Photo Preview: Steppenwolf Theatre Presents ENDGAME

Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its 2009-2010 season, an exploration of the theme of belief, with Endgame written by Samuel Beckett and directed by ensemble member Frank Galati. Endgame, featuring ensemble members Ian Bradford, Francis Guinan, Martha Lavey and William Petersen, plays April 1 - June 6, 2010 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted. The press performances are Saturday, April 10 at 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Beckett's absurd comic masterpiece follows Hamm, a blind man unable to stand, and his servant Clov, who is unable to sit. Pestered by his parents, Hamm directs this unusual family through their daily rituals, awaiting the end of everything. Swerving from the magnificent to the miniscule and from the profound to the profoundly ridiculous, a powerful all-ensemble cast brings to life this epic tale set in a tiny room. Endgame is a compelling exploration of the stories we construct to make sense of our lives.

Nobel Prize-winning playwright Samuel Beckett is the author of more than 25 plays and novels including Waiting for Godot, Happy Days and Krapp's Last Tape, produced at Steppenwolf in 1978. An adaptor and director, as well as an actor, Tony® Award-winner Frank Galati's Steppenwolf credits include Kafka on the Shore, after the quake and The Grapes of Wrath. He also appeared as Prospero last season in The Tempest. Broadway directing credits include Ragtime and The Grapes of Wrath.

The design team for Endgame includes: James Schuette (sets and costumes), James Ingalls (lights) and Andre Pluess (sound). Malcolm Ewen is the Stage Manager and Michelle Medvin is the Assistant Stage Manager.

Title: Endgame
Playwright: Samuel Beckett
Director: ensemble member Frank Galati
Featuring: ensemble members Ian Barford (Clov), Francis Guinan (Nagg), Martha Lavey (Nell) and William Petersen (Hamm).

Location: Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.

Dates: Previews: April 1 - 10, 2010
Opening: Sunday, April 11 at 6:00 p.m.
Press performances: Saturday, April 10 at 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Regular Run: April 13 - June 6, 2010

Curtain Times: Tuesdays through Sundays** at 7:30 p.m.
**Sunday evening performances through May 9 only
Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday matinees on May 12, 19, 26 and June 2 at 2:00 p.m.
Note: there are no 3:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. performance on Sunday, April 11 or Saturday, May 8.

Ticket prices: Previews: $20-$53
Regular Run: $20-$77
Twenty $20 tickets are available at Audience Services beginning at 11:00 a.m. on the day of each performance (1:00 p.m. for Sunday performances). Half-price rush tickets are available one hour before each show. Student discounts available.

Audience Services: 1650 N. Halsted, 312-335-1650
Online ticketing available at www.steppenwolf.org

The Endgame Wine Tasting Night: Enjoy wine and food pairings from Vinci Restaurant while our DJ spins tunes in our balcony lobby: Wednesday, April 21 at 6:00 p.m. Tasting and performance cost $60 per person. For tickets and additional information, contact Audience Services (use source code: 5824).

The Endgame MaTEENée performance for high school students will be held on Saturday, May 15 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets cost $15 and include: a ticket to the performance, lunch and a post-show discussion with actors featured in the production - hosted by Steppenwolf's Young Adults Council (use source code: 5847).

Free post-show discussions, sponsored by AT&T, are offered after every performance.

National City, now a part of PNC, is the corporate production sponsor of Endgame. The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust is the foundation production sponsor of Endgame. ComEd is the 2009-2010 season lighting sponsor. Additional corporate support provided by Foley & Lardner.

Steppenwolf is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. Street and lot parking are available. Assistive listening devices are available for every performance.

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company's mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon. The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting and textual adaptation. For additional information, visit www.steppenwolf.org, www.facebook.com/SteppenwolfTheatre and www.twitter.com/SteppenwolfThtr.

Photo credit: Callie Lipkin

William Petersen