Performances began Sept. 9 at Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Downstairs Theatre for a run to Nov. 7.

The company includes Kevin Anderson (Broadway's recent Come Back, Little Sheba; Death of a Salesman in 1999), Laurie Metcalf ("Roseanne," Broadway's November), Kate Arrington (Steppenwolf's The Pain and the Itch), Ian Barford (August: Osage County) and Robert Breuler (Steppenwolf's A Walk in the Woods, The Grapes of Wrath). Along with Pendleton, all are members of the Steppenwolf ensemble.

The comedy is about a "first ring" suburb outside a mid-sized American city. In it, according to Steppenwolf notes, "Ben (Barford) and Mary (Metcalf) fire up the grill to welcome the new neighbors who've moved into the long-empty house next door. The fledgling friendship soon veers out of control, shattering the fragile hold Ben and Mary have on their way of life — with unexpected comic consequences. Detroit is a fresh, off-beat look at what happens when we dare to open ourselves up to something new."

The design team for Detroit includes Kevin Depinet (sets), Rachel Healy (costumes), Kevin Rigdon (lights) and Josh Schmidt (sound). Polly Carl is the dramaturg; Michelle Medvin is the stage manager. Rose Marie Packer is the assistant stage manager.

D'Amour is a playwright and interdisciplinary artist whose works have been presented in New York and other major U.S. cities. She has been commissioned to write two new plays for Steppenwolf over the next two years through support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. An actor, director and playwright, Pendleton began his artistic relationship with Steppenwolf directing the 1979 production of Say Goodnight, Gracie. His award-winning plays include Booth, Uncle Bob and Orson's Shadow, which received its world premiere in the Steppenwolf's Merle Reskin Garage.

For more information about the Tony Award-honored Steppenwolf, visit www.steppenwolf.org.