Rae Gray and Tim Chiou Star in Lookingglass Theatre's THE NORTH CHINA LOVER, Beg. Tonight

Kicking off its 26th Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of Marguerite Duras' The North China Lover, adapted and directed by Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman. The North China Lover runs tonight, September 25 - October 4, 2013 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, October 5, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.

The cast includes: Ensemble member Tracy Walsh (Woman in Red); Walter Owen Briggs (Pierre), Amy J. Carle (Mother), Tim Chiou (The Lover),Deanna Dunagan (M), Rae Gray (The Child), JJ Phillips (Paolo) and Allison Torem (Helene).

You never forget your first lover. The affair plays like a moving picture over and over in your mind: passionate, consuming, secret, taboo.

Fade in: the seamy French Quarter of Southern Indochina in the 1930s where the 14-year-old impoverished schoolgirl who will someday be French novelist Marguerite Duras is about to meet and captivate a wealthy 27-year-old Chinese aristocrat.

With the older Duras as our guide, The North China Lover transports us on a provocative and haunting journey of awakening and sacrifice, revealing the delicate and indelible effect of life on art.

The creative team for The North China Lover includes: Ensemble member Daniel Ostling (Scenic/lighting), Ana Kuzmanic (Costumes), Artistic Associate Rick Sims (Sound), Stephen Sorenson (Associate Lighting Designer), Maria DeFabo (Properties), Sheila Schmidt (Stage Manager) andAmanda Weener (Assistant Stage Manager).

Heidi Stillman (Director/Artistic Director of New Work/Ensemble Member) co-created/directed Cascabel with Rick Bayless and Tony Hernandez. Other Lookingglass writing/directing credits include The Last Act of Lilka Kadison, Trust with David Schwimmer, Hephaestus with Tony Hernandez at the Goodman, The Brothers Karamazov, Hard Times (5 Jeff Awards, also traveled to the Arden in Philadelphia), and The Master and Margarita (with David Catlin). Directing credits at Lookingglass include The Wooden Breeks (by Glen Berger), and Hillbilly Antigone (book, music and lyrics by Rick Sims). She also recently staged Laura Eason's Around the World in 80 Days at Kansas City Rep and Mary Zimmerman's The Arabian Nights at Berkeley Rep. Other Lookingglass adaptation credits include The Old Curiosity Shop co-written with Ray Fox and Laura Eason (Jeff Award), and The Baron in the Trees with Larry DiStasi. She was last seen on stage in The Arabian Nights. Heidi was awarded the 2010 Raven Award for Excellence in Arts and Entertainment forThe Brothers Karamazov.

Amy J. Carle (Mother) Previous Lookingglass credits include: Bengal Tiger at The Baghdad Zoo, Peter Pan (A Play) and Trust. Other work in Chicago: The Internationalist, The Book Thief, Animals Out of Paper, Sex With Strangers and Hedda Gabler (Steppenwolf Theatre); Season's Greetings (Northlight Theatre); Orlando (Court Theatre); The Sins of Sor Juana, Rock 'N' Roll, Desire Under the Elms (The Goodman Theatre); Refuge (CollaborAction, Jeff nom.); SubUrbia, The Lights (Jeff nom.), Ecstasy, WAS, The Planets (RoadWorks Productions). Off Broadway National Tour: The Vagina Monologues. Regional: Fully Committed and The Diary of Anne Frank (Madison Repertory Theatre); Morning Star (Kansas City Repertory Theatre). Television: "Boss" (STARZ), "Chicago Code" (FOX), "Law & Order" (NBC), "The Guiding Light" (CBS).

Tim Chiou (The Lover) makes his Lookingglass debut with The North China Lover. He was last in town with the world premiere of Year Zero by Michael Golamco at the Victory Gardens. His recent performances include Crimes of the Heart (East West Players), Snow Falling On Cedars (TheatreWorks-Silicon Valley) and the west coast premiere of Year Zero (The Colony- Burbank).

Deanna Dunagan (M) makes her debut at Lookingglass Theatre. She appeared in August: Osage County in Chicago, New York, London and Sydney, winning Jeff and Tony Awards and an Olivier nomination. Other Chicago performances: Other Desert Cities at Goodman; A Little Night Music at Writers' Theatre; James Joyce's The Dead at Court Theatre (Jeff Award); and A Delicate Balance at Remy Bumppo (After Dark Award). She appeared on television in recurring roles in "Prison Break" and "Unforgettable," and in guest starring roles on "Private Practice," "Law & Order," "Cold Case," and "Detroit 1-8-7." She will appear this season in "House of Cards."

Rae Gray (The Child) makes her Lookingglass debut with The North China Lover after workshopping it at Berkeley Rep. Theater credits: Slowgirl, The Book Thief and Wedding Band (Steppenwolf Theatre), Circle Mirror Transformation (Victory Gardens Theater), The Real Thing (Writers' Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre), Inherit the Wind (Northlight Theatre), Sunday in the Park with George (Ravinia Festival), The Crucible and Cry of Players(TimeLine Theatre), Meet Me in St. Louis (Drury Lane Oakbrook/Gateway Playhouse, NY), Oliver and State Fair (Marriott Theatre), Completeness (Theater Wit), Jailbait (Profiles Theatre). Upcoming: Slowgirl (Geffen Playhouse, LA). TV credits: "Boardwalk Empire" (HBO) and "Chicago Fire" (NBC).

J.J. Phillips (Paolo) returns to Lookingglass, where he appeared last season as Kev in Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. Additional credits include: Fat Pig (Steppenwolf), and the Jeff Award-winning Punk Rock (Griffin Theatre), as well as workshops with Lookingglass, Steppenwolf, and the Goodman. He studied at The School at Steppenwolf, and under Daniel Cantor at Northwestern University, and is a member of Actor's Equity.

Allison Torem (Helene) returns to Lookingglass Theatre where she first and last played Annie in David Schwimmer's Trust (Jeff Award Nomination). Other theatre credits include Hot L Baltimore (Steppenwolf Theatre) and The Boys' Room (Victory Gardens). Allison can also been seen as Laura in Stephen Cone's The Wise Kids and Ellie in Ignaty Vishnevetsky's Ellie Lumme.

Tracy Walsh (Woman in Red/Choreographer/Ensemble Member) is a Lookingglass ensemble member and most recently appeared in the company's production of Still Alice this past season. She directed The Old Curiosity Shop at Lookingglass and several plays for the Lookingglass Young Ensemble. She has choreographed dances and movement sequences for plays at Lookingglass, The Goodman Theatre, Court Theatre and Chicago Opera Theatre.

Inventive. Collaborative. Transformative. Lookingglass Theatre Company, recipient of the 2011 Regional Theatre Tony Award, was founded in 1988 by eight Northwestern University students. Now in its 26th 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 60 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, 15 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.

Dates: Previews: September 25 - October 4, 2013; Press opening: Saturday, October 5, 2013 at 7:30 PM; Regular run: October 6 - November 10, 2013; Times: Tuesdays: 7:30 p.m. (October 8, 22 and November 5 only); Wednesdays: 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays: 3:00 p.m. (October 17, 31 and November 7 only); 7:30 p.m.; Fridays: 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays: 3:00 p.m.; 7:30 p.m; Sundays: 3:00 p.m.; 7:30 p.m.

Accessible Performances: Touch tour/Audio described performance, October 27 at 3pm; Open captioned performance, November 3 at 3pm. Partial support for open captioning provided by Theatre Development Fund.

All performances run at the Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. Prices: Previews are $28 - $38; Regular Run is $36 - $70. Target Saturday Matinees offer a limited number of buy one, get one free tickets which are available to all 3:00 p.m. Saturday matinees. This program is made possible with the generous support of Target, working with Lookingglass to make the arts accessible to all. A limited number of student tickets are available the day of the show for $20 with valid student ID. Groups of 10 or more patrons save up to 20%. Call the box office for details. Box Office: Buy online at www.lookingglasstheatre.org or by phone at (312) 337-0665.

Pictured: Rae Gray and Tim Chiou. Photo Credit: Sean Williams.

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