Season XI Steep Theatre Company proudly presents
the U.S. Premiere of
Moment
By Deirdre Kinahan The Cast (in speaking order) Fin.................................................................................................................................. Alex Gillmor* Niamh Lynch....................................................................................................... Cynthia Marker* Teresa Lynch........................................................................................................Melissa Riemer* Ciara Lynch.....................................................................................................................Julia Siple* Dave Blake..................................................................................................................James Allen* Nial Lynch........................................................................................................................ Josh Odor Ruth Pigeon...................................................................................................... Carey Lee Burton Hillary Kelly................................................................................................................ Grace Melon Fin, Dave (Understudy)...........................................................................................Mark Pracht Ciara, Ruth (Understudy).............................................................................Skyler Schrempp Production Staff Director............................................................................................................... Jonathan Berry** Stage Manager...................................................................................................Jon Ravenscroft Set Design................................................................................................................... Dan Stratton Lighting Design.....................................................................................................Sarah Hughey Costume Design......................................................................................................... Alison Siple Sound Design..................................................................................................... Kevin O’Donnell Props Designer.......................................................................................................Maria DeFabo Dialect Coach........................................................................................................Kendra Thulin* Dramaturg................................................................................................................Kristin Leahey Technical Director..................................................................................................Josh Lambert Production Manager.................................................................................................Julia Siple* Assistant Director....................................................................................Mary Rose O’Connor Asst. Production Manager.................................................................... Christopher Renton Asst. Lighting Design......................................................................................... Jill Bowarchuk Asst. Stage Manager......................................................................................... Paul Twarowski Casting Director.....................................................................................................Caroline Neff* *Denotes Company Member **Denotes Artistic Associate Graphic Design – Stu Kiesow
Press Photos – Lee Miller
Please visit our website at www.steeptheatre.com Moment was first produced by Tall Tales Theatre Company, County Meath, Ireland. Before you turn off your cell phones, why not take a moment to visit Facebook, FourSquare, Twitter, etc., and let your friends know you’re at Steep? Check back in after the show and share your thoughts. Thanks for spreading the word about Steep! This theater and this program were made possible by grants from The City of Chicago, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The Rothman Foundation, The Young Leaders Fund, and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
Steep Theatre is a member of the League of Chicago Theatres. Moment 1
Pizza with an Edge Pasta With a Bite Est. 1999 Among best sandwiches in the city Chicago Reader 2004 Best Restaurants along the red line Chicago Reader 2002 1125 West Berwyn 50 yards west of Steep Monday through Thursday 11 am – 11 pm Friday & Saturday 11 am – 12 pm Sunday noon – 11 pm 773-769-4900 BYOB
S T E E P T H E AT R E C O M PA N Y Steep Theatre Company was founded in 2000 by artists with little more than a desire to work in an open, ensemble atmosphere and a shoestring budget. Over the years, the company has become a dedicated, close-knit group of twenty-four actors, directors, designers, and writers driven by a shared commitment to the organization’s mission: To bring out the everyday truths in the stories we tell through ensemble work and to reach out to non-traditional theater goers by seeking out stories and creating experiences relevant to them. As a company, we believe theater should stoke conversations about the issues and conditions that are a part of all of our lives; conversations that take place amongst and between our artists and audiences in the theater, in the lobby, or long after everyone has headed home. But Steep’s goal is more than just creating these conversations. Our goal is to add more voices to these conversations. We strive to reach the everyday person that may have abandoned theater as a relevant art form by telling stories that touch their lives in real and palpable ways and by creating an environment that is welcoming to everyone. By bringing these voices back to the theater, we hope to reinvigorate our conversations and ensure that theater is a viable, vital, and productive art form. Over the past 11 years Steep has produced over 40 shows that have enjoyed remarkable critical and commercial success. We find works that showcase and broaden our ensemble’s talents and our ensemble style. Productions The Receptionist by Adam Bock Love and Money by Dennis Kelly Under the Blue Sky by David Eldridge Pornography by Simon Stephens Festen by David Eldridge, Thomas Vinterberg, Mogens Rukov, Bo Hr. Hansen Lakeboat by David Mamet A Brief History of Helen of Troy by Mark Schultz 2,000 Feet Away by Anthony Weigh Harper Regan by Simon Stephens Kill the Old Torture Their Young by David Harrower The Hollow Lands by Howard Korder Parlour Song by Jez Butterworth In Arabia We’d All Be Kings by Stephen Adly Guirgis Seven Days by Egan Reich Greensboro: A Requiem by Emily Mann Breathing Corpses by Laura Wade Coronado by Dennis Lehane Insignificance by Terry Johnson The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui by Bertolt Brecht Otherwise Engaged by Simon Gray 2nd Annual Steep Family Reunion One-Act Festival The Last Days of Judas Iscariot by Stephen Adly Guirgis Bang the Drum Slowly by Mark Harris, adapted by Eric Simonson Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck The Night Heron by Jez Butterworth Steep Family Reunion One-Act Festival Evangeline adapted by Tony Adams Catch-22 by Joseph Heller Pleasanton by John Wilson Book Of Days by Lanford Wilson Incident at Vichy by Arthur Miller Howie the Rookie by Mark O’Rowe Dealer’s Choice by Patrick Marber The Time Trial by Jack Gilhooley The Hothouse by Harold Pinter Below the Belt by Richard Dresser My Donkey Lady by John Wilson The Job by Shem Bitterman The Aspidistra Code by Mark O’Rowe Geography of a Horse Dreamer by Sam Shepard These Flowers are for My Mother by Michael McGuire Pvt. Wars by James McLure Search and Destroy by Howard Korder Life During Wartime by Keith Reddin
April 2012 January 2012 October 2011 July 2011 May 2011 January 2011 Spetember 2010 May 2010 January 2010 October 2009 June 2009 March 2009 January 2009 October 2008 May 2008 February 2008 September 2007 July 2007 May 2007 February 2007 December 2006 September 2006 June 2006 March 2006 March 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 August 2005 June 2005 March 2005 October 2004 August 2004 May 2004 August 2003 August 2003 August 2003 May 2003 October 2002 June 2002 March 2002 September 2001 August 2001 March 2001 Moment 3
The new season begins October 4th
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www.steeptheatre.com 4 Steep Theatre Company
INTERVIEW
Meet Steep: Caroline Neff By James Allen First, disclosure: Caroline and I are both company members at Steep Theatre, and we are very good friends. Despite that, I decided to dig for scandal and scare skeletons out of her closet for the purpose of this piece. If you are familiar with her work, then you may think there must be something dark and sinister lurking deep within. Unfortunately, Ms Neff is very much what she appears to be: an intelligent, talented, hard-working and charismatic woman. On June 28th, Caroline opens in Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters at Steppenwolf Theatre, her first Equity show. She has earned quite Caroline in her Jeff Award-winning role a name for herself in Chicago’s non-union Charlotte in A Brief History of Helen of Troy, theatre world, so this was hardly a surprise to with Katy Boza. Photo by Lee Miller. most of us, and she is honored and thrilled to be working with them. When asked about the change from non-Equity to Equity rehearsals she said, “I’ve had the fortune of working with incredibly professional and diligent non-Equity companies, so right now [the difference is] it’s daytime. That’s about it.” Going in her first day, she recalls thinking, “I’m gonna be an idiot,” but was pleasantly surprised at how prepared she actually was. However, as rehearsals continue, that assurance does not erase her “first show nightmare.” She looks down and smiles as she describes this scenario while untangling her necklace from her bracelet. “I go onstage in complete darkness, for my very first scene in my very first Equity show at Steppenwolf. The lights come up, and I’m not on my mark. Then, I throw up. In front of everyone.” She laughs, “yeah, I really hope that doesn’t happen.” Somehow, I doubt it will. Many ask what we’re going to do now that Caroline is Equity and Steep is not. We have begun discussions about becoming Equity, but we have no “when” or “if” to answer. One thing is fairly certain, we are going to get Caroline Neff back on the Steep stage. Before that happens, she will remain happily active as our Casting Director, a position she’s held since 2010. A great deal of Steep’s success is attributable to wonderful casting, and whether or not she’s onstage, Caroline has a hand in assembling these fantastic ensembles. “I love it. It’s putting a puzzle together, and we root for everyone who comes through the door to audition,” she says enthusiastically. She revels in giving confidence to other actors, and will go on blissfully describing the intricacies of serving the playwright, company, and director. Caroline has worked with a large variety of actors, so I asked about her pet peeves for ensemble members. The only thing she mentioned was something I do quite often, so I shall not describe it here (touché Ms Neff ); otherwise, she has high praise for her cast mates. She even recalls how the actors with which she’s had to be intimate usually presented the courtesy of good breath. “Audrey Francis had especially nice oral hygiene.” If you are as fascinated with Caroline as we are, you can continue reading this article on Steep’s web site, steeptheatre.com. We discuss her future, the “perfect role,” advice she would give her past self, and I ask her who is the worst actor in Chicago (Spoiler alert: she doesn’t answer). Moment 5
D R A M AT U R G I C A L N O T E S The Luck of the Irish: The Celtic Tiger No other country has experienced such rapid economic transition: In 1922 – following the country’s independence from the UK– Ireland’s wealth matched most European countries and only slightly lagged behind Great Britain’s. By 1960, it fell far behind the rest of Europe until the late 1980s, when the market began to dramatically transform. Between 1995 and 2007, the Irish economy radically evolved, a financial period that became known as the Celtic Tiger. The statics depicting Ireland’s transition from Europe’s worst- to its bestperforming economy from 1995 to 2004 are remarkable. In 1987 Irish Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per person was 69% of the European Union average; by 2003, it reached 136%. Unemployment fell from 17% in 1987 to 4% in 2003; and the government debt shrank from 112% of the GDP to 33%. The Irish economy expanded at an average rate of 9.4% between 1995 and 2000 and continued to grow at an average rate of 5.5% during the following decade. A combination of different factors contributed to the emergence of the Celtic Tiger. First, in 1987, the Irish resuscitated a social dialogue with trade unions accepting wage restraint in exchange for more policy influence and tax cuts. Furthermore, the launch of the Euro and lower interest rates influenced the growth, in addition to the creation of European single market subsidies. The country attracted desirable companies in software, personal computers, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, in addition to supplying them with welltrained and -educated Irish personnel. Where other European economies faced a vast ageing population, Ireland was boosted by its youthfulness courtesy of an extended baby boom. High employment was the greatest contributor to the Celtic Tiger; 1.2 million people were employed in 1993 and the figure rose to over 1.8 million ten years later. Much of the Irish economic miracle resulted in one-time changes. Eventually the momentum subsided, which is attributed to the bursting of the property bubble and the collapse of economic spending. In September 2008, Ireland was the first Eurozone country to officially enter a recession. By January 2009, Ireland’s governmental debt became the riskiest in Europe, even surpassing Greece’s depressed sovereign bonds. By 2010, unemployment in the country rose to 14%. As of 2012, the roar of the Celtic Tiger has been silenced.
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THE CREW Jonathan Berry (Director) Jonathan Berry is a director and teacher in Chicago. Prior work includes: Steep Theatre: Festen, The Resistible Rise of Arturo, and the Midwest Premiere of The Hollow Lands. He has premiered Andrew Hinderaker’s Suicide, Incorporated at both the Gift in Chicago and The Roundabout in NY, and premiered Hinderaker’s I am Going to Chang the World at Chicago Dramatists this Spring. As a Griffin Company artistic associate, productions include: the North American premieres of Simon Stephens Punk Rock, Port, and On the Shore of the Wide World, Spring Awakening, Company, Picnic, Time and the Conways (Jeff nom – director/ensemble), Dead End, Be More Chill,, Brendan Behan’s The Hostage and the critically acclaimed Journey’s End. Other work includes: A Separate Peace for Steppenwolf’s SYA and Melinda Lopez’s Gary for First Look. Remy Bumppo, The Marriage of Figaro, Lifeline Theater: The Piano Tuner (Afterdark award – Best Production): Theater Mir: The Sea and Brecht’s Caucasian Chalk Circle He pursued his MFA in directing from Northwestern University. Upcoming projects include premiering Andrew Hinderacker’s Dirty at The Gift and The Burnt Part Boys for Griffin. Deirdre Kinahan (Playwright) Deirdre is actively involved in the Irish Theatre Scene both as playwright and Artistic Director of Tall Tales Theatre Company, Co. Meath. Her work is produced regularly both in Ireland and on the international stage. Deirdre’s play Moment was a major hit at the Bush Theatre in 2011 and her two plays Hue & Cry and Bogboy won critical acclaim at the First Irish Festival in New York, winning three awards and critic’s pick in the New York Times. Writing for theatre includes: Broken, Fishamble, Dublin 2012, Transgressor, Bush Theatre 2011, Where’s My Seat, Bush Theatre 2011, Bogboy (Tall Tales & Solstice Arts Centre, New York & National Tour); Moment(Tall Tales & Solstice, Bush Theatre and national tour); Salad Day (The Abbey Theatre); Hue & Cry (Bewleys Café Theatre & Tall Tales, Glasgow, Romania, Bulgaria, Paris and New York); Melody (Tall Tales, Glasgow, national tour); Attaboy Mr Synge (The Civic Theatre national tour); Rum & Raisin (Tall Tales & Nogin Theatre Co.
national tour); Summer Fruits (Tall Tales, national tour); Knocknashee (Tall Tales & The Civic Theatre, national tour); Passage (Tall Tales, The Civic Theatre); Bé Carna (Tall Tales, national tour and Edinburgh Fringe Festival). For children; Maisy Daly’s Rainbow (Tall Tales & Solstice); Rebecca’s Robin (Bewleys Café Theatre); Show Child (Livin Dred); The Tale of the Blue Eyed Cat (Livin Dred). Deirdre is currently developing work with Altered Image Films UK and Grand Pictures Dublin with her most recent play The Halcyon Days receiving its premiere in Dublin Autumn 2012. She is currently under commission to Fishamble Theatre Company, Ireland and has two other plays in development. Jon Ravenscroft (Stage Manager) Jon is summering, once again, with the fine folks of Steep Theatre Company and collaborating with Jonathan Berry for the fourth time. Last summer, Jon stage managed Pornography at Steep and before that Harper Regan in 2010, both with director Robin Witt. Other Chicago credits include Spring Awakening, Company and Port with Jonathan at the Griffin Theatre Company, St. Crispin’s Day at Strawdog Theatre Company, the 2010 Fillet of Solo festival at Lifeline and Live Bait Theatres and Production Stage Managing Millennium Park’s In The Works theatre lab series as well as work with Hypatia Theatre Company, Lifeline Theatre, Caffeine Theatre, Theatre 7 of Chicago, Dog & Pony Theatre Co., Chicago Children’s Theatre and The Sweat Girls. Dan Stratton (Scenic Design) Dan has an MFA from Northwestern University’s Stage Design program and a BFA in sculpture from the University of Michigan. Dan recently designed the sets for Steep’s Love and Money and Festen. Other scenic design credits include Respiced: a Silk Road Cabaret, As You Like It -Two Pence Shakespeare; Peter Pan: A Play -LookingGlass Theatre; Suicide Inc. -Gift Theatre Company; Abigail’s Party -A Red Orchid Theatre; Kill the Old, Torture their Young -Steep; R.U.R. -Strawdog Theatre Company, and the New York/San Francisco productions of Fools Fury’s The Devil on All Sides. Moment 7
THE CR EW (c o n t.) Sarah Hughey (Lighting Design) At Steep, Sarah designed lights for Parlour Song and Festen. Other Chicago credits include work with House Theatre of Chicago, Northlight Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, Fox Valley Rep, Griffin Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, The Gift, A Red Orchid Theatre, Lookingglass, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Silk Road Rising (2011 Jeff Award, Lighting Design for Scorched). Upcoming projects include Iron Stag King (House), Hamlet (Writers’ Theatre), and Night over Erzinga (Silk Road Rising). In Summer 2011, Sarah began collaborating with theatre artists on The Yellow House, a devised theatre project that puts design and performance in direct dialogue, exploring vast themes on both a personal and scientifically elemental level (SummerYellowHouse.tumblr.com). Sarah earned her MFA from Northwestern University and teaches at Northwestern and Columbia College. Alison Siple (Costume Design) Alison’s most recent work includes Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly (First Stage, Milwaukee), Our Town (The Broad Stage, Off Broadway and Hypocrites), Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting (Lookingglass), The Pirates of Penzance (Hypocrites), The Great Fire (Lookingglass) and Sophocles Seven Sicknesses (Hypocrites). Alison won the 2010 Equity Jeff Award for The Mystery of Irma Vep (Court Theatre) and the 2011 Non-Equity Jeff Award for Cabaret (Hypocrites). She also won Non-Equity Jeff Awards for Time and the Conways (Griffin Theatre) in 2006 and for Leonce und Lena (Hypocrites) in 2005. She was recently named one of 12 artists to receive a 2011 3Arts Artist Grant. She is an Associate Company Member of The Hypocrites, an Artistic Associate with Lookingglass and a graduate of Northwestern University. Check out her other work at alisonsiple.com. Kevin O’Donnell (Sound Design) Kevin is very happy to be working at Steep again, having worked on last fall’s Under the Blue Sky. His work in Chicago theater has earned him 19 Jeff Nominations (8 Awards), and 2 consecutive After Dark Awards (for Outstanding Season). In Chicago he 8 Steep Theatre Company
has worked with The House (company member), The Hypocrites (artistic associate), Redmoon, TimeLine, A.T.C., Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare, The Building Stage and Lookingglass Theatre, amongst others; regionally his work has been heard at The Cherry Lane, 59E59, St Anne’s Warehouse, DTW (NYC), The Taper Forum (LA), A.C.T. (San Francisco), Tangént (Montreal), The Arsht Center (Miami), The Stages Rep (Houston), The Kansas City Rep, and Baltimore CenterStage. He is currently writing Ploughed Under, a songcycle which The House will produce next spring. www.kevinodonnellmusic.com Maria DeFabo (Prop Design) Maria is captivated by creating and telling stories through the use of props. She is enthralled to return to Steep after making props for 2000 Feet Away and Pornography. Maria has made props for over 50 productions in the Chicago area. Some of her favorite people that she has made props for include Lookingglass Theatre, The Hypocrites Theatre, The House Theatre, Chicago Opera Theatre, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, North Park University, and Next Theatre Company, although she has a lot of other favorite people too, most likely you are one of them. She is a proud artistic associate of the Hypocrites Theatre Company, and would love to meet to talk about how props make the world a better place. Feel free to contact her mariadefabo.com Kendra Thulin (Dialect Coach) Previous Steep credits include Love and Money (dialects), Pornography (Seven), Festen (dialects) and Harper Regan (Harper), for which she won the non-Equity Jeff for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Principal Role. Other recent credits: Hunger (Alena), Lifeline Theatre, Want (Lee), Steppenwolf First Look Repertory and State of the Union (Mary Matthews), Strawdog Theatre. This July she will be in a staged reading of The Test at the Goethe Institut as part of the International Voices Project. Kendra is a professor at Columbia College Chicago, where in addition to teaching voice and acting, she has vocal and/or dialect coached over fifty-five productions.
THE CR EW (c o n t.) Kristin Leahey (Dramaturg) Kristin Kristin has collaborated with Steep (and Naked Angels Theatre) on a co-workshop of Sarah Burgess’ Earthsiege and on the production Pornography. Leahey is the Resident Dramaturg at Northlight Theatre and formerly the Literary Manager at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, DC. Her dramaturgical credits include productions with the Goodman Theatre, The Kennedy Center, the Indiana Repertory Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Victory Gardens Theater, Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival, Collaboraction, Teatro Luna, Teatro Vista, Eclipse Theatre Company, Redmoon Theater, Next Theatre Company and A Red Orchid Theatre, among others. Her publications include articles in Theatre Topics, Theatre History and Theatre Studies. Her teaching credits include courses taught at The University of Texas, Lake Michigan College, DePaul University, and Columbia College. She received her doctorate in dramaturgy and performance studies at The University of Texas at Austin. Mary Rose O’Connor (Assistant Director) Mary Rose is thrilled to be returning to Steep after assistant directing Pornography last summer. Mary Rose recently directed Johnny Theatre at Chemically Imbalanced Comedy,
Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom at Glass Mind Theatre (Baltimore) and Song For a Future Generation with Lights Out Theatre Company. Mary Rose has stage managed for The Gift Theatre, Mary-Arrchie, Caffeine Theatre, Lights Out Theatre Company, Steppenwolf (Apprentice) and Seanachai Theatre company, of which she has been an ensemble member since 2010. Mary Rose also co-produces The Gogo Show, a monthly variety show featuring female comics. Christopher Renton (Asst. Production Manager) Chris is from Wisconsin. He got a degree in film a few years back. He’s had a lot of jobs that don’t relate to one another. He likes it that way. Chris also likes mid-century Pontiacs, rye whiskey and the smell of old books. He’s fallen in love with Steep and can’t quite shake it. Jill Bowarchuk (Asst. Lighting Design) Jill Bowachuk has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Columbia College where she worked on many productions such as HE Who Gets Slapped, Hello Again, and A Christmas Carol. Since graduating from Columbia, she has designed some fantastic productions including The Sea (Theatre Mir), Let My People Come (Street Tempo Theatre), Ivanov (Sinnerman).
SPECIAL THANKS Jason Akemann David Alex Trace Bar Dave Bartusek Ben and Amy Berg Mary Brennan Marge Britton Broadway in Chicago Deb Clapp Columbia College Chicago Erica Daniels Steve DeRosa Elaine Glusac John Green Ashlee Harris
Brea Hayes Kurt Kolar Eileen LaCario Kristin Leahey Will Martin Leo Mendoza Elisa Miller Lee Miller Northwestern University John Paulun Cameron Peart Ben Peterson Meaghan Schneider Adrienne Smith Anne Stratton The School at Steppenwolf
Alderman Mary Ann Smith Patrick Shanahan Meghan Raham Antje Oegel David Raino-Ogden David Reed Jeff Riemer Señor Ryan Rockaitis Beth Rohlmeier Sandy Shinner Ben Thiem Jim Wagner UNC Charlotte Department of Theatre
Moment 9
THE CAST James Allen (Dave Blake) Working with Jon Berry, this cast, & fellow Steep members has been a pleasure. Past Steep credits include Festen, Incident at Vichy, Book of Days, Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Bang the Drum Slowly, Otherwise Engaged and many more. Other than the stage, I do film, television, and commercial work being represented by Big Mouth Talent. I have far too many people to thank for their friendship, lessons and inspiration, but the top of the list is my wonderful wife, Stacy. Carey Lee Burton (Ruth Pigeon) Carey is honored to be making her Steep Theatre debut. A proud graduate of Columbia College Chicago, she has spent her post graduate years performing in and around the Chicagoland area. She serves as an artistic associate at Caffeine Theatre where she has performed in Ion, Many Loves, Wild Nights with Emily and the Theater on the Lake remount of Under Milkwood. As well, Carey is an ensemble member of GreatWorks theatre, a group dedicated to bringing literature and history based plays into the school system. She thanks her husband for his unending support. Alex Gillmor (Fin) Alex is happy to be on stage again, and thrilled to be working with Jonathan Berry again. Jonathan is possibly my second favorite director, however, we somehow managed to bypass viewpoints so he moved into a tie for my favorite. Some of the favorite parts that Alex has played are Mugsy in Dealers Choice, 10 Steep Theatre Company
Bruce in Bang the Drum Slowly, Gibbs in The Hot House, and Dale in Parlour Song. Thanks to the cast and crew for making this yet another great experience. Thank you to Pete and Julia for keeping Steep in order. Thanks to the audience, our board, and everyone that has supported Steep. Of course, special thanks to Anna, Lili, and Greta. People say they grow up too fast. It’s true. By the way, Alex is now the father of a teenage daughter. Cynthia Marker (Niamh Lynch) Cynthia is thrilled to be back with her Steep family! A graduate of The School at Steppenwolf, she has appeared in Eclipse Theatre’s The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek, Griffin’s Time & the Conways, and Steep’s Book of Days. She is forever grateful to the incomparable Mr. Berry for his friendship, guidance, and support. It has been an honor and a joy to work with everyone involved in this production. Et comme toujours, un merci infini à ses deux amours, Paul et Jack. Grace Melon (Hillary Kelly) Grace Melon is thrilled to be making her Steep Theatre debut. Past credits include The Copperhead at City Lit Theatre, Arizona Lady at Stage 773, Sketchbook-2011 at Chopin Theatre and Honey Brown Eyes at Oakton Community College. She will be understudying for the role of Liesel in The Book Thief at Steppenwolf Theatre this fall. Additionally, Grace has trained at numerous venues in Chicago such as Goodman, Second City, Piven, Actors Training Center and Acting Studios Chicago. A sophomore at Oak Park and River Forest High School, she would like to thank Gray Talent Group, Jonathan Berry and the cast of Moment.
THE CAST (c o n t.) Josh Odor (Nial Lynch) Josh is grateful to be back working with Steep where he performed in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. Most recently Josh was seen in Pine Box’s The Jammer and LiveWire’s Oohrah as part of Steppenwolf’s Garage Rep. Josh has worked in Chicago with the Goodman, Writer’s Theatre, The Artistic Home, Griffin, Collaboraction, Teatro Vista, The New Colony, Buffalo Ensemble, The Den, Prop Theatre, Circle Theatre, as well as worked regionally at the Long Wharf in Hew Haven, CT, and the New York Fringe Festival. His film credits include: The Express, Janie Jones, The Drunk and The River Within. Josh also appeared in Boss. Thanks Mom.
!!!!!
Melissa Riemer (Teresa Lynch) Melissa most recently appeared as Florence in Her Naked Skin at Shattered Globe. Other Steep productions include Under The Blue Sky, Festen, Harper Regan, 2,000 Feet Away, Book Of Days (Jeff Nomination – Best Ensemble) and Catch-22. Other Chicago credits include Start Fair In The Common Race (What’s Up Next Lab at Next Theatre), Mrs. Antrobus in Backstage Theatre’s production of The Skin Of Our Teeth (Jeff Nomination – Best Supporting Actress), and the Griffin Theatre’s productions of The Hostage, Letters Home (Chicago production/National Tour), and Picnic (also at Theatre On The Lake). London credits include The Lost Vegas Series (Riverside Studios), An Empty Plate In The Café du Grand Boeuf (New End Theatre) and Time And The Conways
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Moment 11
THE CAST (c o n t.) (Drayton Court Theatre). Melissa trained at the Drama Studio London. She is a proud ensemble member of Steep Theatre. All my love to J, E and K for your love and encouragement! Julia Siple (Ciara Lynch) Julia most recently appeared as Jess in Steep’s production of Love and Money and as Michelle in Under The Blue Sky. Prior Steep shows include Festen, Harper Regan and Parlour Song. Julia has worked with various theater companies around Chicago including Viaduct, TUTA, Strawdog, Circle, Griffin, and Uffish. Julia holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Michigan. Mark Pracht (Fin, Dave U/S) Mark was raised in the mountains near Colorado Springs, Colorado. He completed a degree in theatre from the University of Nebraska, Kearney, and was a company member of the Sheleterbelt Theatre in Omaha, Nebraska. During that time, he worked on seven world premieres, including his own play, Neon. He has also toured nationally as the Ghost of Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol for The Nebraska Theatre Caravan, and was pelted
with popcorn at the Great American Melodrama in Oceano, CA. Since 2001, he has appeared in many Chicago productions, including shows with Trap Door, Lifeline, The Side Project, and Bohemian Theatre Ensemble. Also serving as the Artistic Director of Brown Couch Theatre Company, where he directed Diana Son’s Stop Kiss. He’s proud to be an ensemble member with Stage Left Theatre, where he appeared in The Day of Knowledge. Favorite productions include The Copperhead and Dashiell Hamlet, both for City Lit Theatre, and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest with Open Eye Productions. Mark will next be seen as The Creature in Frankenstein for City Lit this Fall. Thanks to everyone at Steep for the opportunity. Skyler Schrempp (Ciara, Ruth U/S) Skyler is thrilled to be working with Steep! A native Chicagoan and a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf, Skyler has been seen in numerous Chicago productions. Favorite credits include Of Mice and Men (Oak Park Festival Theatre) and The Crowd You’re In With (16th Street Theatre). She has also worked with Griffin Theatre, Redmoon, Adventure Stage, the Chicago Mammals and the Gift Theatre. Skyler is the Artistic Director of the Viola Project, Chicago’s only all girl Shakespeare performance workshop, www.violaproject.org.
Steepin’ Around Town Pete Dully will be working this summer with Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre in Frankfort, Michigan... Caroline Neff is appearing at Steppenwolf this summer in Tracy Lett’s adaptation of Three Sisters….Michael Salinas will be appearing this fall in Night Over Erzinga with Silk Road Rising, and then Failure: A Love Story with Victory Gardens…Kendra Thulin will be appearing at Strawdog Theatre in Neighborhood 3, directed by fellow Steeper Joanie Schultz...Robin Witt is directing The American Plan at The Artistic Home which runs July 22-Aug 26. 12 Steep Theatre Company
DONORS Steep Benefactor ($1,000 +) The Alphawood Foundation Anonymous Jennifer and Reid Broda Holly & David Collins Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation Illinois Arts Council The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation The Rothman Family Foundation Anna Wermuth & Alex Gillmor Steep Patron ($500-$999) The Ann Barzel/Patrick Henry Arts Fund Stacy & James Allen Martha & Ramon Greenwood Jeremy Kazan & Kendra Thulin
Kazan, McClain, Abrams, Fernandez, Lyons, Greenwood, Harley & Oberman Foundation Pete & Jen Moore Anne & Richard Moore Edward & Barbara Mills Jordan and Jean Nerenberg Family Foundation Steep Contributor ($250-$499) Chris Baer & Matthew Greenberg Joe Hartness Patrick Hughes Sara Foster Kate Moore Richard & Anne Moore Neal Robinson Steep Circle (Up to $249) Bank of America Rob, Patty, Molly, & Annie Battles
Jennifer Beachall Bruce Beatus Sharon Bergen Leonard Berlin Marc Blumer David Bock Robert Bonace Stacy Bosma Maggie & Barry Cain Jackie Renner & David Craig Stephany Creamer Lawrence DelPilar Lisa Disch Patricia Donegan James & Joyce Elmes Kirsten Fitzgerald Stuart & Cynthia Garbutt Susan Gaspar Jeremy Glenn Michael Glusac Valerie Gorman Catherine Gray Kenneth Green Martha & Ramon Greenwood Gabe Guzzo
Great after-work or after-show night cap. Just across the street from Steep D.J.’s 5 Nights a Week Wednesday through Friday Blues, Stepping Music, Great Oldies, and Contemporary Music
Moment 13
DONORS (cont.) Heidi Grossenbacher Patricia Haneline Sharon Hart Jennifer Herman Debra Hinze Holly Hirst Patricia Holland Leigh Hourihane Amy Jacob Rani & Jagit Jain Stasha Jain Katie Kett Mary Anne Kiser David Kurtz Barbara Lanctot Rosalie & Dave Lauerman Sarah Leonard Jules & Joyce Lerner Loella & Mark Levy Mr. & Mrs. Charles Licht H.B. Lottero Ted Lowitz Norman J. Masters Robert McGreevey Chris McNamara Richard & Nancy Melanson Barbara & Edward Mills Julia & Jim Montross Dr. Anne Moore & Dr. Arnold Lisio Joseph Moore Molly Moore Patrick Moore Toby & Juanita Nicholson Dave Pavlatos Lauralyn Persson Susie Griffith & Scott Porterfield Jon & Catherine Putnam
Mary Beth & Jack Reich Melissa & Jeff Riemer Christine Rousseau & John Dunnigan Jacob Rubinstein Pat Schaefer Frank & Karen Schneider M. James Scott Nicole & Josh Shaver Peggy & Don Shearn Bill & Cathy Siple Charles Siple Norm Sloan Gail & Bob Spiel Trimble & Neal Stamell Deborah & Larry Stryker Kate & Steve Szczudlo Laurene & Michael Szkatulski Joe & Margaret Tilson Gretchen & James Vacendak Ralph Walsh Esther Weiss Alice & Jerome Wermuth Mary Wermuth Brian Williams Gary Donahue & Mary Williams Mark Woodward In Kind Donors Jason Akemann Angel Food Bakery John Atwood Bottleneck Management The Boundary Katy Boza Broadway in Chicago Lucy Carapetyan
Daily Bar & Grill Firehouse Grill Alison Foster Ian & Diane Gallaher Lauren Goode Goodman Theatre Gordon’s Salon Salon Lisa Harris Anita Healy Photography Nathan Hildig Homemade Pizza Co. Neil Jain Jet’s Public House Lill Street Art Center Ted Lowitz Marbe’s Brain Store Sara Jean McCarthy Meez Meals Merz Apothecary Jennifer Moore Murphy & Sons Bistro Murphy’s Bleachers Nails by Liz Ashley Neal New Leaf Rachel Nielson Nirvana Spa David O’Dwyer Pasta D’Arte Michelle Pauly Lindsey Pearlman Chris Renton Stephanie Samuels Elizabeth Sima Spare Time Craig Steadman Sweetwater Tavern & Grille Trace Jim Wagner Kristin & John White
S U P P O R T S T E E P T H E AT R E C O M PA N Y Steep’s growth and success over the years is a testament to the dedication of our Company Members, Board, volunteers, and, most important, the unending support of our patrons. As we move forward, the continued support of patrons like you is critical for us to continue to stretch ourselves as artists and make the most of this beautiful theater we have built together. Steep is a 501(c)(3) organization and all donations are tax-deductible. Please send donations to Steep Theatre, 1115 West Berwyn, Chicago, IL 60640. To find out more about supporting Steep Theatre Company, email us at steeptheatre@gmail.com. Thank you for your support. 14 Steep Theatre Company
S T E E P T H E AT R E C O M PA N Y COMPANY MEMBERS
Jonathan Edwards Alex Gillmor Cynthia Marker Brendan Melanson Peter Moore Caroline Neff
Jim Poole Egan Reich Melissa Riemer Michael Salinas Julia Siple Kendra Thulin
ARTISTIC ASSOCIATES
Emily McConnell Joanie Schultz Brandon Wardell
Chelsea M. Warren Robin Witt
BOARD MEMBERS
Jeremy Kazan Secretary
Sara Foster Neil Jain Stu Kiesow Ted Lowitz Elizabeth Moore Molly Moore John C. White
Brad Akin James Allen G.J. Cederquist Patricia Donegan Peter Dully
Jonathan Berry Thomas Dixon
Stu Kiesow President Sara Foster Vice President
Ian Galleher Treasurer Dave Bartusek Kelly Carpenter
FRIENDS OF STEEP
Kelly Fitzgerald Diane Galleher Barry Grant Jennfer Collins Moore
Jon Putnam Christine Rousseau Craig Steadman
PRODUCTION INTERNS
Rhiannon Koehler Conner Meinhart
Ilana Rozin Paul Twarowski
Heidi Brock Jennifer Quinn Broda John Dunnigan
Anna Karas
Please contact us at: Steep Theatre Co. 1115 West Berwyn, Chicago, IL 60640 www.steeptheatre.com steeptheatre@gmail.com (312) 458-0722
Moment 15
La Fonda Latino Grill
5350 North Broadway Just a block north of Steep on Broadway. Tuesday Nights - Half-off Bottles of Wine Wednesday Nights - Half-off Sangria Thursday Nights - Any House Margarita $5.00 www.lafondalatinogrill.com (773) 271-3835