Steppenwolf Policies & Protocols

LATE SEATING POLICY

Entry and re-entry to the theater is not guaranteed once a performance has begun. 

Due to the intimate nature of live performance in our small theater spaces, patrons entering after the show has started can be distracting for the performers and the rest of the audience. Alternatives will vary from production to production, and may include watching a monitor in the lobby or being shown a seat in the back of the theater during a scene transition. If you arrive during the first act of a play with an intermission, we'll be happy to show you to your ticketed seats at the break. If you anticipate a scenario where you may need to leave the theater during the show for a medical condition or emergency contact, please email access@steppenwolf.org prior to your visit– we'd love to find you seats and come up with a plan that will allow us to minimize distraction while allowing you to enjoy as much of the play as possible. 

FOOD & BEVERAGES

Drinks and approved snacks are allowed in our theaters. Approved snacks include our in-house mixes and boxes, and clam-shell containers will be available by house doors if you choose to transfer your snacks to a quiet container. We also recommend pre-ordering your drinks from the bar to be picked up at intermission.

PHOTOGRAPHY & RECORDING

Photography and recording are never allowed inside the theater.

Ever. We appreciate the compliment, but it's distracting for the performers and the rest of the audience. That goes for before the show starts too– the set and everything on it is copyright-right protected, and we appreciate everyone's respect of our artists' intellectual property. If you'd like some great photos of our shows, please check out each play's production page on the site. 

TICKET EXCHANGES

Classic Members and Flex Card holders may exchange their tickets at any time prior to their performance without incurring exchange fees. Upgrade charges between differently priced performances may apply.

Non-Members will incur a per-ticket exchange fee in addition to any applicable price differences and may exchange up to one hour prior to their performance.

All tickets are non-refundable.

LOST TICKETS

If you misplace your tickets, we are always happy to reprint them for you, or email you new print-at-home tickets. Simply stop by the box office prior to your show or call Audience Services at (312) 335-1650.

RUNNING TIME

Once a play has begun performances, you may find out the running time by visiting the Tickets & Events section of our website and clicking on the production you are coming to see, or by calling Audience Services at (312) 335-1650 and pressing 1. 

PHOTO/VIDEO DISCLAIMER

During your visit, you or members of your family may be filmed, videotaped, and/or photographed by a Steppenwolf employee, contract photographer or the media. Your attendance at Steppenwolf events serves as permission for the use of your image, or the image of your family members, by Steppenwolf.

SHOW ADVISORIES

Steppenwolf does not proactively offer advisories about subject matter, as sensitivities vary from person to person. If you have any questions about content, age-appropriateness or stage effects (such as strobe lights or theatrical fog) that might have a bearing on patron comfort, please contact Audience Services at (312) 335-1650.

SECURITY PROCEDURES

Entrance policies are in place to ensure audience and performer safety. While no threat or incident has occurred at Steppenwolf Theatre, Artists may sometimes request enhanced safety protocols for select performances.

All guests may be subject to visual inspections of all purses or bags.

• Weapons of any kind including but not limited to knives, guns, mace, explosives, stun guns and anything else the security professionals on-site deem unacceptable will not be permitted on the premises.
• Please note: Guests should arrive early to allow plenty of time to pass through security as needed.

HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Steppenwolf is no longer requiring evidence of vaccination upon entry to our building.

Masks will be optional (except when attending pre-determined mask required performances). Steppenwolf will follow the community masking guidelines recommended by Chicago Department of Public Health and CDC Community Risk Levels as outlined HERE.

As recommendations change, so do our outlined policies for health and safety. Please continue to check back here as your performance approaches. Thank you for working with us to keep everyone safe and healthy during this unprecedented time.

PATRON CODE OF CONDUCT

WELCOME TO OUR ENSEMBLE

Steppenwolf prides itself on being one of the premiere ensemble theaters in America. Being in an ensemble means being open to perspectives that differ from our own, being willing to allow multiple truths to exist and, perhaps most importantly, being open to change.

We are committed to becoming a racially, culturally and socially just organization rooted in anti-oppressive values, and we invite you to commit with us to maintaining a safe and accessible environment wherein our patrons, staff, artists, students, donors, trustees and volunteers are all part of our ensemble.

We invite you to join our ensemble by:

• Treating everyone with respect, dignity and equity.
• Centering those whose experiences you may not identify with or understand.
• Celebrating various forms of expression and trusting that there is enough space for us all.

If we witness harm being caused, we commit to:

• Having the courage to interrupt and lead with compassion.
• Centering the needs of the harmed party(ies) if physical or emotional harm is caused.
• Working together to rectify a situation when harm is caused, intentionally or accidentally.

Ensemble ethos is what this company is built on. It’s not always easy, but we believe prioritizing community is how we achieve a better tomorrow.

While we pride ourselves on staging provocative work that elicits strong emotions, reactions and connections, it is essential that we reduce the harm that has occurred too often in our physical and virtual spaces. Therefore, we reserve the right to refuse service, relocate and/or remove any person from our theater who disregards this Code of Conduct.

If you would like to share your thoughts with Steppenwolf leadership, please reach out to the company’s department heads at igotthoughts@steppenwolf.org.