Create With Us

The City Connections model is principally rooted in building authentic and mutually beneficial partnerships and bringing Steppenwolf programming outside of the theater walls and into communities we don’t currently serve. Central to the mission of City Connections is to provide no-cost, barrier-free programming and establish long-term partnerships with community organizations working to empower Chicagoland youth. Having opened up a dialogue between organizations and bringing our programming on the road, our goal is for youth to feel inspired to come to Steppenwolf and experiment here as artists or arts appreciators. 

This year we are working in the West Austin, Roseland, Englewood, and East Garfield Park communities as well as three Juvenile Justice Facilities throughout Illinois. In order to reach these communities, we are partnering with Storycatchers Theatre, the Chicago Public Library, Snow City Arts, BUILD, Inc. and Embarc Chicago to facilitate artistic opportunities, on-site performances and teen workshops.

How We Put City Connections In Action

Storycatchers Theatre 
Tour the Steppenwolf for Young Adults world premiere production of The Burn to incarcerated youth in three juvenile justice facilities. Watch the video below to learn more about how in 2016, we toured our Steppenwolf for Young Adults’ production of Monster to over 300 detained and incarcerated youth.

 

SYA & Storycatchers 2017

Watch Video
Throughout the year, host a series of interactive, artist-led workshops inspired by our Step In series at BUILD, Inc. in the West Austin neighborhood. 
Branches in Englewood and Roseland to host playwriting workshops, free to all teens, led by Philip Dawkins, playwright of The Burn, as lead up to the Chi-Teen Lit Fest.
As part of Embarc Chicago’s goal to provide experience-based learning opportunities to prepare students for career success, Embarc students will attend Step In workshops and a production of The Burn. 
In July 2018, host Snow City Arts participants at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre as a part of their 20th Anniversary Artistic Retrospective, allowing youth to perform theater outside of a hospital setting for the first time.

Questions? Want to Learn More?

For more information about our City Connections Program, please contact Steppenwolf Education Manager Jared Bellot at jbellot@steppenwolf.org.