Monster CONTENTS 6 Welcome to Monster Letter from Steppenwolf for Young Adults Artistic Director Hallie Gordon 10 Bios 16 Walter Dean Myers: 10 Things to Know About the Man Behind Monster By SYA Apprentice Fatima Sowe 18 Storycatchers Theatre and Steppenwolf: On Tour Together By Education Coordinator Jared Bellot 20 Adaptations,Translations and Representation: A Conversation 2016/17 season The Young Adult Council with Playwright Aaron Carter Conducted by Education Coordinator Jared Bellot YOUNG ADULT COUNCIL is a unique program for passionate and motivated high school students who wish to learn the inner-workings of professional theater from the most celebrated artists in the city. In addition to face time with these leading professionals, Council members attend the EDITOR CONTRIBUTORS DESIGN COVER best plays in Chicago, learn how to analyze and JACQUELINE ROSAS JARED BELLOT DAVID MASNATO Cast Member speak about these plays and lead events for HALLIE GORDON DANIEL KYRI their peers around Steppenwolf productions in JOEL MOORMAN Photographer MICHELLE NOLAN hopes of inspiring a new generation of theatre BRIANNA PARRY A.J. ROY enthusiasts and practitioners. FATIMA SOWE Applications are available on March 1, 2017. TO ADVERTISE Like the Steppenwolf Young Adult Council on Facebook! Or visit steppenwolf.org/youngadultcouncil for more information. Contact: smARTMagazines/smARTSponsorships Bryan Dowling 773-360-1767 or [email protected] The Young Adult Council’s 10th anniversary season is generously sponsored by Ann and Richard Carr This program is printed on FSC® certified paper with the use of soy-based inks. CONTENTS 3 ANNA D. SHAPIRO† DAVID SCHMITZ HALLIE GORDON Artistic Director Executive Director Artistic Director of SYA Leading Corporate Season Production Sponsor of Steppenwolf for Young Adults STEPPENWOLF FOR YOUNG ADULTS PRESENTS Lead Project Support from an IncentOvate Grant Monster By Walter Dean Myers Adapted by Aaron Carter Directed by Hallie Gordon Major Support for Steppenwolf for Young Adults is Provided by FEATURING ALANA ARENAS†*, CHERYL GRAEFF*, KENN E. HEAD*, CROWN FAMILY TEVION DEVIN LANIER, DANIEL KYRI, CHRIS RICKETT, NAMIR SMALLWOOD* AND GINNEH THOMAS PRODUCTION JOANNA IWANICKA Scenic Design SAMANTHA JONES Costume Design J.R. LEDERLE Lighting Design Lead Individual Supporters of Steppenwolf for Young Adults CHRISTOPHER KRIZ+ Sound Design and Original Music Ann and Richard Carr RYAN BOURQUE Fight Choreographer Capri Capital Partners, LLC and L. Heather Mitchell Nora Daley and Sean Conroy JONATHAN BERRY Artistic Producer Lynn Lockwood Murphy and Barrett B. Murphy BRIANNA PARRY Production Manager Robert and Louise Sanborn JC CLEMENTZ Casting Director BRIAN MASCHKA* Stage Manager Steppenwolf’s young professionals board, the Steppenwolf Associates, dedicates its support to Steppenwolf for Young Adults. Monster was commissioned by Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago; Anna D. Shapiro, Artistic Director; David Schmitz, Executive Director. Steppenwolf for Young Adults is a citywide partner of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) School Partner Program. Steppenwolf Theatre Company is a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for nonprofit professional theater. † member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble. * member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers. + member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829 of the IATSE. ° Member of the Casting Society of America. 4 MONSTER STEPPENWOLF 5 WELCOME TO MONSTER Walter Dean Myers, the author of the I feel very lucky that Steppenwolf Theatre New York Times Bestseller Monster, as was given the opportunity to adapt this part of his research, interviewed many book for the stage. And in Aaron Carter’s young men who were in situations similar adaptation, you will find that the play asks to the main character of his book, Steve you to struggle with your preconceived Harmon, who is on trial for felony murder. notion of what a criminal is, of who Steve Mr. Myers created a composite character Harmon is: a filmmaker, a brother, a son, out of these interviews, one that drew a student, a criminal? Is he, as the title upon many of the shared experiences, the pointedly reveals our societal assumption circumstances and conditions that were to be, a Monster? What do we see when common among his interview subjects. we look at him, and how/why does that THE SCENE STEP IN The story Mr. Myers was interested in change over the course of the play? It is telling was, “… of a young man who came precisely such preconceptions that form very close to spending a long, long time the basis for the system that incarcerates THE SCENE is a special opportunity for STEP IN is a new series that offers teens in prison. I wanted the reader to consider the Steve Harmons of the world, so high school students to score an from all over the city the chance to the consequences of Steve’s actions and we’ll all do well to examine our own affordable ticket to a Steppenwolf participate in hands-on theatre workshops understand the enormity of the risks preconceptions, whatever discomfort production, meet Chicago’s most alongside some of the most exciting involved.” At one point in the play Steve’s such scrutiny might cost us. celebrated artists and connect with other theatre artists working in the city right defense attorney states: “you’re young, teens who are passionate about theater. now while learning more about the you’re black and you’re on trial. What else I am thrilled to say that we will be Each ticket includes dinner and post-show Steppenwolf Young Adult Council, an do they need to know?” – a line which touring this production to three Juvenile discusion with the actors. afterschool program for teens interested on first read might seem glib or overly Justice Facilities in Illinois as part of a in careers in the arts. fatalistic, but given the prospects of young collaboration with Storycatchers Theatre, a youth development arts organization TICKETS ARE $10 men of color who become ensnared in ADMISSION IS FREE! the criminal justice system, whose fate is that prepares court-involved and effectively a foregone conclusion, it is an otherwise marginalized young people Purchase tickets at the door 30 minutes before aptly bitter pill to swallow. to make thoughtful life choices through the show, or in advance by calling Steppenwolf To reserve your spot, please RSVP to Audience Services at 312-335-1650. the process of writing, producing and Education Coordinator Jared Bellot at Use code 24361. Steve Harmon represents many such performing original theatre inspired by [email protected] young men, men who daily enter a system personal stories. that already views them as guilty and UPCOMING EVENTS treats them as such even before facts are Thank you for being here. UPCOMING EVENTS presented. It is a system that was put into place long before this book was published, THE SCENE: MONSTER WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5 and long before the thousands of FRIDAY, MARCH 3 WEDNESDAY, MAY 3 tomorrow’s Steve Harmons were born; it AT 7:30PM (post-show) is a system that shows no signs of stopping All events last from 4:30 – 6:00pm or even slowing down - it is a system that is flawed. Hallie Gordon Artistic Director for Steppenwolf for Young Adults Questions? Please contact Education Coordinator Jared Bellot at 312-654-5643 or [email protected]. 6 WELCOME CAST AND CONTRIBUTORS CAST SETTING DANIEL KYRI In and around New York. 1999 Steve Harmon TEVION DEVIN LANIER Actor 1 There will be a post-show discussion immediately NAMIR SMALLWOOD* following the performance. Actor 2 ALANA ARENAS†* Actor 3 ADDITIONAL STAFF KENN E. HEAD* LAUREN KATZ Actor 4 Associate Producer CHERYL GRAEFF* SARAH ILLIATOVITCH-GOLDMAN Actor 5 Dramaturg GINNEH THOMAS BENJAMIN RAMOS AND MARK VINSON Actor 6 Additional Carpentry CHRIS RICKETT MICHAEL DOLD Actor 7 Additional Properties MIKE BESANCON Additional Paint UNDERSTUDIES FINN BELKNAP ERIC GERARD Storyboard Artist Steve Harmon/Actor 1 COLLEEN SCHULDEIS TERENCE SIMS Stage Management Apprentice Actor 2/Actor 4 JOHN BYRNES Actor 7 As a courtesy to the actors and your fellow patrons, please turn off your cell phones before the performance. EBONY JOY The taking of photographs and the use of any type of Actor 3/Actor 6 recording device are not allowed in the theater during ELIZABETH BIRNKRANT performances and is a violation of state and federal Actor 5 copyright laws. Digital media will be deleted, and tape or film will be confiscated. * member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers. † member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble. Written and Directed by Young Jean Lee February 2 – March 19, 2017 Tickets start at just $20 | steppenwolf. org | 312-335-1650 Corporate Production Sponsor 2016/17 Grand Benefactors 2016/17 Benefactors 8 CAST AND CONTRIBUTORS CHRIS RICKETT WALTER (Actor 7) is very happy DEAN MYERS MONSTER BIOS to return to Steppenwolf (Author) is the New York Theatre Company for Times bestselling author of Monster. He also appeared MONSTER, the winner of the ALANA ARENAS KENN E. HEAD in 2015’s controversial This first Michael L. Printz Award, (Actor 3) joined the (Actor 4) is a veteran of is Modern Art. Chris is an and the 2012-2013 National Steppenwolf Theatre the Chicago theater scene. associate artist with Timeline Ambassador for Young Theatre Company where he performed in Chimerica, People’s Literature. In a career spanning over 45 Company ensemble in 2007 Previous Steppenwolf Spill and A Raisin in the Sun. He is also a theatrical years, Walter Dean Myers wrote more than 100 books and created the role of Pecola Theatre Company credits include Airline Highway and violence designer and has choreographed violence in for children of all ages and many notable essays and Breedlove for Steppenwolf for The Unmentionables. Other productions with Northlight Theatre, Theater Wit, several plays.