Displaying items by tag: Steppenwolf NOW

The royal family is all over media channels these days. From endless documentaries and exposes of the late Princess Diana, to Netflix’s The Crown, to the recent scandalous Meghan Markle interview. Like them or not, the royal family continues to inspire intrigue and satire. Playwright Vivian J.O. Barnes became inspired by the recent Duchess interview and invoking Invasion of the Body Snatchers vibes and created the satirical and slightly-sci fi story Duchess! Duchess! Duchess! Now playing at Steppenwolf NOW.

A Royal Wedding is looming. The Duchess and The Soon-to-be-Duchess are meeting face-to-face for the first time to go over everything you ever needed to know to become a duchess.There are rules.There’s a way of doing things.Remember, everybody is watching. And you don’t want to know what happens if you step out of line.Duchess! Duchess! Duchess! looks at the hidden costs of being the “luckiest girl in the world.”

Loosely inspired by Meghan Markle and the royal family, Duchess! Duchess! Duchess! uses the monarchy to investigate how society’s institutions of power affect Black women. “The play explores the bigger question of what it means to be a Black woman entering institutions that seem eager to have you but aren't necessarily built to support you, how you start to adapt in order to survive once you're inside of them, and the impact of bringing other people like you along,” shares playwright Vivian J.O. Barnes.

Duchess! x3 is the 4th production of Steppenwolf NOW, a virtual programming stream made for the pandemic era. The production not only features great talent in Sydney Charles (The Duchess) and Celeste M. Cooper (The Soon-to-be-Duchess) but it’s made all the more impressive on how this play was put on. Director Weyni Mengesha and the entire production crew worked hard to film within CDC guidelines. The end credits show behind the scene clips that highlight the sets and the actor’s performing without someone physically in front of them. This set up actually lends itself to the more awkward and darker themes of the play, the camera cutting from woman to woman as the meeting goes on. 

The intriguing part of this play was the subtle hints that something is amiss with The Duchess (Charles) but you can’t quite put your finger on it. Just like in Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but instead of asking “are you happy” the character is asking “what do you need" in a pleading, desperate attempt for help, for clarity, for understanding. The longer the royal tête-à-tête goes, the odder things get, the more the smiling and waving veneer is peeled away. Duchess! x3 provides a satirical and sci-fi-y look into what could be lingering behind the walls of the palace life, not only for women but more importantly women of color. 

With a run time of approximately 35 minutes, and closed captions and an audio described version are available, be sure to get your view of Duchess! Duchess! Duchess! today.

It’s no secret that Chicago is in for some dark months ahead. But in every darkness there are flickers of light to be found. Throughout history, the Arts are those flickers of light, providing entertainment, levity, and much needed escapism from everyday struggles and strife. In today’s virus-that-shall-not-be-named world, movies, books, paintings and music all provide the much needed escapism and lightness. Now, theater in Chicago is following suit. Adapting to the new virtual and socially-distanced world, Steppenwolf Theater has created a virtual stage, Steppenwolf NOW, showcasing pieces written, acted, and produced during the pandemic. They have kicked off this season with a bright light in What is Left, Burns. 

The world premiere of What Is Left, Burns, the first of six works that are a part of Steppenwolf NOW virtual stage, was released for streaming this month. The play follows two poets separated by age and distance engaging in a video call rendezvous after fifteen years. Keith, a distinguished poet and professor of literature is moving towards retirement after a recent divorce from his wife. Ronnie, his younger former lover and mentee, has a New York Times bestselling book and a burgeoning career ahead of him. The two men wade through the connection they once had as they struggle with the desires that still bind them. Written by James Ijames and directed by Whitney White, the play was commissioned for the Steppenwolf virtual stage and features ensemble members K. Todd Freeman (Keith) and Jon Michael Hill (Ronnie).

The beauty of What is Left, Burns lies in its effortlessness. This seamless virtual stage plays out like any FaceTime chat, House Party, or any video conferencing app; two men, side by side on screen, their faces sometimes too close or angled oddly, moving casually about their homes, passing the phone from one hand to another while they chat. The play invited you into Keith and ROnnie’s chat, or like House Party, you simply virtually walked in. It could have been any of our friends’ or family’s conversation we were watching. It was simply two people connecting after a long time apart that initially draws you in. It’s then the subtleness of the social queues in their conversation that holds your attention; the compliments mistaken for criticism, the quickness to defense, the brush off with an odd joke or shrug. Beautifully acted, it was all so relatable yet fresh and inviting. What is it that burns between these two men?  Everything about the production demands and holds your attention until...it’s over. As quickly as it began. A short, relatable, and effortless escape from today. 

Associate Artistic Director Leelai Demoz summarizes this play best, sharing, “James Ijames has written this beautiful short play that feels like a complete experience... It feels so completely about the time we are living through now.” Coupled with stunning video and photography design by Lowell Thomas and Joel Moorman and set to an original soundtrack composed by Justin Ellington, this virtual production highlights the incredible talent, dedication and creativity of the ensemble cast and crews at Steppenwolf. Steppenwolf NOW Productions will be released throughout the year and members are able to stream all Steppenwolf NOW content through August 31, 2021.

When sitting in a darkened theater, the light shines brightest on the art of the production on stage. Virtual productions will prove to provide the same light in the darkness we might find ourselves in today. For viewing details, teasers, and more on What is Left, Burns, visit https://www.steppenwolf.org/whatisleftburns. Steppenwolf NOW is a new virtual programming stream featuring breakthrough stories written by America’s most talented voices. For upcoming productions, streaming, and membership details visit: https://www.steppenwolf.org/tickets--events/steppenwolf-now/.