House of the Exquisite Corpse returns with an all-new program of immersive acts of puppet horror that are guaranteed to shock, scare, astonish and delight this Halloween season.

Don’t step on a crack on the way in, because six teams of multidisciplinary puppet artists have joined to create six different puppet horror experiences, each built around a different SUPERSTITION, and you don’t want to miss them:

“Step on a Crack”
By Ken Buckingham and Corey Smith

“Broken Mirror”
by Justin D’Acci and Pablo Monterrubio

“If you lie, the devil’s darning needle will sew your mouth shut”
By Chio Cabrera, Alonso Galue and Brett Swinney

“Through the Looking Glass”
By Felix Mayes and Cam Armstrong Smith

“A White Bird in the House is an Omen of Death”
By Jacky Kelsey, Fletcher Pierson and Kevin Wesson

“An ill fate befalls those who pluck from fruit in their dreams”
By Sion Silva and Emilie Wingate

Recommended for audiences aged 14 and over.

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Join us for our Halloween Party on October 27th!

Check out the details here and add on a ticket to the party when you buy a ticket to Exquisite Corpse!

Tickets are Pay What You Want

Pay What You Want lets you choose how much to pay for a ticket. Nothing should stand between between you and great puppet art, least of all a brutal social construct like money. Suggested prices can be found by selecting different ticketing options on this page. For more info on how we make Pay What You Can work, click here

Be prepared to move during this show!

Audiences enter, if you dare, in small groups via timed entries. Once inside, you must brave its dark halls for approximately 50 minutes, stopping at each room to spy through keyholes, cracks, and hidden doors to see the horrors happening within.

You will be mostly on your feet for the ~1 hour production. Chairs can be made available for those with difficulty standing for long stretches.

Wheelchair Access and Mobility Assistance

Rough House is committed to ensuring accessibility for all attendees. We offer accommodations for individuals with disabilities, including:

• Accessible Seating
• Written Descriptions

Every audience member receives personal audio through headphones, providing an individualized listening experience by default, making additional assistive listening devices unnecessary

Facilities and Parking

The Garage Space at Steppenwolf provides accessible entrances, and restrooms.

Accessible parking spaces 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.

How to Request Accommodations

If you require accommodations, please contact Managing Director Erik Tylkowski at erik@roughhousetheater.com. Requests should be made at least one week before the event.

Sensory Warnings

For attendees with sensory sensitivities, please be aware that our show may include:

• Fog and Haze
• Flashing Lights
• Loud Noises
• Depictions of Puppet Violence

Come Vaccinated. Masks recommended.

For the health and safety of our audiences and especially our performers, we suggest that all audience members wear a mask and we ask that everyone be vaccinated unless you have a medical exception. If you are feeling ill, do not come. Check below for our policy on COVID-related exchanges or refunds.

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FAQs

What is an “Immersive Puppet Haunted House”?
There are 6 haunted ‘rooms’— large boxes that contain a ~6min puppet show, which is viewed through peep-holes cut in the side of the box.You will be assembled in a small group according to your ticket time. You approach the first box, find a hole at a comfortable height, view the show, and when it is done, proceed to the next box and find your spot. The next group will be right behind you. Stationed at each hole are a pair of headphones (cleaned at frequent intervals) for you, the viewer, to hear the audio that accompanies the puppet show.

COVID-related Cancellations and Refunds
If you or someone in your party shows any sign of illness or COVID-related symptoms, been exposed to COVID-19, or test positive for COVID-19 within 7 days prior to your attendance of the show, do not come. We will try and reschedule you or will fully refund the cost of admission up to 3 hours before the first show of each evening. Refunds may take up to 48 hours to process. Please reach out at boxoffice@roughousetheater.com