Kathryn Erbe Shines in Steppenwolf’s Production of “The Dance of Death”
CHICAGO (WLS) — Kathryn Erbe, a star of stage and screen and a veteran member of the Steppenwolf ensemble, is captivating audiences once again in Chicago. Though it has been decades since her last performance in the city, she is currently dazzling theatergoers in the dark comedy The Dance of Death.
The Dance of Death, originally by August Strindberg, has been reimagined by Connor McPherson. The play centers on a bitter couple navigating a contentious marriage, blending intense drama with sharp humor.
Erbe describes the production as a “rousing curtain call” for memories of her home stage. “Life is dark and can be really boring, and they find a way to make it exciting. And yes, there is some collateral damage,” she said. “She’s just a spitfire; she’s a beast. She’s ferocious, and it’s fun to kind of hang out in that and find that in myself. I guess the older I get—I turned 60 in July—this is who I am. So there’s a freedom I feel now that I never did before.”
Reflecting on her long-standing connection with Steppenwolf, Erbe shared, “It’s quite truthfully a dream come true; I could cry. I don’t have words to say how meaningful it is to be a member of this company that has brought me personally such inspiration. I could see how audiences come to participate. They come to collaborate almost. They want you to be good; they want to enjoy the experience, and meet, meet one more than halfway it feels like.”
She also spoke about bringing her own perspective to her roles. “I brought that, and they said, ‘thank you.’ And that is not always the case everywhere. I love who I am, and I value myself. And I bring myself to these characters. And I get to live as someone else for a while, and that’s fun. And I think it really brings empathy,” Erbe said.
“We’re so divided and any way we can come together and have joy and humor and humanity I think is a good thing.”
The Dance of Death is playing at Steppenwolf Theatre through March 22.
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