I absolutely love the theater, I've seen several great shows here. Looking forward to the next one :)

Part of the reason I came to Chicago to do my undergrad in theatre was because Steppenwolf was here. Even in the dark recesses of Western Pennsylvania I had heard about it, how great their work was, how the ensemble was excellent. I saw my first show of theirs, 'A Well-Appointed Room,' in the 2005-2006 season, and while it wasn't the best script, I was totally entranced by Tracy Letts. Here, I'll say it: I have a crush on Tracy Letts. He is a brilliant actor. When I interned at Steppenwolf last summer, my heart would be all aflutter when I would pass him smoking on the front stoop. Le sigh. Anyway, the tickets are fairly reasonably priced (certainly better than Goodman's, I'll tell you that much), and the subscriptions are totally worth it. The mainstage shows always feature the excellent actors of the ensemble plus great up-and-comers from the Chicago scene. The Upstairs shows are usually a little quirkier, but are also very good; 'after the quake' in '05-'06 was great. The garage shows are on the high end of the weird scale and are a great way to see work that would normally be stuck in a season of crap at a fringe theatre. Of course, Steppenwolf's most recent triumph was Letts' 'August: Osage County,' currently Broadway-bound. It was by far the greatest theatrical production I've ever seen, from the tantalizing script to the fiery acting to the beautiful set. Tracy Letts is now not only my crush, but also my HERO. In other words, the 'Wolf is awesome. It is the definition of Chicago theatre. read more

This was my first time visiting this theatre. We saw The House on Mango Street in the Upstairs Theatre. This is a cute little theatre. It didn't seem to me like there was a bad seat in the house. There's a bar with snacks in the lobby. The only complaint I have is about the parking gargage. It needs to have more lighting and be better lit for it's cutomers. It's very convenient and reasonably priced, but be sure to walk back with the rest of the theatre crowd. read more

We just saw The Night Alive now playing through November 16! The funny and frightening new drama from Conor McPherson, author of The Weir , Shining City and The Seafarer. This play about contemporary Ireland had the audience laughing out loud and later gasping in terror. The actors are top notch, as are all Steppenwolf productions. Parking is just south in a garage or you can valet. In New York I saw McPherson's The Seafarer and this Chicago production is just as good. This theater makes it comfortable and easy to go see a play..... go to Steppenwolf. read more

The season ticket package is probably the best gift I've received in recent memory. There's not a bad seat in the house, and the seating is comfortable and roomy. Really interesting shows with excellent acting. Set design is top-notch and staff is friendly. Overall a great value and great investment. Treat yo'self or give a great gift. read more

I especially appreciate their commitment to including and spotlighting writers, directors and actors of color!

"Meh. I've experienced better" -- couldn't have said it better myself. I was pretty excited to attend a production at the famous Steppenwolf when asked to accompanied a friend to see The Tempest . Unfortunately, I felt a little let down. The acting wasn't that strong and I later confirmed that they had dropped a lot of lines. I also found myself a bit perplexed in the meshing of modern and traditional. I felt it was very lopsided. I am all for alternative interpretations but I felt that it wasn't executed as well as it could be. Instead of adding to the story, it took away from the rest of the plot. The theater itself is decent. I am more a fan of the vintage theaters but as modern settings go it was clean and appropriate in size and layout. I do feel it is slightly on the sterile side and could use just a tad more personality. read more

Okay...Steppenwolf is the premiere theater to attend in Chicago, it puts up the best-of-the-best...the staff was helpful...the order-your-drink-before-intermission idea is clever...and the show was intriguing. But TELL ME WHY the patrons of "Sex with Strangers" acted like they were at a Cubs game? I went to on a Saturday night with my boyfriend for our Valentine's gift (celebrated in March!) and there was a woman that was responding out-loud to the performance and in a way HECKLING? It just seems weird for someone to have to get shushed during a live performance (and ever!) And when we got to our seats, other people were sitting in them and refused to get up? Have some manners! All-in-all good time,great conversation starter, but jeeeeez! read more

This theater is wonderful. I've been here twice, and I've loved both experiences. The first time we saw The Herd starring John Mahoney and the second time we saw Pass Over. Both were very emotional to watch, and they were very well done. I was surprised because neither play was a topic I would necessarily pick for a Friday night out, but they were both such powerful plays (especially Pass Over) that I'll remember the messages for a long time. The space itself is very modern, and it feels like a special occasion kind of night. The theater has a perfect location, right next to the North Avenue redline stop, and there are so many good food options within walking distance. Highly recommend checking out this theater! read more

Saw a play in the garage with my humanities class. It was called Adore. I did not know what to expect. It was one of the best thought out plays I have ever seen. It was a true story and the writers were awesome. The stage and media was so future. It was great. The staff was wonderful and it is a great place to check out or if you have not been in awhile like me it is worth rechecking this out! read more

One of the true gems of the Chicago theatre scene. Literally haven't seen a bad show there yet. Steppenwolf uses some of the most amazing actors of our time to present challenging and modern theatre in new and innovative ways. Beyond their amazing shows, the Steppenwolf experience is flawless. Staff are friendly, concessions are terrific, parking is easy, access to CTA is easy, and seats are comfortable. I love being a subscriber and will continue my subscription for years to come! read more

I love the theater- and i can't get enough of the Steppenwolf. There are so many great theater lotions in Chicago; but most theatre company's have or hit-or-miss productions and you are never sure which one you have tickets for until it's too late. The Steppenwolf is NOT hit-or-miss; literally every production I've seen there had been worth while and extremely well executed. Steppenwolf consistently provides timely, modern and fresh plays that present interesting and unique social commentaries on current events (e.g. swinging in "qualms" or human trafficking in "Russian transport") that are intimate, engaging, and entertaining. If you want to see a good play- guaranteed- go to the Steppenwolf! read more

Great theater but exchange fee was very high. I made a mistake and in less than 24 hours I called to change my mistake, but even though I bought many tickets they charge me a large amount just to change the date. Very disappointing. I will more hesitant to buy anything in advance. read more

This is my favorite theatre in Chicago. The plays break my heart. The decor is so perfect. The concession stand is classy! I love Steppen read more

Saw The Pillowman here a while back and it was one of the best plays I have seen in about 10 years. The acting was superb and Tracy Letts is just awesome on stage. I wish I could have seen his Pulitzer award winning play August Osage County but I missed it before it went to Broadway. Do try and go see this ensemble sometime, great theater, wonderful actors and a just great experience overall. read more

Everything I've seen at the Steppenwolf has been exceptional. The acting is top notch, the staging is simple but effective, and the plays they perform are very interesting. Whenever I visit I always walk away thinking that I should visit more often than I do. At 50 dollars a ticket, the price can be off-putting for many. However, if you show up an hour before show-time you can get half-price tickets, or if you sign up for the mailing list, they occasionally email out good deals. I highly recommend going mid-week and getting great seats for a very reasonable 20 or 25 dollars a piece. For the cost of two movies you can see live theater performed by some of the leading stage actors in the country. Live theater is an incredible experience, and I can't think of anywhere in Chicago that does it better. read more

This, friends, is where the magic of Chicago's style of acting began. I was really amazed by the last production I saw of THE TEMPEST-- Stepp's first foray into Shakespeare. Fantastic production value, excellent acting, and a perfect example of the dexterity of the company. A Chicago gem. Try to get the rush tix if you can to save extra money. Even if you can't, it's totally worth the full cost ticket. read more

I have heard of Steppenwolf Theatre Company (where the young Gary Sinese and John Malkovich honed their acting skills) and had always wanted to visit Chicago and see one of their productions. I recently had the pleasure of doing so. The play was "Detroit" by Lisa d' Amour. EXCELLENT acting by the entire cast. Laurie Metcalf, Ian Barford, Kate Arrington, Kevin Anderson. Superb artists. The theatre interior is a small, intimate space -- wonderful. I'm not particularly fond of the industrial look, but still it's a great little theatre. Hopefully I can return in the future for another production. read more

Don't let anyone tell you Chicago isn't the place for theatre. Yes, I know. New York has Broadway and better yet off Broadway. But they just don't take risks anymore. They're too timid because heaven forbid that the tourists who will also be going to Olive Garden afterwards might be too affronted. Steppenwolf has theatre. Real crafted theatre. read more

Step right in to a wonderful nostalgic Theatre experience. Great location, actors, ambiance and thought provoking hysterical plays! We got rush tickets to See Linda Vista. Raw emotional and oh so funny. We couldn't stop laughing and almost crying. Surprisingly front row was an excellent place to sit too! read more

Went to see "The Minutes" and it was God awful. Kept waiting for it to get interesting and it just wouldn't budge in that direction. Waste of talented actors. Having first hand experience with native Americans, I could say this play was too stupid to be insulting. read more

They charged me an extra 13 bucks for a single ticket! I guess that's Steppenwolf way of saying, "Your husband's death last year may mean grief and heartache for you, but to us it's a way to grab some additional money out of your pocket for no added value to you whatsoever." Thanks for exploiting my tragedy. I am never coming back. read more

Great space with consistently masterful acting. I've had a subscription and it's money well spent. This year there haven't been many plays where the women had a lot of good parts. Occasionally there's a weak play, but it's usually just one a season. read more

One of the great theatres in the US. Everything about it is world class--the performances, architecture, seating, staff and even the snack bar. Don't miss out on the $5 Vosges chocolates. read more

Steppenwolf Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Every seat is a good seat at this theater. It's nice to check out a play every once and a while and the neighborhood theater provides a nice intimate setting. I get frequent mailings but don't always pull the trigger, but when I do I don't regret it. They also allow drinks in the theater and serve beforehand and during intermission. read more

Saw another great play, this one from the playwright and poet Aziza Barnes. She's a Cave Canem Fellow and also co-hosts a podcast called The Poetry Gods. She came out of the Slam world and has two books of poetry out, me, Aunt Jemima and the nail gun and i be but I ain't. Check 'em out and check out BLKS at Steppenwolf if you get a chance. It's funny as shit even if you are middle-aged and white so you don't get half of it. Reminds you how much you still don't know, how much you could still learn from listening. Steppenwolf is a great venue with high production values and this play was no exception - super high energy, well written, well directed, and well acted. It was also nice for once to be at live theatre where the audience was not almost entirely white and over sixty-five. I'd love to see more live theatre reach more diverse audiences and this play felt like it did that. Catch it if you can and check out the poetry of Aziza Barnes as well, you can feel the slam roots in this play. read more

Steppenwolf Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went to see "This Train" here a few days ago. It was incredible! It is a combination of the actor's memoirs (great Chicago tales), amazing artwork (done by the actor, himself), and moving folk music (that accompanies poetry written by the actor himself). Woven throughout all of this are themes of home (what it means to different people), what threatens home (trains displacing the natives of the west, Chicago aldermen displacing the homeless here, etc.) and commentary on neighborhoods and who is "American." It is rare that a performance can make me laugh hysterically one second, want to cry the next, and leave me questioning my own concepts of home. That said... sorry, but the performance is done at Steppenwolf now and will be heading to other parts of the country. Hopefully it will come back to Chicago and this theatre - the garage theatre was the perfect setting for this performance... at regular intervals, you could hear the red line - it added to the ambiance! read more

The Steppenwolf Theatre Company surpasses any company in NYC. In fact, we often to see the "next hit" at this theater before it even goes to Broadway. Often tickets are available on HotTox and there is not a bad seat in the house. read more

I've taken so many CTA train rides past Steppenwolf Theater that I resolved to see at least one show there. However, I was put off by the steep prices and thought I was resigned to admiring the theater from afar... Until, I discovered this super fantabulous offer they are offering to "twenty-somethings!" What is a "twenty-something" you may ask? It sounds vague, but it's actually very clear--it is anyone aged between 21-29. For anyone in their twenties, if you pay $100, you get to see 6 shows. SIX SHOWS. WITHIN ONE YEAR. You can use your tickets to bring friends! One regular priced ticket can cost as much as $84. I saw a show on a Sunday afternoon; I saw "Visiting Edna." The acting was breathtaking. They were truly professionals; they didn't miss a beat. The set was amazing; they simulated rain--I can't even tell you whether it was actual rain or not. The theater is impeccably maintained. On Sunday afternoons, they also offer special audio assistance for the hearing impaired. I sat two seats away from someone who used the system, and he seemed happy with the service. I also noticed that, at least, on Sunday afternoon, the age of the crowd skewed older (*cough* mostly middle aged adults and senior citizens *cough*), and they made sure to take care of their patrons. They helped anyone with any sort of disability out and treated them with the utmost care and respect. I was really touched by the sight of the theater taking care of its patrons so lovingly. Also, for those who are not twenty-somethings but still want to get into Steppenwolf, if you call the day of, they have limited number of tickets for $20. read more

So I've never considered myself much of a theater person, but I really enjoy the shows at the Steppenwolf. Some friends introduced me to their $20 deal- basically you call at 11am when the box office opens on the day you want to go, and if they still have tickets available you can get them for $20 (2 max). This has worked for us every time except once, when it was student night. The theater is comfortable, and its nice that they also have a small concession stand. There are post-show discussions, which can be hit or miss but we usually stay for just to hear what everyone has to say as the shows are usually very thought provoking. All in all, a fun and fairly inexpensive way to spend a cold Chicago evening! read more

When Paige invited me to join her for the theater, I jumped at the chance, I love to see plays. She offered me the choice between The Tempest and Art (an adaptation of a French comedy)., I opted for the latter, and I am glad I did. The production was very good, lovely set design, excellent acting, and the upstairs theater didn't seem to have a bad seat in the house. Aside from a lady in the audience who sounded like she was dying of asthma every time she laughed and kept snorting and making odd sounds, I had a great time and hope to go back to see further productions sooner than later. read more

I attended the performance of Russian Transport here. This is a show that I had been looking forward to seeing for the past couple of months, so was happy that I could nab a seat to the Sunday matinee. I have been to the Steppenwolf Theatre only a couple of other times; this was the first performance that I attended on the 3rd floor. My seat in the front row was right in spitting distance (literally, as I witnessed some of the actors spit during particularly animated scenes). I wasn't sure what to expect, but found that the two-and-a-half hour performance (including 15-min intermission) flew by. For this performance, I would almost categorize it as a theater-in-the-round setup, as I could see the rows of seats immediately across from me, as the seating circled the stage. This was not an impediment to my viewing and I was able to be transported into the play once the lights dimmed. The Steppenwolf is a not-to-be-missed experience when it comes to live theatre in Chicago and I look forward to keeping an eye on the upcoming slate of performances to plot a return visit. read more

This play was utterly relevant to today's political situation. I read another person's review that blasted the play and wonder if we saw the same thing. This play chilled me to the bones, considering that I wonder how far people will go to maintain the status quo, no matter how heinous it is. read more

I am sure there are a lot of fans of this theatre as there were many grand moments that it celebrated. But, I was little disappointed by the staging of the Tempest. It was painful to see actors struggling with lines and offhanded "bizarre" production. The pretense for modern interpretation proved to be distasteful and banal. Most of the times the confused lines of actors muddled with poor developed scenes. Perhaps the idea was beautiful, to modernize the Shakespearean dark satire of emerging colonization but the execution needed polish. I certainly give credit for that and for the fact that the director chose mixed Miranda and therefore creole woman rather than pure white woman (As far as I remember two Tempests, including Aime Cesare's all featured white girls) I give three stars. I was prepared for world class performance but instead I was stuck in mid afternoon intermission and there were already alcohol hungry people in lobby. I joined the vodka line as I listened to two Russian elderly ladies rattle about poor play. Oh well, may be Shakespeare is just not American thing... read more

If you only have time to see one play while you're in Chicago, it should be at the Steppenwolf. Eclectic mix of things from the famous to the local. Definitely worth checking out! read more

The word that comes to mind when describing the Steppenwolf Theatre is "professional." I've been to 9 or 10 plays here and they have been without exception very well acted, directed, designed, etc. The sets tend to be quite elaborate--unlike most theater companies in Chicago, Steppenwolf seems to have no shortage of $$. The slickness of the performances has its drawbacks, though, since they can lose that raw, intimate feeling that you get at smaller independent theater companies. This is less true for the upstairs theater, which is smaller. Of all the plays I've seen here, my favorite was Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard." All the others have been contemporary pieces, which makes me wish that Steppenwolf would put on more classic plays. I would love to see them do a Greek tragedy. One tip: you can get half-price tickets at the box office an hour before the show. Shows are rarely completely sold out, so this is a safe bet if you want to save a little money. One more tip: The Black Duck, which is right up the street, is a great place to get dinner before the show. Their steak sandwiches kick ass. One last tip: Parking around there is hard to find, but I've parked in the Crate & Barrel parking lot after business hours for free with no problem. read more

I was soooo lucky to get to see, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest starring Gary Sinise here! It is an outstanding venue and a must for any true Chicagoan ;) this is a legendary place full of magic!!! Fun fact, walked right by Gary on the street about an hour before showtime! He was sipping on a soda (or pop depending upon where you're from) in dark aviators and leather jacket! read more

One of the best venues in the city. We have season tickets and the shows are always excellent performances with top notch actors and creative sets. Worth visiting for a night out and great for a date. There is a bar at the theater, so you can get a drink before the show or during intermission if you are so inclined. Parking is also available in a lot nearby if you are driving here. read more

Lovely theater! Got 1/2 price tickets to "East of Eden" 1 hour before the show. Balcony seats still had a good view of the stage and the staff was very friendly. Acting, props, scenes were carried out wonderfully. Would definitely come back for another show! read more

I went for Good People this weekend. What a great play! The audience was so involved and enthusiastic. I slipped out to use the restaurant, and I was told on my return that I had to wait to be seated during the next intermission. I wasn't upset, because the theater has televisions in the lobby area. I simply grabbed a beer (reasonably priced) and watched the last few minutes before the break. I will definitely be back. read more