Pictured: Namir Smallwood

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro announced today the addition of Namir Smallwood to the 48 member Steppenwolf ensemble.

Smallwood, currently in the world premiere adaptation of Walter Dean Myers’s MONSTER, has garnered critical acclaim for his work with several Chicago theaters, most recently, THE GRAPES OF WRATH (Gift Theatre) and EAST TEXAS HOT LINKS (Writers Theatre).

“I have been a fan of Namir’s since the first time I saw him onstage, here at Steppenwolf. His ability to completely transform, inhabit and magnify each moment is truly astonishing and we are excited for all that he will bring to the company,” says Shapiro.

“I get a chance to expand my unique gifts and perspective and add something to this particular tapestry,” says Smallwood. “For that, I am deeply honored.”

Current Steppenwolf ensemble members include: Joan Allen, Kevin Anderson, Alana Arenas, Randall Arney, Kate Arrington, Ian Barford, Robert Breuler, Gary Cole, Kathryn Erbe, Audrey Francis, K. Todd Freeman, Frank Galati, Francis Guinan, Moira Harris, Jon Michael Hill, Tim Hopper, Tom Irwin, Ora Jones, Terry Kinney, Tina Landau, Martha Lavey, Tracy Letts, John Mahoney, John Malkovich, Sandra Marquez, Mariann Mayberry, Tarell Alvin McCraney, James Vincent Meredith, Laurie Metcalf, Amy Morton, Sally Murphy, Caroline Neff, Bruce Norris, Austin Pendleton, Jeff Perry, William Petersen, Yasen Peyankov, Martha Plimpton, Rondi Reed, Molly Regan, Anna D. Shapiro, Eric Simonson, Gary Sinise, Namir Smallwood, Lois Smith, Rick Snyder, Jim True-Frost and Alan Wilder.