Photo Flash: In Rehearsal for Steppenwolf for Young Adults' THE BURIALS

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) begins its 2016/17 season with The Burials, a world premiere by acclaimed playwright Caitlin Parrish, directed by Erica Weiss. Inspired by the enduring Greek tragedy, Antigone, the production explores the aftermath of a mass shooting and how one family and one community respond to the tragedy in unique ways. SYA curates numerous workshops, residencies and post-show events to engage both students and adults in the conversation. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company of The Burials in rehearsal below!

Sophie is everything an upstanding young millennial should be: engaged, devoted to her family, and a likely valedictorian. But her life is shattered when her brother goes on a high school shooting rampage. Thrust into the national spotlight, Sophie finds herself torn between defying the narrative being woven about her brother in the media, and stopping the father she loves from using the rampage for his own political ends. Inspired by Antigone, The Burials is a modern tale of civic responsibility and the gun epidemic in America.

The nine-person cast includes Aurora Adachi-Winter (Brianna), Stephanie Andrea Barron (Janette), Joel Boyd (Jayden), Olivia Cygan (Sophie), Matt Farabee (Ben Martin),Coburn Goss (Ryan Martin), Ty Olwin (Greg), Becca Savoy (Chloe) and Kristina Valada-Viars (Zoe/Mrs. Souder).

The Burials production team includes Courtney O'Neill (scenic design), Alarie Hammock (costume design), J.R. Lederle (lighting design), Matt Chapman (sound design), Joseph Burke (projection design) and Rachel Flesher (fight choreographer). Additional credits include Tess Golden (stage manager) and JC Clementz and Tam Dickson (casting) and Hallie Gordon (artistic producer).

Public performances are October 8 (3pm and 7:30pm), October 14 (7:30pm), October 15 (3pm), and October 22 (3pm and 7:30pm). The press performance is Saturday, October 8 at 3pm. Tickets to public performances ($20; $15 with student I.D.) are available through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org.

Photo Credit: Joel Moorman

Olivia Cygan (Sophie) and Stephanie Andrea Barron (Janette)

Olivia Cygan (Sophie)

Becca Savoy (Chloe), Olivia Cygan (Sophie) and Kristina Valada- Viars (Zoe/Mrs. Souder)

Joel Boyd (Jayden) and Stephanie Andrea Barron (Janette)

Becca Savoy (Chloe), Coburn Goss (Ryan Martin) and Olivia Cygan (Sophie)

Olivia Cygan (Sophie) and Becca Savoy (Chloe)

Becca Savoy (Chloe) and Olivia Cygan (Sophie)

Ty Olwin (Greg) and Olivia Cygan (Sophie)

Joel Boyd (Jayden)

Becca Savoy (Chloe) and Olivia Cygan (Sophie)

Stephanie Andrea Barron (Janette) and Ty Olwin (Greg)

Olivia Cygan (Sophie) and Kristina Valada-Viars (Zoe/Mrs. Souder)

Stephanie Andrea Barron (Janette), Ty Olwin (Greg) and Olivia Cygan (Sophie)

Director Erica Weiss watches a scene during rehearsal

Aurora Adachi-Winter (Brianna)