Highland Park Native Jeff Perry Returns for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's 50th Season

Perry co-stars in "The Dance of Death" as the company celebrates a major milestone.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Fifty years after helping found the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in the basement of a Highland Park church, actor Jeff Perry is back in Chicago to co-star in the company's production of "The Dance of Death" as part of its 50th anniversary season. Perry, who has appeared in over 40 Steppenwolf plays, reflects on the theater's humble beginnings, its growth into an internationally acclaimed company, and the special bond among the ensemble members.

Why it matters

Steppenwolf's 50-year history represents a remarkable achievement for a regional theater company, especially one that started in the basement of a church. The company's longevity, artistic acclaim, and commitment to ensemble-driven, socially conscious work have made it a landmark institution in American theater.

The details

Perry, a Highland Park native, was one of the young people who founded Steppenwolf in 1976. The company started in the basement of a Highland Park church before moving to Chicago in 1980 and building its current space on Halsted Street in 1991. Over the decades, Steppenwolf has grown to 49 ensemble members and has won numerous awards, including Tonys, the National Medal of Arts, and a 2025 Pulitzer Prize. For the 50th season, Perry is returning to co-star in "The Dance of Death," a play he describes as "remarkably funny." Perry's character, Captain Edgar, is a narcissistic and verbose man, which the actor says plays to his strengths.

  • Steppenwolf Theatre Company was founded 50 years ago in 1976.
  • The company moved from Highland Park to Chicago in 1980.
  • Steppenwolf built its current theater space on Halsted Street in 1991.
  • "The Dance of Death" runs through March 22, 2026.

The players

Jeff Perry

A Highland Park native who was one of the founders of Steppenwolf Theatre Company and has appeared in over 40 productions with the company.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company

An internationally acclaimed regional theater company that was founded in 1976 in the basement of a church in Highland Park, Illinois.

Conor McPherson

The playwright who adapted August Strindberg's "The Dance of Death," which Steppenwolf is producing as part of its 50th anniversary season.

H.E. Baccus

The director of a Steppenwolf production of "The Glass Menagerie" that Perry particularly admired in the company's early years.

Tina Landau

The director of a Steppenwolf production of William Saroyan's "The Time of Your Life" that Perry considered a favorite.

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What they’re saying

“I'm grateful and emotional and sentimental, proud, amazed. In American theater, the experiments of artists gathering together and trying to do their art and govern themselves in a communal way is just as hard as democracy.”

— Jeff Perry, Actor (Chicago Tribune)

“We found out in school that we loved being together. We got a kick out of picking plays together, putting them on, and directing each other, and trying to get better.”

— Jeff Perry, Actor (Chicago Tribune)

“If you're going to do something that well known, you had a good reason. There was a great love for the story but also a great kind of search for its authenticity.”

— Jeff Perry, Actor (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

Steppenwolf Theatre Company will continue its 50th anniversary season with additional productions throughout 2026.

The takeaway

Steppenwolf's 50-year journey from a basement theater in Highland Park to an internationally renowned company is a testament to the power of artistic vision, ensemble collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to socially conscious storytelling. The company's longevity and impact on American theater serve as an inspiration for regional theaters everywhere.