Steppenwolf Theatre and Mark Cortale invite you to ring in the holidays with A Merry Little Christmas with Megan Hilty. Join the two-time Tony Award nominee and her longtime friend and music director Matt Cusson as they weave together classic and contemporary holiday tunes along with Broadway favorites – all sure to get you in the spirit of the season!
A Merry Little Christmas with Megan Hilty will play three performances only December 12 & 13, 2025 in Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. Tickets cost $99* – $149*. A special Steppenwolf member pre-sale begins Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 12 pm. Tickets go on sale to the general public Thursday, September 11, 2025 at 12 pm at steppenwolf.org/MeganHilty or by calling the Box Office at (312) 335-1650. *Pricing includes a $10 handling fee
Performance schedule:
Friday, December 12 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 13 at 3 pm & 7:30 pm
About the Artists:
Most recognizable for her portrayal of seasoned triple-threat Ivy Lynn in NBC’s musical drama Smash, Tony nominee Megan Hilty is a dynamic performer both on stage and on screen. Hilty is currently playing the role of Madeline Ashton in the new hit musical, Death Becomes Her, which earned her a Tony Award nomination, a Drama League Award nomination and two Broadway.com Audience Awards.
In addition to Smash, Megan’s television credits include playing Lily in Annie Live! on NBC, Bravo’s Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce, Hulu’s Difficult People, CBS’s The Good Wife, The Good Fight, Braindead and Desperate Housewives. Hilty also starred in the NBC series Sean Saves the World as well as The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh for Amazon.
Megan also had the great pleasure of filming Patsy & Loretta, earning her a Critics Choice Award nomination for Best Actress in a Limited Series for her portrayal of Patsy Cline. Additionally, her voice is featured on numerous animated series including KC the Koala on Disney Jr’s T.O.T.S., Holly Darlin on TrollsTopia, Wammawink on Netflix’s Centaurworld and as Rosetta in many of Disney’s Tinkerbell films. Other animation credits include It’s Pony, Sofia The First, Madagascar: A Little Wild, Doc McStuffins, Phineas & Ferb, Family Guy, American Dad and the singing voice of Snow White in the film Shrek the Third.
A native of Seattle, Hilty moved to New York City after graduating from the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University, and quickly made her Broadway debut as Glinda in Wicked. She went on to perform the role in both the national tour and in Los Angeles.
After four and a half years with Wicked, Megan went on to originate the role of Doralee Rhodes in Broadway’s 9 to 5: The Musical. Hilty was honored with nominations for Lead Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards, Outer Critics Circle Awards, the Drama League Awards and L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Awards.
Hilty also received critical acclaim for her role of Brooke Ashton in the Roundabout Theater Company’s revival of Noises Off. She earned nominations for a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and Drama League Award and won a Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Featured Actress in a Play.
A powerhouse singer, Hilty released a live album comprising songs from her concert tour entitled Megan Hilty Live at the Café Carlyle. which was recorded during one of her residencies at New York’s prestigious Café Carlyle. She also filmed her solo concert for the PBS Live from Lincoln Center series. Hilty continues to perform with world renowned orchestras such as the New York Pops, the National Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Pops, the Cincinnati Pops, the Houston Symphony, among many others. Megan is a frequent guest on PBS’ televised Live from Capitol Hill concerts and was the guest artist in the Christmas Concert with the iconic Tabernacle Choir, which aired on PBS in 2022. Her solo concerts, which combine the music from her varied television and theatrical career, continue to sell out and receive critical acclaim across the country.
Matt Cusson is a Grammy-nominated, multiple award-winning singer, pianist, songwriter, producer, and arranger. In addition to recent tours with Christina Aguilera, Megan Hilty, Dave Koz, and India.Arie with Javier Colon, Matt has worked with many of the world’s biggest artists, including Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Anderson Paak, Dua Lipa, CeeLo Green, Leslie Odom Jr., Billy Porter, Dave Koz, Javier Colon, Meshell Ndegeocello, mentors Brian McKnight and Livingston Taylor, and many, many more. You can hear Matt’s music on an array of albums from artists of different genres, multiple movies and TV shows, and massive collaborations with NASA and LifeTime, and The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting, among others. Recently, Matt arranged Irving Berlin’s “Count Your Blessings” for the New York Pops with conductor Steven Reineke, played at Carnegie Hall. And with the many arrangements you can hear of Matt’s all over the world, his version of “How Deep Is Your Love,” arranged for King’s Return, was nominated for a 2023 Grammy for Best Arrangement. And songs “Leaving L.A.” and “One of Those Nights” have both been awarded the John Lennon Songwriting Award. Be sure to check out Matt’s latest singles “First Me”, “Why Don’t We Go”, and “She Don’t Mind” available everywhere, and be sure to look for Matt’s much-anticipated third album coming soon!
Accessibility
Steppenwolf is committed to making the theatergoing experience accessible to everyone. Assistive listening devices 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. If you have questions or would like to make a specific request, email access@steppenwolf.org or call our box office at 312-335-1650.
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, Julius Frankel 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, Andrew and Amy Bluhm, Michael and Cathy Brennan, Ann and Richard Carr, Chicago Community Trust, Steven and Nancy Crown, Conagra Brands Foundation, Rich and Margery Feitler, FROST CHICAGO, Joyce Foundation, 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, and Vinci Restaurant. Steppenwolf also acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council.
About the Presenters:
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.
Mark Cortale recently produced the Broadway premiere of the six time Tony nominated musical Floyd Collins by Adam Guettel and Tina Landau with Lincoln Center Theater at The Beaumont. In September of 2024, he produced Douglas Lyons’ play Table 17 at MCC Theater starring two time Tony Winner Kara Young which won an Outer Critics' Circle Award and two Lucille Lortel Awards this past May. Also in 2024, he produced the three time Tony-nominated musical Days of Wine and Roses on Broadway, with music and lyrics by Adam Guettel and book by Craig Lucas. In 2020, Mark founded the developmental theatre lab New Works Provincetown. In conjunction with producing partners Jonathan Murray and Harvey Reese, he has commissioned five works to date including Beautiful Little Fool with a book by Mona Mansour and music and lyrics by Hannah Corneau. The new musical directed by Michael Greif will have its world premiere at the Southwark Playhouse in London opening this January 2026.