June 24--Steep Theatre announced an ambitious season of local premieres by widely admired playwrights on Wednesday.
First is the world premiere of "The Cheats" (Oct. 2-Nov. 7) by Hamish Linklater, to be directed by Joanie Schultz. Linklater was best known as an actor before he penned his play "The Vandal," which Steep produced last year. In "The Cheats," a happily married man has a penchant for spying on the neighbors.
Then comes the U.S. premiere of "Posh" (Jan. 21-Feb. 27) by Laura Wade. Wade's play, which was a popular show for London's Royal Court Theatre in 2010, is about a supper club for young men of England's privileged class. But at meetings of this particular club, the group of guys violently trashes the dining area as an expression of their wealth and class. Jonathan Berry will direct.
Next is the local premiere of Samuel D. Hunter's "The Few" (April 14-May 21), to be directed by Brad Akin. In the new play by the writer of "The Whale" and "Rest," a man unexpectedly returns to the life he'd left behind.
And last is the U.S. premiere of "Wastwater" (July 7-Aug. 13) by Simon Stephens. Stephens, an associate playwright with the theater, won a Tony Award this year for his play "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." "Wasterwater" concerns three couples who are trying to reach an important decision. Robin Witt will direct the production.
Steep Theatre is located at 1115 West Berwyn Ave.
