Steppenwolf Theatre Receives Sondheim Foundation Grant to Revitalize New Play Development Program

Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company has been awarded a grant from the Stephen Sondheim Foundation, enabling the reboot of its new play development program, SCOUT. The program, which was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, supports emerging playwrights and fosters the creation of new works for the stage.

Sondheim Foundation’s Inaugural Grants

The Stephen Sondheim Foundation, established under the will of the late composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim, announced its first round of cultural grant funding in March 2026. Alongside Steppenwolf, the Playwrights’ Center of Minneapolis, Millay Arts, and the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat likewise received grants.

SCOUT Program Details

The SCOUT program partners playwrights with Steppenwolf’s new play development team, providing access to ensemble artists and offering coaching and feedback throughout the writing process. The program culminates in a week-long workshop featuring a director, dramaturg, actors, and a staged reading in Steppenwolf’s 1700 theater. The last play to head through the program before its suspension was “Mosque4Mosque” by Omer Abbas Salem, with the final reading hosted via Zoom in 2021 due to pandemic restrictions.

Steppenwolf’s Vision for the Future

Steppenwolf’s Executive Director, Brooke Flanagan, expressed her honor that the Sondheim Foundation selected their program to continue Sondheim’s legacy. The theatre plans to launch the revitalized SCOUT program during the 2026-2027 season, with artistic directors Audrey Francis and Glenn Davis, and director of new play development, Jonathan Green, leading the effort to evolve and strengthen the program. While participation in SCOUT doesn’t guarantee a full production, past successes include “Bald Sisters” by Vichet Chum, which was eventually produced at Steppenwolf.

Stephen Sondheim’s Legacy

Stephen Sondheim, a multi-award-winning composer and lyricist known for works like “Sweeney Todd” and “Into the Woods,” passed away in 2021 at the age of 91. His will established the foundation to support playwrights, lyricists, and composers for the theatre. The Foundation also created The Horowitz-Sondheim Clinic for Theater Artists, offering affordable mental health care to theatre professionals.

Neither Steppenwolf Theatre nor the Sondheim Foundation disclosed the amount of the grant.