Lookingglass Theatre Company Announces Return Of LOOKINGGLASS ALICE 6/16-8/1

Lookingglass Theatre Company proudly announces the return of its circus-inspired theatrical events Lookingglass Alice, adapted and directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin. Lookingglass Alice will run at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave., June 16-August 1, 2010. The press performance is Wednesday, June 23, 2010, at 7:30 p.m.

Lookingglass Theatre Company's hit Lookingglass Alice tumbles its way down the rabbit-hole for its fourth smash-hit run at Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works. When it premiered in February 2005, Lookingglass Alice became an instant hit, played to sold-out audiences, and enjoyed two extensions. When the production returned home to Chicago in summer 2007 following a successful East Coast tour, it again played to sold-out houses and was twice extended. This year, the production traveled to The Actor's Theatre Of Louisville, Syracuse Stage and the ALLIANCE THEATRE in Atlanta; the 2010 Chicago production marks the tenth time Lookingglass Alice has been produced since 2005.

Adapted by Ensemble Member and Artistic Director David Catlin from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, Lookingglass Alice is a muscular, acrobatic, and dizzyingly playful show for all ages. This Alice falls, floats, flies, defies gravity and the rules of logic during her wonderland journey through the looking glass to become a queen. With a juggling Mad Hatter, a precariously balancing Humpty Dumpty, and a bumbling Knight who invents his way into Alice's heart, Lookingglass Alice revisits the stories that inspired the founding of Lookingglass Theatre Company twenty years ago. Lookingglass Alice is produced in association with The Actors Gymnasium.

"Lookingglass Alice is an amazing collaboration between inventive design, impossible physical performance and entirely unexpected storytelling. The show gets curiouser and curiouser each time we get to work on it," says Director David Catlin. "We have played to sold-out houses throughout the country with this production. We are thrilled to bring it back home again for its fourth Chicago run."

Lookingglass Alice features Artistic Associate Lauren Hirte as Alice, Molly Brennan as the Red Queen and other roles, Ensemble Member Kevin Douglas as the Mad Hatter and other roles, Artistic Associate Anthony Fleming III as various characters, including The Cheshire Cat, and Samuel Taylor as White Knight and other roles. The understudies are Ensemble Member Thomas J. Cox, Lindsey Noel-Whiting, Adeoye and Isaac Schoepp.

Assisting with the onstage magic is the original Lookingglass Alice design team, including Ensemble Member Mara Blumenfeld (costumes), Artistic Associate Alison Siple and Lijana Wallenda-Hernandez (associate costume designers), Artistic Associate Chris Binder (lights), Artistic Associate Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi (choreography), Ensemble Member Dan Ostling (scenic), Artistic Associate Andre Pluess and Ben Sussman (sound design and composition) and William Anderson (properties). The stage manager is Dennis Connors.

ComEd is the Production Sponsor for Lookingglass Alice. American Girl Place is the Opening Night Sponsor for Lookingglass Alice.

About Lookingglass Theatre Company
Inventive. Collaborative. Transformative. Lookingglass Theatre Company was founded in 1988 by eight Northwestern University students. 2009-2010 marks the company's 22nd 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 53 world premieres at 23 venues across Chicago, and garnered 42 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 Alice played earlier this fall at The Actors Theatre of Louisville and will be seen later this season at the ALLIANCE THEATRE and Syracuse Stage; Around The World in 80 Days recently played at Centerstage in Baltimore and is currently playing at Kansas City Repertory. Lookingglass Originals 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 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, Artistic Director Elect Andrew White, Producing Artistic Director Philip R. Smith, Artistic Director of New Work Heidi Stillman, a 22-member artistic ensemble, 15 artistic associates, 11 production affiliates an administrative staff and a dedicated board of directors led by Lisa Naparstek Green. For more information, visit lookingglasstheatre.org.

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