1650 N. Halsted: Steppenwolf's suburban satire opens through Dec. 13
A new comedy about suburban book banning opens at the 1650 N. Halsted location, featuring a crow chorus and school board politics.
By Samir Doyle ·
Steppenwolf Theatre Company opened the world premiere of Adirondack Chair Circle on November 4, 2026. The production runs through December 13 at the venue located at 1650 N. Halsted. Tickets range from $20 to $167.50.
The play is directed by Pam MacKinnon. It depicts three suburban women who attempt to remove books from local school libraries. Their efforts target titles they consider inappropriate, including Slaughterhouse-Five. The women view their neighbor, Evelyn Grace, as a communist because she opposes the ban.
Caroline Neff plays Evelyn Grace. Wendy Mateo portrays Winona, a nervous participant in the book ban campaign. Katrina Lenk plays Banna, the group leader. Sadieh Rifai plays Libby, the spokeswoman. The characters engage in a verbal debate that escalates into physical conflict during a pickleball tournament. The conflict concludes with speeches at a school board meeting.
The script includes a crow as part of the chorus. David Darrow performs the role of the Crow. He provides narration and uses bird scatology as a form of commentary. Darrow also portrays a right-wing media consultant who coaches the housewives. The reviewer noted that Darrow brings the same energetic performance style he used in Steppenwolf’s production of Amadeus last fall.
The play references Bertolt Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle. It explores themes of female identity and power struggles within a suburban setting. The production features a specific schedule of shows and accessibility options. Audio description and a touch tour are scheduled for November 22. Open captions will be available on November 7, 11, and 28. ASL interpretation is set for December 4.
Standard performances are listed for Tuesday through Friday at 7:30 PM. Saturday shows are at 3 PM and 7:30 PM. Sunday shows are at 3 PM. Additional 2 PM performances will occur on November 25 and December 2. There will be no shows on Thursday, November 5; Tuesday, November 10; Wednesday, November 18; Thursday, November 26; or Tuesday, December 1.
