Words on Fire - Chicago Poets is an original adaptation through the voices of its native poets. This play will capture the broad diversity of urban life through the works of both reowned and contemporary poets, as well as the new voices of today's teens.

The Cross-Town Workshops are designed to guide teen participants through the creation of their own work and then to share it with members of their communities.

The Family Series is a unique opportunity for underserved families to spend quality time together while attending Steppenwolf Mainstage and Studeo Productions. The Family Series includes a pre-show reception where guest artists discuss the process of developing the production and offer background and context for the play, the performance, and a post-show discussion with the cast.

Youth Theater Ensemble Festival in June 2000, Steppenwolf, with the Youth Theatre Coalition of Chicago (YTCC), will host the first annual Youth Theater Ensemble Festival. The festival is a wonderful opportunity for youth to see and experience each other's work and expose their work to a wider audience. A number of companies will participate this year, many of which are YTCC members. The festival will feature About Face Theater Company, The Actor's Gym, The Albany Park Theater Project, Lookingglass, Piven Theater Workshop, Redmoon Theater, Free Street Theater and Steppenwolf's Ensemble Workshops.