Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation’s premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to launch its 50th Anniversary Season with the Chicago premiere of ensemble member Rajiv Joseph’s (King James, Guards at the Taj) unflinching family drama Mr. Wolf, directed by ensemble member K. Todd Freeman (Downstate, Airline Highway), playing September 11 – November 2, 2025 in Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. Single tickets starting at $20 go on sale Friday, July 25, 2025 at steppenwolf.org or the Box Office at (312) 335-1650. The press opening is Sunday, September 21, 2025 at 6 pm.
Mr. Wolf will feature ensemble members Kate Arrington (East of Eden, Another Marriage–Playwright), Tim Hopper (Fool for Love, The Thanksgiving Play), James Vincent Meredith (Noises Off, The Minutes) and Caroline Neff (Fool for Love, POTUS) with Emilie Maureen Hanson (Steppenwolf debut).
The cast of Steppenwolf Theatre’s Chicago premiere of "Mr. Wolf" includes (left to right) ensemble members Kate Arrington, Tim Hopper, James Vincent Meredith and Caroline Neff with Emilie Maureen Hanson.
About the Production:
Fourteen years ago, the infant Theresa was stolen from her parents. Now, the precocious 15-year-old has been rescued, and quickly returned to a family that had nearly forsaken hope – a family she neither recognizes nor understands. In ensemble member Rajiv Joseph’s unflinching play, a miraculous reunion sets the stage for provocative conversations: what makes a house a home? What nightmares are we willing to face for the sake of our children? And ultimately, what part do we play in the grand saga of human existence?
Steppenwolf Artistic Directors Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis comment, “We are elated to launch Steppenwolf’s 50th Season with Mr. Wolf, a truly daring play that showcases the kind of acting this company is known for: unflinching, honest and gutsy. And what a team! Between the cast and director, there are over 120 collective years of Steppenwolf ensemble membership ready to get to work. We’re honored that K. Todd Freeman is back directing at Steppenwolf, and we can’t wait to see what he, and this stellar cast, have in store for Rajiv’s thrilling play that takes us deep into nightmarish circumstances and asks uncomfortable questions about the bonds of family. Killer actors and juicy family drama: there’s no better way to kick off this landmark season than by doubling down on what makes Steppenwolf singular.”
The creative team includes Walt Spangler (Scenic Design), Dede Ayite (Costume Design), Keith Parham (Lighting Design), Josh Schmidt (Sound Design and Original Music), Rasean Davonté Johnson (Projection Design), Kate DeVore (Voice Coach), Jonathan L. Green (Dramaturg), Patrick Zakem (Creative Producer), Elise Hausken (Production Manager), JC Clementz, CSA (Casting), Michelle Medvin (Production Stage Manager) and Kathleen Barrett (Assistant Stage Manager). For full cast and creative team bios, click here.
Production Details:
Title: Mr. Wolf – Chicago Premiere!
Playwright: ensemble member Rajiv Joseph
Director: ensemble member K. Todd Freeman
Cast: Kate Arrington (Hana), Tim Hopper (Mr. Wolf), James Vincent Meredith (Michael) and Caroline Neff (Julie) with Emilie Maureen Hanson (Theresa).
Location: Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago
Dates: Previews: Thursday, September 11 – Saturday, September, 20, 2025
Press performance/Opening: Sunday, September 21, 2025 at 6 pm
Regular run: Tuesday, September 23 – Sunday, November 2, 2025
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, September 16, Wednesday, September 24, Tuesday, September 30, Thursday, October 2, Wednesday, October 8, Thursday, October 9, Tuesday, October 14 and Tuesday, October 28 (Veteran’s Night); there will be an added 2 pm matinee on Wednesday, October 22.
Tickets: Classic Memberships starting as low as $160 are now on sale for Steppenwolf’s 2025/26 season at steppenwolf.org/myseason. Single tickets for Mr. Wolf ($20 – $128.50*) go on sale Friday, July 25, 2025 at steppenwolf.org and the Box Office at (312) 335-1650. Steppenwolf Flex Memberships are currently on sale: 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, October 12 at 3 pm (1:30 pm touch tour)
Open-Captioned: Saturday, October 4 at 3 pm and Thursday, October 23 at 7:30 pm
ASL-Interpreted: Friday, October 17 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, Topdog/Underdog 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:
Rajiv Joseph (Playwright) has been a Steppenwolf Ensemble member since 2018. His play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo was a 2010 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Drama and he has twice won the Obie Award for Best New American Play, first in 2016 for Guards at the Taj (also a 2016 Lortel Winner for Best Play) and then, in 2018, for Describe the Night. Other plays include Dakar 2000, King James (Steppenwolf/Center Theater Group commission), Letters of Suresh, Gruesome Playground Injuries, Animals Out of Paper, The North Pool, The Lake Effect, Archduke and Mr. Wolf. Rajiv is a graduate of Cleveland Heights High School in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and his MFA from New York University’s Tisch School for the Arts. He served for three years in the Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa.
K. Todd Freeman (Director) joined the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble in 1993. Steppenwolf (acting): Downstate (Jeff Award), Airline Highway, The Brother/Sister Plays, Topdog/Underdog, A Clockwork Orange, We All Went Down to Amsterdam, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Song of Jacob Zulu. Steppenwolf (directing): The Christians, Good People. Broadway: Airline Highway (Tony Nomination, Drama Desk Award), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Song of Jacob Zulu (Tony Nomination). Off-Broadway: Downstate (Playwrights Horizons, Obie, Lucile Lortel, Outer Critics Circle Awards), Fetch Clay Make Man (NYTW, Obie Award); Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures, Spunk (Public Theatre); Regional: Angels in America (Mark Taper Forum). TV: Will Trent, The Horror of Dolores Roach, FBI: Most Wanted, High Maintenance, God Friended Me, Blacklist, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Blindspot, Elementary, The OA, Law and Order: SVU, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, NYPD Blue. Film: Bird in Hand, Same Storm, Naked Singularity, Anesthesia, Weightless, The Dark Knight, Cider House Rules, Gross Pointe Blank.
Kate Arrington (Hana) has been a proud member of The Steppenwolf Ensemble since 2007 where some of her favorite plays include The Violet Hour, The Pain and the Itch, Hot L Baltimore, A Parallelogram, Detroit, Belleville and East of Eden. New York: The Iceman Cometh, Grace, Our Mother's Brief Affair, The American Plan, The Wolves, Shakey Jake and Alice, The Qualms, When the Messenger is Hot, Sexy Saint James and Happy Now? Film and TV: Winning Time, Mare of Easttown, Succession, Ray Donovan, Billions, Eric Larue, Abandoned, Brittany Runs a Marathon, Knives and Skin, East New York, Evil, Madam Secretary, Blacklist, The Good Wife. As a playwright, her play Another Marriage was performed as part of Steppenwolf's 2022/23 season. She is a graduate of Northwestern University and has two perfect daughters, Sylvie and Mae.
Emilie Maureen Hanson (Theresa) Steppenwolf Theatre Company Debut. Chicago: The Malignant Ampersands (A Red Orchid Theatre). Regional: Sanctuary City (Seattle Rep); The Crucible,The Wolves (ACT); The Adding Machine (The Feast). Education: BFA, DePaul University. Representation: Paonessa Talent Agency. Thank you to my family, friends and educators!
Tim Hopper (Mr. Wolf) is a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble. Recent roles at Steppenwolf include The Old Man in Fool for Love and Andy in Downstate, which traveled to the National Theatre in London, and to Playwrights Horizons in New York. Television appearances include Chicago Fire, Emperor of Ocean Park, the Amazon series Utopia, Fargo, The Americans and Empire. Film appearances include the upcoming A24 film Enemies, as well as Perpetrator; Knives and Skin, School of Rock and To Die For, among others. Off-Broadway: New York Theatre Workshop, Vineyard Theatre and the Atlantic Theater. Internationally, the Edinburgh Festival and Antwerp's De Singel Theatre.
James Vincent Meredith (Michael) received critical acclaim as John Proctor in The Crucible, his first role as a Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble member. James has appeared at Steppenwolf in 19 productions over the years, most recently in: Noises Off. Broadway credits include: The Book of Mormon (Eugene O’Neill-also national tour), The Minutes (Steppenwolf and also Studio 54), Skin of Our Teeth (LCT) and Superior Donuts (Music Box). Other Chicago theatre credits include work at Goodman, Lookingglass, Writers, Victory Gardens, Court and Chicago Shakespeare. Recent TV: Chicago Med (NBC), Your Honor (Showtime) FBI (CBS) and Fargo (FX).
Caroline Neff (Julie) is a Steppenwolf ensemble member. At Steppenwolf, she was last seen in Fool for Love, POTUS, Another Marriage, Describe the Night, Seagull, Dance Nation, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, You Got Older, Linda Vista (also Taper Forum and Broadway), The Fundamentals, The Flick, Airline Highway (also Broadway), The Way West, Three Sisters, Annie Bosh is Missing and Where We’re Born. Select theatre credits include: Lettie (Jeff Award Best Actor; Victory Gardens Theater); Uncle Vanya (Goodman Theatre); A Brief History of Helen of Troy (Jeff Award for Best Actress), The Knowledge, Harper Regan, In Arabia We’d All Be Kings (Steep Theatre); The Downpour (Route 66 Theatre); Port (Griffin Theatre); 4000 Miles (Northlight Theatre); Moonshiner (Jackalope Theatre). Regional credits include: Peerless (Yale Repertory Theatre). Film and television credits include: FBI, Three Women, Let the Right One In, The Red Line, Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, Open Tables and Older Children, and heard in multiple Audible Projects such as: Song of the Northwoods, Crowded Hours, Denali and Boar's Nest. She is a proud company member of Steep Theatre and holds her BA from Columbia College.
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 access@steppenwolf.org.
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, Good Chaos, Joyce 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, CRC Group, Rich and Margery Feitler, Julius Frankel Foundation, FROST CHICAGO, Goldman Sachs, Kirkland & Ellis, 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, Gary Sinise Foundation, and Vinci Restaurant. Steppenwolf also acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. This project is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.
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.