March 04--A new play by Tracy Letts, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "August: Osage County"; the Chicago premiere of Annie Baker's "The Flick"; a new Frank Galati adaptation of John Steinbeck's "East of Eden"; and a new production of Stephen Adly Guirgis' "Between Riverside and Crazy" all are part of the 2015-16 subscription season at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. So is the playwright Bruce Norris, who will come to Steppenwolf to direct his own 2013 play, "Domesticated."
"Mary Page Marlowe" (March 31 -- May 29, 2016): The new Letts work is likely to attract international attention when it has its world premiere in 2016. "Mary Page Marlowe" uses a group of actresses, all playing the same character at different stages in her life. The story of the woman, an accountant from Ohio, is not told chronologically.
"Tracy's play came relatively late in the season-planning process," said Steppenwolf artistic director Martha Lavey, in an interview. "He told me had a new play. I said, 'At least let me read it.'"
He did. And Lavey put in on the Steppenwolf season, the last she will plan before her replacement, Anna D. Shapiro, takes over the helm later this year. The director of the show has not yet been announced, although Lavey said that Letts wants a woman to direct the show, and that it is expected to be an ensemble member. Shapiro, of course, directed "August," a widely acclaimed production that catapulted her career to a different level.
"East of Eden" (Sept. 17 -- Nov. 15): Much has yet to be announced about the new season, which has no casting yet attached, but it was reported that Terry Kinney will direct "East of Eden," adapted by ensemble member Galati.
"Domesticated" (Dec. 3 -- Feb. 7, 2016): Written and directed by Norris, author of "The Qualms" and "Clybourne Park."
"The Flick" (Feb. 4 -- May 8, 2016): Dexter Bullard will direct "The Flick," set in a movie theater and written by Baker.
"Between Riverside and Crazy" (June 23 -- Aug. 21, 2016): Yasen Peyankov will direct.
