World premieres by Letts, Rabe in Steppenwolf's 2016-17 season

Several world premieres and acclaimed dramas making their Chicago debuts have been announced for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's 2016-17 season. It's the first season to be fully curated by Tony Award-winner Anna D. Shapiro, a Steppenwolf ensemble member and the company's new artistic director.

Steppenwolf will produce an expanded six-play subscription season in a new format that features four plays in its Downstairs Theatre, with the opportunity for subscribers to choose between two productions in the smaller Upstairs Theatre. The lineup features:

• "Visiting Edna," a world premiere by Tony Award-winner David Rabe ("Sticks and Bones," "Hurlyburly") about a mother diagnosed with cancer and her grown son, who try to reconcile their baffling relationship (Sept. 15 to Nov. 6).

• "The Fundamentals," a world premiere by Erika Sheffer ("Russian Transport") about a housekeeper in a New York luxury hotel who faces challenges when she's given the chance of a promotion to management (Nov. 10 to Dec. 23).

• "The Christians," a Chicago premiere by Lucas Hnath about a megachurch pastor whose shifting views on salvation shake up his closest loved ones and his congregation (Dec. 1 to Jan. 29, 2017).

• "Straight White Men," a Chicago premiere by Young Jean Lee about a widower who has to deal with his three grown sons as Christmas approaches (Feb. 2 to March 19, 2017).

• "Linda Vista," a world premiere by Pulitzer Prize-winner and ensemble member Tracy Letts ("August: Osage County," "Superior Donuts") about a misanthropic 50-year-old divorced man who faces new possibilities for love and sex in his new apartment (March 30 to May 21, 2017).

• "Hir," a Chicago premiere by Taylor Mac about a dysfunctional American family dealing with abuse, post-traumatic stress disorders and a newly out transgender son (June 29 to Aug. 20, 2017).

Steppenwolf also produces a few nonsubscription shows, such as the summer 2017 run of Antoinette Nwandu's world premiere riff on "Waiting for Godot" called "Pass Over."

Other shows will play in Steppenwolf's new 80-seat 1700 Theatre, which officially opens with ensemble member and Emmy Award-winner Laurie Metcalf starring in Justin Tanner's comedy "Voice Lessons" from May 31 to June 12. Also scheduled for the venue, from July 22 to Aug. 21, is a remount of Evan Linder's critically acclaimed drama "Byhalia, Mississippi," which was staged earlier this year at Chicago's Den Theatre in a co-production by Definition Theatre Company and The New Colony.

For details on these upcoming shows, call (312) 335-1650 or see steppenwolf.org.