Actor Jeff Perry in 'The Dance of Death' at Steppenwolf Theatre

Wednesday, March 4, 2026
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Jeff Perry is back at Steppenwolf, the world acclaimed theater he created with his pals Gary Sinise and Terry Kinney 50 years ago.



He's got a big hit with the dark comedy "The Dance of Death."

The Highland Park native says he always wants an encore on his home stage.

The show is a newer version of August Strindberg's "The Dance of Death."



Jeff Perry and Kathryn Erbe play the couple making their marriage a war zone, with a comedic twist.

"This is a domestic mess of great complication, depth and silliness and gravity, this is challenging let's do this," Perry said. "My 70-year-old brain, I'm like come on Jeff, come on you did this when you were 30!"

"I think I can do this forever I love it that much and this is the way I feel," he said.

When asked if Steppenwolf could happen anywhere else but Chicago, Perry said:

"We went into a Chicago where there's no particular fame or fortune... If you got $10 more, much less $10,000 or $100,000 for that film and TV offer -I just thank God it wasn't an option in Chicago."



Perry's wife is a casting agent who put got him into "Scandal" as a scheming scoundrel with no moral compass.

"She thought, 'oh my husband, I think he could play some Washington contemporary version of a monster'," he said.

When asked why people should go to see the show, he said:

"You guys, we've got a double doctorate in domestic mess, you wanna see us fling ourselves at this one- come check it out, you'll get a kick!"

"The Dance of Death" is at Steppenwolf through March 22nd.
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