Rough House’s Immersive Haunted Puppet Anthologies
Each October, Rough House creates an all-new immersive puppet horror production. Beginning with the Harrow House series (2018-2019), the project is now in its sixth year under the title House of the Exquisite Corpse –– a themed anthology of puppetry-performance installations, viewed by audiences through peep-holes in Chicago’s most artful, most haunted pop-up house.
House of the Exquisite Corpse VI: LULLABIES is directed by Corey Smith, co-director of last year's triumphant Blood & Puppets.
Lobby Immersion: Jacqueline Wade & Sion Silva
Room 1: Creators VIM HILE, TANIMA • Performers CAMILLE MITCHELL, CASEY DOE
Room 2: Creators CHARLIE MALAVE, CAITLIN MCLEOD • Performers FINN BRADLEY, EDDY BARBER-ROZEMA, RACHEL HARTMANN, EMILIE WINGATE
Room 3: Creators MADIGAN BURKE, ZHEN HEINEMANN, ANDY SLATER • Performers LINDSEY BALL, CANDICE CONNOR
Room 4: Creators LEAH LARA, DIONNE • Performers SAMUEL LEWIS II, TIA PINSON
Room 5: Creators SASKIA BAKKER, RUBY QUE • Performers KHALIL SMITH, ALEXANDER FERGUSON
Room 6: Creators J. FELIX, ABBY PALEN • Performers MALLORY LIMBRELL, SHANNON TWENTER
DIRECTION Corey Smith • PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT Anastar Alvarez • DRAMATURGY Molly Sharfstein • PRODUCER Claire Saxe • PROJECT ADMINISTRATION Marcey Abramovitz •LIGHTING DESIGN Quinn Chisenhall • ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN Melissa Schlesinger, Jackie Berland, Ken Buckingham, Nina D'Angier • SOUND DESIGN Mike Meegan • ASSOCIATE SOUND DESIGN Joey Meland • PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGEMENT Kacey Lindeman • STAGE MANAGEMENT Emi Cruz, Tess Duncan• BOX OFFICE MANAGEMENT Lucy Wirtz, Mikayla Wilson • ROUGH HOUSE MARKETING Kimzyn Campbell • PUBLIC RELATIONS Jay Kelly
House of the Exquisite Corpse VI: LULLABIES runs October 8 - November 1 at The Merle at Steppenwolf. Six teams of Chicago artists will bring life to six unique puppet terror experiences, tapping into the horrors embedded in Lullabies for its unifying theme in 2026.
All Inclusive Experience
Want to treat yourself to something up close & spooky and help the arts thrive? It’s a no brainer!
In addition to our regular tickets, Rough House is offering an All-Inclusive Experience on Thursdays & Sundays (Oct 8- Oct 25) that includes the perks you crave, including a backstage tour so you can get in the box with those frightful puppets!
The experience includes:
1 ticket to Thursday or Sunday exclusive LAST show of the Night Exquisite Corpse VI: Lullabies
1 post show backstage tour/photo ops with puppets
1 drink ticket per VIP customer
1 entry into our giveaway!
Access for
House of the Exquisite Corpse
Let us know what accommodations will make your experience smoother and more complete!
Rough House is committed to making Exquisite Corpse accessible to everyone who wants to be there! The venue and the show are equipped with the following accessibility features:
• Fully accessible entrances and restrooms
• Accessible Seating available for wheelchair users and those with difficulty standing
• Audio Descriptions available for audience members who are blind or have low-vision
• Plain Language Summaries for audience members with processing/cognitive differences
• Print-outs of Spoken Text for audience members who are deaf or hard of hearing
• (Every audience member receives personal audio through headphones, so additional additional assistive listening devices are not necessary for this production.)
If any of these accommodations will help you experience this show, let us know!
Give us a heads up of any accessibility needs at boxoffice@roughhousetheater.com. When possible please communicate requests at least 48h prior to your show.
How to Request Accommodations
If any of these accommodations will help you experience this show, let us know!
Give us a heads up of any accessibility needs at boxoffice@roughhousetheater.comor info@roughhousetheater.comWhen possible please communicate requests at least 48h prior to your show.
Sensory Warnings
Please be aware that our show may include:
• Fog and Haze
• Flashing Lights
• Loud Noises
• Depictions of Puppet Violence
Parking and Facilities
Self-parking is available in the Steppenwolf parking garage at 1624 N Halsted for $17.
Accessible parking spaces are located in Steppenwolf’s valet parking lot at 1700 N Halsted, one block north of the theater. Patrons who park here may pay the standard rate of $17 at Steppenwolf’s café in Front Bar.
PAST PRODUCTIONS:
2025: House of the Exquisite Corpse V
CREDITS
House of the Exquisite Corpse V: Blood & Puppets runs October 9-November 1 at Steppenwolf Theatre’s Merle Reskin Space. Six teams of Chicago artists will bring life to six unique puppet terror experiences, tapping a new vein of horror – Blood – for its unifying theme in 2025.
Directors this year are Chicago puppet artists Felix Mayes and Corey Smith, veterans of House of the Exquisite Corpse and the haunt’s first-ever guest directors.
Entry & Exit Chambers
INSTALLATION DESIGN & FABRICATION Jacqueline Wade • PERFORMER Miguel Long
Room 1: Blood and Miracles CREATORS Casey Doe & Quinn Kempe • PERFORMERS Alexander Ferguson, Abby Palen, Khalil Smith, Camille Mitchell
Room 2: Blood and Transformation CREATORS Saskia Bakker & Emilie Wingate • PERFORMERS Rachel Hartmann, Leah Lara, Saskia Bakker, Emilie Wingate
Room 3: Blood and Ruin CREATORS Justin D’Acci & Vim Hile • PERFORMERS Twan, Tanima, Justin D’Acci, Vim Hile
Room 4: Blood and Memory CREATORS Chih-Jou Cheng & Charlie Malave • PERFORMERS Tia Pinson, Richie Whitehead
Room 5: Blood and Letting CREATORS madigan burke & Nina D’Angier • PERFORMERS Sam Lewis, Amandatron 5000
Room 6: B|O̸OD̸ and ₵ØⱤⱤɄ₱₮łØ₦ CREATORS Pablo Monterrubio & Fletcher Pierson • PERFORMERS Lindsey Ball, Ruby Que
DIRECTION Felix Mayes & Corey Smith • PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT Anastar Alvarez • DRAMATURGY Molly Sharfstein • PRODUCTION SUPPORT Claire Saxe • LIGHTING DESIGN Quinn Chisenhall & Brendan Marble • ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN & TECH DIRECTION Pei-Yu Hung & Melissa Schlesinger • ENVIRONMENTAL DRAMATURGY Jackie Berland • ENVIRONMENTAL ART Ken Buckingham • SOUND DESIGN Mike Meegan • ASSOCIATE SOUND DESIGN Joey Meland • PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGEMENT Kacey Lindeman • STAGE MANAGEMENT Lenny Fritsch • ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGEMENT Mallory Kimbrell • BOX OFFICE MANAGEMENT Lucy Wirtz • GRAPHIC DESIGN Raul Delgado • ROUGH HOUSE MARKETING Kimzyn Campbell • PUBLIC RELATIONS Jay Kelly
“Blood & Puppets”
2024: House of the Exquisite Corpse IV
“Superstitions”
CREDITS
LEAD ARTISTS: Chio Cabrera, Alonso Galue & Brett Swinney; Kendall Buckingham & Corey Smith; Justin D’Acci & Pablo Monterrubi; Felix Mayes, Cam Armstrong Smith & Saskia Bakker; Sion Silva & Emilie Wingate; Jacky Kelsey, Fletcher Pierson, Kevin Michael Wesson.
PERFORMERS & VOICE ACTORS: Emily Mange, Alonso Galue, Marianna Gallegos, August Boyne, Leah Lara, Chio Cabrea, Alexander Ferguson, Justin D’Acci, Sam Lewis, Vim Hile, Quinn Kempe, Richie Whitehead, Abby Palen, Sion Silva, Emilie Wingate, Lindsey Ball, Rachel Hartmann, Jacky Kelsey, Kevin Michael Wesson
CREATIVE TEAM: Claire Saxe (Project Director), Mike Oleon (Supporting Direction) Joey Meland (Sound Design), Cat Davis (Lighting Design), Parker Callais (Technical Director), Erik Tylkowski (Production Management) Lenny Fritsch, Jayce Lewis, AJ Treichler (Stage Management)
Full Production Program
REVIEW PULLOUTS
“…spine tingling, skin crawling… executed in fascinating ways.”
Kendall Royzen, Buzz Center Stage
“[Rough House] has really nailed the discerning horror lover’s ideal haunted zone…Somehow [Exquisite Corpse] allows us to grasp, write, ponder, and judge our humanity all the better.”
Kimzyn Campell, Chicago Reader
Photo Credit: Yvette Marie Dostatni "Step on a Crack, Break Your Mother's Back" Lead Artists: Kendall Buckingham, Corey Smith
Photo Credit: Yvette Marie Dostatni "A White Bird in the House is an Omen of Death" Lead Artists: Jacky Kelsey, Fletcher Pierson, Kevin Michael Wesson
Photo Credit: Yvette Marie Dostatni "A Broken Mirror Brings Bad Luck" Lead Artists: Justin D'Acci, Pablo Monterrubio
Photo Credit: Yvette Marie Dostatni Lighting Design: Cat Davis Scenic Design: Jacqueline Penrod
Photo Credit: Yvette Marie Dostatni "If You Lie..." Lead Artists: Chio Cabrera, Alonso Galue, Brett Swinney, with contributions by August Boyne
Photo Credit: Yvette Marie Dostatni "Evil Can be Scared Away by its Own Reflection" Lead Artists: Felix Mayes, Cam Armstrong Smith; Direction by Saskia Bakker
Photo Credit: Yvette Marie Dostatni "An Ill Fate Befalls Those who Pluck from Fruit in their Dreams" Lead Artists: Sion Silva & Emilie Wingate
“Our Homes and How to Keep them Healthy”
2023: House of the Exquisite Corpse III
CREDITS
LEAD ARTISTS: Pablo Monterrubio-Benet and Grace Needlman, Tom Lee and Sam Lewis, Corey Smith, Claire Bauman, Chio Cabrera and Jacky Kelsey, Justin D’Acci and Sion Silva, Ken Buckingham, and Felix Mayes and Kevin Michael Wesson.
CREATIVE TEAM: Direction by Mike Oleon and Claire Saxe; Production Management by Erik Tylkowski; Stage Management by Amy Rappa; Assistant Stage Management by Lenny Fritsch, Jayce Lewis; Scenic Design by Jacqueline Penrod; Lighting Design by Cat Davis; Sound Design by Joey Meland; Production Electrician Sam Anderson; Sound Technician Abbey Nettleton; Additional Front of House Team Alexander Fergoson, Lila Englehardt, Holly Gabelmann, Grace Goodyear, Production Assistance Quinn Kempe, Molly Sharfstein, Lindsey Ball, Henry Bender, Parker Callais, Jacob Coats, Danny Carraher, Mia Herron, Nik Hunder, Skyler Lake, Naava Ofri-Akman; PR Jay Kelly
REVIEW PULLOUTS
“A haunting success” Kim Campbell, Third Coast Review
“A perfect prelude to halloween!” Bill Esler, Buzz Center Stage
Lead Artists and Performers Justin D'Acci & Sion Silva; Photo by Yvette Marie Dostatni
Puppet by Grace Needlman and Pablo Monterubio; Performer Lindsey Ball; Photo by Marie Dostatni
Puppet by Grace Needlman and Pablo Monterubio; Performer Lindsey Ball; Photo by Marie Dostatni
Puppet by Ken Buckingham; Performers Felix Mayes & Kevin Michael Wesson; Photo by Yvette Marie Dostatni
Puppet by Jacky Kelsey; Performers Chio Cabrera & Lucy Wirtz, Photo by Yvette Marie Dostatni
Puppeteer Sam Lewis; Puppets by Emilie Wingate and Tom Lee; Photo by Yvette Marie Dostatni
2022: House of the Exquisite Corpse II
“Parts of the Body, Rooms of the House II”
CREDITS
LEAD ARTISTS: Time Brickey & Mike Oleon, Felix Mayes, Grace Needlman & Will Bishop, Mike Oleon, Claire Saxe & Kevin Michael Wesson, K.T. Shivak, Corey Smith, and Jaerin Son.
CREATIVE TEAM: Emily Chervony (Production Manager), Joey Meland (Sound Designer), Caitlin McLeod (Costume & Puppet Designer), Warren Wernick (Technical Director), Lauren Peters (Stage Manager) Hannah Wien (Lighting Designer)
REVIEW PULLOUTS
“…the puppet action is thrilling… The artists behind the show’s more daring pieces invite a new kind of puppet-viewing, one that never hides the hand pulling the strings…” RECOMMENDED
Max Maller, Chicago Reader
“Incredible. The amount of preparation, skill and endurance to perform a show like this is mind boggling."
“An absolute wonder.”
“We loved the creativity and couldn’t stop talking about the show on the way home! It has been years since I have seen such a captivating show! It was scary good!”
Online audience responses
Lead Artist Jaerin Son, Performer Michele Stine, Photo by Yvette Marie Dostatni
Lead Artists Claire Saxe & Kevin Wesson, with additional design by Myra Su; Photo by Yvette Marie Dostatni
Lead Artists Grace Needlman & Will Bishop; Performer Chio Cabrara; Photo by Yvette Marie Dostatni
2021: House of the Exquisite Corpse
“Parts of the Body, Rooms of the House”
CREDITS
LEAD ARTISTS: Time Brickey & Sam Lewis, Felix Mayes, Mike Oleon, Claire Saxe, K.T. Shivak, Corey Smith.
CREATIVE TEAM: Connor Sale (Lighting), Emily Mange Chervony (Production Manager), Mike Oleon (Scenic Designer, Artistic Coordinator), Claire Saxe (Artistic Coordinator), Joey Meland (Sound Designer), Grace Needlman (Puppet Designer), Caitlin McLeod (Costumer Designer), Fletcher Pierson (Assistant Artistic Coordinator), Warren Wernick (Technical Director), Sara Kachelman, Aro Farmilant, David Gordezky, Kay Kron, Mark Maxwell, Jeremy Ohringer (Artistic Collaborators)
Puppeteer Claire Saxe; Puppet by Grace Needlman; Photo by Evan Barr
Puppeteers Felix Mayes & Kevin Michael Wesson; Puppet by Grace Needlman; Photo by Evan Barr
2019: The Silence in Harrow House
CREDITS
DEVISED AND PERFORMED BY: Brittany Anderson, Noah Appelbaum, Mark Blashford, Alexander Ferguson, David Gordezky, Lauren Kincaid, Lucia Mier, Mark Maxwell, Felix Mayes, Sharaina Turnage, Shannon Webber and Kevin Wesson. Understudy: Maddison Wise.
CREATIVE TEAM: Mike Oleon, director and scenic designer; Grace Needlman, lead puppet designer; Claire Saxe, playwright; Mark Maxwell, playwright; Hannah Cremin, stage manager; Lenny Fritsch, assistant stage manager; David Goodman-Edberg, lighting designer; Corey Smith, sound design; Caitlin McLeod, costume designer; Anna Wooden, assistant costume designer; Jeff Katz, assistant artifact designer; Warren Wernick, technical director; Zach Moore, sound engineer; Emily Chervony, production manager and original scenic design by Lauren Nigri.
REVIEW PULL-OUTS
“Needlman knows how to create horror, in this writer’s opinion, and the puppeteers know how to execute horror through their intricate manipulations.”
Ann Boland, Picture This Post
“A horror lover’s dream… Get thee to Harrow House. I triple dog dare you.”
Amanda Finn, NewCity Stage
2018: The Walls of Harrow House
CREDITS
DEVISED AND PERFORMED BY: Noah Appelbaum, David Chervony, Hal Consentino, Alexander Ferguson, David Gordezky, Lauren Kincaid, Hannah Larson, Felix Mayes, Alexandria Moorman, Kevin Wesson, Mark Maxwell, Claire Saxe
CREATIVE TEAM: Conceived and directed by Mike Oleon; Lead Puppet Design Grace Needlman; Script by Mark Maxwell and Claire Saxe; Scenic Design by Lauren NIgri; Interior Design Mike Oleon and Lauren Nigri; Costumes by Caitlin McLeod and Anna Wooden; Lighting by Becca Jeffords; Sound by Corey Smith; Stage Management by Mitchell Chapman; Assistant Stage Management Lenny Fritsch; Production Management & Props by Kelly Butler
REVIEW PULLOUTS
“This is a triumph! I loved eerie minute.”
“You’ve f***ing done it. This is the best horror theater I’ve ever seen…13/10.”
“Such a fabulous experience!”
“Unlike anything I’ve seen before!”
