CHICAGO (January 11, 2011) — Steppenwolf Theatre Company is pleased to announce its new American play Detroit by Lisa D'Amour and directed by ensemble member Austin Pendleton will open on Broadway early fall 2011. Detroit makes its Broadway debut following world premiere at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company, September 9 — November 7, 2010. Casting for the Broadway engagement will be announced shortly.
In a "first ring" suburb outside a mid-sized American city, Ben and Mary fire up the grill to welcome the new neighbors who've moved into the long-empty house next door. The fledgling friendship soon veers out of control, shattering the fragile hold Ben and Mary have on their way of life—with unexpected comic consequences. Detroit is a fresh, off-beat look at what happens when we dare to open ourselves up to something new.
Detroit will be presented on Broadway by Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel and Debbie Bisno, in association with Steppenwolf Theatre Company (Artistic Director: Martha Lavey, Executive Director: David Hawkanson). Richards and Frankel previously teamed up with Steppenwolf to present ensemble member Tracy Letts' Tony® and Pulitzer Prize-winning production of August: Osage County and Superior Donuts on Broadway.
Lisa D'Amour (Playwright) writes plays for theaters and creates interdisciplinary performance. She often makes work with her collaborator, Katie Pearl. Currently, they are creating How to Build a Forest, a performance installation that will premiere at The Kitchen in New York City in June 2011. Other recent projects include Terrible Things, a dance-theater piece she created with Pearl and choreographer Emily Johnson (PS122 in New York), Swimming Cities of Switchback Sea (a performance for a fleet of seven handmade boats on the Hudson River designed by SWOON) and Stanley 2006 (a solo she wrote for her brother Todd to perform, HERE Arts Center in New York). Lisa's work has been presented by theaters such as Salvage Vanguard, Infernal Bridegroom Productions, the Walker Arts Center, Crowded Fire Theater, Children's' Theater Company, Clubbed Thumb, HERE Arts Center, New Georges, Theater of a Two-Headed Calf and the Women's Project, and has been supported by the Jerome Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, NYSCA, the MAP Fund, Creative Capital and the NEA/TCG Residency for Playwrights. She received an OBIE Award along with Katie Pearl and Kathy Randels for Nita & Zita, and received the Alpert Award in the Arts for theater in 2008. Lisa often collaborates with ArtSpot Productions in her hometown of New Orleans. She is core alum of the Playwrights' Center and a recent alumna of New Dramatists. D'Amour has been commissioned to write two new plays for Steppenwolf over the next two years through support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.www.lisadamour.com and www.pearldamour.com .
Austin Pendleton (Director) has been a Steppenwolf ensemble member since 1987. His acting credits at Steppenwolf include The Sunset Limited, Uncle Vanya, Valparaisoand Educating Rita. His previous directing credits at Steppenwolf include Love Song,Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Harvey, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Three Sisters,Loose Ends and Say Goodnight, Gracie. His play Orson's Shadow premiered in the Steppenwolf Garage and was seen again in the same production (directed by David Cromer) at the Chicago Center of Performing Arts and the Barrow Street Theatre in New York. His other plays have also been produced in Chicago: Uncle Bob (Steppenwolf) and Booth (Writers' Theatre). He recently appeared in the Public Theater production ofMother Courage and Her Children and appeared on Broadway in the revival of The Diary of Anne Frank and off-Broadway in the title roles of Hamlet, Richard III and Richard II. His film credits include Dirty Work, The Ballad of Betty Page, A Beautiful Mind, Mr. and Mrs. Bridge, Simon, Trial and Error, What's Up Doc, Catch-22 and the forthcoming Wall Street 2. Recent TV appearances include episodes of Law and Order: Criminal Intent,OZ and Homicide.
Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago, IL. (Martha Lavey, Artistic Director; David Hawkanson, Executive Director) is one of the nation's leading ensemble theatres, producing up to 16 productions each year in its three Chicago theater spaces — including programming dedicated to the development of new plays and theatre for young adults. Steppenwolf's productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including off-Broadway, Broadway, London, Sydney and Dublin. Formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, Steppenwolf has grown into an ensemble of 43 actors, writers and directors. For additional information, visit www.steppenwolf.org,www.facebook.com/SteppenwolfTheatre and www.twitter.com/SteppenwolfThtr.
