Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation’s premier ensemble theater. Formed by a collective of actors in 1976, the ensemble members represent a remarkable cross-section of actors, directors and playwrights.

The LookOut Series, operating out of the 1700 Theatre, is Steppenwolf’s performance series that presents the work of artists and companies across genre and form: emerging artists and performance legends, quintessential Chicago companies and young aspiring ensembles, familiar Steppenwolf faces and new friends. For more information, visit steppenwolf.org/lookout.

This programming is made possible by Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre LookOut Series

Artists of Steppenwolf’s 1700 theatre

This Really Could Have Been in the Group Chat

In need of love advice? Ask BAPS! The Adriennes come to the need of Jillian when her virgo sun ass starts spiraling.

So God called herself trying to be cute one day and was like “Black Women are so talented, creative and resilient. Let me mix some of them up and see what they come up with”. So She took a pair of Timberlands, a pair of Cowboy boots, and a “Chicago Over Everything” baseball cap and dropped them on the doorstep of a theater in Chicago, IL. Thus, BAPS Comedy was born. Jillian “Timbs, Timbs, Timbs” Ebanks was born on the banks of New Jersey and started cooking platanos straight out of the womb. She runs the streets with a mic in one hand and a salted mango slice in the other. Texas-bred Adrienne “Get my Blue Magic hair grease” Brown was raised by UGK hip-hop and Tex-Mex queso. Her mic stays covered in humidity and Beyonce lyrics. And Adrienne “I retired from the WNBA before it even started” Brandyburg hails from “The 312” itself. She stays dodging haters and men under 6’2, all while keeping her scalp oiled and skin glowing. Her mic is colored with honey dew melon and rose oil moisturizer.

Jillian Ebanks, Adrienne Brown, and Adrienne Brandyburg make up the unstoppable trio that is BAPS Comedy. Our purpose has and always will be to promote Women of Color in comedy. As Women of Color, it is our job to support, root and cheer for each other every chance we get - our platform does just that. We produce variety shows. We put Women of Color on local stages. We celebrate our individual and collective cultures in our writing. We travel from city to city (in-person and virtually) throwing our beautiful, highly-melanated asses in the faces of everyone and we do it unapologetically. 

We are BAPS Comedy. You’re welcome.

SOak

A portrait of a marriage -- from the bathtub.

Jeremy Owens is the creator, producer and host of “You're Being Ridiculous,” a long running Chicago live-lit/storytelling show most recently featured at Steppenwolf Theatre. Jeremy's work has appeared in the storytelling shows Story Jam at Ragdale Ring, WRiTERS' NiGHT, Essay Fiesta, Fillet of Solo Theatre Festival, Story Club Chicago, The Paper Machete, That's All She Wrote and others. He has taught storytelling as a writer in residence at Write On, Door County, Story Studio Chicago, Highland Park High School's Focus on the Arts Program, Leyden High School Writers Week, Baker Demonstration School, Northwestern Summer Writers Conference, Northeastern Illinois University, and Story Studio Chicago's Writers Festival. He teaches LGBTQ/Queer non-fiction writing and storytelling at Story Studio Chicago. Jeremy is a graduate of The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and has an MFA in performance from Roosevelt University in Chicago. His solo show My Big Gay Fairytale, which was scheduled to premiere at Steppenwolf in the summer of 2020, will make it's debut soon. Special thank you to Ragdale, and Write On, Door County for their generous support of so many artists, and where portions of his solo show were written. 

Nire Nah

The Wounded Wheel

A Trump-era soliloquy. A folksinger’s waltz. Accompanying visuals hand-drawn and animated via digital media.

Nire Nah is a singer-songwriter whose work focuses mainly on themes of addiction recovery and mental wellness. As a multidisciplinary creator, performer, and graphic designer, she has enjoyed frequent collaborations with Preserve Records, Pop Magic Productions, 826CHI, Sappho's Salon, HybridSalon, Salonathon, and THOTCON. Nire has released two full-length albums [Coeur Age (2018) and Everything Stands Back Up (2020)] and is currently working on her third release, How to Fill a Room. She is also designing an original tarot deck! To follow Nire's progress and support her work, visit www.patreon.com/nirenah

Omar Khalil Dyette

In the Gardens of Wonder

is a journey of discovery. Part video essay, part performance, this piece contemplates the importance of heritage, identity, and self-determination.

Omar Khalil Dyette is a Chicago-based movement artist and arts administrator. They received Bachelor of Arts in Art History from DePaul University, and use this background alongside a love of media and pop culture to create events and spaces for folx of color in the arts. Alongside their public engagement and production, Omar has undertaken extensive research on the political, religious and cultural implications of graffiti in global settings. Omar has partnered with numerous arts and community organizations, including Reunion Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago, Threewalls, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Their work explores the patterns and systems of remembering. They are currently developing a performance piece on how bodies move and create through pain and joy – physical, emotional and spiritual. In their free time you can find them voguing down with friends or lounging with a good book or tv show.