CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Things are abuzz inside Steppenwolf Theatre's new 50,000-square-foot complex.
The drama company has been closed for more than a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but construction on its $73 million renovation project continues.
The public got a peek this week at the progress. A 400-seat Round Theater, a new open lobby, new bars, new dressing rooms, event space and an education center are part of the new expansion.
"We have students who collaborate with us all year. They never had their own space before. Now, they have a classroom, and this whole top floor is theirs," Leelai Demoz, Associate Artistic Director, said during a peek at the progress.
Tom Pearl, director of production, said the project has been in the works for a long time.
"We probably first started talking about this building a dozen years ago, but very aggressively the last six or seven,” he said. “A year ago, it definitely gave us pause at the beginning of the pandemic, but the reality was we were already a year into the ground so we had to see it through."
The pandemic influenced Steppenwolf to revise some elements of the work, he said.
“We went back to our design team and we did that with early pandemic lenses. We moved to contactless faucets, toilets and doors that you can open with your feet. It will surely be good for the future. We already planned for a state-of-the-art ventilation system, which has set us up well to come back."
Pearl said the Steppenwolf can't wait to return to live performances in November and debut the new stage next spring.
The new theater represents a symbol of hope for the arts in Chicago, he said.
"We're hoping that we can be an exciting part of the Chicago arts scene coming back. This great opening of celebration in this new space can be a great comeback story in this moment."
The upcoming season will be a combination of virtual and in-person shows beginning in the fall. For the first time, Demoz said, each play will be written by an ensemble member.
"The ensemble is so eager to get back to work and in front of a live audience. For me, every time I walk in here, it gives me chills,” she said.
To see visuals of the new space, become a member or see the 2021/2022 lineup, log onto steppenwolf.org.