Extended through March 30

Red Rex

A world premiere by Ike Holter, directed by Jonathan Berry

A small theater company moves into an abandoned Chicago storefront. Led by their adventurously thirsty artistic director, they embark on an explosive new play with the hope of finally breaking it big. When the ensemble realizes their source material might not be as original as once assumed, they are thrust into an intense confrontation with residents of their new community, who not only want them out, but will take their story back by any means necessary. Red Rex is the sixth play in Ike Holter's seven part "Rightlynd saga", which also includes Exit Strategy, Prowess, and The Wolf at the End of the Block.

“an extraordinary achievement” -Regina Victor, Rescripted
“a riveting show” -Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

Production Sponsors: Ken Burlington, Kassie Davis & Bruce Beatus, Jessica & Christoph Schrey, Lisa & Randy White

Previews: January 19 - 23, 2019
Press Opening: Thursday, January 24, 2019
Performances: January 24 - March 30, 2019
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm
Sunday afternoons at 3pm
Full Performance Calendar

Accessibility
Open Captioning will be available on Sunday, February 17.
Audio Description and a Touch Tour will be available on Saturday, February 23.
Contact us at access@steeptheatre.com or 773-649-3186 for more information or to reserve tickets.

Running Time: Two hours, fifteen minutes with one intermission

Late Seating: Please note that late seating is not possible and that all tickets not claimed by the scheduled performance time may be released to the wait list. For questions about this, please contact our box office.

Content Advisory: This production is intended for adult audiences. For more information about the content of this show, please click here.

CAST: 
Aurora Adachi-Winter
Debo Balogun
Chris Chmelik
Nate Faust*
Jack Miggins (after March 9)
Joel Reitsma* (through March 9)
Amanda Powell
Jessica Dean Turner

PRODUCTION TEAM:
Director – Jonathan Berry*
Stage Manager – Jon Ravenscroft**
Set Designer – Joe Schermoly
Lighting Designer – Pete Dully*
Sound Designer – Sarah D. Espinoza
Costume Designer – Stefani Azores-Gococo
Props Designer – Emily Hartig
Violence & Intimacy Designer – Christina Gorman
Dramaturg – Kendra Miller
Production Manager – Ellen Willett**
Technical Director – Greg Williamson
Assistant Stage Manager – Anthony Harden

*Denotes Steep Company Member
**Denotes Steep Artistic Associate

In the Press

“Red Rex uses language as elevated and accessible as the L train it premiered beneath.”
”If you have never seen a play in your life, see Red Rex at Steep Theatre.”
-Regina Victor, Rescripted
Read the full review

3.5 Stars
”“Red Rex” is a riveting show … a formidably directed production from Berry”
”…the dynamic sixth entry in Holter’s signature Rightlynd Cycle of seven plays"
-Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
Read the full review

“brave, incisive and wickedly funny”
-Alex Huntsberger, TimeOut Chicago
Read the full review

“Every aspect of the production is flawless."
”Debo Balogun is riveting as Trevor”
-Jack Helbig, Chicago Reader
Read the full review

“I think it will be hard to top RED REX in terms of impact; this is a play that both affirms and challenges why theater exists in a uniquely powerful way.”
-Rachel Weinberg, Broadway World
Read the full review

“Turner pulls off the remarkable feat of a highly experienced performer embodying a first-time actor. She gives what strikes this writer as shocking immediacy to the conundrums and compromises at the heart of Red Rex.”
-Harold Jaffe, Picture this Post
Read the full review

Top-10 theater in Chicago in 2019
”In Holter’s latest, a small theater company moves into an abandoned Chicago storefront with what they think will be a new hit show likely to make all their artistic careers.”
-Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

Stage Top 5: January 2019
-Kevin Greene, Newcity Stage

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About Ike Holter

Ike Holter is a 2017 winner of the Windham-Campbell Prize, one of the highest awards for writing in the world. Resident playwright at Victory Gardens, commissioned by The Kennedy Center, South Coast Rep and The Playwrights’ Center, his work has been produced around the country in spaces like New York’s Barrow Street and Cherry Lane theaters, The Lily Tomlin Center in Los Angeles, and A Red Orchid, The Inconvenience, Jackalope and Steppenwolf in Chicago. He’s the Artistic Director of The Roustabouts, and a writer for the new FX television show, Fosse/Verdon.

The Rightlynd Saga

“Ike Holter has written a major, seven-play series about the strife and humanity to be found in his home city of Chicago.”
-Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

Rightlynd, Victory Gardens Theatre - Fall 2018
Exit Strategy, Jackalope Theatre - Spring 2014
Sender, A Red Orchid Theatre - Spring 2016
Prowess, Jakalope Theatre - Spring 2016
The Wolf at the End of the Block, Teatro Vista - Winter 2017
Red Rex, Steep Theatre - Winter 2019
Lottery Day, Goodman Theatre - Spring 2019 (Tickets)