Ensemble theater
Our intimate, 400-seat Ensemble Theater in Honor of Helen Zell is only six rows deep and places no audience member more than 20 feet from the stage. The new theater replaces our Upstairs Theater and is the only in-the-round theater space found in a major Chicago theatre.
Please note: the Ensemble Theater is a configurable space, and the seat map below may be updated to reflect changes on a show-by-show basis.
Seat Map
Lobby & Amenities
Located steps away from of the Ensemble Theater, the Steppenwolf lobby and bars open one hour prior to performance. This includes our new Tap Bar and Patio, nestled just outside the Ensemble Theater on the first floor. We offer a range of refreshments, including a full bar with liquor, imported and domestic beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages. Fresh-brewed coffee is available at every performance. We also feature a variety of candies and cookies. Save time during intermission and pre-order your cocktails before the show!
History
Designed by world-renowned architect Gordon Gill of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture and London-based theatre design team Charcoalblue (led by John Owens with theatre designer Ben Hanson and acoustic designer Byron Harrison), the Ensemble Theater was contsructed as part of Steppenwolf's campus expansion in 2021.
As Chicago's only major in-the-round theater space, the Ensemble has been home to such productions as Chekhov's classic, The Seagull, as well as world premiere's of Describe the Night by ensemble member Rajiv Joseph, and Another Marriage by ensemble member Kate Arrington.