The theatre company will present the Chicago premieres of Conor McPherson's drama The Night Alive and David Adjmi's contemporary take on the Queen of France, Marie Antoinette. The world premiere of Airline Highway, by Lisa D'Amour, will also be presented, along with Rory Kinnear's The Herd.
One remaining title will be announced at a later date.
“Our 2014/15 season is a treasure trove of great plays and exciting artists. Part of our job at Steppenwolf is to offer both the familiar and the new. We do this in our selection of plays and in our presentation of artists. We are anchored in the work of our ensemble and feel privileged to bring their extensive collaborations into our home,” artistic director Martha Lavey said in a statement.
The season-at-a-glance follows:
Chicago Premiere
The Night Alive
By Conor McPherson
Directed by Henry Wishcamper
Featuring ensemble members Ian Barford, Francis Guinan and Tim Hopper
Sept. 18–Nov. 16 in the Downstairs Theatre
"The kindness of strangers comes with complications. Tommy is getting by — kind of: he is crashing in his uncle's ramshackle house in Dublin, dodging his estranged family, and plotting a parade of get-rich-quick scenes with his buddy Doc. Then one day he defends a destitute woman against a violent attack, and a fragile glimmer of hope appears as Tommy tends to her in his run-down room. From the author of The Weir, Shining City and The Seafarer comes this compelling new drama — by turns funny and frightening, but always deeply human." World Premiere
Airline Highway
By Lisa D'Amour
Directed by Joe Mantello
Featuring ensemble member Robert Breuler
Dec. 4–Feb. 8, 2015 in the Downstairs Theatre
"In the parking lot of The Hummingbird, a once-glamorous motel on New Orleans' infamous Airline Highway, a group of friends gather. A rag-tag collection of strippers, hustlers and philosophers have come together to celebrate the life of Miss Ruby, an iconic burlesque performer who has requested a funeral before she dies. The party rages through the night as old friends resurface to pay their respects. A world premiere from the author of Detroit, Airline Highway is a boisterous and moving ode to the outcasts that make life a little more interesting."
Chicago Premiere
Marie Antoinette
By David Adjmi
Directed by Robert O'Hara
Featuring ensemble members Alana Arenas, Tim Hopper, Ora Jones and Alan Wilder
Feb. 5–May 10 in the Upstairs Theatre
"Before Britney Spears and Justin Bieber, there was Marie Antoinette. In David Adjmi's contemporary take on the young queen of France, Marie is a confection created by a society that values extravagance and artifice. But France's love affair with the royals sours as revolution brews, and for Marie, the political suddenly becomes very personal. From the light and breezy banter at the palace to the surging chants of 'Liberté! Egalité! Fraternité!' in the streets, Marie Antoinette holds a mirror up to our contemporary society that might just be entertaining itself to death."
US Premiere
The Herd
By Rory Kinnear
Directed by ensemble member K. Todd Freeman
Featuring ensemble members Francis Guinan and John Mahoney
April 2–June 7 in the Downstairs Theatre
"It's Andy's 21st birthday and preparations for the party are under way. But Andy and his caregiver are running late. As his family gathers, two unexpected guests appear, straining the delicate family dynamic. With a deft comic touch, The Herd introduces us to a suburban English family who have had to re-organize themselves around the extraordinary needs of one of their own, bringing to light the challenges of reconciliation, the power of shared memories and the irresistible pull of family."
Visit steppenwolf.org for more information.
