Steep Theatre Breaks Ground on New Edgewater Home, Adding to Neighborhood's Thriving Arts Scene
By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Edgewater ·
Edgewater's reputation as a theater destination received a major boost this week as Steep Theatre officially broke ground on its new permanent home at the corner of Berwyn and Kenmore avenues. At a ceremony held on Thursday, December 12, supporters and company members gathered to celebrate this milestone for the award-winning theater company that has been part of the Edgewater community for over a decade.
The new facility will feature a flexible 70-seat black box theater and a welcoming lobby-lounge designed for performances and community engagement. "Being here feels like part of our identity...we've built a tremendous community and following and a group of supporters around that," shared Peter Moore, Steep's founding artistic director, who emphasized that staying in Edgewater was their top priority. The theater company purchased the low-slung brick building that formerly housed the Christian Science Reading Room in 2022, just down the street from its previous location.
Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth highlighted the significance of this addition, noting that "storefront theaters in Chicago are a representation of what makes our city great. And, in Edgewater particularly, that we can walk to so many theaters is part of the fabric of the community." Steep joins an impressive collection of theaters in the neighborhood, including Rivendell, TimeLine (under construction), The Edge Theater, Redtwist, Bramble, and Raven, further cementing Edgewater's status as a premier cultural district for Chicago's northside. Residents interested in supporting Steep's journey can visit their website for updates and opportunities to contribute to this exciting new chapter for Edgewater's arts scene.
Sources:
1. https://chicago.suntimes.com/theater/2025/12/12/steep-theatre-new-home-edgewater-black-box-theater
2. https://steeptheatre.com/building
3. https://steeptheatre.com/