Technology and thought to be explored in Steppenwolf Young Adults’ 2015-2016 season

The 2015-2016 season of Steppenwolf for Young Adults will feature two productions: Andrew White’s Jeff Award-winning stage adaptation of George Orwell’s “1984,” to be directed by Hallie Gordon, as well as the world premiere of “The Compass,” an interactive piece devised and directed by Michael Rohd that is designed to explore “the intersection of technology and decision-making.”

Here’s a closer look:

± George Orwell’s “1984” (Oct. 21-Nov. 15, 2015): Adapted by Andrew White (artistic director of Lookingglass Theatre, where this adaptation debuted), and directed by Hallie Gordon, Orwell’s visionary novel homes in on Winston Smith, who works for the Ministry of Truth located in the nation of Oceania — part of a vast empire in a constant, shifting war against other superstates. Dissent is not tolerated (not even in thought), and Winston and his fellow citizens are under perpetual electronic surveillance by their ever-watchful ruler Big Brother. When Winston falls in love with a co-worker, their illegal affair pushes them to rebel and face the darkest and most dangerous corners of the regime. The multimedia production is a followup to last year’s Young Adults production of Orwell’s “Animal Farm.”

± “The Compass” (Feb. 24-March 12, 2016): Devised and directed by Michael Rohd, this world premiere asks such questions as: Do you constantly second-guess yourself? Do you always procrastinate? How would you feel if you never had to make a decision again? And it introduces audiences to The Compass, a brand-new app aimed at young people that does the heavy lifting on daily thinking. This live interactive performance will explore the intersection of technology and decision-making as it wonders: When someone else, or something else, tells you what to do, what exactly are you responsible for? Rohd is founding artistic director of Sojourn Theatre, a 15-year-old ensemble-based company. He is on faculty at Northwestern University, and author of the widely translated book “Theatre for Community, Conflict, and Dialogue.” And he is currently the Doris Duke artist-in-residence at Lookingglass Theatre Company.

Group tickets for student and public performances in the SYA 2015/16 Season are on sale now. Call Lauren Sivak at (312) 654-5643 or visit http://www.steppenwolf.org/groups. Single tickets to public performances of “1984” ($20) go on sale June 5 at 11 a.m. Call: (312) 335-1650 or visit http://www.steppenwolf.org. Single public tickets to The Compass will go on sale at a later date.