Steppenwolf Theatre Company co-founder Jeff Perry joins forces with guest artists to educate the next generation at Summer Arts

Trading the winds of Chicago for the gentler breezes of Monterey Bay, Jeff Perry, the celebrated co-founder of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, has again assembled a tremendous ensemble of artists for Steppenwolf Classes West – instructing, engaging and inspiring the next generation of artists enrolled in California State University Summer Arts.

Perry brings tremendous performance experience as a member of Tony award-winning casts of August: Osage County and The Grapes of Wrath. August: Osage County also secured a Pulitzer Prize.

“The opportunity for our Summer Arts’ students to work with Jeff and members of the world-renowned Steppenwolf Theatre Company though their Steppenwolf Classes West program is truly remarkable,” said John Mayer, chair of the Theatre Department at CSU Stanislaus. “This once-in-a-lifetime experience deeply affects students as both collaborative artists and human beings.”

The first Steppenwolf Classes West at CSU Summer Arts program was offered in 2002, when Perry, Sheldon Patinkin and Kim Rubenstein conducted a two-week intensive workshop coordinated by Mayer. Due to the success of the program and the student demand, the workshop was repeated in 2005, 2008, 2010 (as a month-long workshop), 2011 and now again for an entire month in 2013.

Tribes is a smart, lively new play that asks us to hear how we hear, in silence as well as in speech. – New York Times

On July 24, the Steppenwolf program will present the play Tribes, starring Perry, which had a wonderful run in New York in 2012; and, on July 20, the classic play Love Letters, featuring Evelyn Carol Case and Mayer.

The Steppenwolf co-founder is not alone in distinction among CSU Summer Arts masters. This year, a cadre of celebrated guest artists is providing real-life perspective of their industry along with artistic instruction. For more information, including a list of classes, visit CSU Summer Arts.