Chicago's Lookingglass to Premiere New Works by Schwimmer, Brooks & Catlin

Lookingglass Theatre Company proudly announces its 2009-2010 season, featuring the world premieres of three Lookingglass Original productions by Ensemble Members J. Nicole Brooks, David Catlin and David Schwimmer.

Lookingglass' 22nd season opens with Fedra: Queen of Haiti, an explosive retelling of Phaedra that would make Euripides, Seneca and Jean Racine blush. In a re-imagined Haiti, the world's greatest superpower, the king is dead, the son is lost, and the queen is mad. The crown is up for grabs, and Afrodite's fury is unleashed upon the empire. Only the fiercely wicked pen of Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks (Black Diamond) could ignite the hidden power of this enduring myth. Award-winning Ensemble Member Laura Eason (Around the World in 80 Days) directs Lookingglass' 51st World Premiere.

In December, Artistic Director David Catlin (Lookingglass Alice) directs his soaring adaptation of Icarus. Commissioned by the Getty in Los Angeles, Catlin tells this captivating story using myth, scientific theory, visual metaphor, song, and gravity-defying choreography. We all dream of flying; our 52nd World Premiere explores the psychological desire to take to the air, the need of a father to have his child succeed, and the dizzying despair of falling.

To conclude the season, Ensemble Member David Schwimmer (Race) directs his visceral new script about how families navigate today's uncharted technological landscape in Trust. When children have the freedom to text, email, IM, blog, chat, comment, poke and tweet with complete strangers, where is the line parents must draw between fostering independence and protecting from harm? What price do we pay for intimate connections in an anonymous digital world? A seemingly innocent encounter threatens to unravel the fabric of a normal American household in Lookingglass' 53rd World Premiere.

Subscriptions are on sale for the 2009-2010 Season. Performances will be held at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. Single tickets for Fedra: Queen of Haiti will go on sale in September 2008.

"This year we completed the most successful subscription campaign in all of our 21 years, but we begin our 22nd season in an uncertain time," says Artistic Director David Catlin. "As our economy recovers, we need art - theatre in particular - now more than ever. We need a place to come together as a community to remind ourselves that we can reinvent the world. Lookingglass is a communal gathering place in which to experience stories that make us laugh and weep. We need stories told with unencumbered creativity that show us how to survive cataclysm and catastrophe, and to express our pain, fear and love. Our 2009-2010 season is about power, love and corruption. About flight, parenthood and loss. About technology and trust. There will be fiercely wicked humor, emotional carnage and moments of extreme physical beauty. I am proud that our season includes three new plays, all by Ensemble Members, that take risks in an uncertain time."

Lookingglass Theatre Company's 2009-2010 Season Up-Close:

The World Premiere of the Lookingglass Original

Fedra: Queen of Haiti

Written by Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks

Directed by Ensemble Member Laura Eason

Previews begin September 30, 2009

Press Opening October 10, 2009

Regular run October 11- November 15, 2009

The king is dead. The son is lost. The queen is mad. The crown is up for grabs, and desire threatens the kingdom.

Only the fiercely wicked pen of Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks (Black Diamond) could ignite the hidden power of this enduring myth. a re-telling of this magnitude that would make Seneca, Euripides and Jean Racine blush. Afrodite's fury is unleashed upon Haiti, the world's greatest superpower, in this story of power and lust. Award-winning Ensemble Member Laura Eason (Around the World in 80 Days) deftly directs Lookingglass' 51st World Premiere.

The World Premiere of the Lookingglass Original

Icarus

Adapted and Directed by Artistic Director David Catlin

Previews begin December 9, 2009

Press Opening December 12, 2009

Regular run December 13 - January 24, 2010

Michaelangelo's obsession. The Wright Brothers' ambition. Armstrong and Aldrin's conquest.
Lift off with Artistic Director David Catlin (Lookingglass Alice) in this World Premiere commissioned by the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Using myth, scientific theory, visual metaphor, song, gravity-defying choreography, Icarus explores the psychological desire to take to the air, the need of a father to have his child succeed, and the dizzying despair of falling.
Icarus was commissioned by the J. Paul Getty Museum and first performed as part of the Villa Theater Lab series at the Getty Villa on May 16, 2008.

The World Premiere of the Lookingglass Original

Trust

Written by Andy Bellin and David Schwimmer

Directed by Ensemble Member David Schwimmer

Previews begin March 3, 2010

Press Opening March 13, 2010

Regular run March 14 - May 9, 2009

Text, email, IM, blog, comment, tweet, poke and chat. What price do we pay for intimate connections in an anonymous, digital world?

Ensemble Member David Schwimmer (Race) directs the World Premiere of his visceral new

script about how a seemingly innocent encounter threatens to unravel the fabric of a normal American household. Lookingglass examines how families navigate today's uncharted technological landscape. When children have the freedom to interact with complete strangers online, where is the line that parents must draw between fostering independence and protecting from harm?

Lookingglass Theatre Company is located in the heart of the Magnificent Mile shopping district inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. Subscriptions to the Lookingglass 2009-2010 season are on sale now. Current subscribers who renew early may do so at the 2008-09 prices, $81-$162. Subscriptions for the 2009-2010 season are $84-$174 

Subscription benefits include guaranteed best seats, pre-sale opportunities and savings before single tickets go on sale to the general public, special perks at more than a dozen exclusive of restaurant partners, unlimited ticket exchanges, discounted parking at nearby Olympia Centre Garage (161 E. Chicago Ave.), reduced tuition for Lookingglass' renowned classes and summer camps, and courtesy performance date reminders. For season subscription and ticket information, call the Lookingglass Theater box office at (312) 337-0665 or visit lookingglasstheatre.org.

Inventive. Collaborative. Transformative. Lookingglass Theatre Company was founded in 1988 by eight Northwestern University students. 2007-2008 marked the company's 20th anniversary season. Lookingglass is home to a multi-disciplined ensemble of artists who create story-centered theatrical work that is physical, aurally rich and visually metaphoric. Lookingglass has staged 50 world premieres at 23 venues across Chicago, and garnered 41 Joseph Jefferson Awards and Citations.

Its work has toured to New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, Berkeley, Philadelphia, Princeton, Hartford, Washington D.C. and St. Louis. Current touring productions include Mary Zimmerman's The Arabian Nights at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre (Fall ‘08) and Kansas City Repertory (Spring '09), as well as Clay, which played at Lincoln Center in New York in Fall ‘08. Work premiered at Lookingglass has been produced across the United States. The Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago's landmark Water Tower Water Works opened in June 2003. In addition to developing and presenting ensemble work, Lookingglass Education and Community programs encourage creativity, teamwork and confidence with more than 15,000 community members each year.

Lookingglass Theatre Company continues to expand its artistic, financial and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Artistic Director David Catlin, Executive Director Rachel Kraft, Producing Artistic Director Philip R. Smith, Artistic Director of New Work Heidi Stillman, a 22-member artistic ensemble, 14 artistic associates, 13 production affiliates and an administrative staff. Board Chairman Lisa Green leads a dedicated board of directors. For more information, visit lookingglasstheatre.org.

Photo: Lookingglass Ensemble Members David Schwimmer, Laura Eason, J, Nicole Brooks and David Catlin
Credit: Sean Williams