500 CLOWN AND THE ELEPHANT DEAL Opens At Steppenwolf 6/25

500 Clown Theater presents"500 Clown and the Elephant Deal" - a musical missile aimed at the tenuous border between fiction and reality - as part of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Visiting Company Initiative.

Inspired by (not based on) Bertolt Brecht's "Man is Man," "500 Clown and the Elephant Deal" is an original theater production for adults with music, co-created with composer and lyricist John Fournier, who also collaborated on "500 Clown Christmas."

A rocking three-piece band, an alluring Mistress of Ceremonies, and a daring stage crew have everything they need for a night of theatre ... except for the story, which has gone MIA. The players find themselves on a collision course with this fierce runaway tale, which is riddled with spontaneous characters and dangerous stunts, utilizing a steel truss as cabaret stage and obstacle course (outfitted with custom-designed weight-bearing pulleys and lots of rope).

Run time will be approximately 90 minutes with one intermission. Post-show discussions will follow all previews and Wednesday and Thursday performances (free with paid ticket).

Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614
CTA - buses (8-Halsted, 72-North), and El (Red Line-North/Clybourn); pay lot; cabs
Handicapped accessible; restaurant information at www.steppenwolf.org/visit/restaurants.aspx

Opens Thursday, June 25, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
Gala opening with party on Friday, June 26, 7:30 p.m.
Previews June 20, June 21 (Father's Day), and June 24, 7:30 p.m.
Runs Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Closes July 11, 2009; no show on Saturday, July 4

TICKETS: Steppenwolf Box Office: 312-335-1650, www.steppenwolf.org/boxoffice
Tickets also on-line at www.goldstarevents.com and www.hottix.org
$28 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (including opening on 6/25)
$20 for Friday shows and previews
$50 for gala party opening on 6/26
$15 for students (with ID) - not valid on 6/26, limited number on all shows
$23 per ticket for groups of ten or more (not valid on Fridays), groups call 312-654-5605

In addition, two benefit performances of their previous hit "500 Clown Macbeth" will be presented on May 6 and 7, 2009, 7:30 p.m., at Galaxie, 2603 W. Barry Ave. in Chicago, to raise money for 500 Clown. Suggested $30 donation; limited seating, so reservations encouraged at info@500clown.com

500 Clown Company Members Molly Brennan (as Madame Barker) and Adrian Danzig (as Lenny) and Paul Kalina (as Skip), with Matt Hawkins and Jessica Hudson. The band includes John Fournier (piano, saxophone, vocals), Gerald Dowd (percussion), and Matt Thompson (bass). Bios and photos available on request.

STAFF: 500 Clown Company Member Leslie Buxbaum Danzig (Director), with John Fournier (Composer/ Lyricist and Musical Director), Jim Moore (Technical Design), Lee Keenan (Lighting Design), Molly Brennan (Costume Design), and Dawn Wilson (Stage Manager). Bios available on request.

The company developed and first performed "500 Clown and the Elephant Deal" in 2008 at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at University of Maryland, College Park, with a commission and residency support and involving University of Maryland Department of Theatre students. To support this partnership, 500 Clown received an Ensemble Theater Collaborations Grant from the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, recognizing 500 Clown for doing leading ensemble theater work in the country. Early research for the production was conducted as part of a three-year residency at University of Chicago as Presidential Fellow in the Arts. 500 Clown last performed at Steppenwolf in summer 2007 with their "Frankenstein" and "Macbeth" productions in repertory. Since then, 500 Clown has brought its productions to PS 122, NYC; Orange County Performing Arts Center, CA; North Central College, Naperville, IL; Bowdoin College, ME; and the State Theater of New Jersey; plus participated in The Kennedy Center's Page to Stage New Play Festival, Washington, DC.

FYI: • 500 Clown creates and sells RISKwear, one-of-a-kind recycled clothing designs, at shows.

• The late night variety offshoot of Elephant Deal, "500 Clown Madame Barker's Cabaret" is slated to return in May 2009 - check www.500clown.com at the end of April 2009 for details.

Steppenwolf's Visiting Company Initiative provides the opportunity for other theater companies to present work in all three of the Steppenwolf theaters. These residencies are supported by the artists and staff at Steppenwolf. In creating relationships with Visiting Companies, Steppenwolf enriches the artistic dialogue among its artists and audiences.