Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) and Executive Director David McDermott today announced programming for its 2024/25 season, Season 47. This year, the company ushers in a new era with prestigious collaborations, including the company’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company debut. HSDC’s 47th Season will also inaugurate a partnership with The Verdon Fosse® Legacy, making Hubbard Street Dance Chicago the only company in the world to be granted approval to add a Bob Fosse® work in its repertoire.
Blending timeless choreography with contemporary flair, the Season 47: Fall Series (Nov. 15-24) will mark Hubbard Street’s first engagement at Chicago’s landmark Steppenwolf Theatre Company (1650 N. Halsted St.). The program is set to feature the Company Premiere of Sweet Gwen Suite choreographed by American dance legend Bob Fosse with his longtime muse Gwen Verdon through a milestone collaboration with The Verdon Fosse® Legacy. Verdon’s admiration for HSDC began in the 1980s when she sought to adapt Fosse's works for concert dance, which included staging Fosse’s Percussion 4 for the company during Fisher-Harrell's tenure as a HSDC dancer.
“Gwen Verdon adored the Hubbard Street dancers for their diversity and abilities to authentically embody a wide variety of styles,” said Nicole Fosse, founder and artistic director of The Verdon Fosse® Legacy. “The current company’s limitless abilities, under Artistic Direction of Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, continue to hold true today.” Nicole Fosse, daughter of Verdon and Fosse and Allen Fields (Director of Creative Development of The Verdon Fosse® Legacy) continue the mission of bringing the genius of Bob Fosse® to world-wide audiences.
The Fall Series will also feature the tour de force solo piece Show Pony by Kyle Abraham and the intimate Prelude to a Kiss by Lar Lubovitch. Two pieces by Resident Artist Aszure Barton, now in her second year of residency with HSDC, will round out the program; the contemplative return to patience and the breathtaking hit BUSK. The Chicago Tribune raved, “BUSK and return to patience make crystal clear why Barton and Hubbard Street are so good for each other. Both are works Hubbard Street can do better than just about anyone else.”
“Steppenwolf is thrilled to welcome Hubbard Street Dance to our artistic home this year,” said E. Brooke Flanagan, Executive Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company. “We invite audiences to buckle-up for this exhilarating ride of a program and celebration of a globally recognized Chicago-based dance company that shares our theater’s commitment to ground-breaking innovation and thought-provoking work.”
In February 2025, Hubbard Street returns to its Chicago home at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph St.) for Winter Series (Feb. 13-16). Featuring Johan Inger's fantastical adventure IMPASSE, hailed by See Chicago Dance as “immensely entertaining” and a World Premiere by the dynamic, genre-defying choreographer James Gregg, Winter Series will also include additional works to be announced.
HSDC caps Season 47 with Spring Series at the Harris (May 16-18) which will feature a World Premiere by the Interim Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Matthew Rushing. Sweet Gwen Suite by Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon will light up the Harris stage, in addition to the Company Premiere of Resident Artist Aszure Barton’s spectacular choreographic collage Blue Soup.
HSDC Artistic Director Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell said about Season 47, “The 2024/25 Season line-up perfectly demonstrates our values of artistry, belonging and curiosity - and how thrilling it is to work toward our mission of awakening the human spirit through contemporary dance with our incredible new partners at The Verdon Fosse Legacy and Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Not only do we get to continue our collaboration with Resident Artist Aszure Barton, but what better way to harken back to our jazz roots than with Fosse? When Gwen Verdon came to HSDC in the early 90s to stage Percussion 4 on the Company, it was just magical, and I am honored that Nicole and The Verdon Fosse Legacy are entrusting us with this delicious work. With Steppenwolf, I have admired how Glenn, Audrey, and Brooke are reimagining what the Company means to Chicago and the greater arts community, so to be welcomed in by them so warmly is a tremendous gift. We are so looking forward to reaching even more new audiences with our 47th season.”
Subscriptions for Season 47 will be available starting in July 2024, with subscription prices beginning at $104 plus a $12 handling fee, based on price zones selected. HSDC is also proud to once again offer Young Professionals Subscription packages for just $60 plus a handling fee, which includes one Section 3 ticket per series. Visit www.hubbardstreetdance.com/subscribe to learn more.
Hubbard Street is grateful to our Season 47 Partners Athletico Physical Therapy and the Illinois Arts Council for their continued support.
The Season 47 performance schedule is as follows:
FALL SERIES
Friday, November 15 – Sunday, November 24, 2024
At Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Downstairs Theater
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Friday, November 15 at 7pm
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Saturday, November 16 at 7pm
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Sunday, November 17 at 2:30pm
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Thursday, November 21 at 7pm
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Friday, November 22 at 7pm
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Saturday, November 23 at 7pm
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Sunday, November 24 at 2:30pm
Featuring:
return to patience by Aszure Barton
Show Pony by Kyle Abraham
Prelude to a Kiss by Lar Lubovitch
Sweet Gwen Suite by Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon
BUSK by Aszure Barton
WINTER SERIES
Thursday, February 13 – Sunday, February 16, 2025
At the Harris Theater for Music & Dance
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Thursday, February 13 at 7:30pm
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Friday, February 14 at 7:30pm
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Saturday, February 15 at 7:30pm
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Sunday, February 16 at 3pm
Featuring:
IMPASSE by Johan Inger
A World Premiere by James Gregg
And more to be announced.
SPRING SERIES
Friday, May 16 – Sunday, May 18, 2025
At the Harris Theater for Music & Dance
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Friday, May 16 at 7:30pm
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Saturday, May 17 at 7:30pm
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Sunday, May 18 at 3pm
Featuring:
A World Premiere by Matthew Rushing
Sweet Gwen Suite by Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon
Blue Soup by Aszure Barton
Choreographer Bios can be found here
About Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s mission is to awaken the human spirit through contemporary dance, envisioning a dance landscape that is relevant and accessible to all.
For 47 years, Hubbard Street has been one of the most original forces in contemporary dance – bringing top choreographers and works to Chicago and beyond. Hubbard Street’s ever-evolving repertory, created by today’s leading choreographic voices, makes them a company that dancers aspire to join and performance venues all over the world are eager to host. To date, the main company has performed globally in 19 countries and 44 U.S. states.
At home in Chicago, Hubbard Street performs 20 times a year and delivers renowned education programs in 50 classrooms across 17 Chicagoland schools. HSDC Education utilizes the choreographic process to teach essential problem-solving skills, creativity, and collaboration - expanding our reach beyond traditional concert dance audiences, ensuring that everyone has access to world-class dance and instruction.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago grew out of the Lou Conte Dance Studio in 1977, and Conte served as Artistic Director for 23 years. Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell began her tenure at the company in March 2021. In January 2022, HSDC moved to their new home in Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue and acclaimed choreographer Aszure Barton was named Resident Artist in January 2023. Visit www.hubbardstreetdance.com for more information.
About The Verdon Fosse® Legacy
The mission of The Verdon Fosse Legacy® is to promote, preserve, and protect the artistic and intellectual property of Bob Fosse® and Gwen Verdon. Through its range of educational programs, Legacy-sanctioned teachers and reconstructeurs teach Fosse® style, technique, and work ethic to students and professionals in the US & internationally. The Legacy aims to foster and educate performers, directors, and choreographers, as well as scholars and students interested in American film and musical theatre. It partners with universities, dance studios, museums, libraries, publishing companies, film screenings, and non-profit organizations to honor the work and methodology of Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse. The Verdon Fosse Legacy Professional Training Program’s mission is to empower today’s artists through diverse dance training, instilling the original integrity and intent of Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon’s work to build uniquely powerful entertainers for tomorrow. The Verdon Fosse Legacy oversees the licensing of Bob Fosse’s work for non-profit and for-profit commercial use. The Legacy protects the image, artistic, and intellectual property of Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse and owns the trademarks for Fosse® and Bob Fosse® whose indelible influences can be seen across pop culture today.
About Bob Fosse
Bob Fosse is one of the most internationally recognized figures in the history of the performing arts for his groundbreaking, genre-defining work as a director, choreographer, performer, and writer across various mediums on both stage and screen. In 1973, he became the first director in history to win the Oscar, Tony, and Emmy awards in a single year for his spectacular triumphs with Cabaret on film, Pippin on Broadway, and “Liza with a Z” on television. Though he got his start as a performer, Mr. Fosse’s career as a creative force on Broadway began in 1954 when he served as choreographer for the Original Broadway production of The Pajama Game, earning him the first of his nine Tony Awards. He went on to choreograph Damn Yankees, Bells Are Ringing, New Girl In Town, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and direct and choreograph Redhead, Little Me, Sweet Charity (which he also conceived), Pippin, Liza, Chicago (for which he also co-wrote the book), Dancin’, Big Deal (for which he also wrote the book), and the 1986 revival of Sweet Charity. On film, he served as director and choreographer for Sweet Charity, Cabaret, All That Jazz (also co-screenwriter), and Star 80 (also co-screenwriter), earning him an Academy Award and two additional nominations for Best Director, as well as a nomination for Best Original Screenplay. All That Jazz also won the Palme d’Or at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival. His additional film credits include choreography for The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, and The Little Prince. Born in Chicago, Mr. Fosse began dancing at age nine and made his first professional appearance at thirteen with his childhood friend Charles Grass under the name “The Riff Brothers.” After serving with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Islands during World War II, he reignited his career as a dancer, performing alongside Mary Ann Niles in Call Me Mister, Make Mine Manhattan, and Dance Me a Song. He also appeared in the MGM films Give a Girl a Break; The Affairs of Dobie Gillis; and Kiss Me, Kate. His last performing engagements were with New York City Center, dancing the title role in their revival of Pal Joey and dancing the role of The Serpent in The Little Prince on screen. Bob Fosse passed away in 1987, on the Opening Night of the National Tour of Sweet Charity. Mr. Fosse’s work constantly finds new life in productions like the long running Broadway revival of Chicago (1996), Fosse (1999), and the Broadway revival of Dancin’ (2023), as well as in the Emmy Award-winning FX series “Fosse/Verdon” (2019), and the trio of dances Sweet Gwen Suite (2021). The Verdon Fosse Legacy®, founded by his daughter, Nicole Fosse, ensures Mr. Fosse’s enduring legacy will continue to help shape the entertainment landscape for years to come.
About Gwen Verdon
Gwen Verdon is “widely regarded as the best dancer ever to brighten the Broadway Stage” (The New York Times). Her early career was marked by her close working relationship with Jack Cole, for whom she worked as both a performer and assistant choreographer. Her most enduring professional partnership, however, was with the man she would marry, Bob Fosse. Together, Ms. Verdon and Mr. Fosse ran up a string of iconic theatrical successes not rivaled by a director/choreographer and star before or since. After she earned her first of four Tony Awards in her breakout role as Claudine in Can-Can, her collaboration with Mr. Fosse began. She starred in Damn Yankees (Tony Award), New Girl in Town (Tony Award), Redhead (Tony Award), Sweet Charity (Tony nomination) and Chicago (Tony nomination). Her work in feature films includes roles in On the Riviera, David & Bathsheba, Mississippi Gambler, Damn Yankees, Cocoon, Cocoon: The Return, The Cotton Club, Nadine, Marvin’s Room, Alice, Bruno, and Walking Across Egypt. Early in her career, she helped stage Marilyn Monroe's performance of "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend” in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She served as Artistic Advisor for Steam Heat, the Emmy Award-winning documentary about Mr. Fosse. She also appeared on the television programs “Mash,” “Fame,” “Trapper John,” “M.D.,” “Webster,” “Magnum, P.I.,” “The Equalizer,” “Dream On,” “Dear John,” “Homicide,” and “Legs.” Her work in the concert dance world spanned decades and continents, including Chicago’s Hubbard Street Dance, the Beijing Ballet School in China, the Houston Ballet Company, and the Paul Taylor Dance Company. Counted among the hundreds of partners with whom she danced throughout the course of her career were Mikhail Baryshnikov and Rudolph Nureyev. Among her many accolades, Ms. Verdon won a Grammy Award for Redhead and received a National Endowment for the Arts & Humanities Award.
About Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation’s premiere Ensemble Theater with 49 members who are among the top actors, playwrights and directors in the field. Thrilling, powerful, groundbreaking productions – from Balm in Gilead and Grapes of Wrath to August: Osage County, Downstate and The Brother/Sister Plays – have made this theatre legendary. 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, 12 Tony Awards, 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 landscape 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.