The Threepenny Opera

The Hypocrites prepare for the opening of their 2008 - 2009 Season with Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's The Threepenny Opera, directed by Sean Graney. The Hypocrites are taking their singular theatrical style and applying it for the first time to a musical. Performances of The Threepenny Opera will run August 30 - October 12 at the Steppenwolf Merle Reskin Garage Theatre, 1624 N Halsted, Chicago.

The Threepenny Opera is produced as part of the Steppenwolf Visiting Company Initiative and marks the first return to the Steppenwolf Garage for The Hypocrites since 2005's 4.48 Psychosis.

Steppenwolf's Visiting Company Initiative provides the opportunity for other theatre companies to present work in all three of their theatres.  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.

"I'm excited that The Hypocrites are now at a level where the organization can support the complexities of producing a musical. I have always appreciated the genre but felt that a musical would be beyond the scope of the company, I feel now that we are ready. In my opinion, The Threepenny Opera is the perfect musical to start exploring musical theater- blending an important social message with a unique theatricality and having some really powerful songs ," says director Sean Graney. "When I founded the company in 1997, I wanted to produce theater that was not seen on the stages of Chicago and challenge the (accepted norm) of theatrical productions. Hopefully, with The Threepenny Opera, The Hypocrites can apply that philosophy a genre new to us, that of a musical."

Director Sean Graney founded The Hypocrites in 1997 and has served as The Artistic Director of the company since that time. Sean directed over 40 productions since 1997. He was a participant in the NEA/TCG Career Development Program for Directors. He has won two Joseph Jefferson Citations for Outstanding Direction for Equus and Machinal. Upcoming projects for Sean including his directing debut at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre with Edward II and The Hairy Ape produced by The Hypocrites and Goodman Theatre. He has also worked for Collaboraction, Chicago Children's Theater, Chicago Dramatists, Court Theatre, The Side Project and Redmoon.