CHICAGO ( September 10, 2019 ) — Returning to the stage for the first time since its celebrated Chicago premiere, Steppenwolf for Young Adults ( SYA ) presents The Brothers Size by ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney( Academy Award Moonlight, co-creator of MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT ) and directed by acclaimed Chicago director Monty Cole. Both shows in SYA's 2019/20 Season explore the question, "How do you navigate family history while trying to write your own?"
Ogun Size is hardworking and heartbroken. Oshoosi Size is recently returned home from prison and trying to be anywhere but. In this fierce and honest look at the complex bonds of brotherhood, Tarell Alvin McCraney weaves together poetry, music and Yoruba mythology to magnify the tug-of-war between freedom and the need to belong somewhere, to something, to someone.
Public performances of The Brothers Size begin Friday, October 4, 2019 and run through Saturday, October 19, 2019 in the Downstairs Theatre ( 1650 N Halsted St ). Press Opening is Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 3pm. Single tickets ( $20-$30 ) are now on sale through Audience Services at 312-335-1650 or steppenwolf.org. Weekday performances are reserved for school groups; more than 15,000 Chicago Public School students will experience the production. Interested in bringing a school group? More info at steppenwolf.org/education.
Director Monty Cole shares, "The Brothers Size has always been one of my favorite plays. I'm in love with its vulnerable language about one's duty to their family, culture, nation — and their own freedom. When I was in high school, I remember being so excited to go to SYA productions. It's an honor to bring this play back to the Steppenwolf stage for young adults to see themselves reflected."
Relaxed/Sensory-Friendly Performance
Steppenwolf is pleased to present a Relaxed/Sensory-Friendly performance for The Brothers Size on Saturday, October 19 at 3pm. Relaxed/Sensory-Friendly performances feature a relaxed performance environment and minor adjustments to sensory effects such as lighting and sound cues. House lights will be left up at a low level, and it's okay for audience members to make noise, move, and leave the theater. Social narratives and character guides will be shared in advance of guests' visit, and a quiet area will be designated in a section of the lobby. For more information, please email access@steppenwolf.org .
Meet the Cast
Patrick Agada is making his Steppenwolf for Young Adults debut. Chicago credits include: Something Clean, You For Me For You ( Sideshow/Rivendell Theatre ); Dutch Masters ( Jackalope Theatre, Jeff Award ); Choir Boy, The Play About My Dad ( Raven Theatre ); Superior Donuts ( Open Door Theatre ); Dunsinane, Q Brother's Christmas Carol, Shakespeare's Greatest Hits ( Chicago Shakespeare Theatre ); Jabari Dreams of Freedom ( Chicago Children's Theatre ). Regional credits include Blue Man Group ( Astor Place Theatre ). TV credits include Chicago Fire.
Manny Buckley returns to Steppenwolf for Young Adults. He was previously seen in Of Mice and Men, George Orwell's 1984 in SYA and Hit the Wall in Garage Rep. Manny is an ensemble member of American Blues Theater where he has been seen in Waiting For Lefty, Looking Over the President's Shoulder, Dutchman/TRANSit and Six Corners. Television credits include Chicago Fire, Proven Innocent and Sirens. Film credits include Pilgrim, Sugar and Mrs. Stevens Hears the Mermaids Singing. Mr. Buckley is the recipient of a Black Theater Alliance Award, Black Excellence Award and teacher of the year award for 2019.
Rashaad Hall is making his Steppenwolf for Young Adults debut. Chicago credits include: True West, Lord of the Flies( Steppenwolf Theatre, understudy ); The Displaced ( Haven Theatre ); Hairy Ape ( Oracle, Jeff nomination for Best Ensemble ); Welcome to Jesus ( American Theatre Co. ); How to Catch Creation, Teddy Ferrara, A Christmas Carol and The Convert ( Goodman Theatre ); Time is on Our Side ( About Face Theatre ); Electra ( Court Theatre ); and All Our Tragic( Hypocrites Theatre ). Web Series Credits: Brown Girls and The Right Swipe. Film Credits: Rendezvous in Chicago, An Acceptable Loss, and The Play Cycle.
About the Playwright
Tarell Alvin McCraney is an acclaimed playwright and screenwriter and has been a Steppenwolf ensemble member since 2010. His script In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue is the basis for the Oscar-winning film Moonlight directed by Barry Jenkins, for which McCraney and Jenkins won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. He also wrote the film High Flying Bird which recently premiered on Netflix directed by Steven Soderbergh. McCraney's plays include The Brother/Sister Plays trilogy, Choir Boy, Head of Passes, MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT and WIG OUT!. McCraney is the recipient of a MacArthur "Genius" Grant, the Whiting Award, Steinberg Playwright Award, the Evening Standard Award, the New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award, the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, the Windham Campbell Award, and a Doris Duke Artist Award. He is currently Chair of Playwriting at Yale School of Drama; an ensemble member at Steppenwolf Theatre Chicago; and a member of Teo Castellanos/D-Projects. McCraney is currently working on an original scripted TV series, David Makes Man, for Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network, produced by Michael B. Jordan and Page Fright Productions.
About the Director
Monty Cole recently directed Kiss by Guillermo Calderon at the Haven Theatre Company, and has directed productions, readings and workshops for Goodman Theatre, Center Theatre Group, The Alley Theatre, The Court Theatre, Victory Gardens, American Theatre Company, The Gift Theatre, The House Theatre of Chicago, Cape Cod Theatre Project, Oracle Productions, California Institute of the Arts and others. Cole directed the critically acclaimed and Jeff Award-winning production of The Hairy Ape for Oracle Productions and Hamlet at The Gift Theatre. Monty is currently adapting John Howard Griffin's classic memoir Black Like Me for the stage and collaborating with choreographer Breon Arzell at the Center for New Performance on a new iteration of In Dahomey, the first black Broadway musical.
The Brothers Size production team includes Yu Shibagaki ( Scenic Design ), Mieka van der Ploeg ( Costume Design ), Claire Chrzan ( Lighting Design ), Jeffrey Levin ( Sound Design ), and Rasean Davonte Johnson ( Projection Design ). Additional credits include Michelle Medvin ( Production Stage Manager ), Hallie Gordon ( Artistic Director Steppenwolf for Young Adults ) and JC Clementz ( Casting Director ).
Performance & Ticket Info There are 10 public performances of The Brothers Size: Friday, October 4 at 7:30pm; Saturday, October 5 at 3pm and 7:30pm; Sunday, October 6 at 3pm; Friday, October 11 at 7:30pm; Saturday, October 12 at 3pm and 7:30pm; Friday, October 18 at 7:30pm; Saturday, October 19 at 3pm and 7:30 pm.*The October 19 at 3pm performance will be a Relaxed/Sensory-Friendly performance. Weekday performances are reserved for school groups; more than 15,000 Chicago Public School students will experience the production. To bring a school group or learn more about Steppenwolf's robust education offerings visit steppenwolf.org/education.
Plan Your Visit
Steppenwolf is located at 1650 N Halsted St near all forms of public transportation, bike racks and Divvy bike stands. The parking facility ( $15 or $17, cash or card ) is located just south of our theater at 1624 N Halsted. Valet parking service ( $15 cash ) is available directly in front of the main entrance starting at 5pm on weeknights, 1pm on weekends and at 12noon before Wednesday matinees. Limited street and lot parking are also available. For last minute questions and concerns, patrons can call the Steppenwolf Parking Hotline at 312.335.1774.
Committed to making the Steppenwolf experience accessible to everyone, performances featuring American Sign Language Interpretation, Open Captioning and Audio Description are offered during the run of each play. Assistive listening devices and large-print programs are available for every performance and the Downstairs and 1700 Theatres are each equipped with an induction hearing loop. All theaters feature wheelchair accessible seating and restrooms, and Front Bar features a push-button entrance, all-gender restrooms and accessible counter and table spaces.
Accessible Performances:
Relaxed/Sensory Friendly Performance: Saturday, October 19, 1pm lobby and 3pm curtain
American Sign Language Interpretation and Open Captioning ( student ): Friday, October 18 at 7:30pm
American Sign Language Interpretation and Open Captioning ( public ): Friday, October 11 at 7:30pm
Audio Description and Touch Tour: Saturday, October 19 at 3pm
Steppenwolf Education's unique approach combines play production with educational components to enhance arts education for young audiences, as well as their teachers and families, as well as a professional leadership program for early-career professionals. Every season Steppenwolf for Young Adults ( SYA ) creates two full-scale professional productions specifically for teen audiences Working closely with the Chicago Public and metropolitan area schools and other community partners, Steppenwolf Education annually ensures access to the theater for more than 20,000 participants from Chicago's diverse communities. The initiative also includes post-show discussions with artists; classroom residencies led by Steppenwolf-trained teaching artists in almost 100 classrooms in public high schools; professional development workshops for educators; and the Young Adult Council, an innovative year-round after-school initiative that uniquely engages high school students in all areas of the theater's operations, as well as other teen and community based programs.
Year of Chicago Theatre
Steppenwolf Theatre Company is proud to be part of the 2019 Year of Chicago Theatre, presented by the City of Chicago and the League of Chicago Theatres. To truly fall in love with Chicago, you must go to our theatres. This is where the city bares its fearless soul. Home to a community of creators, risk-takers, and big hearts, Chicago theatre is a hotbed for exciting new work and hundreds of world premieres every year. From Broadway musicals to storefront plays and improv, there's always a seat waiting for you at one of our 200+ theatres. Book your next show today at ChicagoPlays.com.
Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation's premier ensemble theater. Formed by a collective of actors in 1976, the ensemble members represent a remarkable cross-section of actors, directors and playwrights. Thrilling and powerful productions from Balm in Gilead and August: Osage County to MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT—and accolades that include the National Medal of Arts and 12 Tony Awards—have made the theater legendary. Steppenwolf produces hundreds of performances and events annually in its three spaces: the 515-seat Downstairs Theatre, the 299-seat Upstairs Theatre and the 80-seat 1700 Theatre. Artistic programming includes a seven-play season; a two-play Steppenwolf for Young Adults season; Visiting Company engagements; and LookOut, a multi-genre performances series. Education initiatives include the nationally recognized work of Steppenwolf for Young Adults, which engages 20,000 participants annually from Chicago's diverse communities; the esteemed School at Steppenwolf; and Professional Leadership Programs for arts administration training. While firmly grounded in the Chicago community, nearly 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Anna D. Shapiro is the Artistic Director and David Schmitz is the Executive Director. Eric Lefkofsky is Chair of Steppenwolf's Board of Trustees.
Steppenwolf's Mission: Steppenwolf strives to create thrilling, courageous and provocative art in a thoughtful and inclusive environment. We succeed when we disrupt your routine with experiences that spark curiosity, empathy and joy. We invite you to join our ensemble as we navigate, together, our complex world.
—From a press reelease
