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, 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]

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."

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

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]

References