Magic, Equal Rights and More Highlight Steppenwolf's LookOut Series Lineup

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announces new programming through early April for LookOut, the company's multi-genre performance series featuring a diverse array of work from both emerging and established artists.

The LookOut series takes place in Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre, an 80-seat cabaret-style space connected to Steppenwolf's own Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks at 1700 N Halsted St. Guests can take drinks into the theater. Every Friday a different DJ spins in Front Bar before the performance.

Since LookOut kicked off in June 2016, the multi-genre performance series has welcomed more than 400 artists presenting 43 unique engagements attracting nearly 5,500 audience members to Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre.

Tickets to LookOut programming in February are currently on sale. Tickets to March/April programming go on sale Friday, February 10 at 11am. To purchase tickets or for more info, visit steppenwolf.org or 312-335-1650. Steppenwolf Red and Black Card Members may use credits towards any LookOut programming. Prices vary for each show. LookOut is presented year-round and announced on an ongoing basis. For information, visit steppenwolf.org/lookout.

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LookOut Late Winter Lineup in the 1700 Theatre:

1700 N Halsted St
Listed in date order. All artists, dates and prices subject to change.
*Doors open 30 minutes before performance time

Voices from the Dust Bowl

Featuring Fifth House Ensemble and Henhouse Prowlers

Sunday, March 5

2pm

$20, $15 Student

Voices from the Dust Bowl is a concert collaboration between Fifth House Ensemble and the Chicago-based bluegrass band Henhouse Prowlers. The two groups will present original arrangements of classic songs by Joe Burke/Benny Davis, Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, alongside favorites from Henhouse Prowlers and chamber music works by John Harbison, Louis Andriessen, Valerie Coleman and Antonio Vivaldi. A centerpiece of the show is Voices from the Dust Bowl, a new work for Fifth House Ensemble by composer Steven Snowden inspired by public domain field recordings and photographs of migrant workers in California in 1940-1941.

The Martin Luther Kings of Comedy present

The Revolution House!

Friday, March 10 and Saturday, March 11

8pm

$10 in advance, $15 at the door

After performing for sold-out crowds throughout the city, the Chicago comedy collective, The Martin Luther Kings of Comedy, are proud to film their first television pilot, The Revolution House. The Revolution House is a revived cross between Def Comedy Jam, In Living Color and MR. Rogers. It follows the antics of seven 20-something-year-olds all living in a house trying (and failing) to coexist. As their house guests, you will leave uplifted, empowered and allured with tears of laughter.

Good Evening with Pat Whalen

Friday, March 17

9pm

$10

Good Evening with Pat Whalen is a monthly late-night series that examines Chicago's politics, arts and culture through a satirical lens. Hosted by Pat Whalen, the show's live studio audience witnesses (and at times participates in) performances, interviews, and games. Investigating the city's socio-political climate while celebrating its cultural vibrancy, Whalen and his team strive to entertain, educate and give viewers their #besteveningever. Presented in collaboration with producing partners Underscore_Studios and underground production house VAM STUDIO (VAMstudio.net).

Communion: An Evening of Magic by Brett Schneider

Saturday, March 18 at 8pm

Sunday, March 19 at 7pm

$20

Have you ever wished you could know what someone else is thinking? What if you could? Communion is a 70-minute show that explores magic as a proxy for empathy and human connection, and a celebration of our desire to better understand one another. Highly interactive and unconventional, Communion blends world-class magic, sleight of hand and psychological suggestion with live participation from the audience. No two performances are alike.

24WORDS-An Equal Rights Cabaret

Book & lyrics by Charles Kouri

Music by Gary Bragg

Additional songs by Dean Schlabowske

Directed by Lavina Jadhwani & Margaret Baughman

Wednesday, March 22

8pm

$20

Vibrant, funny and inspirational - 24WORDS is a non-stop,100-minute odyssey for equality, starting with the Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence (when men declared "all men are created equal") to the historic events of March 22, 1972 when women were almost equal, pot was almost legal and contraception could be sold to "unmarried people." Twenty original songs inspired by the Equal Rights movement: classical, swing, folk, rockabilly, pop, rock and glam.

WRITE CLUB: Siege at 1700

Thursday, March 23 - Saturday, March 25

7pm

$17

WRITE CLUB is literature as blood sport - 3 bouts, 2 opposing writers, 2 opposing topics assigned in advance. Audience picks a winner. Combatants battle for the coveted Loving Cup of Deathless f-ing Glory, and a cut of door proceeds. Chicago Reader calls it, "the punchiest thing to hit literature since Hemingway" and it's been named to Best Of lists in the Reader, New City, Chicago Magazine and Time Out Chicago. Co-hosted by Ian Belknap and Lindsay Muscato.

A concert presentation of The Jabez Country Opry

By Mark Roberts

Music by Robbie Fulks

Thursday, March 30 and Friday, March 31

8pm

$20

The Jabez Country Opry tells the story of the last night of a small Kentucky honky-tonk and the performers, past and present, who gather for one final show before the building is torn to the ground, all in the name of progress. This new work by playwright Mark Roberts, author of New Country and the creator of TV's Mike And Molly, features original music by Bloodshot recording artist and Grammy nominee Robbie Fulks. It will be presented concert style, the actors performing with a live country band led by Mr. Fulks.

Matthew Santos and Chihsuan Yang

With Special Guest ESCP

Saturday, April 1

8pm

$20

An intimate premier of two-time, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Matthew Santos, and 3Arts awardee Chihsuan Yang's new collaborative material, along with special debut of ESCP, a brand new duo consisting of Chihsuan Yang and longtime collaborator Bob Garrett.

Babe-alon 5's Martini Hour

Monday, April 3

7pm

$10

Babe-alon 5 is a comedic vocal trio, bringing back the tunes of the baby boomer and silent generations. They also bring you shtick, sass and much laughter. Babe-alon 5's Martini Hour will include special musical guests, as well as a delicious recipe for your crockpot.

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LookOut programming for April and May to be announced at a later date. The LookOut Series is presented year-round and announced on an ongoing basis. John Zinn, Greta Honold and Patrick Zakem are the producers for LookOut. For more information, visit steppenwolf.org/lookout.

An 80-seat cabaret-style theater, the 1700 Theatre is a casual and intimate venue presenting a wide variety of genres and shows, from live music to dance to spoken word and beyond at 1700 N Halsted St. The diverse programming provides current and new audience members with a variety of multidisciplinary cultural experiences with the added Steppenwolf stamp of approval.

Located in front of the 1700 Theatre is Steppenwolf's café & bar, Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks. Open daily from 7am to midnight, Front Bar is a creative space to grab a drink, have a bite, or meet up with friends and collaborators, day or night. A morning and evening menu is curated by Chef Chris Pandel, and artisanal coffee and expresso is provided by La Colombe. Functioning as a stand-alone entity, the café & bar also connects to Steppenwolf's existing main building creating an expanded lobby space. Front Bar was developed with consultation from Steppenwolf's friends and neighbors, Boka Restaurant Group (BRG), along with interior designers Karen Herold and Kayce Carter of Studio K and the marketing and design firm Grip. More info at front-bar.com.

With the larger and more diverse selection of programming available, Steppenwolf has increased the ways in which audiences can access the offerings. The new Steppenwolf Black Card offers extreme flexibility with six ticket credits that can be used any time for any production at Steppenwolf. The credits are valid for one year, and there is the option to add on additional credits as needed. Additional membership perks include easy and free exchanges, access to seats before the general public, savings on single ticket prices and bar and restaurant discounts for pre- and post-show socializing. The Steppenwolf Black Card is modeled after the popular Steppenwolf Red program, which offers audiences under the age of 30 the option to purchase six ticket credits at a discounted price to use towards any play, anytime. To purchase a Card Membership, visit Audience Services at 1650 N Halsted St, call 312-335-1650 or visit steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation's premier ensemble theater-redefining the landscape of acting and performance. Formed by a collective of actors in 1976, the ensemble has grown to 47 members who represent a remarkable cross-section of actors, directors and playwrights. Thrilling and powerful productions from Balm in Gilead to August: Osage County-and accolades that include the National Medal of Arts and 12 Tony Awards-have made the theater legendary. Steppenwolf produces hundreds of performances and events annually in its three spaces: the 515-seat Downstairs Theatre, the 299-seat Upstairs Theatre and the 80-seat 1700 Theatre. Artistic programing includes a seven-play season; a two-play Steppenwolf for Young Adults season; Visiting Company engagements; and LookOut, a multi-genre performances series. Education initiatives include the nationally recognized work of Steppenwolf for Young Adults, which engages 14,000 participants annually from Chicago's diverse communities; the esteemed School at Steppenwolf; and Professional Leadership Programs for arts administration training. Steppenwolf's own Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks serves coffee, cocktails and a menu curated in partnership with the Boka Restaurant Group day and night. While firmly grounded in the Chicago community, nearly 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Anna D. Shapiro is the Artistic Director and David Schmitz is the Executive Director. Eric Lefkofsky is Chair of Steppenwolf's Board of Trustees. For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre, twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr and instagram.com/steppenwolfthtr.