From the ranks: Steppenwolf names new co-artistic directors
Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble members Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis have been named the company's new co-artistic directors, replacing Anna D. Shapiro who steps down next month after six years.
Both Davis and Francis were trained at the School of Steppenwolf and joined the ensemble in 2017 under Shapiro's leadership. Their appointments reflect Steppenwolf's tradition of selecting artistic leaders from the ensemble.
"Steppenwolf was founded by extraordinary actors who had a vision of building an ensemble of artists who would support each other while producing honest, bold, and thought-provoking theater," Shapiro said in a prepared statement. "We are on the verge of our next great act, the opening of a remarkable new theater-in-the-round and an education wing. Glenn and Audrey, together, are the right mix to build on our company's legacy and open our doors wider than ever before."
Davis, a Chicago native, earned praise for his performance in the premiere of ensemble member Rajiv Joseph's "Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo" at L.A.'s Kirk Douglas Theatre. Davis transferred with the production to Broadway where he co-starred with Robin Williams.
Recent Steppenwolf appearances include "Downstate" by ensemble member Bruce Norris, "You Got Older" (with Francis), "The Christians," and fellow ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney's "The Brother/Sister Plays" and "Head of Passes."
He is also a member of the Los Angeles-based Cast Iron Entertainment, an artist collective that includes Sterling K. Brown, Brian Tyree Henry, Jon Michael Hill, Andre Holland, and McCraney.
Actor/director/teacher Francis co-founded the Black Box Acting conservatory and works as an acting coach for Showtime, NBC, Fox and Amazon. Her Steppenwolf credits include: "The Doppelgänger (an international farce)," "Dance Nation," "The Fundamentals" and "Between Riverside and Crazy," among others.