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Look back at steep’s summer blockbusters
Think summer is the slow season for theatre? Not in Chicago, and certainly not at Steep. We’ve got a long-standing tradition of delivering Summer Blockbusters that pack a punch. Take a look back at some unforgettable Steep hits from summers past and let us know your favorite by emailing info@steeptheatre.com.
brilliant adventures by alistair mcdowell, 2015
Named by New City as one of the Top 5 Shows of 2015, Brilliant Adventures captivated audiences with its "twisty, darkly comic" (Time Out Chicago) production directed by Ensemble Member Robin Witt. A reclusive inventor’s world-changing device draws dangerous attention, threatening his home, his family, and the fabric of the universe. With a stellar cast and crew and the Steep debut from Ensemble Member Brandon Rivera, this production was a standout of a fantastic season.
Chris Chmelik and Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel. Photo by Gregg Gillman.
Lela & Co by cordelia lynn, 2017
Chris Jones from the Chicago Tribune called this production "a flawless piece of work." With his Four Star rating and an incredible array of outstanding reviews, Lela & Co played to packed houses night after night. Based on a true story, this show was an enthralling story about the courage and perseverance of women in conflict zones.
The two-person production directed by Robin Witt and starring Ensemble Member Chris Chmelik and the astounding Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel earned Steep three Jeff Awards, including Best Production, Best Director, and Best Performer in a Principal Role.
Birdland by Simon Stephens, 2018
When you can have whatever you want, whenever you want it, what do you ask for next? Birdland, directed by Ensemble Member Jonathan Berry, sought to answer this question in Steep's Four Star (Chicago Tribune) production. The show was one of the hottest tickets of the summer, with an entirely sold-out run and long waitlist. WC Turck claimed this was "Theatre at its finest," and NewCity Stage stated the show was "one of Steep's most memorable works."
Joel Reitsma. Photo by Lee Miller.
Amber Sallis, Terence Sims, and Lyndra Shadrake. Photo by Randall Starr.
Paris by Eboni Booth, 2022
Steep's Midwest Premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winner Eboni Booth's Paris was the first show in Steep's new building at 1044 West Berwyn. The production sold out before it even opened and, man, did Paris deliver! Named one of the Top Ten Shows of 2022 by the Chicago Tribune, Chris Jones called it “[a] master class in putting on a play in a raw space" and "a heck of a reminder of what we have been missing.”
Moment by Dierdre Kinahan, 2012
"The latest example of the exemplary ensemble work that so often sets Chicago actors apart" (Chicago Sun Times). Moment, directed by Jonathan Berry, brought Steep even more Four Star acclaim and Jeff Award nominations. On an ordinary evening turned unforgettable, an Irish family is forced to face the past when Nial returns from prison, bringing with him a dark secret and the need for reckoning. This ensemble piece was "riveting...gripping" (Chicago Tribune) and filled with outstanding performances that had audiences enthralled long after the final moment of the show.
James Allen, Julia Siple, Cindy Marker, and Alex Gillmor. Photo by Lee Miller.
Back: Sean Bolger, Josh Odor, and Peter Moore. Front: Yosh Hayashi.
Photo by Lee Miller.
The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui by Bertolt Brecht, 2007
Directed by Jonathan Berry, The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui was the Can't Miss production of the summer. A large ensemble cast brought to life this "dazzling swift paced spectacle" (Windy City Times), including the late, deeply missed Brendan Melanson. Brecht's epic recounts Hitler's rise to power through the story of a gangster's attempt to take over the Cauliflower Trade in 1930's Chicago. This summer blockbuster emphasized Steep's staying power in our earlier seasons and was named one of the Top Ten Shows of the Decade by Kelly Kleiman of Dueling Critics.
Book of Days by Lanford Wilson, 2005
One of Steep's earliest blockbusters, Book of Days, directed by Ensemble Member Brad Akin, told the story of Ruth Hoch. When murder roars through a quiet Missouri community, she begins her own quest to find truth and honesty amid small-town jealousies, religion, greed and lies. This show marked the Steep debut for several now long-time Ensemble Members, Melissa Riemer, Patricia Donegan, Cindy Marker, and Egan Reich, and featured an unforgettable cast of performers with a "sophisticated arresting ensemble balance." (TimeOut Chicago). The Windy City Times noted that the show "demonstrates the high standard earning this storefront company its reputation" and the production garnered Steep's first Jeff Award nominations.
Krista Forster, Lisa Stevens, Brendan Melanson, Peter Moore, James Allen, Alex Gilmor, and Cindy Marker. Photo by Lee Miller.
Debo Balogun and Nate Faust. Photo by Joseph Chretien-Golden.
A Case for the Existence of God by Samuel D. Hunter, 2024
From one of the earliest to our most recent blockbuster, A Case for the Existence of God directed by Robin Witt, captivated Steep's audience at the Edge Off Broadway. This incredibly intimate two person show told the story of two single fathers search for hope and human connection as they confront crises of parenting and financial insecurity. With incredible performances from Ensemble Members Debo Balogun and Nate Faust, this production sold out every performance, with some wait lists long enough to sell the show out twice!
Third Coast Review stated that "Faust and Balogun’s connection is luminous, with both actors crafting subtle, multi-layered performances" and the show earned Four Stars from the Chicago Tribune with a full page spread on the cover of the Arts section. As we look to Steep's future, we know this production will remain unforgettable.