Steppenwolf Theatre Company has opened its 51st season with a revival of Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog, directed by Kenny Leon and featuring ensemble members Glenn Davis and Namir Smallwood. The production runs through November 1, 2026, in the Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. Halsted St.
Davis plays Lincoln and Smallwood plays Booth, brothers whose names carry a cruel historical joke. Lincoln earns money impersonating Abraham Lincoln and reenacting his assassination; Booth practices a three-card hustle in their apartment. Their shared life becomes a contest shaped by survival, resentment and sibling rivalry.
The production returns Parks’ Pulitzer Prize-winning drama to Steppenwolf more than two decades after the company’s 2003 staging. Leon returns following his work on King James, while Davis and Smallwood bring their established ensemble relationship to the two-person play.
The design team includes Arnulfo Maldonado on scenery, Dede Ayite on costumes, Lee Fiskness on lighting and Justin Ellington on sound. Jyreika Guest serves as violence and intimacy consultant.
The regular run begins September 29, following the September 27 opening. The announced calendar includes open-captioned performances October 8 and 17, ASL interpretation October 16, and an audio-described performance with a touch tour October 25.
Tickets are listed at $20–$142.50, including the stated handling fee, with a limited number of $20 tickets available through the 20FOR20 program. Visit Steppenwolf’s website or call 312-335-1650 for dates, availability and schedule exceptions.
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