Nov 06, 2018 we continue with season two and today on the show is francis guinan, a chicago based actor who has been a part of the steppenwolf ensemble for over 30 years and been in more than 40 shows with them. In 1974, a group of determined, young high school actors started doing plays under the name of steppenwolf theatre company, eventually taking residence in the basement of a church in highland park, a suburb of chicago. The book thief is staged by hallie gordon in partnership with chicago public librarys one book, one chicago and the citywide, seasonlong. Danny casolaro died for you timeline theatre company. The book thief as theater at steppenwolf in chicago the new. This page shares information about my book steppenwolf theatre company of chicago. Interview with markus zusak chicago public library. The company suits chicago, and chicago suits steppenwolf. The book thief looks at the terrible cost of violence, bearing witness to our compassion and complicity. The book thief kicks off steppenwolf for young adults 2012. The most inspired decision director hallie gordon has made in her steppenwolf for young adults production of the book thief, which opened. The book thief steppenwolf theatre company, upstairs. Adapted by heidi stillman from markus zusaks book, the story is narrated by a. Like the 22 books that preceded it, markus zusaks the book thief was.
Based on the novel by markus zusak adapted by heidi stillman directed by hallie gordon at steppenwolf upstairs theatre, chicago i am haunted by humans. Steppenwolf theatre adapting white american youth into. Steppenwolf theatre presents the book thief, 1016119. Steppenwolf theatre presents the book thief, now thru 119. The book thief is a steppenwolf for young adults contribution to now is the time.
The book thief as theater at steppenwolf in chicago the. By 1985, steppenwolf theatre company was awarded the 1985 regional tony award the first theatre in chicago. The book thief at steppenwolf evanston public library. Liesel finds solace in books, and, as a survival mechanism, has taken to stealing them, whether from the mayors house or a public bookburning.
Thus began their unlikely journey to become one of the most prominent theatre. Steppenwolf began modestly in a chicago suburb before moving to the big city. Oct 22, 2012 during the height of wwii in germany, a recently orphaned adolescent girl named liesel is taken in by a poor couple in the book thief, now receiving its world premiere production at steppenwolf. Steppenwolfs the book thief, expertly adapted by heidi stillman from markus zusaks acclaimed novel, takes its large audiences on a very personal and thoughtprovoking journey through one girls life in nazi germany. Zusaks novel is an excellent piece of writing, not least because it is constantly preoccupied with the question of the culpability of ordinary people for whom speaking up would most certainly have meant serious trouble. The production has been well received by students and teachers and is being used as a teaching tool against youth violence in chicago.
Hallie gordon, steppenwolf for young adults artistic and educational director, discusses the book thief and this seasons partnership with now is the time, a chicago wide initiative to stop youth violence. Book thief is stealing center stage chicago tribune. This is the teachers study guide for steppenwolf for young adults production of the book thief based on the novel by markus zusak, adapted by heidi stillman and directed by hallie gordon. The book thief receives a new life on the stage the novel the book thief, which follows a german girl whose family hides a jewish man during the holocaust, has been adapted as a play at the.
Welcome to the book thief by hallie gordon dear friends. A tricky maze of dividing right from wrong chicago tribune. Aug 14, 2019 the book is arranged roughly in chronological order with six sections containing 34 chapters. The novel is constructed from a manuscript that the principal character, harry haller, or steppenwolf, leaves behind at a boarding house. Set in nazi germany and narrated by death, the story follows the fate of. Markus zusak was born in 1975 in sydney, australia, the youngest of four children of immigrant german and.
The story in large part reflects a profound crisis in hesses spiritual world during the 1920s. The book thief steppenwolf theatre leisel meminger is a young girl struggling to survive in nazi germany. Heidis adaptation of the book thief premiered at steppenwolf theatre company in 2012. Steppenwolf theatre company adds two friday evening public performances to the world premiere of markus zusaksthe book thief, adapted by heidi stillman, directed by hallie gordon, after selling. One book one chicago reads the book thief the depaulia.
Hallie is currently the artistic director steppenwolf for young adultsartistic producer at steppenwolf, along with selecting the young adult season, hallie has directed the following for steppenwolf theatre. Apr 25, 2018 hallie gordon director is the artistic director for steppenwolf for young adults and an artistic producer at steppenwolf. Oct 22, 2012 guinan, an ensemble member at the steppenwolf theatre company and the busy star of the steppenwolf for young adults dramatic adaptation of the book thief, has a reflective, reluctant, gentle. Muthaland 16th street theater, 2017 muthaland silk road rising. The book thief steppenwolf theatre company steppenwolf for young adults, 2012 director. Hir, the rembrandt the world premiere of animal farm, the book thief, along with to kill a mockingbird, the world premiere of the house. Chicago, il 60614 312 3351650 c 2020 steppenwolf theatre company. And now its been adaptated for the stage by heidi stillman and is being performed at steppenwolf theater performances run through november 11. Other productions include 1984, and to kill a mockingbird. Dennis william grimes returns to steppenwolf theatre company where he was last seen in the book thief. Oct 16, 2012 the book thief author markus zusak will sign books after a steppenwolf theatre co. Originally published in germany in 1927, it was first translated into english in 1929. By 1985, steppenwolf theatre company was awarded the 1985 regional tony award the first theatre in chicago to win this award.
Partners included depaul university, steppenwolf theatre, facing history and ourselves, wbez 91. Oct 16, 2012 steppenwolf for young adults hallie gordon on now is the time and the book thief. Thank you to the chicago public library for partnering on the content of this article. Oct 16, 2012 the book thief, this seasons one book one chicago choice, will be turned into a play by the steppenwolf theater company. Adapted for the stage by heidi stillman, the story is based on markus zusaks young adult novel of the same name. Rehearsals are underway for steppenwolf for young adults worldpremiere stage adaptation of the bestselling novel, the book thief by markus zusak, adapted by heidi stillman. Funding for now is the time is provided by the hive chicago.
In fact, you can see him onstage in the world premiere downstate by bruce norris until november 18th in chicago and then the cast heads to the. Most of these are devoted to theater companies the second city, steppenwolf, a red orchid, the. Each fall and spring, chicago residents come together to read a selected book as part of the chicago public librarys one book one chicago. Steppenwolf for young adults 2012 season kicks off with the book thief, based on the novel by markus zusak, adapted by heidi stillman and directed by hallie gordon in steppenwolf s upstairs. Michael brosilow rae gray in the book thief at steppenwolf theatre company an adaptation tries to squeeze a 560page ya novel about nazi germany into two hours. Hermann hesses novel steppenwolf addresses division within the self and society, and the effects such divisions can have on an individual, such as loneliness, selfmutilation, and possible suicide. Thank you for joining steppenwolf for young adults 2012 season as we dedicate our programming to now is the time, a citywide call to action against youth violence and intolerance. Apr 30, 2012 these three chicago institutions have joined forces for now is the time nitt, a themed initiative throughout 2012 linking major projects at each institution, including the fall 2012 one book, one chicago selection, markus zusaks the book thief, a staged adaptation of zusaks book at steppenwolf theatre company and a major facing. Interview with author of the book thief steppenwolf theatre. Chicago public library, facing history and ourselves and. Oct 25, 2012 the book thief, the popular childrens book by markus zusak, is playing at the steppenwolf theater in chicago through early november. The book thief at steppenwolf theatre company time out chicago. Set in nazi germany, the play focuses on the ordinary german family of rosa and hans, and their foster daughter, leiselthe book thief of the. The book thief holocaust theater catalog university of miami.
New book ensemble follows the trail of chicagos legendary. The actress has a knack for teenage angst and, here, she lets loose that recognizably vicious rage against the unfairness of her circumstances. Ilsa nicole wiesner gives a blank book to liesel rae gray in the book thief from steppenwolf for young adults. Death watches over her, fascinated by humankinds will to live. Steppenwolf also produced events at the theatre and toured shows throughout chicago. The year i didnt go to school chicago childrens theatre, adapted with caroline macon, 2017 regional. Oct 19, 2012 the book thief runs october 16 november 9, 2012 in steppenwolfs upstairs theatre 1650 n halsted st.
Her life is filled with risk and danger but her love of books guides her through a brutal world. Steppenwolf theatre companys program for our production of the book thief by markus zusak and adapted by heidi stillman. Zusak chose the subject matter of the book thief in part to share the stories his parents told him about growing up in austria and germany during world war ii. One element of the theatres involvement was a steppenwolf for young adults program staging of a new adaptation by heidi stillman of markus zusaks 2006 novel the book thief. Oct 25, 2012 the book thief receives a new life on the stage the novel the book thief, which follows a german girl whose family hides a jewish man during the holocaust, has been adapted as a play at the. The book thief by steppenwolf theatre company issuu. Mar 17, 2021 the fall 2012 one book, one chicago was presented by the city of chicago, chicago public library, the chicago public library foundation and sponsors allstate and bmo harris. Markus zusaks bestselling novel the book thief was chicago public librarys one book one chicago selection this fall.
U of c student moves away from the ya in steppenwolfs the. The story in large part reflects a profound crisis in hesses spiritual world during the 1920s while memorably portraying the protagonists split. During the height of wwii in germany, a recently orphaned adolescent girl named liesel is taken in by a poor couple in the book thief, now receiving its world premiere production at steppenwolf. Oct 19, 2012 gray has been acting professionally since she was four and is starring as the young girl liesel in steppenwolf theatres upcoming production of the book thief, set to open this weekend. Welcome to the book thief hallie gordon, steppenwolf for young adults artistic and educational director, discusses the book thief and this seasons partnership with now is the time, a chicago wide initiative to stop youth violence. The novel was named after the german name for the steppe wolf. Rae gray plays liesel, our book thief, growing and maturing in a world caught up in a sharp temporal regression.
For more information about markus zusak or events happening in conjunction with the chicago public librarys the book thief one book, one chicago programming, please visit. The book thief by markus zusak was first published in 2006. Oct 22, 2012 rae gray plays liesel, our book thief, growing and maturing in a world caught up in a sharp temporal regression. The rembrandt, hir, world premieres of monster, animal farm, the book thief, harriet jacobs, the bluest eye and house on mango street. Zusak and adaptor, heidi stillman, discuss zusaks inspiration for the book thief and why the book leaves such a lasting impression on young and old audiences alike. In 1974, says arney, there were only about 15 theater companies in chicago. It is a time during which the city is united by art and the written word. Even though many businesses have begun reopening, generally at reduced capacities and with many restrictions, music venues and theaters in particular are likely to remain closed for some time. Steppenwolf adds public performances of the book thief. Other chicago credits include lips together teeth apart eclipse theatre.
The book thief as theater at steppenwolf in chicago. Zusaks the book thief chosen for one book, one chicago. The markus zusak novel the book thief has been adapted as a play, now running at the steppenwolf theater in chicago. This book describes the steppenwolf theatre company of chicago in their own words and experiences. Oct 21, 2012 steppenwolf theatre for young adults, in partnership with chicago public librarys one book, one chicago, presents the book thief leisels mother is dead. Steppenwolf s education director tells us how theater fits into a new citywide initiative against youth violence.
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