Steep Theatre Company
Steep Theatre Company is a not-for-profit theatre company located in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. 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. 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. The ensemble has produced over 60 plays and cultivated a growing community of artists and audience members. In 2019, through a gift from the Bayless Family Foundation, Steep announced it would become an Equity theater.
Current Season
2018–2019
Zürich by Amelia RoperRed Rex by Ike Holter
First Love is the Revolution by Rita Kalnejais
Pomona by Alistair McDowall
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 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. 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
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. Steep Ensemble Member Thomas Dixon serves as The Boxcar's Artistic Curator.
Ensemble Members and Artistic Associates
Ensemble
Steep Theatre Company members include actors, directors, artists, writers, and other theatre artists.Artistic Associates
Productions
† indicates World Premiere production‡ indicates U.S. Premiere production
Season 1
- 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
- ‡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
- The Time Trial by Jack Gilhooley
- Dealer’s Choice by Patrick Marber
- Howie the Rookie by Mark O’Rowe
- Incident at Vichy by Arthur Miller
- Book of Days by Lanford Wilson
- †Pleasanton by John Wilson
- 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
- 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
- Coronado by Dennis Lehane
- Breathing Corpses by Laura Wade
- Greensboro: A Requiem by Emily Mann
- †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
- Kill the Old Torture Their Young by David Harrower
- ‡Harper Regan by Simon Stephens
- ‡2,000 Feet Away by Anthony Weigh
- 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
- Under the Blue Sky by David Eldridge
- Love and Money by Dennis Kelly
- The Receptionist by Adam Bock
- ‡Moment by Dierdre Kinahan
- Making Noise Quietly by Robert Holman
- Luther by Ethan Lipton
- ‡The Knowledge by John Donnelly
- Fallow by Kenneth Lin
- ‡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
- 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
- †The Cheats by Hamish Linklater
- Posh by Laura Wade
- The Few by Samuel D. Hunter
- ‡Wastwater by Simon Stephens
- †Bobbie Clearly by Alex Lubischer
- Earthquakes in London by Mike Bartlett
- Hookman by Lauren Yee
- ‡Lela & Co. by Cordelia Lynn
- The Invisible Hand by Ayad Akhtar
- †Hinter by Calamity West
- ‡Birdland by Simon Stephens
- Linda by Penelope Skinner
Awards and Nominations
Jeff Awards
| Year | Work | Category | Artist | Result |
| 2006 | Book of Days | Ensemble | N/A | Nominated |
| 2006 | Book of Days | Actress in a Principal Role | Krista Forster | Nominated |
| 2008 | The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui | Production – Play | N/A | Nominated |
| 2009 | Greensboro: A Requiem | Actress in a Supporting Role | Lily Mojekwu | Nominated |
| 2009 | In Arabia We’d All Be Kings | Actress in a Supporting Role | Rinska Prestinary | Nominated |
| 2009 | In Arabia We’d All Be Kings | Ensemble | N/A | Won |
| 2009 | In Arabia We’d All Be Kings | Director – Play | Joanie Schultz | Nominated |
| 2009 | In Arabia We’d All Be Kings | Production – Play | N/A | Nominated |
| 2010 | Harper Regan | Actress in a Principal Role | Kendra Thulin | Won |
| 2011 | A Brief History of Helen of Troy | Actress in a Principal Role | Caroline Neff | Won |
| 2012 | Under the Blue Sky | Actress in a Supporting Role | Caroline Neff | Nominated |
| 2013 | The Receptionist | Actress in a Principal Role | Cheryl Roy | Nominated |
| 2013 | Moment | Ensemble | N/A | Nominated |
| 2013 | Moment | Production – Director | Jonathan Berry | Nominated |
| 2014 | The Knowledge | Production – Play | N/A | Nominated |
| 2014 | The Knowledge | Production – Director | Jonathan Berry | Nominated |
| 2014 | The Knowledge | Ensemble | N/A | Nominated |
| 2014 | The Knowledge | Actress in a Principal Role | Caroline Neff | Nominated |
| 2014 | Motortown | Actor in a Principal Role | Joel Reitsma | Nominated |
| 2014 | Motortown | Actress in a Supporting Role | Ashleigh LaThrop | Nominated |
| 2014 | Fallow | Actor in a Supporting Role | Jose Antonio Garcia | Nominated |
| 2015 | The Vandal | Actor in a Principal Role | Kendra Thulin | Nominated |
| 2015 | The Vandal | Actor in a Supporting Role | Jack Miggins | Nominated |
| 2015 | If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet | Actor in a Supporting Role | Shane Kenyon | Won |
| 2016 | Posh | Production – Play | N/A | Nominated |
| 2016 | Posh | Ensemble | N/A | Won |
| 2016 | Posh | Director – Play | Jonathan Berry | Nominated |
| 2017 | Wastwater | Actress in a Supporting Role | Kendra Thulin | Nominated |
| 2017 | Wastwater | Sound Design | Thomas Dixon | Nominated |
| 2017 | Bobbie Clearly | New Play | Alex Lubischer | Won |
| 2018 | Lela & Co. | Production – Play | N/A | Won |
| 2018 | Lela & Co. | Director – Play | Robin Witt | Won |
| 2018 | Lela & Co. | Performer in a Principal Role – Play | Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel | Won |
| 2018 | Lela & Co. | Performer in a Supporting Role – Play | Chris Chmelik | Nominated |
| 2018 | Lela & Co. | Scenic Design | Joe Schermoly | Nominated |
| 2018 | Lela & Co. | Lighting Design | Brandon Wardell | Nominated |
| 2018 | The Invisible Hand | Production – Play | N/A | Nominated |
| 2018 | The Invisible Hand | Director – Play | Audrey Francis | Nominated |
| 2018 | The Invisible Hand | Performer in a Principal Role – Play | Joel Reitsma | Nominated |
| 2018 | The Invisible Hand | Performer in a Supporting Role – Play | Owais Ahmed | Won |
| 2018 | The Invisible Hand | Sound Design | Thomas Dixon | Nominated |