Steppenwolf: A Merry Little Christmas with Megan Hilty
Megan Hilty
Steppenwolf Presents A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS WITH MEGAN HILTY Review - Holiday and Broadway Come Together
TLDR: Seasoned Broadway actress and television star Megan Hilty graces the Steppenwolf stage for an intimate concert featuring classic holiday carols, showtunes, and more. Accompanied by pianist Matt Cusson, the two joke with each other and us and make us feel like we’re all best friends by the end.
Megan Hilty
Christmas Cheer Goes Broadway
When every Chicago stage is filled with orchestras, nutcrackers, cirque hoops, and sugar plums, each show seems to be packed to the brim with holiday sparkle and extravagance. For one weekend only though, we’re taken into the intimate downstairs theater at Steppenwolf and in for a different type of holiday concert. The wall is backlit with red and green lighting. A Christmas tree shines bright with multi-colored lights standing off to the side of a baby grand piano. On top, there’s a red and green table runner accompanied by a small vase of red roses. Nothing big, nothing flashy. Just a piano and microphone accented by cozy decorations on a stage ready for its performers.
The woman of the hour, Tony and Grammy award nominee, Megan Hilty, takes the stage and is followed closely by her accompanist, Grammy nominated Matt Cusson, who takes a seat at the piano. They smile at the audience and start their set with a few well-known holiday songs. But we wouldn’t be here if Hilty was just any old Christmas caroler. She knows what we’re about and she dives into a selection from Broadway. We transition with some showtunes that fit the holiday theme like “A Place Called Home” from A Christmas Carol Musical and Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas.”
Then it’s time for Hilty to do what she does best and brings out her Broadway belts. She sings the crowd pleaser “I Do It For the Gaze” that has everyone laughing when she incorporates her “costume change” like in Death Becomes Her. And when she mentions the next song is from Smash the whole crowd whispers to each other in anticipation of which song she’s planning to sing.
Though it’s a short and sweet concert, Hilty’s setlist gives us a good balance of holiday classics, a touch of heartfelt nostalgia and feeling, balanced with uplifting and energetic songs. It creates the perfect atmosphere for those who want that combination of Broadway star and holiday cheer.
Megan Hilty
Owning the Stage at Steppenwolf
The overall vibe of A Merry Little Christmas with Megan Hilty feels like every combination of speakeasy, jazz, and underground Broadway performance all in one. With only the piano backing her up and being close enough to see our faces, it feels like we’re in a personal, intimate evening with Hilty. She jokes easily with Cusson about their time performing together and makes sure he gets his moment to shine. Her foot taps to the beat keeping time as she sways and sings. She stands at the piano and smiles as she watches Cusson play. Her seasoned stage presence comes through as she stands before the microphone, comfortable and relaxed for whenever it's her cue.
She connects to the audience, making sure to play to each side of the house and the balcony. Like many of our favorite artists, she tells stories and memories behind each of the songs she sings. The almost mishap at the Rockefeller tree lighting ceremony. Getting married, having kids, and moving houses. Memories from the set of Smash or getting the first demo track for Death Becomes Her. We feel connected to her, like she’s sharing these little bits of her life and experiences to a group of friends.
Megan Hilty
The After Party Thoughts
Hearing the stories behind the works she’s known for was one of the highlights of the evening. We feel her song selections for the show were carefully curated to put in the ones she made her own as she talks about her inspirations when hearing a new track and excitement that she gets to be the first one to put a voice to it. I like that her song selection balanced what she knew her audience would want along with what brings her joy to sing, like creating a mash-up of “Santa Baby” and “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend.”
For those that aren’t as familiar with Hilty’s resume and what she’s known for, you may not be in on the significance of some of her song choices, but nonetheless if you’re in the mood for some modern holiday songs and love a good Broadway showtune, seeing Megan Hilty is not to be missed.
When
December 12-13, 2025
Where
Steppenwolf Theatre
1650 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60614
Runtime: 75min, no intermission
Tickets
$99+
Tickets can be purchased through the Steppenwolf Theatre website
Photos
Anthony Matula
PERFORMERS
Megan Hilty
Matt Cusson