Theater News

True West Completes Casting for Steppenwolf Revival

Original Steppenwolf cast member Francis Guinan joins the ensemble for the upcoming production of Sam Shepard’s classic play.

Francis Guinan, member of the original 1982 Steppenwolf cast of true West, returns to the Sam Shepard play for its Steppenwolf revival.
Francis Guinan, member of the original 1982 Steppenwolf cast of True West, returns to the Sam Shepard play for its Steppenwolf revival.
(photo provided by Steppenwolf Theatre)

Complete casting has been announced for Steppenwolf's upcoming production of Sam Shepard's True West. Performances will run from July 5-August 25 in the Downstairs Theatre with an official opening on July 14. Randall Arney directs.

As previously announced, the production will star Jon Michael Hill (CBS's Elementary) as Austin and Namir Smallwood (Pass Over) as Lee. Joining them will be Francis Guinan (member of the original Steppenwolf cast) and Jacqueline Williams.

First produced by Steppenwolf in 1982, True West is described as follows: "This American classic traces the sometimes violent and always volatile relationship of Austin and Lee, estranged brothers who find themselves trapped together in their mother's empty house with not much more than a typewriter and a set of golf clubs. In its first Steppenwolf revival, we re-imagine Shepard's masterpiece through the eyes of our new generation of Steppenwolf artists, with a little help from those who came before."

The creative team includes Todd Rosenthal (scenic design), Trevor Bowen (costume design), Ann G. Wrightson (lighting design), Richard Woodbury (sound design), and Gigi Buffington (company voice and text coach).