed to making the Steppenwolf experience accessible to everyone, performances featuring American Sign Language interpretation, open captioning and audio description are offered during the run of each play. Assistive listening devices and large-print programs are available for every performance. With the expertise of Assistive Hearing Systems Ltd., Steppenwolf installed an induction loop on both the main and balcony levels of our Downstairs Theatre in 2015. There is also an induction hearing loop installed in the 1700 Theatre and the Downstairs Theatre.

Now playing in Steppenwolf's 42nd season is The Minutes, a world premiere by ensemble member Tracy Letts, directed by Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro (through January 7, 2018); BLKS, a world premiere by Aziza Barnes, directed by Nataki Garrett (Dec 7 - Jan 28, 2018); You Got Older, a Chicago premiere by Clare Barron, directed by Artistic Producer Jonathan Berry (Jan 25 - March 11, 2018); The Doppelgänger (an international farce), a world premiere by Matthew-Lee Erlbach, directed by ensemble member Tina Landau (April 5 - May 27, 2018); Guards at the Taj, a Chicago premiere by Rajiv Joseph, directed by ensemble member Amy Morton (May 31 - July 22, 2018); and The Roommate, a Chicago premiere by Jen Silverman, directed by Phylicia Rashad (June 21 - August 5, 2018).

Connected to the main lobby is Steppenwolf's own Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks, offering a warm, creative space to grab a drink, have a bite, or meet up with friends and collaborators, day or night. Open Tuesdays - Sundays from 8am to midnight, Front Bar serves artisanal coffee and espresso is provided by La Colombe and food prepared by Goddess and Grocer. The menu focuses on fresh, accessible fare, featuring grab-and-go salads and sandwiches for lunch and adding shareable small plates and desserts for evening and post show service. Go to www.front-bar.com for more information.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation's premier ensemble theater. Formed by a collective of actors in 1976, the ensemble of 49 members represent a remarkable cross-section of actors, directors and playwrights. Thrilling and powerful productions from Balm in Gilead to August: Osage County-and accolades that include the National Medal of Arts and 12 Tony Awards-have made the theater legendary. Steppenwolf produces hundreds of performances and events annually in its three spaces: the 515-seat Downstairs Theatre, the 299-seat Upstairs Theatre and the 80-seat 1700 Theatre. Artistic programing includes a seven-play season; a two-play Steppenwolf for Young Adults season; Visiting Company engagements; and LookOut, a multi-genre performances series. Education initiatives include the nationally recognized work of Steppenwolf for Young Adults, which engages 15,000 participants annually from Chicago's diverse communities; the esteemed School at Steppenwolf; and Professional Leadership Programs for arts administration training. While firmly grounded in the Chicago community, nearly 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Anna D. Shapiro is the Artistic Director and David Schmitz is the Executive Director. Eric Lefkofsky is Chair of Steppenwolf's Board of Trustees. For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre, twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr and instagram.com/steppenwolfthtr.

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