Having returned for the second time, my experience with the shows, staff, and location have been superb. Already looking forward to come back - even to enjoy the great lounge/bar connected to the theatre that has public access. Broad selection of cocktails, beverages, and light bites. read more

Steppenwolf Theater - Love to enjoy the bar and lounge next door for pre/showq - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Steppenwolf Theater is a complex of several different theaters. As a result, they have multiple productions occurring within the same facility. It was a treat for me to see John Mahoney perform, as I am a recent fan of Frasier. There's nothing like a live performance! This theater has a nice lobby, student tickets, and gender-neutral bathrooms. read more

See all

How I miss you! I wish you could be back my favorite theatre in the world. When you return so will I! great stafff! read more

Aww, man! Am I gonna have to give a compliment to that stinky Nick M? (Sigh) I guess I am. Y'see, I'd never been to the Steppenwolf before. I know!! I can sense pearls all over the great Chicago region gasping for air as they are consumed in a death grip. It's crazy, right? But, I'd never been. I had a guest coming in from out of town and I was looking to be all cultured an' stuff. So... I reached out to Yelp's resident theater guy for advice on where and what show to see. His expert (agh. The words. They're like glass in my throat!) opinion was right on. He directed me to a place where I could buy discount tickets and still get perfect seats. He told me what shows would be both entertaining and appropriate. But, most importantly, he directed (hyuck) me to the Steppenwolf. I was so excited to come to a theater that was so quintessentially Chicago. So many amazing actors (both famous and not-so-known) have worked here, given their all and left it all on the stage. A person of any inkling of creativity can't help but to feel the electricity. The theater (lower?) itself is quite modern. Or, maybe that was the set. No, I think it's the theater itself. There's not a bad seat in the place. It's accessible to those of all ranges of mobility (and girth; not being snarky at all) and the lighting/temperature controls are perfect. Prior to the show, take some time to roam the lobby and read the pillars. This is an anniversary season and it's cool to get a flashback to the '70s and read about hot news topics, films, music, and fashion that ruled the day. Getting to our seats was orderly and easy. The workers were all very accommodating, helpful and friendly. Simply put, you have to come here. You have to see a show. You have to participate in the fabric of what makes Chicago Chicago. Yes, I know the architecture, sports, politics, weather, and food are all important. But the arts... blues, jazz, live theater, street dance... these are essential elements of the Chicago experience. You rob yourself by not taking advantage of them. Oh! The show! I saw the Hot l Baltimore by Lanford Wilson. I was familiar with Balm In Gilead but didn't know much about this production. It was as wrenching as I was expecting (again, not snarky). The acting was top notch (most familiar, to me, was the young cop from Detroit 187), the set design was awesome (as in, inspiring), the music was organic, and the story was painfully real (and time appropriate). I left the theater unable to stop thinking about what I just saw... and that is how it should be. One of my most delightful Chicago experiences and I owe it to... to... are you going to make me say it? read more

Despite living in this city for thirteen years, I made my first two visits in the last four months, and have a mixed opinion. First, the productions: The Seafarer. Amazing show; very, very intense and powerful, with outstanding acting. Perhaps the set design was a little bit busy. It gives me chills just thinking about it now. The Tempest. This was the company's first attempt at Shakespeare...and it shows. I really liked the minimalist set design with a few situational details such as the ramp, the collapsing ship masts, Prospero's balcony room, and Ariel's crow's nest/DJ booth (yeah, read on). Unfortunately, they went "big" on some of the supernatural staging aspects, and it veered into ridiculous at times (e.g., Ariel DJing the musical numbers from his iMac laptop). I also thought that the acting was subpar, particularly Miranda, although Stephano and Caliban were very good. The Tempest is one of my three favorite Shakespeare plays and I feel that this was by far the poorest of the three that I've seen (the others were at Chicago Shakespeare and The Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford, UK). The facility is pretty good. I have had seats on the main floor right side and the center balcony, and it seems that there is no poor seat in the house. They have more concessions than most theaters, but nowhere to take them: there is no lounge area besides the narrow lobby which runs the width of the facade. Also, we went to The Seafarer on the coldest day of 2008 (that Sunday in December that it was below zero all day), and the theater was dreadfully cold. I mean abysmal, Cocytus-level cold. Probably the coldest that you could possibly imagine indoors. The coat-check attendant told us to keep our coats, but of course I smugly declined and later regretted it. It was enough to distract us from the play, which was a real shame. The website is easily navigable, displays exact seats from which to choose, and gives photo views of the stage from various spots. After I bought Seafarer tickets, they sent me a convenient email reminder weeks later when Tempest tickets were available. Also, they charge only $5 handling PER ORDER for website purchases. One detraction--they solicited me over the phone for donations. After listening patiently for nearly a minute and briefly answering questions about how I had enjoyed the Seafarer and what other types of plays I like, I said "I'm sorry, but I'm not--" CLICK. Yes, the man hung up on me as soon as I began to indicate that I would not make a donation. Rude, rude, rude, and a bad practice for an organization that benefits from building long-term relationships with its patrons. It won't keep me from going back, but they should clean that up. read more

Easy, I know I haven't reviewed Steppenwolf no need to get all theatrical or anything (Ha! See what I did there with the theatre & being theatrical comparison). The Steppenwolf is never a wasted ticket and never a disappointment! Even if they didn't have well named Actors who come in to play parts, they still have an amazing troupe. Directors, designers, and choreographers are stupendous. I really don't believe that there is a bad seat in the whole house and to be comfortable too. I have seen many shows over the years and to finally see a play from one of my favorite authors of all time and only to have it performed perfectly was goose bump kind of happy. The Tempest was nothing short of impressive, visually stunning, and set a new bar for modernized Shakespeare. Three cheers Steppenwolf for the show and to keeping theatre alive. I can't wait for the next one. read more

See all

Hard to believe I had never been to the Steppenwolf before. But that all changed last weekend as we went to see Mamet's, "American Buffalo" which was done in true Mamet style (translated: rhythmic half thoughts and obscenities). First of all- parking is a breeze. There is a lot just south of the theater where for $9 you can park from anytime after 5pm to 10:45pm. But beware. At 10:45 the garage closes so if you are going to stay and play after the show- either move your car to the street- or get a pass from the garage to park in the open lot next door. The theater itself is intimate without being crowded. There are two theaters (upstairs and downstairs). We were in the downstairs theater which is the more spacious of the two. There is not a bad seat in the house and the line of sight is good. There is plenty of leg room between the rows and the seats are comfy. Want a drink to enjoy along with the show? No problem. There is a small concession stand in the lobby that sells beer, wine, mixed drinks, water, etc. Want one of the snacks that they sell but worried about the crinkle of the package? They will give you a plastic cup and suggest you pour your candy in there. Problem solved! Everything runs smoothly and efficiently. I always hate to check a coat as I hate the long lines to retrieve it, but here,there was no wait at all. All tips that are given for the bar, or the coat check go to the theater itself which is nice. Great acoustics, amazing sight lines, reasonable prices (good seats for this play on a Saturday were about $77 each) and a live performance? You just can't beat that! read more

Astonishing. I was exposed to covid, and they said that I should go to their performance and risk infecting their other patrons -- "we're kind of phasing out the whole credit thing". I understand that they want wealthy patrons, but it is pretty irresponsible to pretend to be interested in cultural outreach, and then make things difficult for people who are trying to be socially concerned. I am sure their plays are good, but there are such riches of culture in Chicago, that I cannot imagine circumstances when I would ever give them another chance. read more

I give 5 stars to the performances but 0 stars for their membership services. Steppenwolf does little to ask member service feedback so I'm taking to yelp in hopes someone sees this. Membership renewal is not worth the time of renewing. Sorry but not sorry read more

My friend and I came here to see "The Birthday Party" because she has directed Pinter before, and she was curious to see how the Steppenwolf would interpret this play. This was my first visit to the Steppenwolf, which is hard to believe given I've lived nearby my whole life and I love theater. I'm happy to have finally found my way. The theater on the outside is pretty unassuming and inside there is a receptionist. I opted to take the elevator up to the third floor theater. Upstairs, there were coat racks, a bar, and a place to pick up will call tickets. The theater itself is pretty intimate. The stage is in the middle and there are audiences on both sides. I enjoyed being able to watch the expressions of other people while watching the play; it added to the whole experience. The acting was superb and my only disappointment was that John Mahoney didn't have a larger part. There's nothing at all fancy about the bathrooms, but they are clean, I so I can't complain. There were a couple intermissions between the acts, so we had ample time to get drinks and/or use the bathroom. I also used that time to explore the rest of the floor a bit. Interestingly, there was a huge map of Chicago on one of the walls and people were encouraged to take a post-it, write how safe your neighborhood is, and to post it where you live. What an interesting idea. Some post-its said they felt very safe (Barrington, Hinsdale, Park Ridge, etc) and others talked about how hearing guns shooting was not uncommon at all (Logan Square, Humboldt Park, etc). After the show (which was nuts, but I expected no less from Harold Pinter), there was a "talkback" where a a teaching artist led everyone through a discussion. We stayed because the idea of it sounded really promising, but we were disappointed. The discussion was really short and lot of the overarching themes and concepts weren't dissected at all. The teaching artist just let some of the audience guide the discussion, which involved a lot of, "What is Stanley's exact character?" and "Who did you feel were the bad guys?" So, I could have done without this particular talkback, BUT I love the fact that this is an option at this theater, so I would definitely go to another. Overall, I had a great first experience here and I will definitely be back for more! Tip: If you're a college student, be sure to use the student discount code when you order your ticket online. It's only $15! read more

I wanted to check out a live show while in chicago bc i didn't have the opportunity last time. I chose this theater bc of all the rave. It's located in the heart of lincoln park. The theater itself is small and intimate. You get a good view of the stage regardless of where you sit. Bc I didn't want to pay full price for the tickets (we saw "sex with strangers," which is currently showing here), i called the box office at 1pm the day of (we went on a thursday), and scored $20 tix (+$3 convenience fee). Couldn't beat that! Evening shows start at 7:30pm. I recommend having an early dinner at HB restaurant prior to the show. It's located on the same street (Hadsten) about a mile or so down. read more

For many years, I and nine friends were subscribers here, until 2008 when I needed to save some money. The acting is often magnificent, you can cut the tension in the air. The writing too, and I especially love that they take risks with new plays. And I appreciate that the cast, as well as the non-performing performers (e.g., set and lighting designers) take time after plays to have a discussion with the audience. I wish I could have been here in the early days, when they were even more cutting-edge and not needing corporate sponsorship and high ticket prices. The audience would be a little more age-diverse (they certainly seem to try to add ethnic/racial/gender diversity, though I'm not in a position to comment on that). But top-notch, career actors need to eat, sleep and put shoes on baby like the rest of us, and the prices are reasonable for the quality. There are plenty of young, edgy, storefront theaters in Chicago--arguably the best city for small theater in the country. The reason I no longer subscribe to every play? There were just too many plays about dysfunctional families for my taste. They were certainly excellent on all dimensions, except that I would have liked to see a broader array of topics. I recently went to see an excellent interpretation of Animal Farm in the upstairs theater, which has whet my interest in going more often. All in all, a Chicago institution in a class with the Art Institute and the Architecture Foundation. read more

Steppenwolf Theater - Animal Farm - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Steppenwolf has some great shows. The last one we saw was The Birthday Party. Dark but wonderful. British. Great cast. And the theater was all the way upstairs on I think the 3rd floor. I did not mind taking the stairs, but they do have an elevator. And the 3rd floor theater has its own box office, so it can cut down waiting time. I enjoyed the small theater in the round setting. If I had to describe it in one word, I'd go with intimate. Anyhow, the bathrooms are clean, the bar had a decent variety of beer and wine, and the pre-order for intermission went well. We used the call ahead for parking, who told us that parking spaces were running out. We were one of the last two cars to park there. Parking rates were reasonable. read more

We saw Mary Paige Marlowe and whoa it is emotional and such a great play!! Pretty much anyone can relate to the message of the play, which is essentially that life doesn't always go as planned. The acting was phenomenal. The main character is played by several people as Mary Paige goes through life. All of the actors did an amazing job and evoked quite a bit of emotion. These are professional actors, so it's to be expected. We sat in the pit seats, which I highly recommend. You really feel immersed into the play. The only downer is that I had to use the washroom and got up at the end of an act, but was told I could not be reseated in my seat and had to sit in the last row of the theater for the remainder of the play. I do understand that they don't want movement in the crowd because it's distracting; however, as a patron, I was disappointed to not be able to finish the play with my family. I will certainly return for more plays because it's really am amazing theater. I'll just know for the future that I cannot get up from my seat. read more

Steppenwolf Theater - View from the pit seats for Mary Paige Marlowe - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I don't think there is any other theater company where I walk away stunned at how good theater can really be on a consistent basis. Have only seen 3-4 shows here so far, but have seen nothing else to rival it, even on Broadway. The acting is second to none, and the plays chosen are very challenging and original. Nice intimate space. read more

I just recently saw the play titled "Russian Transport" this past Saturday with a few friends. Without giving too much away, this play was about a Russian family who had settled in NYC. The mother and father had raised their Russian born children in the US and it was evident that the family was dealing with "clash of cultures" as the Americanized children bump heads often with their culturally Russian parents. The family has struggled with money so everyone pitches in to help pay the bills, including the children. All of a sudden a relative from Russia arrives presenting a financial opportunity which has the ability to tear the family apart... At first it starts off like a drama but it soon turns into a thriller with some great twists! I highly recommend the show! As for the theater itself, the play was held on their 3rd floor stage, if I can even call it a stage. The sound and lighting were great, the seats were very comfortable, and the space was a very intimate space to enjoy a show! The space sat about 250 people and it was a full house on Saturday. The refreshments were also very reasonably priced! This actually was my first show at Steppenwolf and I was quite surprised. I ignorantly thought Steppenwolf was more of a community theater and wasn't expecting such a great production. I'll definitely be back for another show! read more

Inside Steppenwolf theater you will immediately feel at home. It's cozy in here. I came by for Mary Page Marlowe, which I highly recommend. There is no intermission. The set, plot and characters develop very intricately and artistically. As far as the actors, and there are many, they are superb! There is a lot of emotion in the play, and each actor gives their all emotionally. This draws the audience more into the story. Observe the flow of the play; there are a lot of twists and turns as it moves onward through the life of Mary Marlowe. I recommend sitting in the center portion of the theater. read more

Steppenwolf Theater - Initial set - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

About The Rembrandt Play: I went here about a month ago with my parents to see the play: The Rembrandt! Sure I have seen his spectacular paintings in museums...but could not name any specifically....this play is brilliant, comical (haha funny), and seriously sad at the end...it allows the audience to enter into the lives of three characters: an elderly and seasoned lifelong security guard at a museum, an art student with her easel painting the painting of the Rembrandt, and a rebellious and oppositional young man who is being trained to be a security guard at the museum. Nicely researched it allows the audience to comprehend the protocols of the security guards at the Art Museums in the United States and the rules and regulations which apply to the art and museum goers who visit....it also allows the audience to understand the work of art by Rembrandt and how it was formulated and executed by the artist. I laughed for 80 minutes and cried the last few...worth seeing and the time passed so quickly. Broad Description of the Play- The Steppenwolf Theater describes the play on their web site as "Spanning centuries of human experience, Jessica Dickey's The Rembrandt movingly explores the power of creative expression and the sacrifices we make in the pursuit of love and beauty, reminding us that though our beliefs may die with the sound of our voice, it's the love we share--and the art that love inspires--that finds eternity." Interior Seating- The seating is audience formulated at an angle so no one's head is blocking your view. The theater is of medium size most likely holding 100 or more people and it is upstairs from the main entrance. Ticket Purchasing- Upon ordering your tickets on-line the Steppenwolf Theater emails a list of local restaurants if you choose to eat prior to the performance and transportation details. Transportation within Chicago- We took the Red Line to the North/Clybourn Station and it was a few blocks down Halstead Street on the left..you cannot miss the colossal signage. The neighborhood has a suburban feel with an Apple Store, Crate & Barrel Store, Cartier...and residential apartments and/or condos. read more

Steppenwolf Theater - "The Rembrandt" Playbill...one of the BEST plays I have ever seen...should be on Broadway! That good! - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went to the Steppenwolf Theater to see Familiar and I truly loved both the play and the theater. The seats are comfortable and even though I sat in the balcony I could see every single thing that happened on stage! I had an awesome time and I can't wait to visit again! read more

Beautiful building and super friendly staff. My friends and I came down to see A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. Nice theater space and comfortable seating. The show itself was very well done. We had a great time watching the actors and lighting and props. First time using All Gender Bathroom stalls. I thought it was well worked out and hope to see more of them around my home town. I hope to make regular visits now that I know how to find the theatre and the neighborhood has many shopping and eating options. Thanks Steppenwolf Theater! read more

I had such a great experience at the Steppenwolf! I went to see Mary Page Marlowe with my mom, and we both thought the show was incredible, powerful, intense with the perfect dash of humor. It was a small theater but it was an unique experience for me because I have never been to such an intimate play! Such a great 90 minute production with all kinds of people in the audience! I promise, Mary Page Marlowe is not just for women, come one, come all! Will hopefully be back for future productions! read more

Steppenwolf Theater - Great seats, great wine - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a review only of the venue and the staff not of a particular play. This is a well designed theater. The view from pretty much all the seats is stellar. There is a parking garage next door which is very convenient for self parking in the garage. They list valet parking is available for $14 but don't list a price for self parking. Makes it seem like it is free. They should fix that. It is $12. I ordered our tickets online and asked for them to be held at Will Call. They were. Our seats were front row center balcony. We could not have asked for better. There was a staff led discussion of the play afterwards and we thought the monitor to be weak. He was very concerned with validating everyone's comments instead of properly facilitating the discussion. We would have hoped for a more thoughtful and insightful discussion. read more

Saw "Pass Over" tonight. Brilliant. Tore open my soul. I cried, I raged. BRILLIANT performances. Hope it is either extended or travels throughout this country. So many need to see this; too many wont. read more

Steppenwolf Theater - Tonight I had the honor of experiencing Black excellence. Thank you for enriching my soul Gentlemen! - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Very high production value. One of the best theaters in the city. Shows include classic genres as well as experimental and contemporary themes. I have caught two shows that were way over my head in absurdity and post-modern sensibilities, but I appreciate the experiences over all because I am challenged to think deeper and broader after every show. That's what art is for! read more

My favorite theater in Chicago. I've seen countless shows here and besides one that i wasn't crazy about, everything has been a great production and thought provoking. Never disappoint. If you like off-Broadway rather than the big Broadway spectacles, you'll like this theater. read more

Steppenwolf Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Steppenwolf Theater always has very thought provoking productions. After the show, you can stay for discussions about the performance! Also, if you need a quick dinner, the bar serves great food and drinks in a fun environment! read more

My husband and I have been coming to the Steppenwolf since moving to Chicago 2 years ago. Since I was under thirty years old, I was able to get a RED card, which allowed me to have 6 theatre credits to use however I liked (I did have to be present) for $100. Less than $17 a ticket. So my husband and I went to nearly everything playing. I have now aged out of my RED card, and plan to still go to shows here. I will research the BLACK card. In terms of the shows produced, it is kind of a mixed bag of absolutely stellar, thoughtful and relevant work, to other plays that didn't exactly speak to us. But that is often the case with theatre. The shows are always beautifully produced, well acted, and the theatres themselves are well designed, such that there are no bad seats. What I love about Steppenwolf is that they produce newer pieces that are trying to speak to a Chicago audience more than a theatre that is putting on a play version of "Sideways" or "Around the World in 80 Days" because they are trying to make money. read more

The Traffic Series here is just amazing, as are, I'm sure, all the other productions. I saw David Sedaris reading some of his new work this afternoon, along w/ a question and answer and book signing. Here's how he signed my book: To Preet - I am glad you are alive, and not dead. D. Sedaris Well, shit. If that's not worth the price of admission, I don't know what is. read more

My firm is doing a potential project for Steppenwolf Theater and I was lucky enough to be given a ticket to attend the opening night performance of Samuel Beckett's Endgame this evening. I had been to Steppenwolf several times over the years for various shows but I had been to the theater in at least a year or more. It was just as good a venue as I recalled. There's not a bad play to see here. Most of their plays have one well-known actor but even the ones that don't have amazing undiscovered talent among them. The venue itself has a parking facility, concession stand, and a spacious area to wait for the play to begin. There are also many restaurants nearby to grab dinner before or after a show. I am biased about this particular production of 'Endgame' as it stars my celebrity freebie, William Petersen, who could read the phone book and I would be utterly mesmerized. I was expecting a very dark play, but it was surprisingly comedic, given its intense subject matter. That's what I like best about Steppenwolf's productions - they take risks and aren't afraid to tackle lesser known projects to perform. Anyone who's a fan of theater should definitely see a performance at the Steppenwolf. Their actors, writers, set-designers and directors are all top-notch. I cannot recommend Steppenwolf highly enough. read more

This is one of those holy Meccas of theatre, if you happened to come of age in the theatre in the 70s. Seattle was a GREAT theatre town in the 70s, but even in the mid-70s, John Malkovich and EVERYONE who has come out of Steppenwolf in Chicago since then (a muscular theatre that, let's face it, has the added benefit of DEMYSTIFYING New York theatre - fie on you, New York, fie, you anachronism you!) put regional theatre on the map. I saw Conor McPherson's THE SEAFARER (I happen to be a fan of the somewhat florid Irish writers because I think they give voice to the somewhat less verbal Asian soul), and I was not disappointed. Everything I like about theatre - including a very judicious use of the beautiful space - was on display in this production: Acting, writing, and the visual arts, in that order. Why one star off? ALL WHITE. read more

I've been kindly gifted tickets to two recent Steppenwolf productions, The Seafarer and August: Osage County, and was floored by both. I feel so fortunate to live in a city like Chicago where we have access to such well written and well performed productions. I do have one minor quibble - I attended The Seafarer on one of the coldest nights of winter and the theater was ridiculously cold. I knew we were in trouble when the coat check staffers were telling people they might want to keep their coats. The theater wasn't just chilly, it was freezing - I kept my coat, scarf and gloves on through the entire production and, if it wouldn't have made me look like an idiot, I'd have put my hat on too. It wasn't clear if there was a mechanical malfunction that evening or if it was just impossible to warm the theater under those conditions, but it did negatively impact my enjoyment of the play. Minor snafu aside, I've loved my experiences with Steppenwolf and I can't wait to return...in the summer. read more

Love this theatre. I mean, how is it not to love? They put on quality productions, have affordable tickets, great seating and a amazing revolving cast. The first time I went was last year. I know, *GASP*. We saw Good People, and it was just sit-in-your-seats, fill like you are part of the story, and realize the impact it has on you when its over. Soon after, when Steppenwolf called me asking if I enjoyed the program and if I would like to get a subscription for the remaining shows, I was wary because I thought prices will be exorbitant. But in the end, tickets were around $30 for each remaining shows and I jumped at the chance to be able to see the remaining 4 performances. Subsequently, there has been 2 other fabulous performances and 1 a bit of mixed feelings. Oh, for those who donate to WXRT, WFMT, WTTW, and get a MemberCard, this theater is part of the program, which means, you get to utilize its 2-for-1 tickets one time on the MemberCard. read more

We subscribed here for years and did not renew, which broke my heart. I love the idea of this theatre, the way it started and the careers that have been launched from here. I have had magical theatrical moments here but not for a couple of years. We started leaving at intermission, then we started skipping plays. It was a drawn out break up on my end. I just feel like they have become SERIOUS ABOUT THE THEATRE. If there isn't incest, alcoholism, dsyfunctionality and Amy Morton over acting, they just can't stage the show. It just isn't serious enough drama! The sets get better and better and the plays make you want to stick your head in the oven when you leave. Please, go back to the magical theatre, the minimal sets and the art not the shouting! It's ok to have a play where everybody doesn't hate everyone else. read more

Going out for a show at the Steppenwolf may be the most underrated fun in Chicago. Front-row tickets can usually be had for anywhere between $50 and $80 and the plays utilize a great ensemble cast along with surprisingly famous guest performers from time to time. This year, I've seen BLKS and You Got Older, and both were irreverent but thoughtful comedies that made you consider the human condition just a little more than you may have otherwise. In a world of text messages, social media, CGI, and any number of other "not quite real" distractions. It's a delight to be able to see flesh and blood performers who want you to laugh, cry, and think for at least one night! read more

I went to watch Samuel Beckett's Endgame last night and really enjoyed it. The downstairs theatre was small and intimate. Not a bad seat in the house. I sat in the front row and it was great. I felt like I was sitting right on stage. If you try to buy tickets online, it shows limited seating, but when I went, all these empty seats were around me. You may be able to get discounted seats at the box office on the day you go than pay for the full prices online especially during the weekdays. I'm a CSI fan which is why I watched Endgame because it has William Petersen (Grissom) as the main character, Hamm. The Steppenwolf theatre ensemble features some of the best actors around - Gary Senise, Joan Allen, Laurie Metcalf, John Malkovich, etc. However, don't expect them to be acting together all at once. They are involved with this theatre company either acting or behind the scenes. If you are into theatre and want to watch a great play, come to the Steppenwolf. read more

I saw Hershey Felder's outstanding performance titled "Our Great Tchaikovsky" on April 19th, 2018. All I can say is "WOW" - Hershey Felder is a true artist in every sense of the word - a phenomenal pianist, storyteller, actor, writer, producer, and genuine man who cares enough to do his research when getting into a role of a musician he is "bringing back to life". For example, he brought Pyotr Tchaikovsky's life story to the Steppenwolf Theater's upstairs stage just recently and the performance made you feel as though you had just watched the life of a brilliant Russian musician live a life full of mystery, despair, triumph and every other emotion in-between. From beginning to end, Hershey Felder went "110%" and had the entire crowd on their toes, amazed at the beauty of his piano playing skills but also because of his ability to exhibit the dark truths that Tchaikovsky had to live with and delicately control, in order to continue his passion for composing music. Steppenwolf Theater knows how to choose their performances and performers - and this show has me wanting to visit again real soon. read more

Steppenwolf Theater - Hershey Felder's "Our Great Tchaikovsky" event (April 19/2018) - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is an experience. It is the epitome of "coolness" as my generation used to say. We loved it and will definitely try to return every time we're in the city ! read more

It is such a pleasure to see a show here. First of all, the theater was designed as a theater (radical for Chicago), so you can see and hear from everywhere in the house. And it's comfortable. Who knew? Second, there's the Steppenwolf company of actors, directors, and designers. No, you're not going to see Joan Allen. But Malkovich does a show every few years (and if you've only seen Malkovich on screen, you've never seen Malkovich). And Gary Sinise, Terry Kinney and John Mahoney work here regularly. The company has grown wisely by bringing in new talents, such as Tracy Letts and the wonderful Amy Morton, as older members have moved on. (Glenne Headly, anyone?) BTW, Morton and Letts will be starring in Harold Pinter's "Betrayal," starting at the end of January. It's a great play, and they should do it credit. The problem with Steppenwolf is that it has gotten fairly tame. They still do interesting work, but you're not going to see another True West or Balm in Gilead any time soon. This season's "Pillowman" had its moments, but it left me craving the shocking production it would have been 20 years ago. read more

I've had season tickets to the Steppenwolf for about six or seven years now. I've seen a ton of shows at other theaters, and for my money, the Steppenwolf offers the most worthwhile season ticket experience in Chicago. It also doesn't hurt that it's right behind my building and I can get from my door to my seat in the theater in less than 30 seconds. The quality of the acting and directing is tremendous. The Steppenwolf is truly a treasure. All theater is a matter of taste, of course, and usually one of the shows each season is a little bit of a dog. That's to be expected for a company that stages a lot of originals and some lesser-known works. But the nice thing about the Steppenwolf is that even the shows you don't like are interesting, thought-provoking and entertaining. And you will like most of them. Also keep an eye out for the shows that are not a part of the season series--one of the best values they offer is the rotating summer series of new plays that they stage in the Garage theater space. They've got three performance spaces: the "Downstairs" mainstage theater (which is the most comfortable and audience-friendly of the larger theaters in Chicago), the "Upstairs" theater, which is a smaller, more intimate proscenium stage, and the Garage, which is a large-ish black box. In the last couple years, they've been including one show in the Upstairs theater in the season package, which makes a nice change. I think they offer some flex ticket packages, if you're looking for a good gift idea. They're very customer-oriented if you're a season ticket holder--you can easily switch your tickets to a different night if you can make the show with very little hassle. If you haven't seen a show here yet, do it! If you're thinking of pulling the trigger on a season ticket package, I can assure you, you won't regret it! read more

A million years ago I volunteered as an usher just so I could see a play or two. I can afford the tickets myself now and really appreciate the environment. "Middletown" was a mix of funny, clever, thought provoking and somewhat dark and sad. A sad and yet accurate study on life for most of us. I think. I'm no critic but I do write for Yelp. If you're visiting Chicago you must include Steppenwolf on your to do list, if you live here...you must include Steppenwolf on your list of places to see soon. read more