Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced casting for Straight White Men by Young Jean Lee and the world premiere of Linda Vista by Steppenwolf ensemble member Tracy Letts, the company’s first two shows of 2017.
Experimental playwright Lee will direct the Chicago premiere of her play Straight White Men in the Upstairs Theatre from February 2-March 19, 2017. Opening night is set for February 12, 2017.
The cast will feature ensemble member Alan Wilder as the father, Ed, with Madison Dirks as Jake and Ryan Hallahan as Drew. Elliott Jenetopulos will play Stagehand-in-charge through March 4, and Syd Germaine will take over the role from March 5-19. Brian Slaten, who previously performed the role of Matt in the Center Theatre Group production of Straight White Men, will reprise his performance. Previously announced in the role of Matt was ensemble member Tim Hopper, who withdrew due to an artistic scheduling conflict.
Here’s how the work is billed: “As Ed, a widower, prepares to celebrate Christmas, he calls his three grown sons back to the family home. Games are played, Chinese food is ordered, and brotherly pranks and trash talk distract them from the ongoing issue that threatens to ruin the festivities: when personal identity is essential and privilege is a problem, what is a straight white man to do? Young Jean Lee takes an outside look at the traditional father/son play narrative, shedding new and often hilarious light on a story we think we know all too well.”
In March, Steppenwolf will present the world premiere of Letts’ Linda Vista, directed by Dexter Bullard, from March 30-May 21, 2017 in the Downstairs Theatre. Opening night is set for April 9, 2017.
The cast features ensemble members Ian Barford as Wheeler, Tim Hopper as Paul, Sally Murphy as Margaret, Caroline Neff as Anita, Kahyun Kim as Minnie, Cora Vander Broek as Jules, and Troy West as Michael.
According to Steppenwolf, “Wheeler is 50. His marriage is over, his job is mundane, and the best years of his life appear to be behind him. A move from the cot in his ex-wife’s garage to his own apartment opens up new possibilities for love and sex—complicated, painful and hilarious. Full of opinions, yet short on self-examination, Wheeler is a modern misanthrope who must reconcile the man he has become with the man he wants to be.”
For more information and tickets, visit Steppenwolf.org.
