
Get ready for a summer of laughs as Steppenwolf Theatre Company welcomes award-winning performers Laura Benanti and Alex Edelman for two limited comedy engagements.
First up, direct from an acclaimed run at Edinburgh Fringe and two sold-out Off-Broadway runs comes Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares, a one-woman comedy show from the mind of Tony Award winner Laura Benanti, playing five performances August 6 – 9, 2026. Known for her dazzling Broadway performances and razor-sharp wit, Benanti takes the stage to share her hilarious, heartfelt and sometimes brutally honest take on motherhood, people pleasing and the joys of aging as a woman. Blending side-splitting storytelling with original songs, this New York Times Critic's Pick is a love letter to recovering ingénues, mothers and anybody working on themselves. Based on Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares, an Audible Original, Nobody Cares is created by Laura Benanti with songs co-written by Todd Almond and direction by Annie Tippe. The Steppenwolf presentation marks the first stop on a national tour for the project following a summer run at London's Underbelly Soho this July, with further stops to be announced.
Up next, following a critically-acclaimed, sell-out run of Just For Us at Steppenwolf and around the globe, Tony and Emmy Award-winning comedian Alex Edelman returns with another hilarious and thought-provoking dissection of identity: What Are You Going to Do, playing five performances August 12 – 16, 2026. This all-new show finds the Bostonian sweetheart asking different and more unsettling questions. Primarily, should he spend his time doing something else? Should he be saving lives like his physician father? Should he be trying to return to the sense of community he experienced growing up among Israelis and Palestinians? In a show that reckons with the effects of time spent in trauma, Edelman deftly weaves in and out of examinations of faith broadly—not just Judaism—and wonders if, perhaps, there might be better things out there for him.
Both shows will be presented in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. A special Steppenwolf member pre-sale begins Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 12 pm. Tickets for both shows go on sale to the general public on Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 12 pm at steppenwolf.org or by calling the Box Office at (312) 335-1650.
Performance Schedules and Ticket Prices
Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares
Dates: Thursday, August 6 – Sunday, August 9, 2026
Performance Times: Thursday & Friday at 7:30 pm; Saturday at 3 pm & 7:30 pm; Sunday at 3:30 pm
Ticket Prices: $79 – $125 (includes $10 processing fees)
Alex Edelman: What Are You Going To Do
Dates: Wednesday, August 12 – Sunday, August 16, 2026
Times: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 3 pm
Ticket Prices: $49 – $84 (includes $10 processing fees)
Artist Biographies
Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares
Laura Benanti (Star and Creator):
"The divine Laura Benanti appears to have reached a point where there's nothing she can't do..."
–Hollywood Reporter
Tony Award winner Laura Benanti is a highly celebrated stage and screen actress. Ms. Benanti debuted her critically acclaimed comedy show Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares at the Minetta Lane Theater in NYC. Ms. Benanti created, wrote (songs co-written with Todd Almond) and starred in the show, which earned rave reviews and was chosen as a New York Times Critics' Pick. The show then had a sold out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2025 with encore performances in London and Berkeley.
Ms. Benanti can currently be seen as a series regular in the role of 'Cindy' on the acclaimed Paramount+ series Mayor of Kingstown, starring opposite Jeremy Renner. Ms. Benanti co-starred in the hit comedic film No Hard Feelings with Jennifer Lawrence and Matthew Broderick. Ms. Benanti's iconic impression of Melania Trump on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has earned praise from across the industry. Other comedic work includes regular appearances on Elsbeth and Inside Amy Schumer. In television, Ms. Benanti has played dynamic characters in Younger, The Gilded Age, Nashville, Supergirl and Gossip Girl. Ms. Benanti earned rave reviews for her portrayal of a grieving widow in Netflix's film Worth, starring opposite Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci and Amy Ryan.
In the theater, Ms. Benanti has been nominated for 5 Tony Awards. She took Broadway by storm at the age of 18 as Maria in The Sound of Music and has subsequently starred in ten more Broadway shows (musicals, straight plays, comedies and dramas), including Into the Woods, Nine, (opposite Antonio Banderas), Gypsy (for which she won a Tony Award), She Loves Me, My Fair Lady and Steve Martin's Meteor Shower opposite Amy Schumer and Keegan-Michael Key.
Todd Almond (Songs Co-Writer) is an acclaimed performer, songwriter and playwright. His solo show I'm Almost There was hailed by The New York Times as "a work of wonder," and his recent Broadway performance in Girl from the North Country was praised as "stunning" by The Washington Post and "roof-raising, uplifting, and invigorating" by The Hollywood Reporter. Almond co-wrote the songs for and music-directed Audible's hit comedy Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares, and also appeared opposite Ms. Benanti as Gideon Wolfe in the HBO Max reboot of Gossip Girl. His musical adaptation of The Odyssey, produced at Shakespeare in the Park's Delacorte Theater in Central Park, was hailed by The New York Times as "brash, funny and heart-stirring." Todd recently toured the U.S. in his original musical Kansas City Choir Boy, co-starring rock icon Courtney Love; Rolling Stone called the piece "awesome, slyly punk rock." He also starred in three of his original musicals at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park: The Tempest, The Winter's Tale and The Odyssey. His musical Girlfriend, based on the Matthew Sweet album of the same title, has become a perennial favorite for theater companies across the U.S. and in Japan. His past collaborators include Sarah Ruhl (Melancholy Play: A Chamber Musical), Jenny Schwartz (Iowa), Laura Benanti (In Constant Search for the Right Kind of Attention), Sherie Rene Scott (Piece of Meat), Kelli O'Hara (Live at Carnegie Hall) and Andrew Rannells (Live from Lincoln Center). As a composer and orchestrator, Almond has written and arranged music for Noises Off on Broadway, Iowa at Playwrights Horizons, Fcking A* at Signature Theatre, How to Transcend a Happy Marriage at Lincoln Center Theater and the film adaptation of Michael John LaChiusa's Hello Again. Other New York acting credits include Stage Kiss by Sarah Ruhl at Playwrights Horizons, People Are Wrong at the Vineyard and Law & Order: SVU.
Annie Tippe (Director) is an award-winning director and creator of new work, music theater and film. Off-Broadway: Octet (World Premiere; Signature. Lortel Award: Best Direction, Best Musical), Three Houses (World Premiere; Signature. Lortel Award: Best Musical), Ghost Quartet (World Premiere; Bushwick Starr. Norton Award: Best Visiting Production), Magnificent Bird / Book of Travelers (Playwrights Horizons), Your Own Personal Exegesis (LCT). Regional: HUZZAH! (World Premiere; Old Globe), Life After (Ed Mirvish CAA; Goodman, Jeff Award Nom), COWBOY BOB (World Premiere; Alley), Cult of Love (World Premiere; IAMA), POTUS (Berkeley Rep). Film: Help Me Mary (Lower East Side Film Fest; Best Narrative Short), Egg Timer (Austin Film Fest). Former Ars Nova Director-in-Residence, Drama League Directing Fellow, Williamstown Directing Corps. Upcoming: Cyrano at Old Globe; Babysitters Club with Mark Sonnenblick and Kate Weatherhead. annietippe.com
Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares is presented in association with rigor + ruckus, Jenny Gersten and Ashley Melone & Nick Mills with LD Entertainment, Avadon Broadway LLC & Creative Partners Productions. To learn more about other cities to see Nobody Cares, visit nobodycaresplay.com.
Alex Edelman: What Are You Going To Do
One of the most critically hailed comedians of his generation, Alex Edelman is best known for solo shows that blur the line between his stand-up comedy roots and narrative-driven storytelling. His last offering, Just For Us, played more than 500 performances all over the world - including acclaimed runs off- and on-Broadway. It premiered as an HBO original comedy special in April of 2024, earning him a place on the Time 100 list, a Tony Award and an Emmy Award for Best Writing for a Variety Special. Edelman appeared in Jerry Seinfeld's directorial debut for Netflix, Unfrosted. Beyond stand-up, he writes regularly for TV and can be seen starring in Peacock's The Paper, a Greg Daniels-helmed spiritual successor to The Office. He also writes on the show as a Consulting Producer.
Accessibility:
Steppenwolf is committed to making the theatergoing experience accessible to everyone. Assistive listening devices are available for every performance and all our spaces are equipped with an induction hearing loop. Our building features wheelchair accessible seating and restrooms, push-button entrances, a courtesy wheelchair and all-gender restrooms, with accessible counter and table spaces at our bars. For additional information regarding accessibility, visit steppenwolf.org/access. If you have questions or would like to make a specific request, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call our box office at (312) 335-1650.
Sponsor Information:
United Airlines is the Official and Exclusive Airline of Steppenwolf. Steppenwolf is also grateful for the significant season support from lead sponsors Allstate Insurance Company, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Crown Family Philanthropies, Caroline and Keating Crown, Julius Frankel Foundation, Lefkofsky Family Foundation, Northern Trust, Anne and Don Phillips, John Hart and Carol Prins, Shubert Foundation, Inc, Walder Foundation, and Zell Family Foundation. Steppenwolf also acknowledges generous support from premier sponsors Anonymous, Andrew and Amy Bluhm, Michael and Cathy Brennan, Ann and Richard Carr, Chicago Community Trust, Conagra Brands Foundation, Rich and Margery Feitler, FROST CHICAGO, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Orlebeke Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, Sacks Family Foundation, Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Thoma Bravo, Bryan Traubert and Penny Pritzker, and Vinci Restaurant. Steppenwolf also acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
About Steppenwolf Theatre Company:
Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation's premier Ensemble Theater with 50 members who are among the top actors, playwrights and directors in the field. Thrilling, powerful, groundbreaking productions have made this theatre legendary. From the 1980 phenomenon of Balm in Gilead, to The Grapes of Wrath, August: Osage County, Downstate, The Brother/Sister Plays, and now, the 2025 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Purpose, Steppenwolf Theatre has had a long-running and undeniable impact on American Theatre and Chicago's cultural landscape. Founded in 1975 by Terry Kinney, Jeff Perry and Gary Sinise, Steppenwolf started as a group of young people in their teens and early 20s performing in the basement of a church. Today, the company's artistic force remains rooted in the original vision of its founders: an artist-driven theatre, whose vitality is defined by its appetite for bold and innovative work. Every aspect of Steppenwolf is rooted in its Ensemble ethos, from the intergenerational artistic programming to the multi-genre performance series LookOut, to the nationally recognized work of Steppenwolf Education and Engagement which serves nearly 15,000 teens annually. While grounded in the Chicago community, more than 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Steppenwolf also holds accolades that include the National Medal of Arts, 14 Tony Awards, two Pulitzer Prize-winning commissions and more. Led by Artistic Directors Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis, Executive Director E. Brooke Flanagan and Board of Trustees Chair Keating Crown — Steppenwolf continually redefines the boundaries of live theater and pushes the limits of acting and performance.
Steppenwolf's Mission: Steppenwolf strives to create thrilling, courageous and provocative art in a thoughtful and inclusive environment. We succeed when we disrupt your routine with experiences that spark curiosity, empathy and joy. We invite you to join our ensemble as we navigate, together, our complex world. steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre, twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr and instagram.com/steppenwolfthtr.
Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to conclude its 50th Anniversary Season with the Chicago premiere of Mia Chung's theatrical tour-de-force Catch as Catch Can, directed by ensemble member Amy Morton, playing June 4 – July 12, 2026 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. Single tickets are now on sale at steppenwolf.org or the Box Office at (312) 335-1650.
Longtime ensemble member Gary Cole (NCIS, Veep, The West Wing) returns to the Chicago stage for the first time in over 25 years, joined by fellow ensemble members Audrey Francis (The Thanksgiving Play, Noises Off, The Doppelgänger) and Tim Hopper (Mr. Wolf, Fool for Love, Downstate).
About the Production:
When a prodigal son returns to blue collar New England, his homecoming sets off a spiraling crisis for two families, threatening not only their relationships but their very identities. In Mia Chung's wildly inventive Catch as Catch Can, three actors take on six roles, bridging generation and gender, in a theatrical tour-de-force that upends the kitchen sink drama and asks what happens when we refuse to play the roles we're prescribed. Spanning hilarity, stunning virtuosity and outright horror, this ferocious Chicago premiere must be witnessed to be believed.
The creative team includes Andrew Boyce (Scenic Design), Izumi Inaba (Costume Design), Yuki Nakase Link (Lighting Design), Mikhail Fiksel (Sound Design), Kate DeVore (Dialect and Voice Coach), Jonathan L. Green (Dramaturg), Patrick Zakem (Creative Producer), Elise Hausken (Production Manager), JC Clementz, CSA (Casting), Laura D. Glenn (Production Stage Manager) and Jaclynn Joslin (Assistant Stage Manager). For full cast and creative team bios, click here.
Production Details:
Title: Catch as Catch Can
Playwright: Mia Chung
Director: ensemble member Amy Morton
Cast: ensemble members Gary Cole (Roberta Lavecchia/Robbie Lavecchia), Audrey Francis (Lon Lavecchia/Daniela Lavecchia) and Tim Hopper (Theresa Phelan/Tim Phelan).
Location: Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago
Dates: Previews: Thursday, June 4 – Saturday, June 13, 2026
Opening: Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 6 pm
Regular run: Tuesday, June 16 – Sunday, July 12, 2026
Curtain Times: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 pm; Saturdays at 3 pm & 7:30 pm; and Sundays at 3 pm. Please note: there will not be 7:30 pm performances on Tuesday, June 9, Friday, June 19 (Juneteenth); Saturday, July 4 (Independence Day) or Tuesday, July 7; there will not be a 3 pm performance on Saturday, July 4 (Independence Day); there will be an added 2 pm matinee on Wednesday, July 1; there will be an added 7:30 performance on Sunday, July 5.
Tickets: Single tickets for Catch as Catch Can ($20 – $120*) are now on sale at steppenwolf.org and the Box Office at (312) 335-1650. Steppenwolf Flex Memberships are currently on sale at steppenwolf.org/memberships: Black Card Memberships with six tickets for use any time for any production and RED Card Memberships for theatergoers under 30. *Pricing includes an $8.50 handling fee
Steppenwolf offers 20 tickets for $20 (no added fees) for each performance of every membership series production. Use promo code 20FOR20 to redeem this offer online, available in advance until they're sold out for every main series show. Limit 2 tickets per person. You can also purchase by phone at (312) 335-1650 on the day-of show at 12 pm for main series performances. Limit 2 tickets per person.
Accessible Performance Dates:
Audio-Described and Touch Tour: Sunday, June 28 at 3 pm (1:30 pm Touch Tour)
Open-Captioned: Thursday, June 25 at 7:30 pm & Saturday, July 11 at 3 pm
ASL-Interpreted: Friday, July 10 at 7:30 pm
Education and Engagement:
Throughout the 2025/26 season, Steppenwolf continues its commitment to the next generation of theatre learners, makers and appreciators with robust education and engagement programming. During the school year, programming includes dedicated student matinee performances for four of the five Membership Series productions, in-school residencies in partnership with Chicago Public schools, a series of on-site workshops in artmaking and theater production, events specifically geared towards teens, as well as professional development trainings and resources for educators. Additionally, Steppenwolf is reimagining their community engagement and will pilot new public programming, continue accessibility programming and offer opportunities for deeper explorations for audiences throughout the season. For additional information about Steppenwolf's Education and Engagement programming and to register your school for a field trip visit steppenwolf.org/education-and-engagement/steppenwolf-field-trip-series.
Artist Biographies:
Mia Chung (Playwright) received a 2024 MacDowell Fellow, 2023 Whiting Award for Drama and a 2022 MAP grant for a new music-theatre work. Her play Catch as Catch Can premiered at Playwrights Horizons in Fall 2022 (2018 World Premiere, Off-Off-Broadway, Page 73). Additional work: Ball in the Air (NAATCO/Public Theater 2022), Double Take (PH Almanac 2021), This Exquisite Corpse (multiple awards), You For Me For You (Royal Court, National Theatre Company of Korea, Woolly Mammoth, multiple regionals. Published: Bloomsbury Methuen). Awards, commissions, residencies include: Clubbed Thumb, Helen Merrill, Loewe Award for Music-Theatre, MTC/Sloan, NYTW, Playwrights' Center/Jerome, Playwrights Horizons/Steinberg, Playwrights Realm, South Coast Rep, SPACE/Ryder Farm. Alum: Huntington Playwriting Fellows, Ma-Yi Writers Lab, New Dramatists.
Amy Morton (Director) is an actor and director. She has performed in or directed many plays at Steppenwolf including: Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Tony nomination), August: Osage County (Tony nomination), One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (also on Broadway), Hir, Cherry Orchard, The Berlin Circle, Three Days of Rain, The Unmentionables, Space, The Royal Family and many others. She has directed Guards at the Taj (both Atlantic Theatre and Steppenwolf), Glengarry Glen Ross, Clybourne Park, American Buffalo, The Dresser, The Pillowman, Topdog/Underdog, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Alliance Theatre), Awake and Sing (Northlight Theatre), and many others. Film: Rookie of the Year, 8MM, Falling Down, Backdraft, Up in the Air, Bluebird, It Ends With Us. Television: The Bear, Bluebloods, Girls, Homeland, currently a regular on Chicago P.D. as Sgt. Trudy Platt. Before joining Steppenwolf, Amy was a member of the Remains Theatre for 15 years.
Gary Cole (Roberta Lavecchia/Robbie Lavecchia) has been a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company Ensemble since 1986. Past Steppenwolf credits include: Balm in Gilead, Tracers, Frank's Wild Years, Closer and August: Osage County. Off-Broadway: True West, Orphans (both of which originated at Steppenwolf), and the premiere of Sam Shepard's Heartless. Television: West Wing, Entourage, Chicago Fire, The Good Wife, The Good Fight, Suits, Veep and NCIS. Voiceover work includes: Family Guy, Big Mouth and Archer. Film: In the Line of Fire, A Simple Plan, Dodgeball, Office Space, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and Pineapple Express.
Audrey Francis (Lon Lavecchia/Daniela Lavecchia) currently serves as Artistic Director of Steppenwolf Theatre, alongside Glenn Davis, where she has been an Ensemble member since 2017. Audrey directed You Will Get Sick in Steppenwolf's 2024/25 season and POTUS in the 2023/24 season. She has performed on stage in Noises Off, The Thanksgiving Play, The Herd, Between Riverside and Crazy, The Fundamentals, The Doppelgänger (an international farce) and Dance Nation. TV and film credits include Justified: City Primeval, Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, Empire, Perpetrator, Knives and Skin and Later Days. Audrey is an acting coach for NBC, Fox, Showtime and Amazon. She is also the co-founder of Black Box Acting and the co-creator of Steppenwolf's corporate training program, Steppenwolf IMPACT.
Tim Hopper (Theresa Phelan/Tim Phelan) is a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble. Recent roles at Steppenwolf include Mr. Wolf in Mr. Wolf and Andy in Downstate, which traveled to the National Theatre in London, and to Playwrights Horizons in New York. Television appearances include Chicago Fire, Emperor of Ocean Park, the Amazon series Utopia, Fargo, The Americans, and Empire. Film appearances include the upcoming A24 film Enemies, as well as Perpetrator; Knives and Skin, School of Rock and To Die For, among others. Off-Broadway: New York Theatre Workshop, Vineyard Theatre and the Atlantic Theater. Internationally, the Edinburgh Festival and Antwerp's De Singel Theatre.
Accessibility:
As a commitment to make the Steppenwolf experience accessible to everyone, performances featuring American Sign Language Interpretation, Open Captioning and Audio Description are offered during the run of each STC production. Assistive listening devices (ALDs), large-print programs and Braille programs are available for every performance and all our spaces are equipped with an induction hearing loop. Our building features wheelchair accessible seating and restrooms, push-button entrances, a courtesy wheelchair and all-gender restrooms, with accessible counter and table spaces at our bars. For additional information regarding accessibility, visit steppenwolf.org/access or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Sponsor Information:
Catch as Catch Can is supported in part by Jenner & Block. United Airlines is the Official and Exclusive Airline of Steppenwolf. Steppenwolf is also grateful for the significant season support from lead sponsors Allstate Insurance Company, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Crown Family Philanthropies, Caroline and Keating Crown, Julius Frankel Foundation, Lefkofsky Family Foundation, Northern Trust, Anne and Don Phillips, John Hart and Carol Prins, Shubert Foundation, Inc, Walder Foundation, and Zell Family Foundation. Steppenwolf also acknowledges generous support from premier sponsors Anonymous, Andrew and Amy Bluhm, Michael and Cathy Brennan, Ann and Richard Carr, Chicago Community Trust, Conagra Brands Foundation, Rich and Margery Feitler, FROST CHICAGO, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Orlebeke Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, Sacks Family Foundation, Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Thoma Bravo, Bryan Traubert and Penny Pritzker, and Vinci Restaurant. Steppenwolf also acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
About Steppenwolf Theatre Company:
Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation's premier Ensemble Theater with 50 members who are among the top actors, playwrights and directors in the field. Thrilling, powerful, groundbreaking productions have made this theatre legendary. From the 1980 phenomenon of Balm in Gilead, to The Grapes of Wrath, August: Osage County, Downstate, The Brother/Sister Plays, and now, the 2025 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Purpose, Steppenwolf Theatre has had a long-running and undeniable impact on American Theatre and Chicago's cultural landscape. Founded in 1975 by Terry Kinney, Jeff Perry and Gary Sinise, Steppenwolf started as a group of young people in their teens and early 20s performing in the basement of a church. Today, the company's artistic force remains rooted in the original vision of its founders: an artist-driven theatre, whose vitality is defined by its appetite for bold and innovative work. Every aspect of Steppenwolf is rooted in its Ensemble ethos, from the intergenerational artistic programming to the multi-genre performance series LookOut, to the nationally recognized work of Steppenwolf Education and Engagement which serves nearly 15,000 teens annually. While grounded in the Chicago community, more than 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Steppenwolf also holds accolades that include the National Medal of Arts, 14 Tony Awards, two Pulitzer Prize-winning commissions and more. Led by Artistic Directors Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis, Executive Director E. Brooke Flanagan and Board of Trustees Chair Keating Crown — Steppenwolf continually redefines the boundaries of live theater and pushes the limits of acting and performance.
Steppenwolf's Mission: Steppenwolf strives to create thrilling, courageous and provocative art in a thoughtful and inclusive environment. We succeed when we disrupt your routine with experiences that spark curiosity, empathy and joy. We invite you to join our ensemble as we navigate, together, our complex world. steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre, twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr and instagram.com/steppenwolfthtr.
Broadway In Chicago is excited to announce that single tickets for the first national tour of SUFFS, the acclaimed Tony Award®-winning musical about the passionate American women who fought tirelessly for the right to vote, will go on sale Monday, March 30. The inspiring, award-winning musical will play Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre (18 W. Monroe St.) for a limited two-week engagement, July 7-19.
Created by Shaina Taub, the first woman to ever independently win Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score in the same season, this “thrilling, inspiring and dazzlingly entertaining” (Variety) new musical boldly explores the triumphs and failures of a struggle for equality that’s far from over. It’s a given that the women of the suffragist movement—who called themselves “Suffs” for short—were brilliant, but as they fought tirelessly for the right to vote, they were also flawed, stubborn, passionate and funny. SUFFS tells their story: the remarkable friendships, the heartbreak, and how this movement brought them together—or, in some cases, tore them apart.
SUFFS is winner of the Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Musical, two Drama Desk Awards including Best Score, and is “unquestionably the most emotionally stirring musical of the season” (Chicago Tribune). The successful Broadway production played a 10-month run at the Music Box Theatre from April 18, 2024, through January 5, 2025, and the first national tour marches across North America, after launching this past September in Seattle, WA.
“THRILLING, INSPIRING, AND DAZZLINGLY ENTERTAINING.” – Variety
SUFFS features book, music and lyrics by Tony Award®-winner Shaina Taub, direction by Tony Award-nominee Leigh Silverman (Violet, Yellow Face), choreography by Mayte Natalio (How to Dance in Ohio), music supervision by Andrea Grody, scenic design by Christine Peters, original Broadway scenic design by Tony Award-nominee Riccardo Hernández (Jagged Little Pill), costume design by Oscar and Tony Award-winner Paul Tazewell (Hamilton, Death Becomes Her), lighting design by Tony Award-nominee Lap Chi Chu (Camelot ), hair and wig design by award-winning Charles G. Lapointe, makeup design by Joe Dulude II, sound design by Jason Crystal (Sweeney Todd) with associate Sun Hee Kil (Choir Boy), orchestrations by Tony Award-winner Michael Starobin (Next to Normal), vocal arrangements by Shaina Taub and Andrea Grody (The Band’s Visit), incidental music arrangements by Shaina Taub, Andrea Grody, and Michael Starobin, associate direction by Lori Elizabeth Parquet, associate choreography by Hawley Gould, and general management by 101 Productions, Ltd.
The Grammy-Award nominated Original Cast Recording of SUFFS is available from Atlantic Records here.
For information about SUFFS visit suffsmusical.com. Follow on Instagram, TikTok , X , YouTube, and Facebook @SUFFSMusical
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Tuesday, July 7 – 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 8 – 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 9 – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, July 10 – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 11 – 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 12 – 1:00 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 14 – 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 15 – 1:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 16 – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, July 17 – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 18 – 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 19 – 1:00 p.m.
TICKET INFORMATION (as of March 26, based on availability and subject to change)
Individual tickets for SUFFS will go on sale on Monday, March 30 and range from $38.00 - $133.00 with a select number of premium tickets available. Ticket price listed is when purchased in person at the box office. Additional fees apply for online purchases. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 26 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, The Auditorium, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.
For more information and tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
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The Opera Festival of Chicago announces its sixth season with the theme Bohemian Tragedy and that tickets are now on sale for the 2026 season, June 13 - July 5.
The 2026 Opera Festival of Chicago kicks off with its leading artists in concert in Very Verismo! on Saturday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Jarvis Opera Hall at DePaul University, 800 W. Belden Ave.
The first fully-staged opera, La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini, opens Friday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. with additional performances Wednesday, July 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 5 at 2 p.m. at the George Van Dusen Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie.
The final production of the season is Adriana Lecouvreur by Francesco Cilea, Sunday, June 28 at 2 p.m and Friday, July 3 at 7:30 p.m., also at the George Van Dusen Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie.
Press release, images and headshots here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RDBX-1yxprtvF9XogxojSb7O0RCFVfHk?usp=sharing
More information here: OperaFestivalChicago.org
Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Chicago's only professional theater that seeks to advance women through the power of storytelling, announces the cast for the world premiere of Do Something Pretty by Melissa Ross (The Luckiest, Thinner Than Water, Nice Girl, A Life Extra Ordinary), directed by Rivendell favorite, Jessica Fisch (The Firebirds Take the Field, I Wanna F**king Tear You Apart). Do Something Pretty runs May 2 – June 7, 2026, as part of Rivendell's 30th Anniversary Season of new plays.
The 30th Anniversary Season takes place at Rivendell's home, 5779 N. Ridge Avenue in Chicago. Tickets are priced at $28 for previews and $38 for regular performances. Angel and Sponsor tickets are priced $58 and $88 and include a donation. Discounts are available for seniors, students, and military. Tickets go on sale March 23 at rivendelltheatre.org/dosomethingpretty and (773) 334-7728.
Summer of 1992. The United States is in a recession. Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton is about to run for president. Kurt is married to Courtney. Yo MTV Raps is on the TV. And Zach Morris is the only kid with a cell phone.
On a hot August night in a small Massachusetts town the last few weeks before school starts. Three teens try to navigate their way through the murky path to adulthood. Phoebe wants to grow up. Jason wants Evie. And Evie just wants to get as far away from everyone as she possibly can.
Artistic Director Tara Mallen comments, "A few years ago, I was inducted into to the world of Melissa Ross when I was cast in one of her (stunning) plays The Luckiest at Raven Theatre. What struck me most was these complicated, messy, outrageously human women that Melissa centers in all her plays are all portrayed as subjects rather than objects. In 2026, it shouldn't be the case that this is a rarity—but I promise you that it is. So, when Melissa reached out asking if Rivendell might be interested in her brand-new play depicting two sisters—one on the brink of teendom and the other on the edge of adulthood—I jumped at the chance. I am so delighted to welcome Chicago audiences to hearken back to 1992 and bring Do Something Pretty to our stage at Rivendell."
This world premiere production of Do Something Pretty marks ensemble member Katherine Mallen Kupferer's (Phoebe) Rivendell debut. The cast also features Jasper Johnson (Matt), Reilly Oh (Jason) and Jocelyn Zamudio (Evie).
The creative team includes Daira Rodriguez (Assistant Director), Lindsay Mummert (Scenic Design), Saawan Tiwari (Costume Design), Sierra Walker (Lighting Design), Eric Backus (Sound Design), and RTE Ensemble Members Sarah Slight (Dramaturg), and Caroline Michele Uy (Associate Dramaturg). The Production Stage Manager is Rita Vreeland and the Artistic Producer is RTE Member Pat Fries (Artistic Producer).
Rivendell is offering a special mid-season RivPass good for the remainder of its 30th Anniversary Season. The $65 subscription includes a ticket to the 2nd and 3rd mainstage shows. Purchase this offer atrivendelltheatre.org/tickets or by emailing General Manager Trisha Hooper at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Do Something Pretty lead production sponsors are Maureen and Anna Miller. Rivendell's 30th Anniversary Season is sponsored by Sharon I. Furiya.
FACTS / Do Something Pretty
Do Something Pretty
A world premiere by Melissa Ross
Directed by Jessica Fisch
May 2 – June 7, 2026
Cast: RTE member Katherine Mallen Kupferer (Phoebe) with Jasper Johnson (Matt), Reilly Oh (Jason) and Jocelyn Zamudio (Evie).
Creative Team: Daira Rodriguez (Assistant Director), Lindsay Mummert (Scenic Design), Saawan Tiwari (Costume Design), Sierra Walker (Lighting Design), Eric Backus (Sound Design), and RTE Ensemble Members Sarah Slight (Co-Dramaturg), and Caroline Michele Uy (Co-Dramaturg). The Production Stage Manager is Rita Vreeland and the Artistic Producer is RTE Member Pat Fries.
Dates:
Previews: May 2-8, 2026
Saturday, May 2 at 8pm
Sunday, May 3 at 3 pm
Tuesday, May 5 at 8pm
Wednesday, May 6 at 8pm
Thursday, May 7 at 8pm
Friday, May 8, at 8pm
Gala Opening: Sunday, May 10 at 6pm
Press Opening: Monday, May 11 at 7pm
Regular Run: May 15 – June 7, 2026
Thursday-Saturday at 8pm; Saturday at 4pm
Added Performances: Sundays, May 24 and May 31 at 3pm
Open Caption: Thurs May 21 at 8pm; Saturday May 30 at 4pm
Town Halls: Friday May 8, Young Industry Professionals; Saturday May 23 after 4pm performance
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Chicago’s Shattered Globe Theatre presents the hilarious and surreal fantasia on Midwestern masculinity you’ve all been waiting for: the World Premiere of Eelpout! by Paul W. Kruse, directed by Jeremy Ohringer, April 17-May 30, 2026.
Meet Sven Svensen and Ole Olsen, best buds since kindergarten. When they gather to celebrate Ole’s wedding to Lena with an ice-fishing bachelor party, an unexpected confession begins to crack their plans wide open. As the beer flows and temperatures drop, Sven and Ole hook into deeper truths, along with a talking fish.
Cast your rod and catch Eelpout!, both a bottom-feeding fish native to the upper Midwest AND Chicago’s must-see world premiere comedy this spring. Previews start April 17. Performances run through May 30 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. Tickets are $20-$60. For tickets and information, visit sgtheatre.org.
“I am grateful to direct at Shattered Globe for the first time with this world premiere that epitomizes why I love theater: it’s wild, wondrous, and makes me laugh until it hurts,” said director Jeremy Ohringer. “The play also interrogates the fragility of masculinity and invites us to ask, ‘what must we shed in order to live authentically?’ I cannot wait to share Paul’s incredible play! I bet audiences fall for it hook, line, and sinker.”
Shattered Globe Theatre’s cast for Eelpout! features SGT Ensemble Member Rebecca Jordan (she/her) as Holly with Jesús Barajas (he/they) as Eelpout, Dinah Berkeley (they/them) as Lars, Carl Hallberg (he/they) as Ole, Taigé Lauren (she/her) as Heidi, Lydia Moss (she/her) as Lena, and Jeff Rodriguez (she/her) as Sven.
The production team is Paul W. Kruse (playwright), Jeremy Ohringer (director), Eleanor Kahn (set), Delena Bradley (costume designer), Sierra Walker (lighting designer), Saskia Bakker (props designer), Christopher Kriz (original music and sound designer), Kristina Fluty (intimacy director), Benjamin Murphy (assistant director), Tina Jach (stage manager) and Alexa Berkowitz (production manager).
Ticket information for Eelpout!
The first preview of Eelpout! on Friday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. is Pay-What-You-Can. Previews continue Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, April 19 at 3 p.m., and Wednesday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. Performances run through May 30: Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. No show Friday, April 24. There’s an added 3 p.m. matinee on closing day, Saturday, May 30. Run time is 90 minutes with no intermission.
For tickets and information, visit sgtheatre.org, call the Theater Wit box office, (773) 975-8150, or purchase in person at Theater Wit. Take advantage of early-bird discounts. Otherwise, previews are $25. Performances are $20-$60 ($20 for students, veterans, active military, teachers, and under 30; $40 general admission; $60 for those who want to support accessible theater). For group discounts, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (773) 770-0333.
Visit SGTheatre.org for more show information, including photos and video clips, news of special events, accessible and waived ticket programs and show content warnings. For the latest updates, follow @shatteredglobe on Facebook and Instagram.
Access Services
Audio Description and a Touch Tour for patrons who are blind or have low vision will be offered on Friday, May 22. The Touch Tour begins at 6:15 p.m. Show at 7:30 p.m.
Shattered Globe will offer a captioned performance on Sunday, May 24 at
3 p.m. for patrons with hearing loss. Assisted Listening Devices are available for all performances.
Theater Wit is wheelchair accessible. All patrons with disability needs are invited to purchase $20 access tickets with the code “ACCESS20” at Theater Wit’s checkout page. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to ensure the theater can reserve the right seat for your needs.
Chicago's Raven Theatre Company today announced the cast and production team for Dave Malloy's OCTET, directed by Keira Fromm and running April 30 - June 7, 2026 (previews April 30 - May 3). Tickets ($30 - $45) on sale at www.raventheatre.com.
In an anonymous meeting room, a group of people —always eight—gather to sing. Best known for the Broadway hit NATASHA, PIERRE, & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, Dave Malloy's OCTET uses chamber-inspired a cappella music to explore the total impact of life online. Hailed by the New York Times as "the most original and topical musical of the year" for its 2019 Off-Broadway premiere, this inventive and acutely relevant piece reflects the perils of the digital age.
"OCTET is the perfect first musical for Raven," says Executive Artistic Director Sarah Slight. "It tackles the urgent topic of technology addiction in a way that feels right at home on our stage. With an entirely a capella score, OCTET offers something our audience has never experienced here before. It is an extraordinary show to bring to Chicago."
The cast features Joryhebel Ginorio (Velma), Neala Barron (Jessica), Grace Steckler (Karly), Teressa LaGamba (Paula), Elliot Esquivel (Toby), Jordan Golding (Marvin), Sam Shankman (Henry), and Jonah D. Winston (Ed). Understudies are Dani Pike (u/s Jessica), Collin Quinn Rice (u/s Henry), Diana Marilyn Alvarez (u/s Paula), Caitlyn Cerza (u/s Karly), Danny Bennett (u/s Ed), Jonah Cochin (u/s Toby), Joe Giovannetti (u/s Marvin), and Mizha Lee Overn (u/s Velma).
The production team, led by director Keira Fromm, includes JC Widman (Stage Manager), Nick Sula (Music Director), Laura Savage (Choreographer), Milo Bue (Scenic Designer), Paloma Locsin (Props Coordinator), Maegan Pate (Costume Designer), Maximo Grano de Oro (Lighting Designer), Christopher Kriz (Sound Designer), Ruby Lowe (Master Electrician), Lucy Whipp (Production Manager), Mads Wren (Assistant Director), Faith Locke (Assistant Stage Manager), Hannah Kwak (Assistant Sound Designer), Emmitt Socey (Assistant Master Electrician), Wynn Lee (Associate Scenic Designer), and Catherine Miller (Dramaturg, Casting Director).
Raven Theatre's OCTET runs April 30 - June 7, 2026, with previews April 30 - May 3. Performances are held Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. on the Johnson Stage at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St. Tickets are $45, with discounts available for students, military, and industry ($30 previews); to purchase tickets and for more information about Raven Theatre's 43rd season, visit www.raventheatre.com.
OCTET
Written By: Dave Malloy
Directed By: Keira Fromm
Cast: Joryhebel Ginorio (Velma), Neala Barron (Jessica), Grace Steckler (Karly), Teressa LaGamba (Paula), Elliot Esquivel (Toby), Jordan Golding (Marvin), Sam Shankman (Henry), and Jonah D. Winston (Ed). Understudies are Dani Pike (u/s Jessica), Collin Quinn Rice (u/s Henry), Diana Marilyn Alvarez (u/s Paula), Caitlyn Cerza (u/s Karly), Danny Bennett (u/s Ed), Jonah Cochin (u/s Toby), Joe Giovannetti (u/s Marvin), and Mizha Lee Overn (u/s Velma).
Production Team: JC Widman (Stage Manager), Nick Sula (Music Director), Laura Savage (Choreographer), Milo Bue (Scenic Designer), Paloma Locsin (Props Coordinator), Maegan Pate (Costume Designer), Maximo Grano de Oro (Lighting Designer), Christopher Kriz (Sound Designer), Ruby Lowe (Master Electrician), Lucy Whipp (Production Manager), Mads Wren (Assistant Director), Faith Locke (Assistant Stage Manager), Hannah Kwak (Assistant Sound Designer), Emmitt Socey (Assistant Master Electrician), Wynn Lee (Associate Scenic Designer), and Catherine Miller (Dramaturg, Casting Director).
Dates: April 30 - June 7, 2026 (Previews TBD)
Schedule: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m.
Location: Raven Theatre (6157 N. Clark St.)
Tickets: General Admission: $45; Student, Military, and Industry tickets $20. Previews $30.
Box Office: www.raventheatre.com
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Music Theater Works presents WEST SIDE STORY, August 13 - 30
League of Chicago Theatres welcomes the summer theatre season
Lookingglass presents Ice Cream Circus, June 2-7, as part of Night Out in the Parks
YI Love Jewish and Arts Judaica Chicago Premiere of A PEOPLE at Theater Wit June 18 – July 5
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