Steep Theatre Company

Steep Theatre Company is a not-for-profit theatre company located in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.^[1] Founded in 2000 by Peter Moore, Alex Gillmor, and Alex Gualino,^{[better source needed]} Steep has become known as one of Chicago's iconic ensemble-based storefront theatres.^[2] Chicago is known for its brand of bold, collaborative, actor-driven theatre in intimate venues scattered throughout the city's many neighborhoods, and Steep is an embodiment of this theatrical movement.^[2] The ensemble has produced over 60 plays and cultivated a growing community of artists and audience members.^[3] In 2019, through a gift from the Bayless Family Foundation, Steep announced it would become an Equity theater.^[4]

Current Season^[5]

2018–2019

Zürich by Amelia Roper

Red Rex by Ike Holter

First Love is the Revolution by Rita Kalnejais

Pomona by Alistair McDowall

History

After two years of producing plays as an itinerant company, Steep opened its first storefront theatre in the Wrigleyville neighborhood of Chicago. Over the years, Steep has grown from an original founding of three actors into an ensemble of 41 artists^[6] driven by a shared commitment to their 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."^{[better source needed]}

In October 2008, Steep moved to a new storefront – a newly renovated theatre in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood.^[7] This flexible black box theatre seats approximately 55 people. Steep continues to flourish in its new home, where an impressive string of hits has cemented its reputation as one of the most compelling ensembles in the city. Steep's growing artistic ensemble, engaged board of directors, and current leadership team, founder and Artistic Director Peter Moore and Executive Director Kate Piatt-Eckert, are poised to continue Steep on its trajectory of growth and artistic accomplishment.

In 2015, Steep Theatre produced the National Premiere of "Martyr" by Marius Von Mayenburg. In 2016, The Student based much of its imagery off of Steep Theatre's production including the use of Chalk art in its poster ^[8]

In addition to the mainstage theater, Steep operates a bar and small cabaret-style performance space in the adjoining storefront. This space, The Boxcar, opened to the public in August 2018. It features free programmed performances Sunday and Monday evenings.^[9] Steep Ensemble Member Thomas Dixon serves as The Boxcar's Artistic Curator.^[10]

Ensemble Members and Artistic Associates

Ensemble

Steep Theatre Company members include actors, directors, artists, writers, and other theatre artists.

• James Allen
• Jonathan Berry
• Lucy Carapetyan
• George Cederquist
• Matt Chapman
• Brad DeFabo Akin
• Maria DeFabo Akin
• Thomas Dixon
• Patricia Donegan
• Peter Dully
• Jonathan Edwards
• Nate Faust
• Alex Gillmor
• Nick Horst
• Lauren Lassus
• Ashleigh LaThrop
• Cynthia Marker
• Peter Moore
• Caroline Neff
• Jim Poole
• Egan Reich
• Joel Reitsma
• Melissa Riemer
• Brandon Rivera
• Michael Salinas
• Amber Sallis
• Joanie Schultz
• Julia Siple
• Sasha Smith
• Kendra Thulin
• Robin Witt
• Brendan Melanson

in memoriam

Artistic Associates

• Catherine Allen
• Kristin Leahey
• Emily McConnell
• Jon Ravenscroft
• Alison Siple
• Simon Stephens

Assoc. Playwright

• Dan Stratton
• Brandon Wardell
• Chelsea M. Warren
• Ellen Willett

Productions

† indicates World Premiere production

‡ indicates U.S. Premiere production

Season 1 (2001–02)

• Life During Wartime by Keith Reddin
• Search and Destroy by Howard Korder
• Pvt. Wars by James McLure
• †These Flowers are for My Mother by Michael McGuire
• Geography of a Horse Dreamer by Sam Shepard

Season 2 (2002–03)

• ‡The Aspidistra Code by Mark O’Rowe
• The Job by Shem Bitterman
• My Donkey Lady by John Wilson
• Below the Belt by Richard Dresser
• The Hot House by Harold Pinter

Season 3 (2004)

• The Time Trial by Jack Gilhooley
• Dealer’s Choice by Patrick Marber

Season 4 (2004–05)

• Howie the Rookie by Mark O’Rowe
• Incident at Vichy by Arthur Miller
• Book of Days by Lanford Wilson
• †Pleasanton by John Wilson

Season 5 (2005–06)

• Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
• The Night Heron by Jez Butterworth
• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
• Bang the Drum Slowly by Mark Harris, adapted by Eric Simonson

Season 6 (2006–07)

• The Last Days of Judas Iscariot by Stephen Adly Guirgis
• Otherwise Engaged by Simon Gray
• The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui by Bertolt Brecht
• Insignificance by Terry Johnson

Season 7 (2007–08)

• Coronado by Dennis Lehane
• Breathing Corpses by Laura Wade
• Greensboro: A Requiem by Emily Mann

Season 8 (2008 – 09)

• †Seven Days by Egan Reich
• In Arabia We’d All Be Kings by Stephen Adly Gurgis
• Parlour Song by Jez Butterworth
• The Hollow Lands by Howard Korder

Season 9 (2009–10)

• Kill the Old Torture Their Young by David Harrower
• ‡Harper Regan by Simon Stephens
• ‡2,000 Feet Away by Anthony Weigh

Season 10 (2010–11)

• A Brief History of Helen of Troy by Mark Shultz
• Lakeboat by David Mamet
• Festen by David Elridge, Thomas Vinterberg, Morgan Rukov, Bo Hr. Hansen
• Pornography by Simon Stephens

Season 11 (2011–12)

• Under the Blue Sky by David Eldridge
• Love and Money by Dennis Kelly
• The Receptionist by Adam Bock
• ‡Moment by Dierdre Kinahan

Season 12 (2012–13)

• Making Noise Quietly by Robert Holman
• Luther by Ethan Lipton
• ‡The Knowledge by John Donnelly
• Fallow by Kenneth Lin

Season 13 (2013–14)

• ‡Motortown by Simon Stephens
• strangers, babies by Linda McLean
• If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet by Nick Payne
• A Small Fire by Adam Bock

Season 14 (2014–15)^[11]

• The Vandal by Hamish Linklater
• The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle by Ross Dungan
• ‡Martyr by Marius von Mayenburg
• ‡Brilliant Adventures by Alistair McDowall

Season 15 (2015–16)^[12]

• †The Cheats by Hamish Linklater
• Posh by Laura Wade
• The Few by Samuel D. Hunter
• ‡Wastwater by Simon Stephens

Season 16 (2016–17)^[13]

• †Bobbie Clearly by Alex Lubischer
• Earthquakes in London by Mike Bartlett
• Hookman by Lauren Yee
• ‡Lela & Co. by Cordelia Lynn

Season 17 (2017–18)^[14]

• The Invisible Hand by Ayad Akhtar
• †Hinter by Calamity West
• ‡Birdland by Simon Stephens
• Linda by Penelope Skinner

Awards and nominations

Steep was named 2010 Broadway in Chicago Emerging Theatre Award winner.^[15]

Jeff Awards^[16]

Year	Work	Category	Artist	Result
2006	Book of Days	Ensemble	N/A	Nominated
		Actress in a Principal Role	Krista Forster	Nominated
2008	The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui	Production – Play	N/A	Nominated
2009	Greensboro: A Requiem	Actress in a Supporting Role	Lily Mojekwu	Nominated
	In Arabia We'd All Be Kings	Actress in a Supporting Role	Rinska Prestinary	Nominated
		Ensemble	N/A	Won
		Director – Play	Joanie Schultz	Nominated
		Production – Play	N/A	Nominated
2010	Harper Regan	Actress in a Principal Role	Kendra Thulin	Won
2011	A Brief History of Helen of Troy	Actress in a Principal Role	Caroline Neff	Won
2012	Under the Blue Sky	Actress in a Supporting Role	Caroline Neff	Nominated
2013	The Receptionist	Actress in a Principal Role	Cheryl Roy	Nominated
	Moment	Ensemble	N/A	Nominated
		Production – Director	Jonathan Berry	Nominated
2014	The Knowledge	Production – Play	N/A	Nominated
		Production – Director	Jonathan Berry	Nominated
		Ensemble	N/A	Nominated
		Actress in a Principal Role	Caroline Neff	Nominated
	Motortown	Actor in a Principal Role	Joel Reitsma	Nominated
		Actress in a Supporting Role	Ashleigh LaThrop	Nominated
	Fallow	Actor in a Supporting Role	Jose Antonio Garcia	Nominated
2015	The Vandal	Actor in a Principal Role	Kendra Thulin	Nominated
		Actor in a Supporting Role	Jack Miggins	Nominated
	If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet	Actor in a Supporting Role	Shane Kenyon	Won
2016	Posh	Production – Play	N/A	Nominated
		Ensemble	N/A	Won
		Director – Play	Jonathan Berry	Nominated
2017	Wastwater	Actress in a Supporting Role	Kendra Thulin	Nominated
		Sound Design	Thomas Dixon	Nominated
	Bobbie Clearly	New Play	Alex Lubischer	Won
2018	Lela & Co.	Production – Play	N/A	Won
		Director – Play	Robin Witt	Won
		Performer in a Principal Role – Play	Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel	Won
		Performer in a Supporting Role – Play	Chris Chmelik	Nominated
		Scenic Design	Joe Schermoly	Nominated
		Lighting Design	Brandon Wardell	Nominated
	The Invisible Hand	Production – Play	N/A	Nominated
		Director – Play	Audrey Francis	Nominated
		Performer in a Principal Role – Play	Joel Reitsma	Nominated
		Performer in a Supporting Role – Play	Owais Ahmed	Won
		Sound Design	Thomas Dixon	Nominated

References

1. "Steep Theatre Company | Edgewater Chamber of Commerce". www.edgewater.org. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
2. "Steep Theatre Company". Chicagoplays. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
3. Jones, Chris. "Good question: How does a play as good as 'Birdland' end up in a storefront theater?". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
4. Jones, Chris (February 26, 2019). "Steep Theatre makes the leap to Equity, thanks to a gift from chef Rick Bayless". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2019-07-20.
5. Hawbaker, KT. "Steep Theatre to stage an Ike Holter world premiere during 2018-19 season". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
6. BWW News Desk. "Steep Announces New Ensemble Members". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
7. "Steep Theatre Coming to Edgewater - Edgeville Buzz". www.edgevillebuzz.com. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
8. "'The Student' ('Uchenik'): Cannes Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
9. George, Doug. "Steep Theatre opens new Boxcar cabaret space this weekend". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
10. BWW News Desk. "Steep Theatre Opens THE BOXCAR". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
11. BWW News Desk. "Steep Theatre's 14th Season to Feature Regional Premieres and Directors Jonathan Berrie, Joanie Schultz, and Robin Witt". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
12. Oleksinski, Johnny. "Steep Theatre announces a season of local premieres". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
13. BWW News Desk. "Steep Theatre Company Sets 16th Anniversary Season". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
14. Greene, Morgan. "Ayad Akhtar, Calamity West in Steep Theatre's 2017-18 season". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
15. "Emerging Theatre Award 2010 | Broadway in Chicago". Broadway in Chicago. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
16. "Jeff Awards". jeffawards.org. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-20.