Run: July 2009 Playwrite: Howard Korder Director: Jonathan Berry Ensemble Members: Jonathan Edwards, Cynthia Marker, Brendan Melanson, and Peter Moore Guest Actors: Rom Barkhordar, Sean Bolger, Lucy Carapetyan, Chris Chmelik, Kiplan Dooley, Jeremy Fisher, Boyd Harris, Yosh Hayashi, Faizan Hasnain and Michael Salinas Stage Manager: Ellen Willett Scenic Design: Chelsea Warren Lighting Design: Brandon Wardell Costume Design: Emily McConnell Sound Design: Rick Sims Fight Choreographer: Matt Hawkins Make-up Artist: Mieka van der Ploeg Dramaturg: Anastasia Barron Assistant Director: Eric Hoff
Summary: In 1815, America seemed ripe for the taking: boundless freedom, unseen kingdoms, and unimaginable profits. Pioneers, profiteers, and out-and-out criminals scoured the country for their share. Jim Newman's share was not what he had dreamed.
Critics:
"an immensely engrossing epic...that could not have been realized on a higher level at any other theater in the city." - Hedy Weiss, The Sun Times, July 6, 2009
"For a mere 18 bucks at Steep, you get 30 weird characters, 14 intensely committed Chicago actors, 3 hours of entertainment and enough heady contemplation of issues of nascent American identity to last you until July 4, 2109. If not well beyond."
"Director Jonathan Berry and his Steep colleagues approach this epic...with such visual imagination, unbridled enthusiasm, appealing verve...that The Hollow Lands turns out to be quite a distinctive evening of Chicago theater." - Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, July 1, 2009
The Hollow Lands is the Chicago Reader's "Critic's Choice"!
"[Korder's] vision of the continent as a violent landscape filled with zealots, con men, thugs, and dupes both capitivates and convinces. Jonathan Berry's scrappy production is distinguished chiefly by the intensity and immediacy of the acting... gripping from start to finish." - Zac Thompson, Chicago Reader
"time flies with the necessary weight and pace given to each moment and scene. Berry moves the cast of 14 through the intimate space with grace and ease, creating beautiful and detailed stage pictures...The Hollow Lands is a fine display of Steep Theatre's signature ensemble acting" - Chris Arnold, chicagocritic.com
"Steep Theatre usually mounts terrific ensemble works–this one is an example of how ensemble theatre should work...Steep's new digs are a treat. Storefront theatre shines here." - Tom Williams, chicagocritic.com
Video complements of Jim Poole Creative Productions
