Sat, Sep 12
|Kimball Arts Center
The Late Bloomers
The Late Bloomers is a heartfelt and inspiring live experience created by Nikki Carpenter and Just Steve, blending storytelling and music into an unforgettable evening.
Time & Location
Sep 12, 2026, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Kimball Arts Center, 1757 N Kimball Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, USA
Event Info
The Late Bloomers is a heartfelt and inspiring live experience created by Nikki Carpenter and Just Steve, blending storytelling and music into an unforgettable evening.
The performance begins with 45 minutes of Nikki’s intimate, humorous, and moving personal stories, reflecting on the journey of coming into one’s own later in life. The night continues with a 30-minute live concert, featuring Just Steve and a full band, bringing those themes to life through powerful, soul-stirring music. At its core, The Late Bloomers celebrates the beauty of delayed timing—revealing how life’s detours can lead to deeper purpose, love, and fulfillment. With warmth, authenticity, and heart, this unique show invites audiences to embrace their own timelines and discover the magic of blooming exactly when they’re meant to.
TICKETS: $30
SET LENGTH: 90 MINUTES
ABOUT NIKKI CARPENTER
Tanikia “Nikki” Carpenter is a Chicago-born writer, playwright, and theatre maker dedicated to preserving Black stories through theatre, film, and essays. She is the founder of Good Content Productions, creator of Black Theatre Chicago, and writer of the award-winning documentary Roots and Blues, honoring the legacy of Muddy Waters. A 2025 City of Chicago DCASE Playwright in Residency recipient, Nikki's play The Last Senior Home in Bronzevillewas workshopped at Goodman Theatre as part of its 100 Free Acts of Theatre initiative. She was also selected as a researcher/writer for the August Wilson Society’s upcoming book Centering & Celebrating Wilsonian Warriors. Chance the Rapper has credited her poem, “No Grandfather’s in Chicago,” as the inspiration for his song “No More Old Men” featuring Jamila Woods.
ABOUT JUST STEVE
Stephen “Just Steve” Carpenter is a Chicago-born hip-hop artist, songwriter, educator, and creative director whose music blends live instrumentation, storytelling, and faith to celebrate community, hope, and purpose. Through honest lyricism and engaging live performances, he creates experiences that bring people together and reflect the heart of Chicago. A 2025 City of Chicago DCASE Individual Artists Program grant recipient, Just Steve has performed at venues and festivals across the country, including Sofar Sounds, and wrote and performed the theme song for Good Day Chicago. His work has been featured on television networks including FOX, WGN, and TLC. He is also the creator of the Thank You Autumn music series, an annual celebration of the season through music, storytelling, and community-centered experiences.