OPENING: We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South West Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915 at Steppenwolf February 27 – March 23, 2019

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

Steppenwolf for Young Adults Presents

We Are Proud to Present a Presentation 

About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as 

South West Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, 

Between the Years 1884-1915

Written by Jackie Sibblies Drury

Directed by Hallie Gordon and Gabrielle Randle

February 27 – March 23, 2019

 *Recommended for ages 14+*  

Following the Run, the Production Will Have a Public Tour to Six Chicago Neighborhoods 

in Partnership with BUILD, Inc, the Chicago Park District and Chicago Public Library

I'll be out for the press opening, March 2nd, so check back soon for my full review. As a parent of two CPS high school students, I can't rave enough about how wonderful the Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) program truly is. We're eager to catch their latest, a hilarious and enlightening production with the longest show title I've ever seen.

Rehearsals are underway for Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) second play of the 2018-19 season, which asks, “When you feel lost, how do you find your way?” Steppenwolf for Young Adults Artistic Director Hallie Gordon and Gabrielle Randle co-direct We Are Proud to Present A Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South West Africa, From the German Südwestafrika, Between the Years 1884 - 1915, which will include a tour to six Chicago neighborhoods in partnership with Steppenwolf Education City Connections partners, BUILD, Inc, the Chicago Park District and Chicago Public Library. Each stop on the tour is open to the public and will include a community workshop, a performance of the play and a post-show discussion.

Public performances at Steppenwolf for We Are Proud to Present a Presentation… will take place March 2 at 3pm & 7:30pm; March 8 at 7:30pm; March 9 at 3pm & 7:30pm; March 15 at 7:30pm; and March 16 at 3pm & 7:30pm in the Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N Halsted St. Single tickets to public performances ($15-20) are on sale now through Audience Services at 312-335-1650 or steppenwolf.org. Weekday performances are reserved for school groups only; more than 15,000 Chicago Public School students will see SYA productions each year. More info at steppenwolf.org/education. See show page for content advisory and details. 

We Are Proud to Present a Presentation…features Will Allan (Actor 3/Another White Man), Terry Bell (Actor 2/Black Man), Taylor Blim (Actor 5/Sarah), Jeffrey Owen Freelon Jr. (Actor 4/Another Black Man), Michael Holding (Actor 1/White Man) and Jennifer Latimore (Actor 6/Black Woman). Previously announced Daniel Kyri is no longer in the cast due to a scheduling conflict.

There’s more to history than what’s in the books. We Are Proud to Present a Presentation… tells the story of what happens when a group of actors explore the long forgotten––or possibly never remembered––history of German colonization of Namibia and its devastating effects. This gut-wrenching, intelligent, often funny—until it’s not— play asks us, what happens when we only have one side of the story?

“SYA is dedicated to creating work that is both provocative and drives us to think harder and deeper about who we are and the choices we make. We are so excited to be producing We Are Proud to Present a Presentation…a powerful story that explores themes of race, representation, storytelling and the power group-thinking can have on an individual. Our season theme is “When you feel lost, how do you find your way?” – a question that every character in this play must ask themselves. SYA hasn’t yet produced a play structured like this one, and we are thrilled that we have the opportunity to share it with our audiences,” shares co-director Hallie Gordon.

Tour Information
Working in collaboration with Steppenwolf Education’s City Connections partners, BUILD, Inc, the Chicago Park District and Chicago Public Library, We Are Proud to Present a Presentation…  will tour to six Chicago neighborhoods. At each stop on this week-long tour, the City Connections partner will host Steppenwolf Education teaching artists as they present a community workshop, a performance of the play and a post-show discussion. All workshops and performances are free and open to the public.

The tour schedule is as follows:
Mandrake Park Fieldhouse Chicago Park District: 3858 S. Cottage Grove 
Monday, March 18: 4:30pm workshop; 6pm performance

Tuley Cultural Center/Fieldhouse Chicago Park District: 501 E 90th Pl
Tuesday, March 19: 5pm workshop; 6:30pm performance

South Chicago Branch Chicago Public Library: 9055 S. Houston Ave
Wednesday, March 20: 4:30 workshop; 6:30pm performance

Albany Park Branch Chicago Public Library: 3401 W. Foster Ave
Thursday, March 21: 4: 30pm workshop; 6pm performance

Austin Town Hall Cultural Center/Fieldhouse Chicago Park District: 5610 W. Lake St Friday, March 22: 5pm workshop; 6:30pm performance

Hamilton Park Cultural Center/Fieldhouse Chicago Park District: 513 W. 72nd St
Saturday, March 23: 1pm workshop; 2:30pm performance

Relaxed/Sensory-Friendly Performances
Steppenwolf is pleased to present a Relaxed/Sensory-Friendly performance for We Are Proud to Present a Presentation…on Saturday, March 16 at 1pm for the Lobby and 3pm curtain. Relaxed/Sensory-Friendly performances feature a relaxed performance environment and minor adjustments to sensory effects such as lighting and sound cues. House lights will be left up at a low level  and it’s okay for audience members to make noise, move, and leave the theater. Social narratives and character guides will be shared in advance of guests’ visit, and a quiet area will be designated in a section of the lobby. For more information, please email access@steppenwolf.org.

We Are Proud to Present a Presentation… production team includes Arnel Sancianco (Scenic Design); Izumi Inaba (Costume Design); Heather Sparling (Lighting Design); Cooper Forsman (Sound Design); Breon Arzell (Movement Consultant); Michelle Medvin (Stage Manager); and JC Clementz (Casting Director).

City Connections Partners
BUILD is a pioneering, respected gang intervention, violence prevention and youth development organization based on Chicago’s West Side. Since 1969, BUILD has helped thousands of youth escape gangs and violence to become positive leaders of their communities and is recognized as an Effective Program by the US Dept of Justice and an Innovative Program by the US Dept. of Education.  BUILD's enrichment programs, including its partnership with Steppenwolf Theatre, foster the creativity and voice of young people in Austin, Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Hermosa, Belmont-Cragin and Fuller Park.   

The Chicago Park District is the 2014 Gold Medal Award winner, recognized for excellence in park and recreation management across the nation. For more information about the Chicago Park District’s more than 8,800 acres of parkland, more than 600 parks, 26 miles of lakefront, 12 museums, two world-class conservatories, 16 historic lagoons, nearly 50 nature areas, thousands of special events, sports and entertaining programs, please visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or contact the Chicago Park District at 312-742-PLAY or 312-747-2001 (TTY). Want to share your talent? Volunteer in the parks by calling, 312-742-PLAY.
  
Chicago Public Library since first opening its doors in 1873, has served all Chicagoans with free and open places to gather, learn, connect, read and be transformed. The 81 locations provide the innovative library services, technologies and tools Chicagoans need to reach their goals and to establish Chicago as a competitive force in the global marketplace. Chicago Public Libraries are that special third place—beyond home and work—where people come to improve their lives, nourish their intellect or savor entertainment. The rich collections, state-of-the-art technology and cultural and public partnerships make Chicago Public Library a thriving, engaged leader in Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods.

Major foundation support for Steppenwolf Education is provided by the Polk Bros. Foundation and Alphawood Foundation. Steppenwolf Education is also supported in part by contributions from The Crown Family, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Sage Foundation, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Northern Trust Company, Field Foundation of Illinois, Dr. Scholl Foundation, the Helen Brach Foundation, ITW Foundation, Siragusa Foundation, Robert and Isabelle Bass Foundation, Inc. and Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation; as well as the Steppenwolf Associates, a community of dynamic young professionals.

Steppenwolf Education is a citywide partner of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) School Partner Program.

Accessibility
Committed to making the Steppenwolf experience accessible to everyone, performances featuring American Sign Language Interpretation, Open Captioning and Audio Description are offered during the run of each play. Assistive listening devices and large-print programs are available for every performance and the Downstairs and 1700 Theatres are each equipped with an induction hearing loop. All theaters feature wheelchair accessible seating and restrooms, and Front Bar features a push-button entrance, all-gender restrooms and accessible counter and table spaces.

Sponsor Information
United Airlines is the Official and Exclusive Airline of Steppenwolf.

Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks
Connected to the main lobby is Steppenwolf’s own Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks, offering a warm, creative space to grab a drink, have a bite, or meet up with friends and collaborators, day or night. Open Tuesdays – Sundays from 8am to midnight, Front Bar serves artisanal coffee and espresso is provided by La Colombe and food prepared by Goddess and Grocer. The menu focuses on fresh, accessible fare, featuring grab-and-go salads and sandwiches for lunch and adding shareable small plates and desserts for evening and post show service. www.front bar.com.

Steppenwolf Education’s unique approach combines play production with educational components to enhance arts education for young audiences, as well as their teachers and families, as well as a professional leadership program for early-career professionals. Every season Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) creates two full-scale professional productions specifically for teens. Working closely with the Chicago Public and metropolitan area schools and other community partners, Steppenwolf Education annually ensures access to the theater for more than 15,000 participants from Chicago’s diverse communities. The initiative also includes post-show discussions with artists; classroom residencies led by Steppenwolf-trained teaching artists in almost 100 classrooms in public high schools; professional development workshops for educators; and the Young Adult Council, an innovative year-round after-school initiative that uniquely engages high school students in all areas of the theater’s operations, as well as other teen and community-based programs.

Year of Chicago Theatre 
Steppenwolf Theatre Company is proud to be part of the 2019 Year of Chicago Theatre, presented by the City of Chicago and the League of Chicago Theatres. To truly fall in love with Chicago, you must go to our theatres. This is where the city bares its fearless soul. Home to a community of creators, risk-takers, and big hearts, Chicago theatre is a hotbed for exciting new work and hundreds of world premieres every year. From Broadway musicals to storefront plays and improv, there’s always a seat waiting for you at one of our 200+ theatres. Book your next show today at ChicagoPlays.com.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation’s premier ensemble theater. Formed by a collective of actors in 1976, the ensemble of 49 members represent a remarkable cross-section of actors, directors and playwrights. Thrilling and powerful productions from Balm in Gilead to August: Osage County and Pass Over—and accolades that include the National Medal of Arts and 12 Tony Awards—have made the theater legendary. Steppenwolf produces hundreds of performances and events annually in its three spaces: the 515-seat Downstairs Theatre, the 299-seat Upstairs Theatre and the 80-seat 1700 Theatre. Artistic programing includes a sevenplay season; a two-play Steppenwolf for Young Adults season; Visiting Company engagements; and LookOut, a multi-genre performances series. Education initiatives include the nationally recognized work of Steppenwolf for Young Adults, which engages 15,000 participants annually from Chicago’s diverse communities; the esteemed School at Steppenwolf; and Professional Leadership Programs for arts administration training. While firmly grounded in the Chicago community, nearly 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Anna D. Shapiro is the Artistic Director and David Schmitz is the Executive Director. Eric Lefkofsky is Chair of Steppenwolf’s Board of Trustees. For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre, twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr and instagram.com/steppenwolfthtr.     

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) To Produce We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South West Africa, From the German Südwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915

Chi IL Live Shows On Our Radar:

Steppenwolf for Young Adults to Present the Acclaimed Play

We Are Proud to Present a Presentation

About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as

South West Africa, From the German Südwestafrika,

Between the Years 1884-1915

Written By Jackie Sibblies Drury

Directed by Hallie Gordon and Gabrielle Randle

March 2– March 16, 2019

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) announced today it will produce We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South West Africa, From the German Südwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915 by Jackie Sibblies Drury as the second production in the 2018/19 season. SYA Artistic Director Hallie Gordon co-directs with Gabrielle Randle. SYA’s 2018/19 Season explores the question, “When you feel lost, how do you find your way?”

We Are Proud to Present a Presentation…will be produced in place of the previously announced production of Radical, a new play inspired by the book White American Youth by Christian Picciolini. SYA Artistic Director Hallie Gordon shares, “After months of discussions with teachers, Young Adult Council members, artists and designers it became clear that adapting this book for the stage would not be of service to our young adult audiences at this time. I am so grateful to the author, playwright, and our incredible community of educators, teens and artists for sharing their voices, and to the Steppenwolf family for trusting me to know when to push forward and pull back.”

“SYA is dedicated to creating work that is both provocative and drives us to think harder and deeper about who we are and the choices we make. We are so excited to be producing We Are Proud to Present a Presentation…a powerful story that explores themes of race, representation, storytelling and the power group-thinking can have on an individual. Our season theme is “When you feel lost, how do you find your way?” – a question that every character in this play must ask themselves. SYA hasn’t yet produced a play structured like this one, and we are thrilled that we have the opportunity to share it with our audiences,” adds Gordon.

When a group of actors gathers together to give a presentation about a long-forgotten—or possibly never remembered—genocide, they realize that summaries based on history books aren’t nearly enough to capture the complexity of human extermination—or human interaction. We Are Proud to Present a Presentation…tells the story of what happens when, in an effort to dig deeper, the nobly intentioned ensemble crashes into their own simmering fears and unconscious prejudices, coming face to face with the potential for brutality in all of us.

Public performances for We Are Proud to Present a Presentation…will take place March 2 (3 & 7:30pm); March 8 (7:30pm); March 9 (3 & 7:30pm); March 15 (7:30pm); March 16 (3 & 7:30pm) in the Upstairs Theatre. Performances Tuesday – Friday at 10am are reserved for school groups only and available by visiting steppenwolf.org/education. This season, more than 15,000 Chicago Public School students, teachers and community will see a Steppenwolf for Young Adults production. Single tickets to public performances ($15-20) go on sale at a later date.

Bios
Hallie Gordon (Co-Director) is an Artistic Producer at Steppenwolf and the Artistic Director for Steppenwolf for Young Adults, where she has directed many productions for the program including Monster by Walter Dean Myers; George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm; The Book Thief; To Kill a Mockingbird; and the world premiere of Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye at Steppenwolf and Off-Broadway. In Steppenwolf’s season she has directed The Rembrandt and Taylor Mac’s Hir. She is an ensemble member for Rivendell Theatre where she directed the critically acclaimed Dry Land and Eat Your Heart Out. 

Gabrielle Randle (Co-Director) is a performance scholar, director, and dramaturg based in Chicago. She has a BA in Drama from Stanford University and an MA in Performance as Public Practice from The University of Texas at Austin. She has worked as a dramaturg, producer, and director across the United States including Off-Broadway and internationally on three continents. In Chicago she has worked with Sideshow Theatre Company (Associate Artist), Chicago Dramatists, Victory Gardens Theater, Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts, and Court Theatre. She is a third year PhD student at Northwestern in The Interdisciplinary PhD in Theatre and Drama.

Tour to Juvenile Justice Facilities
Working in collaboration with Storycatchers Theatre, Steppenwolf Education will tour its production of We Are Proud to Present a Presentation… to three Juvenile Justice Facilities in Illinois. This will be the third tour collaboration between Steppenwolf and Storycatchers Theatre, an organization that guides young people to transform their traumatic experiences into powerful musical theatre, inspiring them to develop the courage and vision to become leaders and mentors. By creating support for youth within the criminal justice system, Storycatchers prepares them to change their lives and emerge successfully from court involvement. For more info, visit storycatcherstheatre.org.



The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Opening the 2018/19 SYA Season is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time adapted by Simon Stephens, based on the book by Mark Haddon and directed by Jonathan Berry, October 5 – October 27, 2018 in the Downstairs Theatre. 

Based on the critically acclaimed book by Mark Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time focuses on Christopher, a young boy with an extraordinary brain and an exceptional talent for mathematics. When the neighbor’s dog Wellington is found dead, Christopher launches an investigation into the mystery surrounding the dog’s murder. As he searches for the truth on his first ever excursion by himself, he uncovers surprises about himself and his family, exploring the hidden secrets and challenges in everyday life.

Public performances of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time are October 5 (7:30pm); October 6 (3 & 7:30pm); October 7 at 3pm; October 12 (7:30pm); October 13 (3 & 7:30pm); October 19 (7:30pm); October 20 (3 & 7:30pm); October 26 (7:30pm); October 27 (3 & 7:30pm). *The October 27 3pm performance will be a Relaxed/Sensory Friendly performance. Tickets to public performances are available at 312-335-1650 or at steppenwolf.org. 

Relaxed/Sensory-Friendly Performances
Steppenwolf is proud to present Relaxed/Sensory-Friendly performances for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time on Saturday, October 27 at 3pm, and We Are Proud to Present… at a TBD date. Relaxed/Sensory-Friendly performances feature a more relaxed environment and minor adjustments to sensory effects such as lighting and sound cues. This performance is open to all but designed to create a safe and welcoming experience for guests who may include, but are not limited to, individuals on the autism spectrum, as well as people with sensory processing and/or integration sensitivities. For more information, please email access@steppenwolf.org.

Major foundation support for Steppenwolf Education is provided by the Polk Bros. Foundation and Alphawood Foundation. Steppenwolf Education is also supported in part by contributions from The Crown Family, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Sage Foundation, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Northern Trust Company, Field Foundation of Illinois, Dr. Scholl Foundation, the Helen Brach Foundation, ITW Foundation, Siragusa Foundation, Robert and Isabelle Bass Foundation, Inc. and Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation; as well as the Steppenwolf Associates, a community of dynamic young professionals.


Steppenwolf Education is a citywide partner of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) School Partner Program.

Accessibility
Committed to making the Steppenwolf experience accessible to everyone, performances featuring American Sign Language Interpretation, Open Captioning and Audio Description are offered during the run of each play. Assistive listening devices and large-print programs are available for every performance, and the Downstairs and 1700 Theatres are each equipped with an induction hearing loop. All theaters feature wheelchair accessible seating and restrooms, and Front Bar features a push-button entrance, all-gender restrooms and accessible counter and table spaces.



Steppenwolf Education’s unique approach combines play production with educational components to enhance arts education for young audiences, as well as their teachers and families. Every season Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) creates two full-scale professional productions specifically for teens. Working closely with the Chicago Public and metropolitan area schools and other community partners, Steppenwolf Education annually ensures access to the theater for more than 15,000 participants from Chicago’s diverse communities. The initiative also includes post-show discussions with artists; classroom residencies led by Steppenwolf-trained teaching artists in almost 100 classrooms in public high schools; professional development workshops for educators; and the Young Adult Council, an innovative year-round after-school initiative that uniquely engages high school students in all areas of the theater’s operations, as well as other teen and community based programs.



Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation’s premier ensemble theater. Formed by a collective of actors in 1976, the ensemble represents a remarkable cross-section of actors, directors and playwrights. Thrilling and powerful productions from Balm in Gilead to August: Osage County—and accolades that include the National Medal of Arts and 12 Tony Awards—have made the theater legendary. Steppenwolf produces hundreds of performances and events annually in its three spaces: the 515-seat Downstairs Theatre, the 299-seat Upstairs Theatre and the 80-seat 1700 Theatre. Artistic programming includes a seven-play season; a two-play Steppenwolf for Young Adults season; Visiting Company engagements; and LookOut, a multi-genre performances series. Education initiatives include the nationally recognized work of Steppenwolf for Young Adults, which engages 15,000 participants annually from Chicago’s diverse communities; the esteemed School at Steppenwolf; and Professional Leadership Programs for arts administration training. While firmly grounded in the Chicago community, nearly 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Anna D. Shapiro is the Artistic Director and David Schmitz is the Executive Director. Eric Lefkofsky is Chair of Steppenwolf’s Board of Trustees. 

For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre, twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr and instagram.com/steppenwolfthtr.