Dear Friends,

Here I am, sitting in the lobby of Steep’s new home, reflecting on the year that was and as I soak in the fresh show posters and the actual physical embodiment of three years of dreams and determination, I have to tell you: I’m very impressed. It’s one thing to make plans; it is quite another to see them realized beyond all expectations and I’m overwhelmed with wonder and gratitude for all we’ve accomplished together.

This past year was magical. We bought a new home, and not just any home, but one that will allow Steep to grow and flourish in the heart of our beloved Edgewater community well into the future. We returned to stage in triumphant fashion, with three hit productions that brought new works, new voices, and the talents of our brilliant ensemble back to our audiences. And if those successes weren’t enough, our already historic year took a turn toward epic when we learned in late November that Steep had been awarded the largest grant in company history: a $2.988 million grant from the City of Chicago to transform our new building into the theater and artistic home of our dreams. 

It’s a game-changing grant, especially for an organization of our size, and we’re profoundly grateful for the city’s faith in Steep’s mission and our work ahead. Sitting this close to the realization of so many dreams, it’s tempting to take a breath and celebrate, but there will be time for that later. There’s work to be done now to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only build our home, but to build Steep’s future as an essential Chicago cultural institution that serves its artists, audience, and community with care and generosity. 

The grant from the city is dedicated to the bricks and mortar portion of our capital campaign and will get us very close to the finish line in that regard. I’m absolutely ecstatic over the idea that we’ll be breaking ground in the near future. However, there is still work to be done on the campaign front, to maximize the city’s matching investment in our building and, most importantly, to fulfill our commitment to sustainable and robust compensation for our artists and staff. They are the ones that will fill this building with art, light, and community.

And though we’ll be deep in construction in the year ahead, we’re still in the business of making plays, for goodness sake! That’s why we’re all here. All of the buzz, all of the excitement we’re enjoying right now - it’s sparked by those electric moments we share in a darkened theater. Creating that magic is a collaborative effort in which you are our essential partners. We couldn’t do it without you. So, today, I hope you’ll consider making a gift to our General Operating fund to ensure that the business of creating magic thrives at Steep throughout the year. 

I also boldly ask that you consider making an additional gift to our Lights Up Edgewater Capital Campaign. We’re at a critical juncture in the Steep story and I hope you will help us seize this moment to build a home and an organization that can have a lasting and extraordinary impact on our community. 

Steep has been given an enormous gift - yes, from the City of Chicago, but also from you, the community that has supported and stood by us for more than 20 years as we dreamed big dreams. It’s incredible to consider how close we are to making those dreams a reality. However you chose to support Steep this year, you have the gratitude of our entire community. I hope this finds you and yours well and I wish you a happy holiday and a bright new year.

Yours truly,

Peter Moore
Artistic Director, Steep Theatre

P.S. If you’d like to talk about Steep’s capital campaign, campaign leadership opportunities, or our work ahead, please reach out to me at peter.moore@steeptheatre.com.