Steppenwolf to Honor Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale and Julianne Nicholson at 2013 'Women in the Arts' Luncheon, 12/9

Steppenwolf Theatre Company and ensemble member Tracy Letts, Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning playwright of August: Osage County, hosts Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale and Julianne Nicholson as the guests of honor at the fifth annual Steppenwolf Salutes Women in the Arts fundraising luncheon on Monday, December 9, 2013 at 12 noon at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago (120 E Delaware Pl).

All three of these dynamic women are featured in Letts's highly anticipated film adaptation of August: Osage County. This year's event features a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the film, in addition to an insightful conversation with Lewis, Martindale and Nicholson, moderated by Letts in a format similar to Inside The Actors Studio. Previous honorees at Steppenwolf Salutes Women in the Arts include ensemble members Joan Allen and Martha Plimpton, Julianna Margulies and Mary-Louise Parker.

The fifth annual luncheon will bring together nearly 300 leaders from Chicago's business and civic communities to honor Ms. Lewis, Ms. Martindale and Ms. Nicholson for their work on the much anticipated, soon-to-be-released film, August: Osage County. The event raises funds for Steppenwolf's professional development programs, including Steppenwolf for Young Adults and the School at Steppenwolf, as well as the Professional Leadership Programs, providing apprenticeships, fellowships and internships for the next generation of arts managers and producers.

Individual tickets start at $200 and are on sale now. To purchase tickets visit steppenwolf.org/luncheon. Table sponsorships start at $5,000 and are also on sale now. To learn about table sponsorship opportunities, contact Steppenwolf's Special Events Department at 312-654-5632 or specialevents@steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf Salutes Women in the Arts Host Committee members include Sarah Beardsley, Elizabeth H. Connelly, Nora Daley, Mary Dempsey, Amy Eshleman, Nene Foxhall, Caryn Harris, Donna La Pietra, Liz Lefkofsky, Jane Mody, Janet L. Melk, Susan Oleari, Deborah Quazzo, Colette Cachey Smithburg, Bobette Takiff and Helen Zell.

Tracy Letts has been a Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble member since 2002 and is the author of Killer Joe (scheduled for Broadway in 2014), Bug (also a feature film), Man from Nebraska (Pulitzer Prize finalist), August: Osage County (Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award for Best Play) and Superior Donuts. An accomplished actor as well, Letts garnered the 2013 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for his portrayal of George in Steppenwolf's Broadway production of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Television audiences will see him in season three of Homeland on Showtime.

About the Honorees:

Juliette Lewis has been recognized as one of Hollywood's most talented and versatile actors of her generation since she first stunned audiences and critics alike with her Oscar-nominated performance as Danielle Bowden in Cape Fear. To date, she has worked with some of the most revered directors in the industry, including Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, Lasse Hallström, Oliver Stone and Garry Marshall. Whether lending dramatic authenticity or a natural comedic flair to her roles, Lewis graces the screen with remarkable range and an original and captivating style.

At 16, Lewis starred in the critically acclaimed television movie Too Young to Die?, catching the attention of Martin Scorsese, who cast her in his thriller Cape Fear. Her powerful scenes with Robert De Niro earned her an Oscar and Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

She next worked with Woody Allen in Husbands and Wives, quickly following suit with a succession of starring roles in a variety of blockbusters and critically acclaimed projects including Kalifornia, Romeo Is Bleeding, What's Eating Gilbert Grape and Natural Born Killers. Lewis recently wrapped production on the indie drama Kelly and Cal and will next star opposite AaRon Paul in the film Hellion. She has also signed on to co-star opposite Matt Dillon in the upcoming Fox event series Wayward Pines, from M. Night Shyamalan.

Tony Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Margo Martindale is one of Hollywood's busiest and most acclaimed character actresses. She can currently be seen on the CBS show The Millers opposite Will Arnett and Beau Bridges.

Earlier this year, Martindale had a recurring role on FX's hit drama The Americans, earning her an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. Additionally, Martindale received an Emmy Award in 2011 for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal as the diabolically maternal crime-family boss, Mags Bennett on the FX series Justified. Her past television work includes stand-out performances on series such as A Gifted Man, Suits, Person of Interest, Smash, New Girl, Medium, Dexter, The Riches and Hung.

Martindale earned a Tony Award nomination for her epic portrayal of Big Mama on Broadway in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. As a classically trained theater actress, she began her career on the New York stage creating such iconic roles as Truvy in the original production of Steel Magnolias.

She has been seen in some of the most notable films of the past two decades including Million Dollar Baby, Dead Man Walking, Nobody's Fool, Lorenzo's Oil, The Hours, Practical Magic, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Secretariat, Paris, je t'aime, Beautiful Creatures and Win Win, among others.

Julianne Nicholson first worked with John Wells, director of August: Osage County on the medical drama Presidio Med, which he produced. She is also well known for her work on Conviction and Law and Order: Criminal Intent.

Independent film work has been a staple for Nicholson with leading roles in Hilary Birmingham's Tully, opposite James Franco in Jay Anania's Shadows & Lies, in Bill Condon's Kinsey and alongside Ethan Hawke in Staten Island. Nicholson also draws fans internationally, working with such acclaimed directors as Peter Chan in The Love Letter, Alain Berliner's Passion of Mind and Nick Hurran in Little Black Book.

Her stage work includes the premiere of Sam Shepard's latest play Heartless, Melissa James Gibson's new play This and Rattlestick's production of Adam Rapp's Hallway trilogy.

Nicholson is currently in production on The Red Road for the Sundance Channel. She will also guest star in a multi-episode arc on Showtime's much buzzed about new series, Masters of Sex. Additionally she'll reprise her role as Esther Randolph in Season 4 of HBO's award winning series Boardwalk Empire.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is America's longest standing, most distinguished ensemble theater, producing nearly 700 performances and events annually in its three Chicago theater spaces-the 515-seat Downstairs Theatre, the 299-seat Upstairs Theatre and the 80-seat Garage Theatre. Formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, Steppenwolf has grown into an ensemble of 43 actors, writers and directors. Artistic programming at Steppenwolf includes a five-play Subscription Season, a two-play Steppenwolf for Young Adults season and three repertory series: First Look Repertory of New Work, Garage Rep and Next Up. While firmly grounded in the Chicago community, nearly 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including Off-Broadway, Broadway, London, Sydney and Dublin. Steppenwolf has the distinction of being the only theater to receive the National Medal of Arts, in addition to numerous other prestigious honors including an Illinois Arts Legend Award and 12 Tony Awards. Martha Lavey is the Artistic Director and David Hawkanson is the Executive Director. Nora Daley is Chair of Steppenwolf's Board of Trustees. For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre and twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr.

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