Letts, True-Frost, Shannon Star in Morton-Directed Pillowman at Steppenwolf, Opening Sept. 23

By Robert Simonson
23 Sep 2006

Steppenwolf ensemble member Yasen Peyankov plays Ariel.
Steppenwolf ensemble member Yasen Peyankov plays Ariel.

The Pillowman, Martin McDonagh's very grim Grimm-style fairy tale about art, loyalty, totalitarianism and storytelling, will have its Chicago premiere at Steppenwolf Theatre Company on Sept. 23.

The production, directed by ensemble member Amy Morton, began previews on Sept. 14 at the Downstairs Theatre.

The cast features ensemble members Tracy Letts, Yasen Peyankov and Jim True-Frost as well as Abigail Leone Droeger, Oliver Kal, Danny McCarthy, Leah Rose Orleans, Elizabeth Rich, Michael Shannon and Quinn Wermeling.

True-Frost plays the writer and Shannon is his mentally impaired brother. The two are taken into custody by two two officers (Tracy Letts and Yasen Peyankov) in an unnamed totalitarian society when a series of child murders begin to resemble the writer's morbid children's stories.

The play was a critical and commerical success on Broadway during the 2004-05 season.

Morton last directed Don DeLillo's Love-Lies-Bleeding, which traveled to the Kennedy Center following its run in the Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre. Other directing credits include The Dresser, Glengarry Glen Ross and We All Went Down to Amsterdam.

Micahel Shannon and ensemble member Jim True-Frost in Steppenwolf's Pillowman.
Micahel Shannon and ensemble member Jim True-Frost in Steppenwolf's Pillowman.