The Cheats
A World Premiere
By Hamish Linklater, directed by Joanie Schultz
It's the end of October, 2012: John and Anne have two children and a good marriage - they have sex, drive hybrids, and have cut out sugar. But John has been spying on the neighbors, frankly, for a while now, and at 9 a.m, Halloween morning, the neighbors have come for a visit. The Cheats is a play about your marriage, and how it can get f*cked when you forget to lock the front door.
Running Time: 90 minutes, with no intermission
October 1 - November 7, 2015
Production Sponsors: Lisa & Randy White
Restaurant Partner: Pearl's Southern Comfort
CAST:
Peter Moore*
Kendra Thulin*
Brad Akin*
Julia Siple*
PRODUCTION TEAM:
Director – Joanie Schultz*
Set Design – Chelsea Warren**
Lighting Design – Brandon Wardell**
Sound Design – Matt Chapman**
Costume Design– Izumi Inaba
Prop Design – Jamie Karas
Fight Choreographer – Christina Gorman
Stage Manager - Jason Crutchfield
Dramaturg - Carina Abbaticchio
Assistant Director – Mike Mroch
Assistant Lighting Designer – Meghan Erxleben
Production Manager – Julia Siple
Technical Director – Alan Weusthoff
*Denotes Steep Company Member
**Denotes Steep Artistic Associate
In the press
"a wry new play...squirmingly astute"
- Tony Adler, Chicago Reader
"a story that has rich depth to its simplicity. I absolutely loved The Cheats!"
- Katy Walsh, The Fourth Walsh
"an intriguing look at marriage...a wonderful offering and not to be missed."
- Colleen Cottet, Edge Chicago
"The Cheats is darn good theater with an engaging story that lets these accomplished actors shine."
- Amy Munice, Splash Magazine
"notes of Edward Albee and Alfred Hitchcock in this psychological puzzle"
- Ruth Smerling, Theatre World Internet Magazine
About The Cheats
Steep Theatre is thrilled to launch their 15th season with the world premiere of Hamish Linklater's The Cheats. Mr. Linklater, a celebrated and award-winning stage and film actor, made his playwriting debut in 2013 with the well-regarded piece The Vandal, which enjoyed an extended Off-Broadway run with the Flea Theater in New York City and subsequently made its Midwest premiere at Steep Theatre in October of 2014. The Cheats, Mr. Linklater's much-anticipated second play after his promising debut, explores the way that we can hastily judge others while refusing to acknowledge our own flaws. The production will be helmed by one of Chicago's most sought after directors, Steep Ensemble Member Joanie Schultz.
Mr. Linklater visited Steep this past fall to attend their production of The Vandal and, while in town, the company presented readings of two of his scripts that were still in development. One of these scripts would become The Cheats and when Mr. Linklater expressed interest in further developing it with Steep, the company leapt at the opportunity. The Vandal was a remarkable playwriting debut," said Steep Artistic Director Peter Moore, "and with The Cheats, Hamish is poised to establish himself as one of the most intriguing and exciting voices in theatre today. We're all thrilled to have the opportunity to help bring it to the world."
Steep's production of Linklater's The Vandal was lauded as one of the more memorable of the year by Kerry Reid of the Chicago Tribune, while Kelly Kleinman of The Dueling Critics called it "a debut any writer would envy". The Vandal was nominated for Jeff Awards for Best Actress (Kendra Thulin), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Jack Miggins), and recently received a TimeOut Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor (Miggins).
Hamish Linklater has worked extensively as an actor on the stage and in television and film. On television, he starred in the CBS comedy series The Crazy Ones and has appeared in 5 Days to Midnight and Live From Baghdad, as well as The Good Wife, The Newsroom, and The New Adventures of Old Christine. His film work includes 42, The Angriest Man in Brooklyn, Lola Versus, Beyond Redemption and Battleship, as well as Woody Allen's Magic in the Moonlight. Mr. Linklater's stage acting credits include many Broadway and Off-Broadway productions.
Hamish's versatility as a theatre artist is mirrored by Steep company member Brad Akin. Mr. Akin, who is usually sitting in the director's chair, will be joining his fellow Steep Company Members onstage in The Cheats, acting on Steep's stage after a near 10-year hiatus. These versatile artists working together to help bring The Cheats' world premiere to life represent the essence of what Steep Theatre sets out to accomplish; the desire to give a voice to bold, new work in a way that makes it accessible to a broad spectrum of audiences.
