ABOUT THIS SHOW
On the heels of his award-winning Broadway show The New One, comedian and storyteller Mike Birbiglia comes to the Steppenwolf stage with a tale of life, death, and a highly chlorinated YMCA pool. With his unique form of comedic storytelling, Birbiglia chronicles a coming-of-middle-age story that asks the big questions: Why are we here? What’s next? And what happens when the items at the doctor’s office that you thought were decorative become quite useful?
Steppenwolf members receive a special discount on tickets for The Old Man and the Pool. Members received an email with a promo code for $45 tickets when purchasing tickets online or over the phone. Our Audience Services team is available at 312-335-1650 for assistance.
All remaining performances for Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and the Pool are completely sold out. We are thrilled by the continued interest in this production, and are happy so many audiences were able to see the show.
Running Time
Content Advisory
This show is recommended for ages 12+.
Additional information
Downstairs Theatre Info & Seat Map
This show is a produced by a visiting company. Rush tickets and student rush tickets are not available for this production.
Accessible Performances
ASL interpreted:
Friday, May 20 at 8pm
Closed Captions:
Saturday, May 21 at 4pm
Cast & Artists
The Artists
- Written and Performed by Mike Birbiglia
- Directed by Seth Barrish
- Production Stage Manager Laura D. Glenn
Reviews
“After honing his craft for so long, Birbiglia has become a unique hybrid between a straight stand-up comic and a storyteller” – Chicago Tribune
“A gorgeous longform piece of storytelling that unspools slowly… it’s the most moving, most honest, most surprising and tender, and it’s also wildly funny” – Vulture
“A diarist with first-hand experience of existential extremes” – Los Angeles Times
“His comedic observational skills are sharp as a tack… peppered with hysterical one-liners that sneak up on you like comedic stealth bombs. By the end of the evening, you feel less like an audience member than an old friend” – The Hollywood Reporter
“Empathetic character study with comedy-club pizzazz” – Variety
“Mood-altering miracle that is stand-up comedian Mike Birbiglia” – Chicago Tribune
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.
Photo by Sasha Israel