Steep Theatre Company to Present THE VANDAL, Opening 10/2

Steep Theatre Company will launch its fourteenth season with the Midwest Premiere of Hamish Linklater's The Vandal, directed by Shade Murray. Steep's production marks the Chicago debut not only of the play, but also of the playwright. While audiences across the nation may be familiar with his extensive credits as an actor on film, television, and stage, The Vandal is Mr. Linklater's playwriting debut. The production opens on Thursday, October 2 at Steep's Edgewater home.

In The Vandal, a pair of lost souls come to find solace and companionship at a bus stop on a freezing night in Kingston, NY. Mr. Linklater's play is a startling and funny new work about how we carry on when we've lost the people we love. The Vandal premiered at New York City's Flea Theater in January of 2013, and enjoyed an extended run.

Hamish Linklater has worked extensively as an actor on the stage and in television and film. On television, he starred in the CBS comedy series The Crazy Ones and has appeared in 5 Days to Midnight and Live From Baghdad, as well as The Good Wife, The Newsroom, The Big C, and The New Adventures of Old Christine. His film work includes 42, The Angriest Man in Brooklyn, Lola Versus, Battleship, The Future, Groove, Lola Versus, Beyond Redemption and Battleship. He will also star Woody Allen's new film Magic in the Moonlight. Mr. Linklater's theater acting credits include Broadway: Seminar, Off-Broadway: Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare in the Park) The School for Lies (Classic Stage Company, Obie); The Merchant of Venice, The Winter's Tale, Twelfth Night (Drama Desk nomination), Hamlet, The Square (NYSF/Public); The Busy World Is Hushed (Drama League nomination), Recent Tragic Events (Playwrights Horizons); Good Thing (New Group); Cyclone (Studio Dante); Romeo and Juliet, Love's Fire (Acting Company). Regional: Hamlet, The Violet Hour (South Coast Rep.); Hamlet (CT Critics Circle Award), Singing Forest (Long Wharf); A Midsummer Nights' Dream, Measure for Measure (Ahmanson, Paul Green Foundation Award).

The Vandal also marks the Steep debut of director Shade Murray, who has helmed a string of hits of late, including A Red Orchid Theatre's The Aliens, Trevor, and A Mud Blue Sky. He is an ensemble member with A Red Orchid where his directing credits also include The Butcher of Baraboo, Abigail's Party and Kimberly Akimbo. Mr. Murray's other credits include directing productions at Steppenwolf Theater Company, Writers' Theatre, Second City, Next Theater, Wildclaw Theater, Strawdog Theatre, Roadworks Productions, Cole Theatre, and others. He will be directing Accidentally Like A Martyr at A Red Orchid this upcoming season.

Steep Theatre has become known as a home for hard-hitting, finely tuned ensemble work. With each production, the company has shepherded a growing community of audiences and stakeholders into bold new territories of story and performance. Over the years, Steep productions have been named in TimeOut Chicago's Top Ten Shows of the Year list five times, the Tribune's Top Ten List twice, the Tribune's Best of the Fringe list twice, the Sun Times' best of the year list twice, and WBEZ's Top Ten Shows of the Decade. Steep has received 21 Jeff Nominations and has won the 2009 Jeff Award for Best Ensemble, the 2010 Jeff Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and the 2011 Jeff Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Steep was named the 2010 Broadway in Chicago Emerging Theatre Award Winner.

The Vandal runs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at 8pm from October 2 through November 8. Sunday matinee performances are scheduled for October 12, October 19, October 26, and November 2 at 3pm. Tickets range from $10 to $35. Reservations can be made by calling (866) 811-4111 or by visiting www.steeptheatre.com. Steep Theatre is conveniently located by the Berwyn Red Line stop and is within blocks of the #92, #36, #146, #147, and #151 buses.

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