Brendan Hunt Debuts Autobiographical Solo Show at Steppenwolf Theater
Chicago native and Ted Lasso co-creator Brendan Hunt returned to his hometown to premiere his one-man present, The Movement You Need, at the Steppenwolf Theater. The stage memoir, which is at the moment in previews and runs by May 10, 2026, explores Hunt’s upbringing and his relationship along with his late mom by the lens of their shared love for The Beatles.
Hunt, identified globally for his position as Coach Beard, developed the manufacturing to steadiness comedic components with genuine drama. The efficiency marks a major homecoming for the actor, who started his profession on native Chicago levels within the Nineteen Nineties earlier than becoming a member of the Boom Chicago ensemble in Amsterdam.
The actor emphasised the significance of sustaining emotional honesty whereas delivering humor. Hunt famous that navigating advanced private themes requires a dedication to the fact of the expertise.
“As the great lord Charna tells us, ‘Truth in comedy is vital.’ We’re still trying to live by that doctrine,” stated Brendan Hunt, Actor and Writer.
The manufacturing has developed by varied iterations in Hollywood, Amsterdam, and New York. Hunt defined that the Steppenwolf run represents a extra polished model of the present, that includes skilled route and design components whereas retaining room for spontaneous interplay.
“I try to bring it a step forward every single place I do it. It was Hollywood Fringe first, and then kind of surprising, I did it at Boom a week later, so I had to take this jump from 30 seats to 340 seats. I was always noodling back then; it was structured but not scripted. So every show was: OK, that worked; we can expand on that. Or OK, that’s a doubt; chasing stop that high of the thing people laughed at once but haven’t laughed at since,” stated Brendan Hunt, Actor and Writer.
Performing the memoir in Chicago provides a layer of non-public significance because of the proximity of the particular areas talked about within the script. Hunt acknowledged that revisiting these recollections within the metropolis the place they occurred supplies a novel cost to the efficiency.
“For sure, unavoidably. Walking the same streets where I walked when these events happened, that’s bonkers. I stress that The Movement You Need is a comedy, but it’s not all pleasant experiences. It takes a lot out of me every time I do it. It’s one thing to do three nights in New York — but eight times a week for three weeks? That’s going to be interesting. For the record, I did it for two nights at iO, a couple years ago. Doing it in front of me sisters for the first time, I tried to prepare them as much as possible, but I also made sure to seat them on an aisle, so if they had to step out, they could do so discreetly. But yeah, being here really charges the experience in this unique way — not just because of my friends and family, but because I’m speaking to people who know my language more than anyone else does. stuff. Like, I don’t know if the word jagoff is going to quite have the same impact if I do the show in New York — but here, it’s a Hallelujah chorus,” stated Brendan Hunt, Actor and Writer.
The present incorporates particular anecdotes about Hunt’s childhood in Rogers Park and Lake View. According to WTTW News, the narrative is fueled by bittersweet recollections and features a story concerning a second the actor met Paul McCartney.
Hunt additionally mirrored on the early influences that formed his profession, citing particular native theater experiences that sparked his curiosity in performing.
“Two field trips had a huge impact on me. In seventh grade, we went to see a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Court Theatre, which absolutely slew me. I didn’t know what it was going to be about; I didn’t know anything about Shakespeare. I would love to rewatch that production — which of course is impossible — to see if it was as good as I remember, because I absolutely loved it. Then, in eighth grade, we took a field trip to see a Second City show, called Jean-Paul Sartre and Ringo. The cast featured, among others, Bonnie Hunt, and I knew her name was Bonnie Hunt by the end of the night because she really stood out. Like, it was a great cast, but Bonnie Hunt was just another level from the beginning,” stated Brendan Hunt, Actor and Writer.
Beyond his stage work, Hunt commented on the cultural rivalry between Chicago baseball groups. I’ve famous that the depth of the competitors is commonly felt extra strongly by followers on one facet of town.
“Initially, Leo was misreported to be a Cubs fan. I like the little window into the Sox-Cubs rivalry, which — having stood on each side of it, to some extent — is felt extra keenly on the Sox facet. The Cubs followers are extra like, Yeah, positive, the Sox are positive, and Sox followers are like, Fuck you! So for the brother of the holiest man on the earth to really feel the necessity, on the day he will get introduced, to return out and say, ‘Let’s clear one thing up actual,’ stated Brendan Hunt, Actor and Writer.
The Movement You Need is a part of a broader spring arts season in Chicago. Other concurrent occasions reported by WTTW News embody the thirteenth annual Chicago Critics Film Festival at the Music Box Theater and the ultimate performances of the Orion Ensemble by May 10.
