Photo Flash: First Look at Steppenwolf's THE NIGHT ALIVE

Steppenwolf Theatre Company launches its 2014/15 Subscription Season with the Chicago premiere production of The Night Alive by celebrated playwright Conor McPherson. 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 London's Donmar Warehouse in 2013. The Night Alive began previews 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). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

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.

Henry Wishcamper most recently directed Conor McPherson's adaptation of The Dance of Death at Writers Theatre. He also directed McPherson's Port Authority at Atlantic Theater Company; the American premiere of The Birds at Guthrie Theater; The Seafarer at TheaterWorks; and The Good Thief at Portland Stage Company. Wishcamper has served as the assistant director of the Broadway productions of McPherson's Shining City as well as August: Osage County by ensemble member Tracy Letts. He is a Resident Artistic Associate at Goodman Theatre, where his directing credits include Animal Crackers, Talking Pictures, Other Desert Cities, A Christmas Carol and Ask Aunt Susan.

The cast of The Night Alive features: Ensemble members Francis Guinan and Tim Hopper with Helen Sadler, Dan Waller and M. Emmet Walsh. Francis Guinan has appeared in more than 30 Steppenwolf productions including McPherson's The Seafarer, as well as Tribes, The Birthday Party, The Book Thief, Endgame, American Buffalo and August: Osage County. Tim Hopper has been an ensemble member since 1989, most recently performing in Russian Transport and Head of Passes. Helen Sadler returns to Steppenwolf where she was last seen inTribes. Dan Waller last appeared on the Steppenwolf stage in Three Sisters in 2012. M. Emmet Walsh comes to Steppenwolf with several seasons of regional theatre experience and years on Broadway, in addition to the revival of Sam Shepard's Buried Child at the National Theatre. His most recent film Calvary, which is currently in release, caps a body of work that includes 114 feature films, including Blood Simple, Blade Runner, My Best Friend's Wedding, Raising Arizona and Ordinary People.

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

Tickets to The Night Alive ($20 - $82) are on sale through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org.

Photo Credit: Michael Brosilow

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