Steppenwolf Presents First Look Repertory of New Work

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the 4th annual First Look Repertory of New Work, featuring three developmental productions of new plays presented in rotation and accompanied by a series of events around the development of new work.  First Look Repertory of New Work runs July 23 – August 10, 2008 in The Merle Reskin Garage Theatre, 1624 N. Halsted St.  All tickets are $20.

The First Look Repertory of New Work 2008 productions are:

Pursued by Happiness
By Keith Huff
Directed by ensemble member Tim Hopper
Featuring Thomas Joseph Carroll (Howard/Ted), Kat McDonnell (Julie) and Paul Noble (Frank) and Barbara E. Robertson (Liz/Alice).
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 – Sunday, August 10, 2008
An unexpected meeting between two 40-something biochemists touches off a whirlwind romance.  But when it's time to meet the parents, a series of shocking revelations test the new couple's relationship in this dark comedy from the author of A Steady Rain.
Keith Huff, a resident playwright with Chicago Dramatists, is the author of A Steady Rain, which enjoyed a successful run at The Royal George Theatre and is slated to premiere Off-Broadway this fall.
Ensemble member Tim Hopper directed the world premiere of Mia McCullough's play Taking Care in the Garage Theatre.  He has appeared in 16 Steppenwolf productions including The Crucible, The Violet Hour and Hedda Gabler.

Perfect Mendacity
By Jason Wells
Directed by David Cromer
Featuring Scott Aiello (Dr. Doll), Tim Curtis (Roger Stanhope), Matt DeCaro (Walter Kreutzer), Aaron Todd Douglas (D'Avore Peoples) and Liza Fernandez (Samira Kreutzer).
Thursday, July 24, 2008 – Sunday, August 10, 2008
When a top secret, internal memo from a scientific research facility is leaked to the media, Dr. Walter Kreutzer is forced to take a lie detector test about its origins.  With his career on the line, Walter gets tangled up in investigations of bioterrorism and racially motivated killings.  As suspicions escalate that Walter's wife is involved, the play's riveting plot twists uncover the insidious hypocrisy of government sanctioned discrimination.
Jason Wells' previous play, Men Of Tortuga, was produced in First Look 2005, and subsequently at Asolo Rep in Sarasota, Florida.
David Cromer has received accolades for his direction of Next Theatre's production of The Adding Machine, which transferred to Off-Broadway.  He also directed and appeared in The Hypocrites' production of Our Town.  At Steppenwolf, he directed the world premiere of ensemble member Austin Pendleton's Orson's Shadow and Richard Greenberg's The Dazzle.

Fair Use
By Sarah Gubbins
Directed by Meredith McDonough
Featuring Michele Graff (Madi), Brian King (Christopher), Steven Marzolf (Don McCorkle), Kelli Simpkins (Sy) and Halena Starr Kays (Bec).
Friday, July 25, 2008 – Sunday, August 10, 2008
A plagiarism case involving a famous author is the backdrop for this romantic comedy set in a high-powered law firm.   A series of questionable love letters fuel this breezy cross-examination of modern dating and relationships.
Sarah Gubbins recently completed her MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage at Northwestern University.  Fair Use was named one of the finalists in this year's Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Competition.
Meredith McDonough has directed new plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Public Theatre, LAByrinth Theatre Company, and also was the New Works Program Director for the National Alliance for Musical Theatre. She is currently a member of the Women's Project Director's Lab.
The designers for all three First Look productions are:  Kevin Depinet (sets), Debbie Baer (costumes), Charles Cooper (lights) and Joseph Fosco (sound).  The dramaturgs for First Look are Kimberly Senior (Pursued by Happiness), Jennifer Shook (Fair Use) and Rachel Walshe (Perfect Mendacity).
Jonathan Templeton is the Lead Stage Manager.  Stage Managers include Kathleen Petroziello and Cassie Wolgamott.  Edward Sobel is the Program Director.  Whitney Dibo is the Program Assistant.

The First Look Repertory of New Work also includes First Look 101, a three-month experience providing rare access to the new play development process leading up to the 4th annual First Look Repertory of New Work.  First Look 101 runs May 19 – August 10, 2008.

First Look Repertory of New Work is a developmental process that culminates in performance before an audience, rather than in a staged reading or workshop presentation.  Scripts undergo significant revision during the workshop/rehearsal process and may be revised even after being publicly presented during First Look Repertory of New Work.  The intent is to develop the plays for future production at Steppenwolf and other theaters across the country.

First Look has gained both local and national recognition since its inception in 2005.  Six of the nine plays developed during First Look's first three seasons have enjoyed subsequent productions at other theaters, including: Men of Tortuga by Jason Wells produced by Asolo Repertory Theatre in Florida; Butcher of Baraboo by Marisa Wegrzyn produced by 2econd Stage Theatre in New York; 100 Saints You Should Know by Kate Fodor produced by Playwrights Horizons in New York; Spare Change by Mia McCullough produced by Stage Left Theatre in Chicago; Gary by Melinda Lopez produced by Boston Playwrights' Theatre in Massachusetts; and When The Messenger is Hot by Laura Eason produced by 59E59 Theaters in New York.

First Look 101 takes enrolled members on a one-of-a-kind backstage journey through Steppenwolf's new play development process.  The program is open to anyone interested in, and wanting to know more about, creating new plays.  Space is limited to 101 members.

Individual tickets to First Look Repertory of New Work cost $20.  A First Look Pass to all three plays is available for $45.  Tickets are available at www.steppenwolf.org or by calling Audience Services at 312-335-1650.

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