World Premiere
Windfall
Written by ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney
Directed by Awoye Timpo
Main Series
About the show
Academy Award-winning ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney's lyrical world premiere is set in an imaginative world where miracles can happen. When a Chicago father is offered a cash settlement for the loss of his child, everyone is entitled to an opinion: the ghosts of his past, the strangers on his porch and the in-the-round audience who envelops him. Through memory, music and a little magic, he finds himself torn: Should he take the money? Who is to blame? What is his child’s life worth? Offering a communal and uplifting experience, this is a vital and soul-stirring look at the undying spirit of family and activism. Above all else, this is a story about money. Don't let them fool you otherwise.
STUDY GUIDE
We invite you to take a look at our Study Guide—an interactive resource created by Steppenwolf Education & Engagement to deepen your Windfall experience. In addition to lesson plans and activities for the classroom, you will find articles, artist interviews and so much more!
Watch & Listen
Reviews
"MCCRANEY IS "A DRAMATIC POET OF THE HIGHEST ORDER"
- Chicago Tribune
"A POWERFUL STORY... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"
- Chicago Sun-Times
★★★★—"daring, intense & incredibly relevant!...MCCRANEY IS ONE OF THE AMERICAN THEATER’S MOST VITAL WRITERS"
- Paul Lisnek, Curtain Call Chicago
"THE ENSEMBLE OF ACTORS ARE FANTASTIC... DEEPLY SERIOUS [WITH] MOMENTS OF HUMOR AND HOPE"
- Broadway World
"A POWERFULLY POIGNANT PLAY THAT’S AS TOPICAL AS IT IS ENTERTAINING"
- Chicago Theatre Review
Community Events
THEATRE INDUSTRY NIGHT
A FREE Event* on Thursday, April 9, 2026
6:00pm Mixer in Front Bar | 7:30pm Performance
Arrive early to catch up and network with fellow Chicago artists and arts administrators before a performance of Tarell Alvin McCraney's new play Windfall!
Join us in our Front Bar located at 1700 N. Halsted before the performance and stick around for the 7:30pm performance in the Ensemble Theater.
*The pre-show event is FREE for industry professionals, but tickets are required for attending the performance of Windfall.
UNIVERSITY NIGHT
A FREE Event* on Friday, April 10, 2026
6:00pm Mixer in Tap Bar
7:30pm Performance post-show discussion immediately following the performance
Arrive early for lite bites and networking with fellow college students before a performance of Windfall! Join us in our Tap Bar on the first floor of 1646 N. Halsted before the performance and stick around for the 7:30pm performance in the Ensemble Theater.
*The pre-show event is FREE, but college students can get tickets now for the performance for $15 with a Student ID using code STUDENT15.
TEEN TAKEOVER
A FREE Post-Show Event* on Saturday, May 2, 2026
3pm performance | Teen Takeover Event Immediately After
Connect with like-minded teens after a performance of Windfall! Enjoy different art and activity stations along with a post-show conversation with artists from the show. Music and snacks keep the vibes going throughout the program. Click the button below to RSVP and learn more about how to get $5 tickets.
*The Teen Takeover event is FREE, but tickets are required to attend the performance of Windfall.
LEARNER CHAT
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Including a discussion immediately following the 7:30pm Performance
This series invites our patrons to learn from expert witnesses during conversations that explore major themes in the play. Audience members are guided on a journey that dives deeper into motifs, design elements, and dramaturgy, ultimately offering new levels of insight and discovery.