Mother-daughter duo share the stage as nuns in Steel Beam's 'Doubt'

For whatever reason, theater runs in families. Look at the Barrymores or the Redgraves. Or, more locally, the Steeles.

Donna Steele is the founder and force behind the St. Charles-based Steel Beam Theatre. Amy Steele is her daughter, a rising young actress in the Chicago theater scene.

Both women appear in Steel Beam Theatre's current production of John Patrick Shanley's "Doubt," running through Sunday, Feb. 8. Donna Steele plays Sr. Aloysius, the seasoned nun who has her doubts about the newly installed Father Flynn. Amy Steele plays the younger Sister James.

Both actresses have similar reasons for working on this play. "I took the role," Donna Steele says, "for a personal challenge." Amy Steele gives a similar answer. For Donna the challenge is moving from the role of producer and director at Steele Beam theater to acting. For Amy Steele, the move is from music theater (she appeared in the Chicago production of "Urinetown") to serious acting in a Pulitzer-Prize-winning play.

"This role is definitely outside of my comfort zone," Amy Steele says.

The production in the early 1990s of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at the Chicago Theatre shot both women into acting. Amy Steele was in the Elgin Children's Chorus, which performed as part of that production. Being in that show, even as a preadolescent member of the chorus, was a revelation. "I was like, 'Wow! People get paid to do this?'" Amy Steele says.

She was hooked.

For Donna Steele the reaction was more complicated. She had graduated with a degree in theater from Northwestern University in Evanston, then moved to New York to try to break in.

Although she was cast in some shows, it didn't come together for her. "In my 20s I wasn't cast-able," Donna Steele says, "I have this odd look. I am tall. And I a big woman. I was always cast in character roles. I always played the old ladies. I never got to play my age. And when I was out and competing with the hoards of 23-year-old women I just wasn't what they were looking for."

So Donna Steele packed away her dreams of theater and, after a stint of teaching theater, focused in raising a family instead. Some people in that situation might turn into a stage mom and try to push their children into theater.

Donna didn't do that with Amy or any of her younger siblings. But Amy's love of singing led her to the Elgin Children's Chorus. And that lead to "Joseph."

"The Elgin Children's Chorus was in four shows a week," Donna Steele says. "She was in the two Wednesday shows, and two Saturday shows. It was a pretty big deal."

Two days a week Donna Steele took her daughter downtown and then would watch her on stage.

"Seeing her in that show was amazing," Donna Steele says. "But I also cried. I thought that is bigger and better than anything than I ever got a chance to do in theater. That was a the impetus that got me back into theater."

Soon after that Donna started directing community theater productions, started the Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles, and began auditioning around town. In the meantime, Amy Steele's interest in theater also flowered. She appeared in high school productions, studied music and theater in college, and then launched herself into the world of regional theater, where she is beginning to make a name for herself.

"When I said I wanted to go into theater Dad was not really surprised," Amy Steele says. "But my mother was like, 'No, you don't. Are you sure? No, you don't.'"

Still, Donna Steele supported her daughter's decision.

Donna admits she admires her daughter's determination. "My daughter approaches each audition in the right spirit. She loves to audition. When I was her age I always talked myself in or out of roles before I showed up for an audition. I wish I knew then what I know now. Today I audition and I don't care if I get it or not and those are the roles you get."

Amy Steele, in turn, admires her mother: "She is so strong. It pushes me to be as strong as she is."

Working together on the show is a new experience in their relationship.

"I try to be professional and treat her with the same amount of respect I would treat anyone else," Donna says.

Amy Steele, however, admits that as the daughter she has had to do more adjusting. "It is intense to be rehearsing with my mother," says Amy, though she was just directed by Donna in Steel Beam's production of "A Christmas Carol."

Now, they hold roles that mirror the mother-daughter relationship, with the older nun sometimes acting as a mother figure to the younger nun.

"I play a younger nun who is trying to please the older one," Amy Steele says. "It is fun but it has been bizarre - but it's a good bizarre."

• "Doubt" opens Friday, Jan. 9 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 8 at the Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main Street, St. Charles. For tickets and show times call (630) 587-8521 or visit www.steelbeamtheatre.com/Doubt.htm.