Steppenwolf adds playwright to ensemble

Steppenwolf Theatre Company counts another playwright among its members with Thursday's announcement that 29-year-old Tarell Alvin McCraney has joined the ensemble.

McCraney is the author of "The Brother/Sister Plays," a uniquely theatrical yet accessible trilogy running through May 23 at Steppenwolf's upstairs theater.

The Florida native graduated from Chicago's DePaul University with a BFA in acting in 2003. He appeared at Steppenwolf in 2004's "Theatrical Essays" directed by fellow ensemble member Tina Landau. Landau has collaborated with McCraney on more than a half dozen productions, including "In the Red and Brown Water," "The Brothers Size" and "Marcus; Or the Secret of Sweet," which make up the "Brother/Sister" trilogy, which Landau also directed.

McCraney joins Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts and playwright Austin Pendleton, also members of the Steppenwolf ensemble which now numbers 43.