Due to popular demand, A Red Orchid Theatre is pleased to announce a third and final extension week of Anna Ouyang Moench's critically-acclaimed father-daughter drama Birds of North America, now playing through Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 1531 N. Wells St. in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood. Tickets for all performances are now on sale at aredorchidtheatre.org or by calling (312) 943-8722.

Directed by Artistic Director Kirsten Fitzgerald*, Birds of North America features Ensemble Member John Judd* with Cassidy Slaughter-Mason. Understudies include Sahar Dika and Guy Wicke.

About the Production:

John and his daughter Caitlyn are birders. As they scan the skies over their backyard in suburban Maryland looking for elusive birds, years go by. Relationships begin and end. Children grow up and parents age. The climate and the world change in small and vast ways. Birds of North America takes a close look at the relationship of a father and daughter over the course of a decade as they struggle to understand the parts of one another that defy understanding. 

The production team includes Morgan Laszlo (Scenic Designer), Ben Argenta Kress (Costume Designer), Seojung Jang (Lighting Designer), Ethan Korvne (Composer & Sound Designer), Spencer Diaz Tootle (Props Designer and Set Dressing), Jojo Brown (Dramaturg), Amy Carpenter (Assistant Director), Kyle Stoffers (Casting Director), Shelbi Weaver (Production Manager), Tom Daniel (Technical Director). Alivia Arizaga (Stage Manager) and Faith Locke (Assistant Stage Manager).

*Denotes A Red Orchid Theatre Ensemble Member

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: Birds of North America

Playwright: Anna Ouyang Moench
Director: Artistic Director Kirsten Fitzgerald*
Cast: Ensemble Member John Judd* (John) with Cassidy Slaughter-Mason (Caitlyn)

Understudies: Sahar Dika and Guy Wicke

Location: A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells St., Chicago

Dates: Previews: January 15 – January 24, 2026

Press performances: Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 3 pm and 7 pm
Opening: Sunday, January 25 at 6 pm

Regular run: Thursday, January 29 – Sunday, March 15, 2026
Curtain Times: Thursdays and Fridays at 7 pm; Saturdays 3 pm & 7 pm; and Sundays at 3 pm. Please note: there will be an added Industry Night performance on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

Tickets: Regular run: $55-$61*. Access, student, senior and group discounts available. Single tickets are now on sale at aredorchidtheatre.org or by calling (312) 943-8722. *Ticket prices include a processing fee.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Gabriela Lena Frank and Nilo Cruz’s El último sueño de Frida y Diego (The Last Dream of Frida and Diego), on stage March 21 – April 4, 2026. This new opera poses an impossible question: How would you spend a single day reunited with lost love? On the Day of the Dead, three years after her death, Mexican artist Frida Kahlo crosses over from the underworld for 24 fleeting hours with husband and artist Diego Rivera. What unfolds is a dreamlike journey through memory, passion, and everything they created together — both on canvas and in life.

Following its critically praised 2022 world premiere in San Diego, this opera, steeped in magical realism, arrives as the second full-length Spanish-language opera presented by Lyric, following Daniel Catán and Marcela Fuentes-Berain’s Florencia en el Amazonas in the 2021/22 Season. With vivid colors, music inspired by Mexican folk traditions, and staging that transforms the Lyric Opera House into a portal between worlds, this production brings Frida Kahlo’s artistic vision to theatrical life. Mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack stars as Frida in her return to Lyric, joined by baritone Alfredo Daza in his Lyric debut as Diego, soprano Ana María Martínez as Catrina, and countertenor Key’mon W. Murrah in his Lyric debut as Leonardo. Director Lorena Maza and conductor Roberto Kalb, both in their Lyric debuts, lead a creative team that honors the Mexican culture and artistry at the opera’s heart.

A love story that transcends death. El último sueño de Frida y Diego unfolds in 1957, three years after Frida Kahlo’s death. Diego Rivera, aging and consumed by grief, longs for one final moment with Frida. In Mictlán, the Aztec underworld, Frida has found peace, free from the physical pain and heartbreak that defined her earthly life. But Catrina, Keeper of the Dead, insists she must accompany Diego as he nears the end of his life, while Leonardo, the spirit of a young actor, urges her to return — not just for Diego, but for herself and her art.

Frida agrees to return for 24 hours with one unbreakable rule: she cannot touch the living. Her reunion with Diego unfolds in magical realism as the two artists wander through Alameda Park and Casa Azul, rediscovering joy and trying to heal old wounds, both physical and emotional. When Frida breaks the rule and touches Diego, the memories of pain and trauma come flooding back. Yet even in suffering, she finds clarity: Art is the only way to outlive death.

Authors who capture the soul of the story. The creative partnership between composer Gabriela Lena Frank and librettist Nilo Cruz brings extraordinary credentials and deep cultural understanding to El último sueño de Frida y Diego. Their opera functions as both an intimate character study and a vibrant celebration of Mexican artistic heritage while speaking to universal themes of love, loss, and artistic legacy.

Grammy Award-winning composer Gabriela Lena Frank, recently named Musical America’s 2026 Composer of the Year, is one of America’s most celebrated living composers, known for music that explores her multicultural heritage — Peruvian, Chinese, Lithuanian, and Jewish — with particular focus on Latin American musical traditions. Born with high-moderate/near-profound hearing loss, Frank has become a powerful voice for disability representation in classical music, demonstrating that composers can create extraordinary work through different ways of experiencing sound. Frank has received numerous honors including the Latin Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition; the 2020 Heinz Award recognizing her for breaking gender, disability, and cultural barriers in classical music; a Guggenheim Fellowship; and commissions from major orchestras and opera companies worldwide. Her music weaves together orchestral colors with rhythms and melodies inspired by Mexican folk music, capturing the surrealist beauty of Frida’s visual art while honoring the emotional depth of her lived experience.

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz created the libretto, bringing his gift for poetic, emotionally resonant language to Frida and Diego’s story. His Spanish text moves fluidly between the real and the imagined, the painful and the joyful, giving voice to Frida’s fierce independence, her artistic vision, and her complex relationship with Diego — a love marked by both deep devotion and profound betrayal. In 2003, Cruz became the first Latino to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Anna in the Tropics. His work is known for its lyrical beauty, its exploration of Latin American and Cuban-American experience, and its ability to find magic in everyday moments. Cruz previously collaborated with Lyric and composer Jimmy López in the 2015/16 Season for the world premiere of Bel Canto, based on the Ann Patchett novel.

A singing actress who embodies Frida’s fire and fragility. Mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack returns to Lyric to star as Frida Kahlo, bringing to the role her acclaimed artistry and commanding stage presence. Mack recently appeared at Lyric as Angela in Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s The Listeners in the 2024/25 Season, earning praise for her dramatic intensity and vocal beauty. Her international career includes performances at the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and major European houses. Known for her ability to inhabit complex, unconventional characters, Mack possesses both the rich, warm timbre ideal for Frank’s melodic writing and the dramatic fire needed to capture Frida’s indomitable spirit. Stephanie Sanchez sings the role of Frida on Wednesday, April 1.

A cast that brings passion and artistry to every role. Colombian baritone Alfredo Daza makes his Lyric debut as Diego Rivera, the legendary muralist whose tumultuous marriage to Frida forms the opera’s emotional core. Daza has performed at major opera houses throughout Latin America, Europe, and the United States, earning particular acclaim for his portrayals of complex, larger-than-life characters. His rich baritone and powerful stage presence make him ideal for Diego, whose outsized personality and artistic genius were matched only by his capacity for passionate and perilous living.

Puerto Rican soprano Ana María Martínez, on stage at Lyric this winter as Despina in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, sings the role of Catrina, the skeletal Keeper of the Dead who bridges the worlds of the living and the departed. Martínez last appeared at Lyric in the title role of Florencia en el Amazonas in the 2021/22 Season. Her luminous soprano and elegant stage presence have made her one of the leading interpreters of Latin American opera, with performances at the Metropolitan Opera, LA Opera, and internationally. As Catrina, Martínez brings both authority and compassion to this figure drawn from Mexican Day of the Dead traditions.

Rising-star countertenor Key’mon W. Murrah makes his Lyric debut as Leonardo, the spirit who encourages Frida to return to the living world. Winner of Washington National Opera’s Marian Anderson Award in 2024, Murrah’s burgeoning career includes performances at major American opera companies, where his distinctive countertenor voice and natural charisma have earned critical praise. His portrayal of Leonardo provides a crucial voice urging Frida toward life and art, even as she resists.

The production also features Ensemble members from Lyric’s acclaimed artist-development program, The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, including tenor Finn Sagal as 1st Villager, tenor Daniel Luis Espinal as 2nd Villager & A Young Man, bass-baritone Benjamin R. Sokol as 3rd Villager, soprano Adia Evans as 1st Frida Image, mezzo-soprano Alexis Peart as 2nd Frida Image, and mezzo-soprano Camille Robles as 3rd Frida Image. Mezzo-soprano Corinne Wallace-Crane sings the role of Guadalupe Ponti.

A conductor who honors the music’s cultural roots. Mexican-born conductor Roberto Kalb makes his Lyric debut leading El último sueño de Frida y Diego, bringing a deep understanding of both Latin American musical traditions and contemporary opera. He conducted the opera's world premiere at San Diego Opera and subsequent performances at San Francisco Opera. Music Director of Detroit Opera since 2022, Kalb has built an international career conducting orchestras and opera companies throughout the Americas and Europe. He has particular expertise in contemporary repertoire and works that incorporate folk music traditions into classical forms. His leadership ensures that Frank’s score receives performances that honor both its Mexican folk inspirations and its sophisticated orchestral writing. Under Kalb’s baton, the Lyric Opera Orchestra becomes an essential character in the storytelling, painting Frida’s emotional journey through sound. Chorus Director Michael Black leads the 44 members of the Lyric Opera Chorus.

A director who brings Frida’s visual world to life. Director Lorena Maza makes her Lyric debut with El último sueño de Frida y Diego, bringing her distinctive theatrical vision to this production. A native of Mexico, Maza brings cultural authenticity and deep understanding of the artistic traditions that shaped both Frida and Diego’s work. Her direction emphasizes the opera’s magical realism, creating a production where the boundaries between life and death, memory and reality, past and present, all dissolve into dreamlike theatrical poetry. Maza’s staging honors the surrealist touches that made Frida’s paintings so distinctive while ensuring the emotional truth of the story remains central.

A production that dazzles the eye. The creative team includes set designer Jorge Ballina in his Lyric debut, whose designs evoke both the vivid colors of Frida’s paintings and the liminal space between worlds; costume designer Eloise Kazan in her Lyric debut, whose creations honor Mexican traditional dress and incorporate surrealist elements; lighting designer Victor Zapatero in his Lyric debut; and choreographer August Tye, a longtime Lyric collaborator who has participated in more than three dozen productions. Together, they create a visual experience as rapturous as Frida’s own canvases — a production where endlessly blooming marigolds, skeletal Catrinas, and the jewel-toned walls of Casa Azul transport audiences into Frida’s artistic vision.

When art becomes the bridge between worlds. Beyond its story of love and loss, El último sueño de Frida y Diego is a celebration of Mexican culture and the Day of the Dead traditions that honor the continuing connection between the living and those who have passed. Like the candlelit ofrendas offered on Día de Muertos, this opera doesn’t simply portray two artists’ fantastical reunion but honors the rituals of remembrance that keep memory and love alive. Frank’s sweeping music and Cruz’s poetic libretto create an operatic experience as emotionally rich as the lives that inspired it — a work that affirms art’s power to transcend death and keep our most important connections alive forever.

Performance Dates: Six chances to see El último sueño de Frida y Diego:

• Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 7 p.m.
• Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 2 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 2 p.m.
• Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 2 p.m.

Language: Sung in Spanish, with easy-to-follow projected English titles above the stage.

Running time: Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, including one intermission.

Pre-performance talks: Ticketholders are invited to a free pre-opera talk on El último sueño de Frida y Diego's composition history and cultural context; the talks begin one hour before each performance in the theater’s Steiner Parquet (the main floor).

Accessibility: Audio description, a guided touch tour of the set, and SoundShirts are available at the Sunday, March 29 matinee performance. Braille and large-print programs, high-powered opera glasses, assistive listening devices, and booster seats are available from the theater’s Steiner Parquet coat checks at all performances. For more information on these and other accessibility assets, visit lyricopera.org/accessibility.

Production history: A co-production of San Diego Opera (world premiere, 2022) and San Francisco Opera.

Location: Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois.

For more information and tickets, visit lyricopera.org/frida or call 312.827.5600.

Goodman Theatre celebrates 100 years and looks to the future with the opening of Chicago’s newest cultural attraction, Theater of the Mind—a one-of-a-kind theatrical immersive experience by Academy, Grammy, and Tony Award-winning artist David Byrne with writer Mala Gaonkar. Today, director Andrew Scoville proudly announces the 11-member, all-Chicago cast who will steward the 75-minute journey of self-reflection, discovery and imagination: James Earl Jones  II (Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and Come from Away national tours), Elizabeth Laidlaw (Goodman’s The Penelopiad, The Rose Tattoo) Helen Joo Lee (Goodman’s A Christmas Carol), Em Modaff (Paramount Theatre’s Fun Home, School of Rock), Victor Musoni (Chicago Shakespeare’s Rome Sweet Home, Definition Theatre and Goodman’s Fat Ham), AJ Paramo (Goodman’s Revolution(s)), Shariba Rivers (American Players Theatre’s The Barber and the Untamed Prince, A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Kelli Simpkins (MCC’s Charm), Lucky Stiff (Goodman’s A Christmas Carol), and understudies Maidenwena Alba (Albany Park Theater Project’s Port of Entry) and Emily Zhang (Strawdog Theatre’s The F*ck House).  Theater of the Mind appears March 11 – May 31, 2026, at the Reid Murdoch Building (333 N. LaSalle). Tickets ($66-$96, subject to change) are available at the Goodman Theatre Box Office (170 N. Dearborn), by calling 312.443.3800 or by purchasing online at TheaterOfTheMindChicago.com.

"We are so proud to welcome Theater of the Mind with its fantastic company of Chicago’s boldest actors to the heart of downtown this Spring,” said Goodman Theatre Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth. “In planning our Centennial Season, it felt essential to go big—to offer something courageous, wildly creative and new—and double down on what it means to be Chicago’s flagship theater. Unprecedented in size and scope, this is exactly the kind of envelope-pushing project that has long been a hallmark of a theater that has continued to reinvent itself over the past century. We’re grateful to David, Mala and Andrew for this unique collaboration—as well as to those who have shown early support and look forward to sharing Theater of the Mind with our city next month.”

“This city has a wild amount of talent, and I feel so lucky to have this extraordinary group of actors joining Theater of the Mind. Our Guides play such an important role, stewarding each group of audience members through this intimate experience that challenges our perception of reality. I can't wait for this group to lead the way,” said director Andrew Scoville. 

The Goodman is grateful for the support of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Illinois Office of Tourism, Northern Trust and Friedman Properties. Theater of the Mind is produced here in special arrangement with Arbutus, a not-for-profit founded by David Byrne to celebrate, re-present, and amplify ideas found in surprising places.

Company of Theater of the Mind

Co-created by David Byrne and Mala Gaonkar

Directed by Andrew Scoville

Guides: James Earl Jones II, Elizabeth Laidlaw, Helen Joo Lee, Em Modaff, Victor Musoni, AJ Paramo, Shariba Rivers, Kelli Simpkins, and Lucky Stiff

Understudy: Emily Zhang

Assistant Director/Understudy: Maidenwena Alba

Creative Team

Technology Director: Heidi Boisvert, PhD

Technology Producer: LeeAnn Rossi

Scenic Designer: Neil Patel

Costume Designer: Sarita Fellows

Lighting Designer: Jeannette Oi-Suk Yew

Sound Designer: Cody Spencer

Associate Scenic Designer: Lisa Orzolek

Associate Costume Designer: Caryn Klein

Associate Lighting Designer: Brian Elston

Associate Sound Designer: Forrest Gregor

Local Assistant Scenic Designer: Ryan Emmens

Assistant Directors: Maidenwena Alba, Betty Hart, and Amanda Berg Wilson

Production Manager: Matt Marsden

Technical Director: Brian Claggett

Props Department Head: Adam Weiss-Halliwell

General Manager: Karen Berry

Casting is by:  Lauren Port, CSA

Performance Schedule

Starting March 11, Theater of the Mind will be staged Tuesday evenings starting at 6 pm; Wednesdays starting at 2 pm; Thursday evenings starting at 6 pm; Friday evenings starting at 5 pm; Saturdays starting at noon; and Sunday afternoons starting at 12:30 pm. Performances begin every 15 minutes, and each includes 16 audience members. A complete schedule can be found at theaterofthemindchicago.com

About Goodman Theatre

Theater of the Mind makes its Midwest debut during The Goodman’s Centennial 25/26 Season. Since 1925, The Goodman has been a theatrical home for artists and a gathering space for community. It’s where stories come to life—bold in artistry and rich in history, deeply rooted in the city it serves. Led by Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins, The Goodman sparks conversation, connection, and change through new plays, reimagined classics, and large-scale musicals. With distinctions including world and American premieres, Pulitzer Prizes, Tony Awards, and Joseph Jefferson Awards, The Goodman is proud to be the first theater to produce all 10 plays of August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” But The Goodman believes a more empathetic, more connected Chicago is created one story at a time and counts as its greatest legacy the community it’s built. The Goodman was founded by William O. Goodman and his family to honor the memory of Kenneth Sawyer Goodman—a visionary playwright whose bold ideas helped shape Chicago’s early cultural renaissance. That spirit of creativity and generosity endures today.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to continue its 50th Anniversary Season with August Strindberg's masterclass in marital warfare The Dance of Death, adapted by Conor McPherson, directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov and featuring an all ensemble cast. The Dance of Death will play January 29 – March 22, 2026 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. Single tickets starting at $20 are now on sale at steppenwolf.org or the Box Office at (312) 335-1650. The press opening is Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 7:30 pm.

Steppenwolf ensemble member Jeff Perry (No Man's Land, August: Osage County, Scandal) returns home to the company he co-founded five decades ago, joined by fellow ensemble members Cliff Chamberlain (You Will Get Sick, Fool for Love, The Minutes) and Kathryn Erbe (The Grapes of Wrath, A Streetcar Named Desire, Law & Order: Criminal Intent), who returns to the Steppenwolf stage for the first time in nearly three decades.

About the Production:

In the high stone tower of an isolated naval fortress, Alice and Edgar are about to celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss – if decades of resentment, recrimination and mutual sabotage count as bliss. But when an alluring visitor arrives, the delicate balance of their tedious arrangement falls off its axis, cracks growing into canyons. In Conor McPherson's wicked take on Strindberg's masterclass in marital warfare, a twisted love triangle waltzes off the edge of a cliff, plunging us all into the deep.

Steppenwolf Artistic Directors Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis comment, "When we set out to program the 50th Anniversary Season, our priority was to welcome a large host of ensemble members from across Steppenwolf's storied history back home. Nowhere is this clearer than in The Dance of Death, which has an all ensemble cast and an ensemble director at the helm. With Jeff, Katie and Cliff – representing three generations of ensemble members – in one room, we know we're in store for a quintessentially Steppenwolf night of combustible and provoking theater."

The creative team includes Collette Pollard (Scenic Design), Ana Kuzmanic (Costume Design) Lee Fiskness (Lighting Design), Rick Sims (Sound Design), Jyreika Guest (Fight and Intimacy Consultant), Jason K. Martin (Voice Coach), Claire Kaplan (Movement Consultant), Abhi Shrestha (Dramaturg), Patrick Zakem (Creative Producer), Tom Pearl (Producing Director), JC Clementz, CSA (Casting), Laura D. Glenn (Production Stage Manager) and Kathleen Barrett (Assistant Stage Manager). For full cast and creative team bios, click here.

Production Details:

Title: The Dance of Death
Playwright: August Strindberg
Adaptor: Conor McPherson
Director: ensemble member Yasen Peyankov
Cast: ensemble members Cliff Chamberlain (Kurt), Kathryn Erbe (Alice) and Jeff Perry (Captain)

Location: Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago
Dates: Previews: Thursday, January 29 – Friday, February 6, 2026
Press performance/Opening: Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Regular run: Tuesday, February 10 – Sunday, March 22, 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, February 3, Wednesday, February 11, Tuesday, February 17, Wednesday, February 25, Thursday, February 26, Tuesday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 17; there will not be 3 pm performances on Saturday, February 7, Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, February 8; there will be an added 2 pm matinee on Wednesday, March 11.

Tickets: Single tickets for The Dance of Death ($20 – $148.50*) 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, March 1 at 3 pm (1:30 pm Touch Tour)
Open-Captioned: Saturday, February 28 at 3 pm & Thursday, March 12 at 7:30 pm
ASL-Interpreted: Friday, March 6 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. Programming includes dedicated student matinee performances during four of the five Membership Series productions including Mr. Wolf, Amadeus, The Dance of Death and Windfall, in-school residencies in partnership with Chicago Public schools, workshops, panels and 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:

August Strindberg (Playwright) Johan August Strindberg was a Swedish author and playwright whose work engaged the concepts of naturalism and expressionism. He was born in Stockholm on January 22, 1849, to an unsuccessful shipping agent and a maidservant. He attended the University of Uppsala, but he would often leave to act at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, teach or write plays. He left Uppsala permanently in 1872 to work as a journalist and a librarian at the Royal Library in Stockholm. In 1879, Strindberg published his novel "The Red Room," making him famous in Sweden. His play Master Olof, a historical drama published in 1872, was finally performed in 1881, and he wrote several plays criticizing social conventions in Sweden, including Lucky Peter's Travels (1882), The Father (1887), Miss Julie (1888), Creditors (1888), The Stronger (1888) and Playing with Fire (1892). During the 1890s, Strindberg suffered from psychological and emotional stress, which he described in his novel "Inferno," that culminated in his adoption of mysticism. The post-"Inferno" period was more productive for Strindberg. He wrote thirty-six plays from 1898 to 1909, including To Damascus (1898), a trilogy, Gustav Vasa (1899), Erik the Fourteenth (1899), Easter (1900), The Dance of Death (1900), A Dream Play (1901), Queen Christinia (1901), Storm (1907), The Ghost Sonata (1907) and The Great Highway (1909). He died in Stockholm on May 14, 1912. 

Conor McPherson (Adaptor) was born in Dublin in 1971. He attended the University College in Dublin, where he began to write and direct. His plays include Rum & Vodka, The Good Thief, This Lime Tree Bower, St. Nicholas, The Weir (Olivier Award, Best Play), Dublin Carol, Port Authority, Shining City (Tony Award nomination, Best Play) and The Seafarer. Film work includes I Went Down, Saltwater, Samuel Beckett's Endgame and The Actors. Other awards include the George Devine Award; Critics' Circle Award; Evening Standard Award; Meyer Whitworth Award; Stewart Parker Award; two Irish Film & Television Academy Best Screenplay Awards; CICAE Best Film Award, Berlin Film Festival (Saltwater); Best Film and Best Screenplay Awards, San Sebastian Film Festival (I Went Down).

Yasen Peyankov (Director) last directed at Steppenwolf Theatre his own adaptation of Anton Chekhov's Seagull in 2022 and has been an Ensemble Member since 2002. Other Steppenwolf main stage directing credits include: The Fundamentals, Between Riverside and Crazy (Jeff nomination for Best Production), Grand Concourse and Russian Transport. He also directed Hushabye for Steppenwolf's First Look Repertory and The Glass Menagerie for Steppenwolf for Young Adults. He most recently directed Samuel Beckett's Endgame at Facility Theatre. He also translated and directed the Bulgarian premieres of August: Osage County and Doll's House, Part 2 (still running) at the National Theatre in Sofia, Bulgaria. As an actor he has appeared in over 20 productions at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, some of which include: Time of Your Life (also in Seattle and San Francisco), Morning Star (Jeff Award), Hysteria, Lost Land, Cherry Orchard, Frankie and Johnny at the Claire De Lune (also in Dublin), Superior Donuts (also on Broadway), and others. Film: Maestro, Captive State, A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas, The Company, US Marshalls, and others. Television: Chicago Med, Chicago P.D., Madame Secretary (recurring), FBI, Stranger Things, The Mob Doctor, Alias, The Practice, The Unit, Numb3rs, and others. Mr. Peyankov is a Professor and Head of Theatre at the School of Theatre and Music at UIC where he teaches acting and directs plays.

Cliff Chamberlain (Kurt) joined the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble in 2018. Steppenwolf Theatre Company: You Will Get Sick, Fool For Love, The Minutes, Belleville, Clybourne Park, Theatrical Essays, Superior Donuts. Chicago: The Seagull (Goodman Theatre); The Sparrow (The House Theatre of Chicago). Broadway: The Minutes, Superior Donuts. Television: Homeland, Altered Carbon, The Act, Easy, State of Affairs, Chicago P.D., Paper Girls, The Chair. Film: The Rip, Moses the Black, The Wise Kids. Cliff trained at UCSB and The School at Steppenwolf.

Kathryn Erbe (Alice) first worked with Steppenwolf on the Broadway production of The Grapes of Wrath (1990 Tony Award for Best Play) and became an ensemble member in 1992. Steppenwolf: Curse of the Starving Class, My Thing of Love and A Streetcar Named Desire. Broadway: The Speed of Darkness (Tony nomination), A Month In the Country, The Father. Off-Broadway: Down the Shore (Atlantic Theater Company – company member since 1993), Yosemite, Ode To Joy, AZAK (Rattlestick), Checkers, Nikolai and the Others (Mitzi Newhouse LTC), Something Clean (Roundabout Underground), Ashes & Ink (AMT Theater). Television: Breathing Lessons (Hallmark), Homicide, Oz, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and SVU, How To Get Away With Murder, The Sinner, POSE, City On A Hill, Black Rabbit. Film: What About Bob?, Rich In Love, D2:The Mighty Ducks, Kiss of Death, The Addiction, Dream With the Fishes, Stir of Echoes, Speaking of Sex, 3 Backyards, Mistress America, Assassination Nation, Alex Strangelove, Red Pill, No Alternative, The Good House and the upcoming The Plea.

Jeff Perry (Captain) is a co-founder of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and has acted and directed in over 40 Steppenwolf productions. Regional: Seagull, Streamers, Time of Your Life, Anna Christie, A Steady Rain, No Man's Land. International: The Grapes of Wrath, August: Osage County. Television: Nash Bridges, Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, $1, Dirty John, Inventing Anna, Alaska Daily. Upcoming: Co-Producer of The Steppenwolf Theatre Documentary. "I owe my life in art to every teacher, artist, student, and storytelling colleague I've been blessed to share time and space with."

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:

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, 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, Steven and Nancy Crown, Conagra Brands Foundation, Rich and Margery Feitler, FROST CHICAGO, Joyce Foundation, Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, The Orlebeke Foundation, PNC, Polk Bros. Foundation, Thoma Bravo, Bryan Traubert and Penny Pritzker, Sacks Family Foundation, Smart Family Foundation of Illinois, and Vinci Restaurant. Steppenwolf also acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council. 

About Steppenwolf Theatre Company:

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation's premier Ensemble Theater with 49 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 Theater and Chicago's cultural landscape. Founded in 1976, Steppenwolf started as a group of teens 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 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.

TICKETS HERE

Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, and Teatro Vista Productions are pleased to announce the world premiere production of TVP Artistic Collective member Paloma Nozicka's* BOTH, as a part of a new, multi-year partnership between the two Chicago institutions. Directed by Georgette Verdin, BOTH will play April 11 – May 10, 2026 in Steppenwolf's 1700 Theater, 1700 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. A special Steppenwolf member and Teatro Vista Productions VIP pre-sale begins Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 12 pm. Tickets go on sale to the general public Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 12 pm at steppenwolf.org and the Box Office at (312) 335-1650.

The multi-year partnership between Teatro Vista Productions and Steppenwolf brings two of Chicago's most vital ensemble theaters together to present ambitious productions to Chicago audiences. Teatro Vista Productions is set to stage a full-length run of a play each season over the next three years in Steppenwolf's 1700 Theater, in an exciting collaboration reflecting the unique artistic ambitions of both companies. The innovative partnership also provides opportunities for Teatro Vista Productions to build institutional capacity after recent record-breaking artistic achievement with shows including The Dream King and Memorabilia. With Teatro Vista Productions in residency at Steppenwolf, both companies look forward to modeling a relationship that they hope will inspire further collaboration in Chicago's iconic theater community amongst organizations of all sizes.

BOTH follows on the success of Teatro Vista Productions' recent world premiere productions in the 1700 Theater: La Havana Madrid (2017), Enough to Let the Light In (also by Nozicka, 2022) and ¡Bernarda! (2023).

Steppenwolf Executive Director E. Brooke Flanagan comments, "For the last decade, Steppenwolf and Teatro Vista Productions have been frequent collaborators, but under this new, multi-year model, we are weaving the two institutions into an even closer relationship. We are thrilled to play host for the ambitions of this extraordinary company: from rehearsals to performances, from donor events to audience engagement opportunities."

"Staging the world premiere of BOTH by TVP Artistic Collective member, Paloma Nozicka, as the kick-off to our multi-year Steppenwolf Theatre Company residency is the ultimate fulfillment of our mission," shared TVP Artistic Director Wendy Mateo and Executive Director Lorena Diaz. "BOTH is a gritty, character-driven look into complicated family dynamics and chosen truths. Great family dramas are a signature of the Steppenwolf brand. To provide our artists with this stage, in the birthplace of ensemble theater in Chicago, is a dream come true. This synchronicity is a moment of profound pride for our theater. As we celebrate our 35th year, we continue to lean into the idea of radical abundance. And with the support of Steppenwolf Theatre Company, we get to do just that. Pa'lante, Juntos. Forward, Together."

BOTH will feature TVP Artistic Collective members Charín Álvarez*, Eddie Martinez*, Ayssette Muñoz* and Paloma Nozicka* with Brian King and Yona Moises Olivares.

*Denotes TVP Artistic Collective member

About the Production:

Xochi is dealing with a lot: a difficult pregnancy, a new relationship, a family that can't stand her and the loss of her twin brother Sebastian, who was declared missing last year. As she tries to navigate her life (and keep her sanity), the impossible happens: Sebastian reappears. Her family is overjoyed, but Xochi is suspicious: where has he been? And why does this version of Sebastian seem so different than the one she knew? BOTH is an eerie examination of family, love, memory, and which version of the truth is the one worth believing.

The creative team includes Sotirios Livaditis (Scenic Design), Johan H. Gallardo* (Costume Design), Maximo Grano De Oro (Lighting Design), Satya Chávez (Sound Design), Shokie Tseumah (Properties Design), Greg Geffrard (Intimacy and Violence), Estrellita Beatriz (Production Manager), Janyce Caraballo (Assistant Director), Adelina Feldman-Schultz* (Casting Director), Julie Jachym (Production Stage Manager) and Olivia Ellery (Assistant Stage Manager).

Production Details:

Title: BOTH
Playwright: TVP Artistic Collective member Paloma Nozicka*
Director: Georgette Verdin
Cast (in alphabetical order): Charín Álvarez* (Angela), Brian King (Sam), Eddie Martinez* (Juan), Ayssette Muñoz* (Cynthia), Paloma Nozicka* (Xochi) and Yona Moises Olivares (Sebastian)

Covers: Aaron Barker (Cover Sam), Tatiana Bustamante (Cover Cynthia), Lorena Diaz (Cover Angela), Leonel Garza (Cover Juan), El Río (Cover Sebastian) and Amelia Roque (Cover Xochi) 

Location: Steppenwolf's 1700 Theater, 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago

Dates: Previews: Saturday, April 11 – Thursday, April 16, 2026
Press performance/Opening: Friday, April 17, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Regular run: Saturday, April 18 – Sunday, May 10, 2026
Curtain Times: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm. Please note: there will not be a 7:30 pm performance on Saturday, May 9, 2026

Tickets: Single tickets for BOTH ($47*) go on sale to the general public Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 12 pm at steppenwolf.org and the Box Office at (312) 335-1650. All preview performances and Wednesday performances will be Pay-What-You-Will. *Price includes a $3 processing fee

Artist Biographies:

Paloma Nozicka (Playwright) is an actor, writer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Playwriting credits include Enough to Let the Light In (2023 Jeff Awards nominee for Best New Work) and BOTH (2025 O'Neill National Playwrights Conference finalist). Screenwriting credits include Enough to Let the Light In (feature), Horns (feature), Each Lovely Thing (short), HUGE (short). Directing credits include Each Lovely Thing (official selection at the Austin Film Festival, Cleveland International; "Best Screenplay" at the New Filmmakers LA "Best of 2024" awards). She was a member of the 2023/2024 Geffen Playhouse Writer's Room. She is a member of the Teatro Vista Productions collective, a company member with Jackalope Theatre Company and a member of SAG-AFTRA.

Georgette Verdin (Director) is the Associate Artistic Director of Northlight Theatre and a member of Rivendell Theatre Ensemble. Recent directing credits include: the World Premieres of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women (Northlight Theatre); The Singularity Play (Jackalope Theatre); A Mile in The Dark (Interrobang Theatre Project/Rivendell Theatre Ensemble); Enough to Let the Light In (Teatro Vista Productions) and Spay (Rivendell Theatre Ensemble); the U.S. premiere of The Writer (Steep Theatre); and the Chicago Premieres of Mary Jane and Dial M for Murder (Northlight Theatre), This Wide Night (Shattered Globe/Interrobang Theatre Project) and Ironbound (Raven Theatre). Georgette is a five-time Joseph Jefferson Awards nominated director, the 2022 Michael Maggio Directing Fellow at Goodman Theatre and was a 2024 3Arts Award nominee. She's been profiled in NewCity's 2023 "Players: Who Really Performs for Chicago" and in Chicago Reader's "Best of Chicago 2022." She is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. georgetteverdin.com

Charín Álvarez's (Angela) theatre credits include: A Home What Howls, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, La Ruta, The Infidel, Ordinary Yearning, Fermi at Steppenwolf Theatre; Lettie, Mojada, Oedipus El Rey, Anna in the Tropics, A Park in the House at Victory Gardens Theatre; The Scene at Writer's Theatre; Inherit The Wind, 2666, Pedro Paramo, El Nogalar, Dollhouse and Electricidad at Goodman Theatre; Anna in the Tropics, Passage, Skin of Our Teeth and Clean House with Remy Bumppo' "Bernarda!, In the Time of the Butterflies, Our Lady of the Underpass, I Put the Fear of Mexico in 'Em, Dreamlandia, Another Part of the House with Teatro Vista; Water by the Spoonful at Court Theatre; A Work of Art at Chicago Dramatists Theatre; What We Once Felt with About Face Theatre; Kita & Fernanda with 16th Street Theatre; Esperanza Rising with Chicago Children's Theatre; Two Sisters and a Piano at Apple Tree Theatre; Generic Latina with Teatro Luna; La Casa de Bernarda Alba with Aguijon Theatre. Film/TV credits include: Somebody Somewhere, Paper Girls, Ripple Effects, Chicago Med, Easy, Shameless, Chicago Fire, Mob Doctor, Boss, Chicago Code, Approach Alone, Rooftop Wars, Arc of a Bird, Were the World Mine, Chicago Overcoat, First and Only Lesson, Dogwalker, Rogers Park, Olympia: Manual on How to Live Your Life, Signature Move, En Algun Lugar, Princess Cyd, Single File, Teacher, Hala, Saint Frances, The Rounding, Heartsong, Museum, Last Drop, Single Car Crashes, Adult Children, Ghostlight, Ask a Punk and Kombucha.

Brian King (Sam) was recently seen in HBO's Somebody Somewhere, NBC's The Irrational and Showtime's The Chi. Other TV credits include Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Boss, Leverage, Empire, Detroit 1-8-7, Crisis, Mob Doctor and Prison Break. His most recent film credits include Candyman, Widows, Man of Steel, Seneca and A Light Beneath Their Feet. Other Chicago stage credits include TimeLine Theatre's Hundreds and Hundreds of Stars, Steppenwolf Theatre's Fair Use, The North Plan and The Drunken City.

Eddie Martinez (Juan) is a member of Teatro Vista Artist Collective previously seen in Parachute Men, Fade and Hope (Victory Gardens and Den Theatre). Other credits include: I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, Our Lady of 121st Street (Steppenwolf); Native Gardens (Old Globe); Fade (Denver Center, Cherry Lane, Theater Works Hartford); As You Like It (Denver Center); Big Lake Big City, Cascabel, Circus Quixote (Lookingglass); Rightlynd (Victory Gardens); Bull (Paramount); Ugly Lies The Bone (Shattered Globe). Film/TV credits include: Sense8 (Netflix), Sirens (USA), Chicago Fire (NBC), Shameless (Showtime) Justified: Primeval (FX) and The Dilemma (Universal). Member of Actors' Equity Association.

Ayssette Muñoz (Cynthia) is a Mexican American actor/director from the Rio Grande Valley. In 2015, the Chicago Tribune featured her as one of the "Top 10 Hot New Faces of Chicago Theatre'' and in 2019, she was nominated for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play" from the Alliance of Latinx Theatre Artists of Chicago. She is a proud teaching artist at Steppenwolf Theatre and an Artistic Collective Member at Teatro Vista. Favorite acting credits include: Teatro Vista, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Lookingglass, Rivendell Theatre, A Red Orchid Theatre, Definition Theatre. On-camera credits: The Bear, Chicago Med, Chicago P.D. Associate directing credits: Arthur & Friends Make a Musical (Marriott Theatre), An Educated Guess (Definition Theatre, Jeff Recommended), Somewhere Over the Border (Teatro Vista, Jeff Recommended, winner of Best Director, Best Ensemble and Best Production of a Musical) Represented by Big Mouth Talent. ayssettemunoz.com

Paloma Nozicka (Xochi) is thrilled to make her Teatro Vista debut. Chicago theatre credits (selected): The Thanksgiving Play (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), Teddy Ferrara (Goodman Theatre); Native Gardens (Victory Gardens Theatre); Bobby Clearly (Steep Theatre); The Harvest (Griffin Theatre); In the Canyon, The Light Fantastic, Exit Strategy, Long Way Go Down (Jackalope Theatre Company). Regional: Citizen Detective (Geffen Playhouse); Boeing Boeing (TheatreSquared). Television: The Irrational, Chicago Med, Proven Innocent, Chicago P.D., The Red Line, Empire. Nozicka was a 2023 Jeff Awards nominee for "Best New Work" for her play Enough to Let the Light In. She is a member of the TVP collective, a Jackalope Theatre Company member and a proud member of SAG-AFTRA.

Yona Moises Olivares (Sebastian) Chicago: Much Ado About Nothing (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Sanctuary City (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); Gender Play, or what you Will (About Face Theatre); Anna in the Tropics (Remy Bumppo); Same Sects (Haven Chicago); When Harry Met Rehab (Greenhouse Theater). Regional: Anna in the Tropics, The Winter's Tale (American Players Theatre); How to Defend Yourself, We've Come to Believe, A Christmas Carol, Dracula (Actors Theatre of Louisville). Education: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Accessibility:

Steppenwolf's 1700 Theater is equipped with an induction hearing loop and assistive listening devices (ALDs) are available upon request. 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/plan-your-visit/accessibility or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Sponsor Information:

The LookOut Series is supported in part by the Walder Foundation. 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, Steven and Nancy Crown, Conagra Brands Foundation, Rich and Margery Feitler, FROST CHICAGO, Joyce Foundation, Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, The Orlebeke Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, Bryan Traubert and Penny Pritzker, Sacks Family Foundation, Smart Family Foundation of Illinois, 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 Teatro Vista Productions:

When the Chicago theater world wasn't ready for us, Teatro Vista Productions made space. For 35 years, we've told true stories that reflect our community. We're not just building on this amazing legacy; we're strengthening and expanding it for the future. Today we continue to actively engage in advocacy that seeks to increase the authentic representations of us on stage and screen.

Teatro Vista Productions believes we are stronger together — across disciplines, across experiences, across mediums, across diasporas. We center our collective of artists at the heart of everything we do. We empower our artists to create with their own authentic voice by providing the tools and resources they need to thrive in the industry. Our work is timely, relevant and authentically reflects our community. Now, as always, We Are Theater With A View.

Lorena Diaz (Executive Director), Wendy Mateo (Artistic Director) and Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel (Associate Artistic Director).

Follow us on Social Media & YouTube to experience the multidisciplinary talents of our Artistic Collective and stay connected to all things TVP! We'll see you there! @teatrovista

About Steppenwolf Theatre Company:

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation's premier Ensemble Theater with 49 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 Theater and Chicago's cultural landscape. Founded in 1976, Steppenwolf started as a group of teens 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 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.

Chicago Opera Theater (COT) presents the Chicago premiere of Der Silbersee: Ein Wintermärchen (The Silver Lake – A Winter’s Fairy Tale), a genre-defying theatrical work with music by Kurt Weill and text by Georg Kaiser that was banned by the Nazi regime just weeks after its 1933 premiere. Directed by COT General Director Lawrence Edelson and conducted by James Lowe in his COT debut, this revelatory new production will be performed March 4 at 7:30 PM, and March 7 & 8 at 3:00 PM at the Studebaker Theater, 410 S Michigan Ave. Tickets are $50-$150 and are available now at cot.org. The work is presented in German with English supertitles.

Der Silbersee marked Kurt Weill’s final theatrical work before he was forced to flee Germany as a Jewish composer, escaping the rising tide of fascism and eventually making his home in the United States. A groundbreaking, long-suppressed work by the composer of The Threepenny  Opera and Street Scene, Der Silbersee blurs the boundaries between opera, operetta, and musical theater. An act of artistic defiance at the moment of its creation, the work helped pave the way for modern music drama and remains a strikingly relevant reflection on humanity’s struggles and hopes. Der Silbersee tells the poignant story of Severin, a destitute man shot while stealing a pineapple, and Olim, the policeman who wounds him but later nurses him back to health as he seeks redemption. At its heart, this deeply human work asks a question that resonates with unsettling clarity today: How can we find reconciliation and hope in a fractured world? Weill’s extraordinary score—blending late-Romantic lyricism, sharp modernist edges, and the propulsive energy of popular song—moves seamlessly between satire, poignancy, and surrealism, underscoring the work’s emotional depth and political urgency.

COT General Director Lawrence Edelson on Der Silbersee: “When I first encountered Der Silbersee, I was struck not only by the circumstances in which it was written, but by how enduringly it speaks to our time. By cloaking a searing social critique in the language of a fairy tale, Kurt Weill and Georg Kaiser transformed political protest into poetic myth, using allegory to confront society in a moral winter. Written at a moment of profound political and ethical collapse, the work grapples with wealth inequality, the rise of fascism, and the violence of the state—forces that continue to forces that refuse to remain confined to history, resurfacing whenever societies lose their moral compass.. What makes the piece extraordinary, however, is that it refuses to surrender to despair. This theatrical masterpiece uncovers a profound hope—a belief that empathy and moral choice remain possible even when the world feels irreparably broken. Producing Der Silbersee today feels both like an act of remembrance and an act of resistance. I hope our new production allows contemporary audiences to encounter the work not as a historical artifact, but as a living moral inquiry—one that asks us, what kind of society we are choosing or allowing ourselves to become.”

The cast is led by tenor  Chaz’men Williams-Ali as Severin and bass-baritone Justin Hopkins as Olim. They are joined by soprano Ariana Strahl as Fennimore; tenor Dylan Morrongiello as Lottery Agent/Baron Laur; mezzo-soprano Leah Dexter as Frau von Luber; soprano Boya Wei and mezzo-soprano Sophia Maekawa as the Shopgirls; actor Korey Simeone as the Policeman/Doctor; and tenor Sam Grosby, baritones Evan Bravos and Leroy Davis, and bass-baritone Steele Fitzwater as the Four Youths. Jeffrey D. Kmiec is the Scenic Designer, Erik Reagan Teague is the costume designer, and Marcella Barbeau is the Lighting Designer.

In the weeks leading up to the opening, COT invites the public to deepen their engagement with Der Silbersee through two free, thought-provoking events that illuminate the opera’s historical context, artistic legacy, and striking contemporary relevance.

Free Public Event #1

1933: The Turning Point — Art, Oppression, and Resistance

Monday, February 9, 2026 | 6:30 PM
Harold Washington Library Center – Cindy Pritzker Auditorium

Chicago Opera Theater and the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center partner for an illuminating evening that explores how 1933 marked a profound rupture in the history of both Europe and the arts. That year, Adolf Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor of Germany ushered in the Nazi dictatorship, unleashing a systematic campaign of antisemitism, censorship, and cultural control. Within months, civil liberties were suspended, Jewish artists were expelled from their professions, and a new ideology of “racially pure” art replaced the creative pluralism of the Weimar Republic. Amid this upheaval, composer Kurt Weill and playwright Georg Kaiser premiered Der Silbersee. The work was banned within weeks of its debut and its creators forced into exile. Yet its music and message endure as a testament to the power of art to bear witness and to resist tyranny. 1933: The Turning Point — Art, Oppression, and Resistance combines live musical excerpts from Der Silbersee with historical context and dialogue, shedding light on how this masterpiece reflects the political and moral crises of its time. Together, COT and the Illinois Holocaust Museum invite audiences to reflect on how the lessons of 1933—when democracy collapsed, truth was suppressed, and art was silenced—remain urgently relevant today.

Free Public Event #2

Close-Up with Der Silbersee

Thursday, February 19, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Newberry Library

The subtitle of Der Silbersee translates into English as “A Winter’s Fairy Tale.” This deliberate reference to Heinrich Heine’s Deutschland: Ein Wintermärchen signals that the opera was never intended as a children’s fantasy, but as a poetic reflection on a society in moral winter—an idea that feels strikingly resonant today. Fairy tales are not solely escapist diversions; they are powerful vessels for moral clarity. Through the language of wonder, they confront fear, cruelty, loss, and redemption, shaping archetypes we recognize instinctively. Although Der Silbersee was not conceived as a child’s tale, director Lawrence Edelson became increasingly fascinated by how fairy tales are first encountered—not as literature, but as formative stories absorbed in childhood, when our sense of right and wrong is still taking shape. This insight inspired Edelson and his design collaborators to imagine the opera as unfolding within a child’s bedroom—not to make the work childish, but to reveal how innocence can perceive moral truth with piercing clarity. Join us at The Newberry Library for an engaging behind-the-scenes conversation to explore how the evocative visual world of this new production is being brought to life. The evening will also feature live excerpts from this unjustly neglected masterpiece, performed by members of the cast—an inspiring preview of Chicago Opera Theater’s upcoming production.

Both events are free, but advance registration is highly recommended due to limited seating capacity.

Leadership support for Der Silbersee has been provided by the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music, Inc., New York, NY, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Production Co-Sponsors Ethel Gofen Penelope Steiner and Virigina Tobiason.

COT thanks Nancy Dehmlow and the Morse & Genius Operating Reserve Fund for their generous support of the 2025/26 Season.

About Chicago Opera Theater

Chicago Opera Theater’s mission is to enrich the lives of those who live, work and play in Chicago by bringing rarely produced and contemporary operas to life, supporting gifted emerging artists, and providing hands-on experiences with opera that entertain, empower creativity, and cultivate a lasting and meaningful connection to the arts. Guided by our core values, COT serves Chicago through unique, relevant, and innovative opera experiences that reflect the aspirations of our city — dynamic, inclusive, and forward-thinking — fostering inspiration, dialogue and belonging. Since its founding in 1973, COT has grown from a grassroots community-based company to a national leader in an increasingly vibrant, diverse, and forward-looking art form. COT has staged over 160 operas, including over 90 Chicago premieres and 50 operas by American composers. COT is led by General Director Lawrence Edelson who was appointed in 2023.

Chicago Opera Theater’s 2025/26 season continues with the concert world premiere of Trusted May 30, 2026 – the seventh opera commissioned and developed under the auspices of the Vanguard Initiative.

For more information on Chicago Opera Theater productions, visit chicagooperatheater.org/

Emmy and SAG Award winner Brendan Hunt comes back to his hometown of Chicago this spring to present his one-man autobiographical show The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt. Produced by Tiwary Entertainment Group and Lead Producer Vivek J. Tiwary and directed by Ashley Rodbro, this Broadway-bound, three-week limited engagement runs at Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. Halsted St. from April 19 - May 10, 2026.

Emmy and SAG Award winner Brendan Hunt (Ted Lasso's co-creator/writer/"Coach Beard") presents his hilarious new one-man show fueled by bittersweet memories of his Chicago childhood, a love for The Beatles that got him through it, and the tongue-tied moment he met Paul McCartney. The Movement You Need is a laugh-filled love letter to the family that makes us, the music that shapes us, and the crazy shit life throws our way.

Bringing The Movement You Need to this city is deeply personal to Hunt: "I'm proud to be from Chicago. Performing in my hometown is a joy in any circumstance, but particularly with this show, which has so much Chicago in it. I consider Steppenwolf to be holy ground, and the chance to perform on that stage is an honor and a privilege." 

Tickets, priced $55-$105,* go on sale to the public on January 29, 2026, at 12pm at steppenwolf.org/movement, (312) 335-1650; 1650 N Halsted St., Chicago. A special Steppenwolf member pre-sale begins Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 12pm. Student rush tickets are $15 and are available the day of performance through the box office one hour before showtime.

 *Pricing includes a $10 handling fee.

The performance schedule is: Tuesdays-Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 3:00pm and 7:30pm (no shows on Saturday, May 9); Sundays at 3pm; and 7:30pm (Sunday, April 26 only).

The new production features scenic design by Meredith Ries, lighting design by Nick Solyom, sound design by Kate Marvin and projection design by Stefania Bulbarella. Elie Landau serves as Executive Producer. 

Brendan Hunt (playwright/performer) is an award-winning actor, screenwriter, and playwright living in Los Angeles, best known for co-creating the international hit Apple TV series Ted Lasso along with Jason Sudeikis, Joe Kelly and Bill Lawrence. He is also an ensemble member for the show, portraying Ted's trusty assistant Coach Beard. In its first two seasons the show won consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series, a Peabody Award, and many others.

A Chicago native and a veteran of sketch and improv comedy, Brendan's first professional gig was as a performer and writer with Amsterdam's notorious comedy theater Boom Chicago, where he performed with Sudeikis, Seth Meyers, Jordan Peele, Ike Barinholtz, Amber Ruffin, Heather Anne Campbell, and many more. His solo show about that experience, Five Years in Amsterdam, debuted at IO West in Los Angeles, and went on to be performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, UCB LA, UCB NY, Second City e.t.c., and the HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival.

In theater, Brendan has twice been nominated for LA Theater's Ovation Awards, winning one for Best Actor in a Musical. His two plays, Absolutely Filthy and The Art Couple, both had sold-out LA runs, with the former winning Best Show at both the Hollywood Fringe Festival and the New York International Fringe Festival. His newest solo work The Movement You Need just completed a sold-out run at the Soho Playhouse in Manhattan and is eyeing a Broadway debut.

TV and film appearances include Bless This Mess, Community, Parks and Rec, Key & Peele, and the upcoming indie science fiction film Terrestrial. Brendan also voiced the character of "Gunther Melmac" in Pixar's latest animated film Elio.

His time in Amsterdam engendered in him a passion for the sport of football that would eventually prove to be life-changing, leading not only to Ted Lasso, but also finding him as co-host of Apple News' wildly successful World Cup podcast After the Whistle with NBC Sports' Rebecca Lowe.

Brendan is currently shooting Season 4 of Ted Lasso.

Ashley Rodbro (director) is a Mexican-American director focused on new work, musicals, and comedy. She is currently developing projects with Disney Theatrical and Lively McCabe and will direct a world premiere of a new Kristoffer Diaz play at The Warehouse Theater in 2026. She recently directed BriTanick: Dummy at the Soho Theatre in London and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She has developed work at Ars Nova, Signature Theater Company, Edinburgh Fringe, CAP 21, Musical Theater Factory, 54 Below, Yale, the New York Fringe Festival, Marin Theater Company, and more.

Previously, Ashley served as Worldwide Supervising Associate Director for the original production of Moulin Rouge!: The Musical, working alongside Alex Timbers from its early development through Broadway, setting new companies in Australia, London, Germany, and a National Tour, and leading the international directing team. She was also the Resident Director for Hamilton as a part of Tommy Kail's directing team, opening the "And Peggy" company in Puerto Rico, starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, and maintaining the Resident Company in San Francisco. Her Associate work expands to comedy specials, working with Timbers on John Mulaney's Kid Gorgeous at Radio City (Netflix), Oh, Hello on Broadway (Netflix), and Alex Edelman's Just For Us (HBO).   

During the COVID-19 crisis, Ashley founded Heredia Vision, creating film and digital content that puts women at the forefront of the creative process. In this role, she spearheaded major collaborations including the virtual special Broadway Does Mother's Day and NYTW's documentary and virtual event, 25 Years of RENT.

Her short films have screened at festivals nationwide, and her writing has received multiple awards and honors. She is a graduate of Yale College. @ashleyrodbro ashleyrodbro.com 

Vivek J. Tiwary (Lead Producer) is an acclaimed producer of musical entertainment from Tony Award-winning Broadway shows to groundbreaking immersive experiences, a Grammy Award-winning record producer, a #1 New York Times bestselling author and a media financier/investor. He is the founder of Tiwary Entertainment Group (TEG+).

Vivek is currently a lead producer of Hamlet Hail to the Thief, a stage production based on Shakespeare's masterpiece and Radiohead's seminal album. Vivek's past Broadway hits include Alanis Morissette's Tony Award-winning Jagged Little Pill; Vivek also won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album for producing the Jagged Little Pill cast recording. Other hit Broadway productions Vivek has either been a financier or Producer on include such groundbreaking work as Green Day's American Idiot, A Raisin In The Sun, The Addams Family, A Little Night Music, and both of Mel Brooks' musicals The Producers and Young Frankenstein. Combined, these productions have won 25 Tony Awards and 59 Tony nominations.

Vivek's graphic novel The Fifth Beatle was a #1 New York Times Bestseller and won numerous literary awards including the Will Eisner Comic Industry Award and two Harvey Awards. It's a Lambda Literary Finalist for Best LGBT Graphic Novel and has been added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives. Vivek secured unprecedented access to Beatles music for a proposed film adaptation.

Vivek is also a pioneering producer in the world of site-specific, tech-based, and immersive music experiences. He consulted on the creation and development of The Walking Dead Escape and The Walking Dead Experience. He served on the Board of Directors for New York's seminal GAle GAtes et al—considered to be the founders of immersive theatre. He also produced experiential shows and installations for boundary-pushing companies such as The Wooster Group, Fischerspooner, and the São Paulo Art Biennial.

Prior to founding TEG and online music education/empowerment company StarPolish, Vivek held a number of major label music industry positions and has worked with artists covering the entire musical spectrum from Bruce Springsteen to Britney Spears.

Among many charitable pursuits, Vivek is the Co-Founder of Musicians On Call, a nonprofit organization that uses music and entertainment to complement the healing process. Vivek is a two-time honoree (2020, 2021) of Gold House's A100 List to celebrate Asians and Asian American & Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and their transformative contributions to society. He lives in New York with his inspiring wife Tracy and their delightful children Kavi and Nandini.

About Tiwary Entertainment Group:

TEG+ is the only production company that focuses on collaborating with the music industry and celebrity artists to create work that is narrative, experiential, and/or immersive. TEG+ develops, finances, and produces with a platform nimble approach-- producing across the media spectrum for Broadway, film, television, graphic novels, the metaverse, Augmented & Mixed Reality, and beyond. TEG+ works solely with High Profile Music-- A-list musicians, music catalogs, composers, estates, record labels, and music publishers. Current projects include Radiohead's Hamlet Hail to the Thief and Brendan Hunt's Beatles-centered The Movement You Need. Past projects include Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill, Green Day's American Idiot, and The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story. TEG+ projects have won multiple industry awards including 25 Tony Awards, a Grammy Award, 2 Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards, and more. Notable points of recognition for TEG+ projects include a #1 New York Times Bestseller and inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Visit TiwaryEnt.com.

About Steppenwolf Theatre Company:

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation's premier Ensemble Theater with 49 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 Theater and Chicago's cultural landscape. Founded in 1976, Steppenwolf started as a group of teens 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 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.