As Steppenwolf Theatre Company proudly launches its 50th Anniversary Season, the LookOut Series is roaring back with bold, quintessentially-Chicago stories, brought to life by a wildly talented collection of artists. The Fall 2025 Season highlights the incredible artists of this city and celebrates Steppenwolf’s past and future.
Highlights include the return of legendary multi-hyphenate artist Tony Fitzpatrick with a multimedia performance celebrating the release of his latest book. This three-week performance, titled The Sun at the End of the Road, traces Fitzpatrick’s career and personal journey.
LookOut’s Fall 2025 Season includes an eclectic line-up of works featuring (left to right) Tony Fitzpatrick, Tania Richard, D-Composed and Tommy Rivera-Vega.
In November, Black chamber music collective D-Composed presents three performances as a part a curatorial residency in the 1700 Theater. The series, titled Our Stage, highlights the history of Black theater in Chicago, as well as an exploration of Black hair and a showcase of Black composers in the D-Composed Ensemble. Cheryl Lynn Bruce and Shani Crowe appear as guest artists for this presentation of chamber music that coincides with Steppenwolf’s production of Amadeus.
And longtime Steppenwolf partner Teatro Vista Productions brings a work-in-progress character-driven solo show investigating modern masculinity, featuring Tommy Rivera-Vega. All this, plus a solo show from Tania Richard and a celebration of the Chicago theatre community from Maggie Andersen, round out a jam-packed Fall season for the LookOut Series, manifesting Steppenwolf’s ongoing commitment to supporting and showcasing local artists.
Steppenwolf Creative Producer Patrick Zakem comments, “This Fall marks our fourth iteration of a curatorial residency, which in recent years has empowered local dance and drag artists with the opportunity to program in alignment with their own creative visions. This time we wanted to focus on Chicago’s thriving music scene; as D-Composed is one of the most singular music ensembles in city, we’re thrilled to share their programming perspective with audiences over the course of three unique performances.”
All LookOut performances take place in Steppenwolf's 1700 Theater, an intimate and flexible venue nestled behind Front Bar, 1700 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. Tickets, which range in price from $23 – $33*, are now on sale by visiting steppenwolf.org/lookout or by calling the Box Office at (312) 335-1650. Pricing includes a $3 fee
The full Lookout Fall 2025 Season (in chronological order):
Black Girl from a White Suburb By Tania Richard Dates: Friday, October 3 & Saturday, October 4 at 8 pm
Ticket Price: $23
Description: With a blend of cautionary tales, antiracist provocation and humor, Tania Richard takes on the leading role in a culture that often relegates Black women to supporting characters.
The Sun at the End of the Road
Dispatches, Poems, Collages, Etchings and Drawings by Tony Fitzpatrick
Directed by Marika Mashburn
Dates: Thursday, October 16 – Sunday, November 2; Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 3:30 pm
Ticket Price: $25
Description: Tony Fitzpatrick returns to Steppenwolf for an event in celebration of the publication of his latest book of dispatches, poems, etchings, drawings and collages. This event incorporates music, spoken word, conversation and projection, and navigates Tony's life as an artist and appreciator of nature, dogs, birds, people and the city of Chicago.
No Stars in Jefferson Park
An Evening of Storytelling and Celebration
From Maggie Andersen with special guests
Date: Tuesday, October 28 at 8 pm
Ticket Price: $23
Description: Maggie Andersen's new book No Stars in Jefferson Park is a testament to lifelong friendship, a love letter to Chicago and a profound coming-of-age story about the pain and necessity of putting yourself first. Join Maggie and local theater artists featured in the book for the celebratory launch of No Stars in Jefferson Park and an evening of storytelling and creative church.
D-Composed: Our Stage
A Curatorial Residency
Dates: Thursday, November 6 & Saturday, November 8 at 8 pm; Sunday, November 9 at 7 pm
Description: Our Stage is a three night presentation of chamber music ensemble D-Composed’s exploration and examination of the multifaceted ways in which Black expression comes to life. Grounded in the ethos that blackness is not a monolith, the ensemble explores themes of storytelling, hair and a wide range of compositions with the music of Black composers serving as the heartbeat of each work.
Our Stage Night One:
An Ode to Black Theater
Featuring Cheryl Lynn Bruce
Date: Thursday, November 6 at 8 pm
Ticket Price: $28
Description: A musical ode to Chicago's Black Theater History told through monologues, poetry and the music of Black composers featuring acclaimed Chicago theater legend, actor and director Cheryl Lynn Bruce.
Our Stage Night Two:
An Ode to Black Hair
Featuring Shani Crowe
Date: Saturday, November 8 at 8 pm
Ticket Price: $28
Description: Continued exploration of an in-progress piece around hair and identity in collaboration with interdisciplinary artist, Shani Crowe.
Our Stage Night Three:
D-Composed Plays D-Composed
Date: Sunday, November 9 at 7 pm
Ticket Price: $28
Description: The ensemble plays each other's compositions, celebrating music that speaks to the unique personalities and ways of expression of each ensemble member.
D-Composed Executive & Artistic Director Kori Coleman comments, “It’s an honor to partner once again with Steppenwolf’s Theater’s LookOut Series. Steppenwolf has always given us the space to push boundaries and experiment with our work, while also providing us with the opportunity to amplify Black artists. The multifaceted nature of black identity has always been integral to our work, and we look forward to developing and presenting programming that reflects the expansiveness of our culture.”
Teatro Vista Productions Presents:
In Process: God Complex
By Gabriel Ruiz
Co-created and Directed by Lorena Diaz
Starring Tommy Rivera-Vega with special guest appearances
Dates: Friday, November 21 & Saturday, November 22 at 8 pm
Ticket Price: $33
Description: Power and panic. Strength and collapse. Fear and violence. Teatro Vista Productions presents a kaleidoscope of characters delving into the mire of modern masculinity told by one of Chicago’s premier performers. God Complex is a new work in development by TVP as part of their In Process Series.
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 access@steppenwolf.org.
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, 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, ArentFox Schiff, 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, 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.