The Saint Sebastian Players announce their 44th season, with each production featuring an element of the supernatural. Performances take place at SSP’s home on the lower level of St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey, Chicago.
The season opens with the spooky drama The Haunting of Hill House, adapted by F. Andrew Leslie from the novel by Shirley Jackson, directed by Jack Dugan Carpenter. Cut off from the outside world due to its remote location and sinister reputation, Hill House has remained empty. Dr. Montague, an investigator of supernatural phenomena, breaks the isolation with a mission to delve into the house’s morbid history. Joining him are three unacquainted guests, who are soon jolted by strange and eerie occurrences. When Dr. Montague’s wife and a friend arrive, their attempt at direct communication with the departed spirits brings on a crisis that goads evil forces to a new and, for one of those present, fatal fury. Previews are October 17–19; regular performances run October 24–November 9, 2025.
The classic, Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy Harvey by Mary Chase, directed by Lisa M. Ramos, features Elwood P. Dowd, who insists on including his friend Harvey at all of his sister Veta’s social gatherings. Trouble is, Elwood is the only one who can “see” Harvey, a shapeshifting “pooka” who appears as a six-and-a-half-foot-tall rabbit. To avoid future embarrassment for her family, Veta decides to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium. Veta is mistakenly admitted after claiming she too can see her brother’s “hallucination” after all these years, but she is later freed. Elwood eventually arrives at the sanitarium, looking for Harvey. But it seems that Elwood and his invisible companion have had a strange influence on more than one of the doctors. Previews are February 13–15; regular performances run February 20–March 8, 2026.
Closing the season is Paul Rudnick’s witty and whimsical comedy/drama I Hate Hamlet, directed by Zach Kunde. Andrew Rally has it all: TV fame, a glamorous girlfriend, a devoted agent, the perfect New York apartment and the chance to play Hamlet in Central Park. There’s just one problem—he hates Hamlet. When his agent recalls a romance with legendary actor John Barrymore in Andrew’s very apartment, a seance summons Barrymore’s ghost. From that moment on, Andrew’s life is no longer his own. Things spiral into hilarious chaos as he battles with self-doubt, Shakespeare, his own sword and a swashbuckling specter determined to push him toward greatness. Previews are April 24–26; regular performances run May 1–17, 2026.
SSP began producing theatre in 1982 at its original home, the St. Sebastian parish, located at the corner of Halsted Street and Wellington Avenue on Chicago’s North Side. When the parish closed in 1990, SSP relocated to its current home, St. Bonaventure, at 1625 W. Diversey. During its history, the company has produced original and previously produced dramas, comedies and musicals; original audience-participation mysteries for special events; and the Monologue Matchup Competition, as well as provided support for Sebastian Studio Projects produced by company members. For a complete production history, visit saintsebastianplayers.org/Production-History.
Performances take place Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. in the lower level of St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey, at Marshfield just west of Ashland, in Chicago. Free parking is available. Three-play subscription packages are $85, $70 for seniors and children younger than 12, and are valid at previews and regular run performances. New this season, SSP subscribers receive one free ticket to each of Chicago a cappella’s three Series concerts. Individual preview tickets are $30, $25 for seniors and children younger than 12. Regular performance tickets are $35, $30 for seniors and children younger than 12. Students with valid IDs may purchase tickets for the senior prices at the door. Group rates also are available.
All programming is subject to change. For tickets and information, visit saintsebastianplayers.org.