Steppenwolf for Young Adults will stage two world-premiere plays addressing gun violence in its upcoming season: The Burials, by Caitlin Parrish, and Monster, adapted by Aaron Carter from the novel by Walter Dean Myers.
The Burials, loosely inspired by Antigone, focuses on the sister of a school shooter. Parrish, currently the executive story editor for the CBS TV series Supergirl, and director Erica Weiss are conducting interviews with Chicago Public Schools students that will inform the play, set to be presented October 5–22 in Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Upstairs Theatre; public performances are October 8 at 3 and 7:30pm, October 14 at 7:30pm, October 15 at 3pm and October 21 at 7:30pm.
Monster, adapted from the late young adult author Myers's 1999 National Book Award finalist, centers on a 16-year-old boy on trial for his alleged participation in a botched robbery. Adapted by Carter and directed by Hallie Gordon, both artistic producers at Steppenwolf, the production will tour to three Cook County juvenile detention centers following its run at Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre February 15–March 9. Public performances at Steppenwolf are February 17 at 7:30pm; February 18 at 3pm and 7:30p, February 24 at 7:30pm, February 25 at 3pm, March 3 at 7:30pm and March 4 at 3pm.