Chicago—Steppenwolf for Young Adults is proud to announce the spring performance of The Steppenwolf Cross-Town Ensemble. Cross-Town program brings together teenagers of diverse ages and backgrounds to share the Steppenwolf principles of ensemble collaboration, superior acting and the creation of new work. Performances are Friday, May 5 at 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7 at 2 p.m. in the Steppenwolf Merle Reskin Garage Theatre, 1624 N. Halsted. Tickets are free and subject to availability; please call 312-654-5643.
“The Cross-Town program allows the artists of today to mentor the artists of tomorrow,” comments Hallie Gordon, Director of Steppenwolf for Young Adults. “We encourage the teen ensemble to grow their artistic voice, knowing that their insight and enthusiasm will only enrich the overall work we are doing at Steppenwolf.”
Now in its 8th year, Steppenwolf for Young Adults’ Cross-Town Ensemble is a free theatre education program designed to develop self-confidence by building performance and writing skills. The ensemble includes ten actors, seven playwrights and one stage manager. Each Cross-Town ensemble member is paired with a Chicago-based artist who as a mentor provides one-on-one knowledge and support throughout the process. The actors are led by resident artist Kimberly Baker and the playwrights are led by playwright Brett Neveu. The students are currently rehearsing their plays and learning the craft of acting in preparation for their spring performances.
The Cross-Town ensemble has earned the respect of peer organizations and the theatre community over the years, producing full-capacity, ensemble-generated performances in the Garage Theatre. From February 16-18, 2006, The Citizen’s Young Co. of Glasgow, Scotland produced Shots From Across Town, the Cross-Town ensemble’s 2005 work.
The Cross-Town Ensemble members include Majdi Badri (Lincoln Park), Laura Buttitta (Ravenswood), Amy Clements (Lincoln Park), Dan Dvorkin (Buffalo Grove), Jordan Harris (Evanston), Martin Loizillon (Lakeview), Katie McCoy (South Loop), Raquel Mendoza (Andersonville), Erin Nederbo (Irving Park), Olivia Pulphus (Hyde Park), Geneva Redmond (South Shore), Hope Rehak (Ravenswood), Benton Reynolds (Naperville), Carrin Sherman (Wilmette), Zach Sigelko (Ravenswood), Alicia Sullivan (Princeton Park), Gary Thomas (Garfield Park) and Darius Walls (Canaryville.)
The Cross-Town Mentors include Scott Barsotti, Barry Brunetti, Tim Bruns, Janis Craft, Eric Evenskaas, Ricardo Gamboa, Sarah Garner, Sarah Gitenstein, Katie Jones, Denice Lee, Julian Martinez, Gaby Ortiz, Calliope Porter, Mary Ellen Reick, Veronica Simms, Joseph Tracz, Jesse Weaver and Amanda Berg Wilson.
The designers for the spring performance include Robert Moore (sets), Debbie Baer (costume), Tamara Roberts (sound) and Charlie Cooper (lights). The acting assistant is Alison Daigle and the writing assistant is Aaron Carter.
On March 12, 2006, the Cross-Town Ensemble and mentors attended the Steppenwolf production of The Well-Appointed Room by Richard Greenberg followed by a post-show discussion and backstage tour of the theatre. The evening was made possible by Fidelity Investments.
Kraft Foods Inc. is the Corporate Sponsor of Steppenwolf for Young Adults.
The Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust is the Exclusive Sponsor of Steppenwolf for Young Adults.
Steppenwolf for Young Adults is also supported by the Sage Foundation, the Target Foundation, the William Randolph Hearst Foundations, The Crown Family, Avy and Marcie Stein, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Dr. Scholl Foundation, Chicago Tribune Foundation, The Albert Pick, Jr. Fund, the Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Foundation, Patrick and Anna M. Cudahy Fund, The Grover Hermann Foundation and the Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council.
Polk Bros. Foundation is the sponsor of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Teacher Workshops offered in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools Office of Language and Culture and the Chicago Teachers' Center.
ITW Foundation is the sponsor of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Family Series.
The Siragusa Foundation is the sponsor of the Cross-Town Ensemble.
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and by a CityArts Program 4 grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.
Steppenwolf for Young Adults is a citywide partner of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) School Partner Program
Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company's mission advances the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon. The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of thirty-five artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting, filmmaking, and textual adaptation.
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