David Schwimmer Directs BIG LAKE BIG CITY World Premiere at Lookingglass Theatre, Now thru 8/11

Closing out its 25th Anniversary Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of Big Lake Big City, written by Keith Huff and directed by Ensemble Member David Schwimmer. Tickets are now on sale for the production, running tonight, June 19 - August 11, 2013 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson.

Detective Bass can't catch a break: his boss is a hard-ass, his partner's a knucklehead, his wife's a cheat, and now he has to chase down a perp who has a screwdriver in his head. An eclectic set of shady characters-crooked coroners, a TV-personality doctor, a femme fatale, and one extraordinarily valuable sculpture-run roughshod through a hilarious maze of double-crosses and double-identities. 2011 Writers Guild Award-winner Keith Huff lampoons the Windy City with a menacing smirk and tongue in cheek in this gritty modern noir directed by David Schwimmer.

"Big Lake Big City is the perfect way to wrap up a 25th Anniversary Season that has highlighted the wide range of styles and work that Lookingglass consistently brings to the Chicago stage," says Artistic Director Andrew White. "It's great to have one of our founding Ensemble members, David Schwimmer, back in the director's chair to help celebrate this milestone year, and both he and Keith are so damn funny and so damn smart, this show is sure to be an hilarious, dark, and brilliant ride."

The cast of Big Lake Big City includes Ensemble Members Thomas J. Cox (Divot and others), Anthony Fleming III (Moss and others) and Philip R. Smith (Bass); Kareem Bandealy (Peter and others), Katherine Cunningham (Ally), Danny Goldring (Getz), Beth Lacke (Susan), Eddie Martinez (Stewart), J. Salome Martinez (Trent and others) and Wendy Mateo (Maria).

The creative team for Big Lake Big City includes Ensemble Member Sibyl Wickersheimer (Scenic), Ana Kuzmanic (Costumes), Artistic Associate Christine A. Binder (Lighting), Artistic Associate Rick Sims (Sound/Composition), Maria DeFabo (Props). Narda E. Alcorn is the Production Stage Manager and Tess Golden is the Assistant Stage Manager.

David Schwimmer (Director/Ensemble Member) is a co-founder of Lookingglass, where he has acted in and directed several productions including Trust, Our Town, West, The Master and Margarita, The Jungle, Eye of the Beholder, The Odyssey, The Idiot, Of One Blood, and his and Ensemble member Joy Gregory's adaptation of Studs Terkel's book Race. He starred in the premieres of D Girl and Turnaround in Los Angeles, Glimmer Brothers in Williamstown, Some Girls in London, the revival of The Caine Mutiny Court Martial on Broadway and, most recently, Detroit at Playwrights Horizons. Notable television and film credits include The Iceman, Nothing But The Truth, Madagascar I, II & III, Duane Hopwood, Big Nothing, "Band of Brothers," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," Six Days Seven Nights, Apt Pupil, The Pallbearer and the hit comedy series "Friends," for which he received an Emmy Award nomination. His film and television directing includes Trust, Run Fat Boy Run, Since You've Been Gone and the HBO series "Little Britain USA." He is on the Board of Directors of the Rape Foundation in Santa Monica, California.

Keith Huff (Playwright) brings the world premiere of his latest play to Lookingglass. Recent Theater Productions include The Detective's Wife (Writer's Theater), A Steady Rain featuring Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman (Broadway), and Pursued By Happiness and The Bird and Mr. Banks (Road Theater). A Steady Rain continues to be produced across the US and around the world, most recently in France (Paris & national tour), Argentina (Buenos Aires & national tour), Chile, Mexico City, Australia, Spain (Barcelona & Catalan tour), and Canada. It is currently running in Budapest, Prague, Athens, Cyprus, and Uruguay, and new productions are scheduled to open in Brazil, Venezuela, Tokyo, Colombia, Madrid, and London in 2013-2014. In television, Keith was Writer/Co-Producer for AMC's Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-winning series "Mad Men," for which he won a 2011 Writers Guild Award (Best Drama Series), Writer/Producer for the David Fincher/NetFlix series "House of Cards," featuring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, and is currently Writer/Consulting Producer for the new Ron Moore/SyFy series, "Helix." He has written original pilots for HBO, Steven Spielberg/DreamWorks, AMC, and is currently developing projects with Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment, Jason Lee's Staircase Films, Lorenzo DiBonaventura Pictures/ABC, and Elice Island Entertainment/STARZ.

Kareem Bandealy (Peter and others) has appeared previously at Lookingglass in Peter Pan (A Play), The Last Act of Lilka Kadison, and Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. Chicago credits include Rock 'N' Roll, Gas For Less, King Lear (Goodman Theatre), A Midsummer Night's Dream, Edward II, Romeo & Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), The Illusion (Court Theatre), Hamlet, The Caretaker, Heartbreak House (Writers' Theatre), Blood and Gifts (TimeLine Theatre), The Real Thing (Remy Bumppo), It's a Wonderful Life, Oklahoma! (American Theater Company, ensemble member), Our Enemies, Back of the Throat, 10 Acrobats (Silk Road Rising, associate artist), and Wedding Play (About Face). Regional credits include The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Three Musketeers, The Tempest (Illinois Shakespeare), Love's Labour's Lost (Notre Dame Shakespeare), Stuff Happens, Julius Caesar (Pittsburgh Irish & Classical), and four seasons at Orlando Shakespeare Theater. Film credits include The Merry Gentleman (Michael Keaton, director). In 2011, he received a 3Arts Artist Award.

Thomas J. Cox (Divot and others/Ensemble Member) is a founding ensemble member of Lookingglass, with whom he has done more than thirty productions, including The Odyssey, The Jungle, West, The Master and Margarita, Algren in For Keeps and a Single Day, Quilp in Old Curiosity Shop, Great Fire and Cascabel most recently. He has been seen at Victory Gardens, Court, Steppenwolf, Goodman, and, most recently, Northlight Theatre, where he appeared in Outgoing Tide with John Mahoney and Rondi Reed which also traveled to the Galway Arts Festival. At the Weston Playhouse Theatre in Vermont, he was the Director of the Young Company, for which he directed two musicals, and has appeared in productions ranging from Tartuffe and Pirates of Penzance to Chicago and Urinetown. He serves as the Master Teacher for Lookingglass' Education and Community Programs, and he has been adjunct faculty at Northwestern and UIC. Love to CDF and JMFC.

Katherine Cunningham (Ally) is performing for her first time on the Lookingglass stage. Other Chicago credits include Honest (Steppenwolf Theatre),The Taming of the Shrew (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Picnic (Writers' Theatre), WOW! (Child's Play Touring Theatre, and several seasons of The Rocky Horror Show. Film and television credits include "Chicago Fire" and "The Playboy Club" (NBC), "Underemployed" (MTV), "Shameless" (Showtime), "The Mob Doctor" (FOX), "Detroit 1-8-7" (ABC) and the upcoming film Johnson.

Anthony Fleming III (Moss and others/Ensemble Member) makes his first appearance since becoming a Lookingglass ensemble member. This past spring he performed in Clybourne Park with Arizona Theater Company and had great runs in both Tucson and Phoenix. In Chicago, he last was seen playing "Booster" in August Wilson's Jitney at Court Theater. His most recent work on the Lookingglass boards was as "Joe Louis" in Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting. Other select Lookingglass credits include Fedra, Icarus, The Arabian Nights, 1984, Race, and 445 performances of Lookingglass Alice. Select local and regional credits include The Goodman Theater, Steppenwolf, Court Theater, Victory Gardens, Piven Theater, Chicago Theater Company, Milwaukee Rep, The Arden in Philly, The McCarter in Jersey, The Alliance in Atlanta, Actor's Theatre of Louisville, and The New Victory in New York. Select television credits include "Prison Break" (seasons 1 and 2) and "The Beast." Next, Anthony will be traveling to Sardinia, Italy in the fall to work on an independent film.

Danny Goldring (Getz) is equally at home in front of the camera and on stage. Film credits include the Beverly Ridge Pictures mob thriller Chicago Overcoat, the role of "Grumpy" in The Dark Knight, The Fugitive, The Earl, The Babe, Above the Law, Bean: The Movie, A Perfect Manhattan, and the upcoming films Dig Two Graves, and Fools. He originated the title role in Brett Neveu's comedy noir The Earl, which enjoyed a long run, an encore engagement, and rave reviews at A Red Orchid Theatre. On stage earlier this season in Pine Box Theatre's World Premiere of 25 Saints. Other theatre credits include Lyric Opera's Porgy and Bess, David Mamet's Reunion and Dark Pony, and Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful (Goodman Theatre Productions), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Inherit the Wind, A Solider's Play, King of Coons, and "Clark Gable" in Frankly My Dear... A Fable about Gable. TV Includes "Boss" (Starz) as Ryan Kavanaugh (recurring), the Emmy-Nominated TNT Movie Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, HBO FilmsNormal and Always Outnumbered, "Six Feet Under," "Star Trek Voyager/Deep Space Nine/Enterprise," "NYPD Blue," "ER," and "Crime Story," as well as frequent episodes of the radio series "Twilight Zone." Danny is a proud member of Actor's Equity, SAG-AFTRA, and AGMA.

Beth Lacke (Susan) is working with Lookingglass for the first time. Her previous Chicago credits include "Annette" in God of Carnage at the Goodman, "Ashley" in Man From Nebraska at Steppenwolf, as well as "Hennie Berger" in Awake and Sing and "Caroline Cushing" in Frost/Nixon with TimeLine Theatre Company. She won a Best Supporting Actress Jeff Citation for her work as "Miss Nebraska" with Collaboraction Theatre Company in The Life and Times of Tulsa Lovechild. Her work in television and film is varied with appearances on "How I Met Your Mother," "Malibu Country," "Hawthorne," "Two Broke Girls" as well as series regular characters on "Happy Hour" for Fox and "Work It" for ABC. Her most recent film, Open Tables, will be released later this year. She is graduate of the Theatre School at DePaul University.

EDDIE MARTINEZ (Stewart) was born and raised in Chicago, attended Columbia College Chicago as a Theater Major. Chicago credits include: Cascabel,Maitre D' (Lookingglass Theatre), Our Lady of 121st Street, Pinky (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), The Sins of Sor Juana, Don Pedro (Teatro Vista) andStylin' and Racial Profilin' (The Second City). His film credits include The Dilemma, The Break Up, The Weatherman, Nothing Like the Holidays, Let's Go to Prison, and Elsewhere. TV credits include "Boss" and "Chicago Fire," as well as various on camera and voice over commercials.

J. Salome Martinez (Trent and others) is making his Lookingglass Theatre Company debut. Some of his theater credits include How Long Will I Cry?(Steppenwolf Theatre); After (Profiles Theatre); As You Like It, Man of La Mancha, The Seagull (Constans Theatre); and A Christmas Carol (Hippodrome State Theatre). Television and film credits include "Law & Order," "Castle," "Generation Kill" (HBO, Emmy Award), "New York, I Love You" and the Oscar Award-nominated film The Messenger. He received his BA in theatre from Barat College and his MFA in acting from the University of Florida.

WENDY MATEO (Maria) is making her debut with Lookingglass Theatre. She can be recognized from making a fool of herself throughout the city of Chicago, performing improv and sketch comedy. She is part of Dominizuelan, the sketch comedy duo who were named "the future of Latino comedy" by Latina Magazine. Wendy has been a featured performer in the TBS Just for Laughs Festival with both her solo comedy work and Dominizuelan.

Philip R. Smith (Bass/Producing Artistic Director/Ensemble Member) most recently appeared as Wrede Sartorius in The March at Steppenwolf Theatre and Ethan in Ethan Frome at Lookingglass. Other Lookingglass credits include Will in Trust, Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days, Ivan in The Brothers Karamazov, Tinker Bosch in The Wooden Breeks and Creon in Hillbilly Antigone. Other recent credits include Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbirdand Rev. Parris in The Crucible both at Steppenwolf and Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days at Baltimore's Center Stage. Other regional credits include work at the McCarter Theatre, Seattle Rep, the Arden Theatre, BAM (NYC), and The Actors Gang (LA). TV and film credits include "Boss," "Friends," "Prison Break," "Chicago Hope," "Early Edition," Kissing a Fool, Since You've Been Gone, High Fidelity, The Express and The Dilemma. As Producing Artistic Director, oversight includes Lookingglass casting and serving as a primary artistic liaison to the Development, Special Events, Marketing and Production departments.

Inventive. Collaborative. Transformative. Lookingglass Theatre Company, recipient of the 2011 Regional Theatre Tony Award, was founded in 1988 by eight Northwestern University students. 2011-2012 marks the company's 25th 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 58 world premieres at 23 venues across Chicago, and garnered 52 Joseph Jefferson Awards and Citations.

Work premiered at Lookingglass has been produced in New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, Berkeley, Philadelphia, Princeton, Hartford, Kansas City, Washington D.C., and St. Louis. Lookingglass original scripts have 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 thousands of community members each year.

Lookingglass Theatre Company continues to expand its artistic, financial and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Artistic Director Andrew White, Executive Director Rachel Kraft, Producing Artistic Director Philip R. Smith, Artistic Director of New Work Heidi Stillman, a 24-member artistic ensemble, 13 artistic associates, 11 production affiliates, an administrative staff and a dedicated board of directors led by Chairman Richard Ditton of Incredible Technologies and President Joe Brady of Jones Lang LaSalle. For more information, visit lookingglasstheatre.org.

Pictured: Stage manager Narda Alcorn and Director David Scwhimmer in rehearsal. Photo by Jonathan L. Green.

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