Photo Flash: First Look at M. BUTTERFLY, Now Playing at Court Theatre

Court Theatre closes its 2013-2014 season with the Chicago premiere of M. Butterfly written by David Henry Hwang and directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell, with choreography by Jamie Guan. M. Butterfly runs through June 8, 2014 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. Press Opening is tomorrow, Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 8:00PM. Check out a first look below!

M. Butterfly is an exquisitely delicate and aggressively original play about sex, espionage, and Imperialism. Skillfully intertwining the story of Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly with an extraordinary plot inspired by true events, M. Butterfly untangles the story of Rene Gallimard, a meek French civil servant who meets the woman of his dreams in Song Liling, a beautiful, Chinese opera diva. What Gallimard doesn't realize-or refuses to see-is that his "modest Chinese girl" may be much more than she appears. M. Butterfly has become a post-modern classic whose exploration of the sexual politics of East and West continues to resonate today.

M. Butterfly features Nate Braga (Song Liling), Laura Coover (Renee), Sean Fortunato (Rene Gallimard), Aurora Adachi-Winter (Kurogo Dancer), Erin Clyne (Kurogo Dancer), Emjoy Gavino (Comrade Chin), Terry Hamilton (Toulon), Mark Montgomery (Marc), Sarah Lo (Kurogo Dancer) and Karen Woditsch (Helga).

The creative team is Jamie Guan (Choreographer), Todd Rosenthal (Scenic Designer), Lydia Tanji (Costume Designer), Keith Parham (Lighting Designer), and Andre Pluess (Sound Designer). Amanda Weener is the Stage Manager.

Photos by Michael Brosilow