One of the great pleasures and duties of leading a company such as Steppenwolf is the opportunity to launch a new play for the American theater. New work is risky by nature and the road to production always includes leaps of faith. But bringing artists together in a room to create something entirely new, and then taking that work to audiences who get to witness something that no one else has experienced before, is nothing short of sacred.
It is in that spirit that we welcome you to a home what howls (or the house what was ravine), a daring new play by Matthew Paul Olmos that Steppenwolf is honored to premiere. Matthew’s plays are often rooted in a rigorous research process, but when the time comes to put words on the page, he tries to let it all go. In this way, a home what howls feels both grounded in the political reality of mid-century California, while also universal and timeless enough to resonate with anyone who has faced the question of what they are willing to do to fight for their home.
The play is, in many ways, a perfect fit for our Steppenwolf for Young Adults programming stream: it centers a young person’s experience, it offers curriculum opportunities for teens and teachers across the city and it is resonant to the lived experience of an intergenerational audience. But above all else, the play also embodies the value of rebellious imagination that we hope informs all of Steppenwolf’s education programming. Upon reading it, we couldn’t help but daydream about how a room of artists might bring these words to life.
Speaking of artists, we are in constant awe and appreciation of the theater makers creating this world premiere. It is a special treat to have such titans of Chicago theater such as Charín Álvarez and Eddie Torres in a production with the extremely gifted Leslie Sophia Pérez and the immensely talented Isabel Quintero. And of course, we have cause to celebrate anytime ensemble member Tim Hopper returns to his creative home. All led by director Laura Alcalá Baker, a remarkably inventive and resourceful director who has helmed many of the most thrilling Chicago storefront productions in recent memory, and we could not feel prouder of the room that will launch this play into the world.
Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis
Artistic Directors
STEPPENWOLF FOR YOUNG ADULTS PRESENTS
a home what howls (or the house what was ravine)
By Matthew Paul Olmos
Directed by Laura Alcalá Baker ‡
FEATURING
Charín Álvarez*, Tim Hopper†*, Leslie Sophia Pérez*, Isabel Quintero* and Eddie Torres*
CREATIVE TEAM
Lauren Nichols Scenic Design
Uriel Gómez Costume Design
Lindsey Lyddan Lighting Design
Peter Clare Sound Design
April Dawn Guthrie Original Music
Maya Vinice Prentiss Fight Choreographer and Intimacy Consultant
Kate DeVore Vocal Coach
Mike Przygoda Music Consultant
Bryar Barborka Dramaturg
Patrick Zakem Creative Producer
Elise Hausken Production Manager
JC Clementz, CSA Casting
Michelle Medvin* Production Stage Manager
Kathleen Barrett* Assistant Stage Manager
Originally developed, in part, by Moving Arts' MADlab, Ojai Playwrights Conference, Premiere Stages Premiere Play Festival, and The Road Theatre Company's Under Construction Playwrights Group.
† 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 Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.
CAST
Charín Alvarez* abrana vargas
Tim Hopper †* frank/male conductor
Leslie Sophia Pérez* soledad
Isabel Quintero* coyotl/syera loma
Eddie Torres* manuel vargas
UNDERSTUDIES
Patrick Blashill frank/male conductor
Ruben Carrazana manuel vargas
Ana Ortiz-Monasterio Draa coyotl/syera loma
Soleil Pérez soledad
Ana Silva abrana vargas
ADDITIONAL STAFF
Daira Rodriguez Assistant Director
Amanda Blanco Production Assistant
Lauren Littlejohn Script Supervisor
Jeanette Rodriguez Costume Assistant
Josh Derby, Billy Earnesse, Kenny Faust, Kat Taylor, Carolyn Voss Additional Carpenters
Amy Couey Interim Assistant Scenic Charge
Zhanna Albertini, Abby West Additional Paint
Special thanks to Allegheny College Playshop Theatre
This play runs approximately 95 minutes with no intermission
As a courtesy to the actors and your fellow patrons, please turn off your cell phones before the performance. The taking of photographs and the use of any type of recording device are not allowed in the theater during performances and is a violation of state and federal copyright laws; digital media will be deleted, and tape or film will be confiscated.
Entry and re-entry into the theater after the performance begins is not guaranteed.
The theater reserves the right to limit admission of children younger than the age of six.