Photo Flash: In Rehearsal for Steppenwolf's THE HERD with Audrey Francis, Lois Smith, Frank Galati and More

Rehearsals are underway for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's U.S. premiere production of The Herd, a deftly comic play by Olivier Award-winning actor Rory Kinnear and directed by ensemble member and Tony Award-winning director Frank Galati. The cast features ensemble members Francis Guinan as Ian, John Mahoney as Brian, Molly Regan as Carol and Lois Smith as Patricia with Cliff Chamberlain as Mark and Audrey Francis as Claire. The Herd begins previews April 2, 2015 (Opening night is April 12, 2015; Press performances are April 11 at 3pm and April 14 at 7:30pm) and runs through June 7, 2015 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!

Carol, a harried matriarch in suburban London has arranged a small family party to celebrate the 21st birthday of her son Andy. But as everyone begins to gather, things go off the rails as two surprise guests pop up-one a newcomer and one all too familiar. And then Andy and his caregiver are running late-very, very late. With a deft comic touch, The Herd introduces us to a spirited middle class clan confronting the possibilities of reconciliation, the power of the past and the irresistible pull of family.

Director Frank Galati has been a member of the Steppenwolf ensemble since 1986. He has received nine Joseph Jefferson Awards for his work in Chicago theater. He won two Tony Awards in 1990 for his adaptation and direction of Steppenwolf's production of The Grapes of Wrath and was nominated for a Tony Award in 1998 for directing the musical Ragtime. He has staged operas for Chicago Opera Theatre, Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Metropolitan Opera House. In 1989, Galati was nominated for an Academy Award for his screenplay (with Lawrence Kasdan) of The Accidental Tourist and in 2000 he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is a professor emeritus in the department of performance studies at Northwestern University.

The production team includes Walt Spangler (scenic design), Nan Cibula-Jenkins (costume design), Keith Parham (lighting design), Josh Schmidt (sound design and original music) and Eva Breneman (dialect coach). Additional credits include Erica Daniels (casting), Malcolm Ewen (stage manager) and Christine D. Freeburg (assistant stage manager).

Tickets ($20-$86) are on sale now through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted), at ?312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org.

Photo Credit: Joel Moorman