Lookingglass Theatre Company's Lookingglass Alice Returns April 30th, 2022

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

  Latest Sensational Production of 

Lookingglass Alice 

Slated For Spring 2022

 

Here at ChiIL Mama, we've caught every Lookingglass Theatre Company production for decades and their signature show, Lookingglass Alice remains a top family favorite of ours.  My children grew up adoring Lookingglass Alice in her many iterations. I don't doubt that seeing world class, circus/theatre stage magic like this inspired both my son and daughter to take circus arts classes, perform in years of Actors Gymnasium teen shows, and develop a lifelong love affair with the theatre. My son's now a junior at Northwestern majoring in Theatre Arts, like so many of the Lookingglass movers and shakers did before him. Alice has been off the Lookingglass stage since 2014, and we just can't wait to see what astounding adventures lay in store this time around!

Lookingglass Theatre Company is thrilled to announce new dates for the return of the “breathtaking” (The New York Times) production of Lookingglass Alice. Performances for the circus-infused spectacle, beloved by critics and audiences alike, will now run April 30-July 31, 2022. Tickets for the quintessential, “extraordinary...endlessly inventive” (Variety) Lookingglass favorite are on sale now. 

Get tickets: lookingglasstheatre.org/event/lookingglass-alice-2022 

Lookingglass Alice, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories, is adapted and directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin. “We eagerly await the return of the joyful and thrilling Lookingglass Alice,” says Artistic Director Heidi Stillman. “This show is brimming with imagination, feats of daring, wit, whimsy, and a whole lot of heart. Coming out of the past couple of years we have all had, the sheer joy of this experience will be a balm for the soul.” 

Last produced at Lookingglass Theatre in 2014, Catlin is eager for audiences to see the show, either again or for the first time. “In a lot of traditional theaters, they’ll talk about a 'frozen' script, that it’s locked,” Catlin says. “To me… we get to keep working on it, we play, it’s a play. The world is changing. The play changes because the world changes." 

Purchases can be made online at lookingglasstheatre.org. Group sales are available for groups of 10+ at lookingglasstheatre.org/groups. 

Lookingglass Alice 

Adapted and Directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin  

From the works of Lewis Carroll  

Produced in association with The Actors Gymnasium 

April 30- July 31, 2022 

Lookingglass Alice returns for a circus-infused trip down the rabbit hole and deep into your heart. The New York Times calls this adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories “eye-catching entertainment,” the Chicago Tribune lauds it as “ingenious,” and The Chicago Sun-Times hails the production as “pure, unadulterated magic.” 

This signature Lookingglass production, adapted and directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin (The Little Prince, Moby Dick), has toured the country, enchanting audiences of all ages, painted each time with a fresh coat of magic. The awe-inspiring show comes back home to Lookingglass Theatre for a new generation to discover. 

 

About the Writer/Director

David Catlin (he/him) (Writer and Director of Lookingglass Alice, Ensemble Member) is a founding Ensemble Member, actor, writer, director, and former Artistic Director of Lookingglass. David adapted and directed Moby Dick, which debuted at Lookingglass in summer 2015, toured nationally, and played again at Lookingglass in summer 2017. Other Lookingglass writing credits include Icarus, Her Name Was Danger, and The Idiot (Jeff Award for Adaptation). Most recently, he directed Mr. Dickens’ Hat at Northlight Theatre and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s original, for Alliance Theatre in Atlanta.  

Additional Lookingglass directing credits include: The Little Prince, Black Diamond (co-director), Metamorphosis, and West. Lookingglass acting credits include Hard Times, The Arabian Nights, Our Town, Argonautika, La Luna Muda, The Odyssey, and The Jungle. David is an Artistic Associate with The Actors Gymnasium and serves on the acting faculty at Northwestern University. 

Lookingglass Alice Performance Schedule 

Previews  

April 30 – May 10 

Tuesday – Saturday 7:30pm 

Sunday 2pm 

 

Regular Run 

May 12 – July 31 

Tuesdays 7pm* 

Wednesdays 7pm 

Thursdays 1:30pm* & 7pm 

Fridays 7:30pm 

Saturdays 2pm & 7:30pm 

Sundays 2pm & 7:30pm 

*Tuesday Evening and Thursday Matinee performances alternate. Please see the performance calendar on the website for full calendar and details. 

Get tickets: lookingglasstheatre.org/event/lookingglass-alice-2022 

 

Thank You to Our Season Sponsors  

BMO Harris Bank 

Hearn  

HMS Media  

Shirley Ryan Ability Lab  

Waldorf Astoria Chicago  

 

Thank You to Our Lookingglass Alice Sponsors 

Production Sponsor: Northern Trust  

Production Support: Steve and Lorrayne Weiss 

 

Become A Scene Maker  

Every moment of the creative process is crucial to the final production. And every donation from you, our community, is key to building a thriving arts scene. From inside the storycastle, Lookingglass is looking forward. Forward to telling new stories. Forward to including new audiences. Forward to breaking all conventions of institutional Theatre. Starting now. Play a role in shaping a flourishing, arts-driven tomorrow. 

Be a Scene Maker and support Lookingglass at lookingglasstheatre.org/scene-maker  

About Health and Safety   

The health and safety of our audiences, artists, and staff is a top priority. Lookingglass is part of a coalition of more than 70 performing arts venues across Chicagoland implementing unified COVID-19 Vaccination and Mask Requirements for indoor performances. 

About Accessibility 

Lookingglass Theatre offers ground floor and balcony seats for all patrons who use a wheelchair or a scooter, or patrons who cannot walk stairs. Assistive listening devices are available at the patron's request. 

About Lookingglass Theatre Company     

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 34th 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. The Company, located in Chicago’s landmark Water Tower Water Works, has staged 70 world premieres, received 161 Joseph Jefferson Award Nominations, and produced work all across the United States. In 2016, Lookingglass received the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions and in 2017, was the recipient of the League of Chicago Theatres’ Artistic Achievement Award.   

Lookingglass continues to expand its artistic, financial, and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Artistic Director Heidi Stillman, Executive Director Rachel L. Fink, a 29-member artistic ensemble, 22 artistic associates, an administrative staff, and a dedicated board of directors led by Chair Diane Whatton.   

For more information, visit  lookingglasstheatre.org/plays-events.     

Engage with us on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. #LookingglassTheatre  

About The Actors Gymnasium     

The Actors Gymnasium is one of the nation’s premier circus and performing arts training centers. Founded in 1995, Actors Gym is dedicated to expanding human and theatrical potential through the circus arts by pushing the limits of physical, emotional, and creative expression. It is committed to minimizing barriers to circus arts and operating from an anti-racist perspective to ensure diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in all its programs. 

The Gym provides educational programs for students of all ages and levels, produces original and daring circus-theatre, and offers award-winning entertainment for corporate and other special events. 

Actors Gym is proud to partner with many performing arts organizations throughout Chicagoland and serves as the exclusive provider of circus performing arts training for Lookingglass Theatre.  

At The Actors Gymnasium, people learn to fly – physically, emotionally, and creatively. 

SAVE THE DATES: The Lookingglass 2019–2020 Season Is Full of Past Favorites and a World Premiere

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

Lookingglass Theatre Company Announces 

2019–2020 Season  

The company’s 32nd season features

the World Premiere of Her Honor Jane Byrne by J. Nicole Brooks

and celebrates the return of two favorites 

Mary Zimmerman’s new holiday classic The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the signature production Lookingglass Alice by David Catlin

Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows, we're elated to see Lookingglass Theatre Company's upcoming season. We can't get enough of their namesake remounts. Each one of their Lookingglass Alice productions is a visual feast packed with circus feats and stellar story telling. Each time they change it up a bit and we just can't wait to see what's in store this time around. It's a timeless top favorite of our whole family. We also fell in love with The Steadfast Tin Soldier this past holiday season and are so jazzed it's returning. Both are great for all ages and multigenerational theatre going. Make some family memories! We're also eager to catch the World Premiere of Her Honor Jane Byrne, on the cusp of Chicago's mayoral elections for the first black female mayor. It's timely to revisit Chicago's first and only other female mayor. Save the dates. 

Lookingglass Theatre Company announces its complete 2019–2020 season lineup, with three shows created by Lookingglass Ensemble Members. From high-flying spectacle, to gorgeous storytelling, and provocative reflections on our city, the season begins with the new holiday tradition The Steadfast Tin Soldier, written and directed by Ensemble Member Mary Zimmerman from the story by Hans Christian Andersen. The World Premiere of Her Honor Jane Byrne, written and directed by Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks, takes a look back at Chicago’s first woman Mayor and how times are different—and exactly the same. Concluding the 2019-2020 season is the return of the signature Lookingglass production Lookingglass Alice, adapted and directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin, from the works of Lewis Carroll, and produced in association with The Actors Gymnasium.

“As an Ensemble, we’ve talked a lot about why humans tell the same stories again and again. I think it’s because as we get older and the world changes, and our viewing point changes, these stories inherently change. They are so deeply human that they continue to resonate with us in different ways,” comments Artistic Director Heidi Stillman. “As we move into our next season, we feel encouraged to tell stories that made us who we are, and stories that will help pave our path into the future.”

Next season will be quintessentially Lookingglass—-shows you couldn’t see anywhere else. Subscriptions to Lookingglass’ 2019-2020 season are on sale now and may be purchased through the box office at (312) 337-0665 or lookingglasstheatre.org.

The Lookingglass 2019–2020 Season up close:



The Steadfast Tin Soldier
Written and Directed by Ensemble Member Mary Zimmerman
From the Story by Hans Christian Andersen
November 1, 2019–January 26, 2020
Recommended for Ages 5+

True to his loyal and resolute nature, The Steadfast Tin Soldier returns! Hans Christian Andersen’s story about a little tin soldier who never gives up comes back to Lookingglass for a winter-time curtain call. Ensemble Member Mary Zimmerman (Metamorphoses, Treasure Island) fashions an extravagant and exhilarating spectacle, infused with music and movement. Don’t miss the triumphant return of Chicago’s newest Holiday tradition, The Steadfast Tin Soldier. 

“I’m very glad that our little Tin Soldier managed to march his way into the hearts of so many, and that he’ll be coming back again in the Holiday season steadfast as ever. We wanted to make something that was visually and emotionally overpowering—as well as very funny—and do that with no spoken language at all,” says Mary Zimmerman. “People of all ages and from around the world are able to watch the show and feel it all the same, no English required. I think the silence of the characters—and the beautiful music that accompanies their adventures—allows older members of the audience to fall into a private, younger part of themselves; and for children, they are watching something in the manner they are used to: gathering up the story through the intensity of their earnest attention, through their intelligence which has no words.”



World Premiere
Her Honor Jane Byrne
Written and Directed by Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks
February 26–April 12, 2020
Recommended for Ages 13+

Chicago is “The City That Works”—but does it work for everybody? It’s 1981, the city’s simmering pot of neglected problems boils over, and Chicago’s first woman mayor is moving into Cabrini-Green. Is this just a PR stunt, or will it bring the City together? For the next three weeks, residents, activists, media, the “Machine,” and the Mayor herself will collide as the City’s raw truths are exposed. Who will come out on top? Lookingglass Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks creates this smoldering new take on Her Honor Jane Byrne. 

J. Nicole Brooks comments, “When you grow up in a city that’s hyper segregated, run amuck with corruption, and political stunts and discord, you have to work hard to love it. I love the city of Chicago. I love the history. I’m fascinated by ethnic clans. I’m curious about patronage, councils, aldermen, and committeemen. Who gets elected and how? Who gets to lead us, and will they actually listen to us? Though I was very little, I can remember when it was announced that Mayor Jane Byrne was moving into Cabrini-Green. Can she stop the violence? Well, no one person can. Here we are decades later, asking the same questions. I hope our audiences walk away with a bit of the past, so they may know how to shape our future.”

Lookingglass is excited to partner with a number of cultural institutions including Chicago History Museum, National Public Housing Museum, Rebuild Foundation, and others as part of the Community Engagement work around the production.



Lookingglass Alice
Adapted and Directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin
From the Works of Lewis Carroll
Produced in Association with The Actors Gymnasium
May 13–August 16, 2020
Recommended for Ages 5+

Lookingglass Alice returns for a fantastical trip down the rabbit hole, through the looking glass, and deep into your heart. The New York Times calls this circus-infused adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories “eye-catching entertainment.” This signature Lookingglass production, adapted and directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin (The Little Prince, Moby Dick), has toured the country, enchanting audiences of all ages. Now, after a five-year hiatus, the awe-inspiring production comes back home for a new generation to discover.

David Catlin notes, “If you put Lookingglass DNA under a high-powered microscope, you’d find zinging molecules composed of nonsense, curiosity, and invention. You’d find a pair of black-and-white stripe-y tights, a tardy rabbit in a waistcoat and bowler, a stuttering old soul who believes as many as six impossible things before breakfast, and a fearsome girl named Alice soaring high above our heads and into the heart of wonder. So back we go, to the other side of the Lookingglass, to the utterly essential and glorious nonsense of Wonderland—bring a friend, it’s a little cuckoo in there!”

About the Artists
J. Nicole Brooks (Her Honor Jane Byrne playwright and director/Lookingglass Ensemble Member) is an author, actor, director and educator. As a playwright her works for the stage include HeLa, Fedra: Queen of Haiti, Shotgun Harriet, and Black Diamond: The Years the Locusts Have Eaten. As a director she has staged productions of Mr. Rickey Calls A Meeting, Black Diamond, Thaddeus & Slocum: A Vaudeville Adventure, Clash, and Becky Shaw. As an actor she has created original work throughout the US, China and Hungary. As a screenwriter, J. Nicole has a crime drama in development with partner Milauna Jackson. Selected stage credits include: Ike Holter’s Lottery Day, Lookingglass Theatre’s Beyond Caring in association with David Schwimmer and Alexander Zeldin (National Theatre UK), and Immediate Family directed by Phylicia Rashad. In tv-land, J. Nicole has recurring roles as Sgt. Clemmons on Showtime’s The Chi, and as Olivia on Comedy Central’s South Side. Awards and honors include: Black Ensemble Theatre Playwright of the Year, LA Ovation, League of Chicago Theatres, Jeff Award, TCG Fox Foundation Fellowship, 3Arts Make a Wave Grant, NEA Grant, and Black Theatre Alliance.
David Catlin (Lookingglass Alice adaptor and director/Founding Lookingglass Ensemble Member) is an, actor, writer, director, and former Artistic Director of Lookingglass. David adapted and directed Moby Dick, which debuted at Lookingglass in summer 2015 (winner of four Jeff Awards including Production—Large), toured nationally, and returned to Lookingglass for the summer of 2017. In 2018, he directed his new adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Alliance Theatre at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. David’s next project, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, will have its world premiere at Lookingglass this summer.

Additional Lookingglass directing credits include: Lookingglass Alice, The Little Prince, Icarus, Black Diamond (co-director), Metamorphosis, Her Name was Danger, the idiot (Jeff Citation for New Adaptation), and West (Jeff Citation for Directing). Regionally, David has directed work at McCarter Theatre, The New Victory on 42nd Street, Arden Theatre, Actors Theater of Louisville, Alliance Theatre, Arena Stage, Syracuse Stage, South Coast Repertory Theatre, and the Getty Villa. Recent Lookingglass acting credits include: Hard Times, The Arabian Nights, Our Town, Argonautika, The Manuscript Found in Saragossa, La Luna Muda, Third Voyage, The Scarlet Letter, The Odyssey, and The Jungle. David has appeared on stage with Actors Gymnasium, Chicago Children’s Theatre/Redmoon, and The House Theatre of Chicago. David’s film work includes Since You’ve Been Gone for Lookingglass/Miramax and Humanoid with Dark Harbor Stories. David is an Artistic Associate with Actors Gymnasium and serves on the acting faculty at Northwestern University.

Mary Zimmerman (The Steadfast Tin Soldier playwright and director/Lookingglass Ensemble Member) is a writer and director and has worked with Lookingglass for more than 25 years. For Lookingglass, she adapted and directed The Odyssey, The Secret in the Wings, The Arabian Nights, S/M, Metamorphoses, Eleven Rooms of Proust (Co-production with About Face Theatre), Argonautika and Treasure Island. Mary is also part of the Goodman Theatre artistic team where she adapted and directed The White Snake, The Jungle Book, Candide, The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci, Silk, Journey to the West, Mirror of the Invisible World and a re-creation of The Odyssey, as well as directing Wonderful Town, Pericles, The Baltimore Waltz, and All’s Well That Ends Well. She has twice directed for the New York Shakespeare Festival in the Park. Regionally, her work has appeared at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Huntington Theatre Company, McCarter Theatre, Arena Stage, and Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C. In New York, her work has appeared at Lincoln Center, Second Stage Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and on Broadway at Circle in the Square Theatre.

In the world of opera, she directed and co-wrote the libretto Galileo Galilei (composed by Philip Glass) that was produced at Goodman Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the Barbican Theatre in London. Additionally, she has directed four operas at Metropolitan Opera in New York City: Rusalka, Lucia Di Lammermoor, La Sonnambula, and Rossini’s Armida, each of which has been broadcast live into movie theatres worldwide. In 1998, Mary received a MacArthur Fellowship and in 2002, the Tony Award for Best Director of a Play for Metamorphoses on Broadway.


Subscriptions
Subscriptions are on sale for the 2019-2020 Season. Current subscribers who renew before May 1, 2019 will receive a 5% discount on their 2019-2020 subscription. Performances will be held at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. 

Subscribers can choose between a 3-play subscription, 2-play subscription, or two flex pass options: the Gglasspass, or for those under 35, the Madhatter’s Club. For the 2019-2020 season, 3-play subscriptions range from $116–$170, and 2-play subscriptions range from $77–$113. 2-play subscriptions include Her Honor Jane Byrne and Lookingglass Alice.

The Gglasspass is a flex pass available to all ages. For $150, Gglasspass holders receive 3 tickets that can be used in any combination and denomination for any Lookingglass production in the 2019-2020 season.

The Madhatter’s Club flex pass is available to those 35 or younger. The Madhatter’s Club flex pass is $75 and includes 3 tickets that members can use in any combination and denomination for any Lookingglass production in the 2019-2020 season, including Theatre Night Out events.

Lookingglass also offers a 3-play subscription for Accessible performances for $75, and a 2-play subscription for $50 during the 2019-2020 season. Patrons can choose between the Touch Tour/Audio Described performances or the Open Captioned performances.

Subscription benefits include access to the best seats in the house, pre-sale opportunities and savings before single tickets go on sale to the general public, special perks at restaurant partners, unlimited ticket exchanges, discounted parking at 875 N Michigan, Water Tower Place, and Olympia Centre Garage, reduced tuition for Lookingglass’ renowned classes and summer camps, and access to exclusive subscriber-only events. For season subscription and ticket information, call the Lookingglass Theatre box office at (312) 337-0665 or visit lookingglasstheatre.org.



About Lookingglass Theatre Company
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 31st 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. The Company, located in Chicago’s landmark Water Tower Water Works, has staged 68 world premieres, received 151 Joseph Jefferson Award Nominations, and produced work all across the United States. In 2016, Lookingglass received the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions and in 2017, was the recipient of the League of Chicago Theatres’ Artistic Achievement Award.

Lookingglass continues to expand its artistic, financial, and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Artistic Director Heidi Stillman, Executive Director Rachel L. Fink, Producing Director Philip R. Smith, Director of Community Engagement Andrew White, General Manager Michele Anderson, a 24-member artistic ensemble, 23 artistic associates, an administrative staff, and a dedicated board of directors led by Chair Nancy Timmers and President Richard Chapman. For more information, visit lookingglasstheatre.org.



Year of Chicago Theatre
Lookingglass is proud to be part of the 2019 Year of Chicago Theatre, presented by the City of Chicago and the League of Chicago Theatres. To truly fall in love with Chicago, you must go to our theatres. This is where the city bares its fearless soul. Home to a community of creators, risk-takers, and big hearts, Chicago theatre is a hotbed for exciting new work and hundreds of world premieres every year. From Broadway musicals to storefront plays and improv, there’s always a seat waiting for you at one of our 200+ theatres. Learn more at chicagoplays.com/year-of-chicago-theatre/.

Take A Pass On Cirque Dreams Holidaze #Review

The set up sounds great in theory, the advance press impressed, and the location at The Chicago Theatre is fabulous. Sadly, Cirque Dreams Holidaze failed to live up to the hype. If you don't already have tickets, we recommend you sit this one out. 

This is a quicky 5 day run so don't worry if you already bought tickets. It's an entertaining enough night out, but all glitz and little substance. There is some talent in the ensemble. The bounce juggler, the balance board duo, the child contortionist, and the quick change artists are stand outs, and the 2nd act is infinitely better than the first. That said.... buyer beware.

First off, don't get suckered in by their name. This is NOT a Cirque du Soleil show and we bet they fill a good portion of their seats by people who mistakenly think they are. Their vibe is more side show, cruise ship or amusement park show style with permagrins and predictable acts. If they dazzled the country (as their press release glowingly states) it was only because of the copious amounts of glitter on the particularly jarring and unflattering costumes like conductor overalls and plaid shirts! They even ventured into dumb blonde jokes at the expense of an audience member. No. Just no people. 

They also suffered some RF interference opening night that caused mics to cut out, and forced the actors to resort to hand held microphones, which is sloppy and unprofessional for a $75 a seat show. Their group choreography was off, and the background "dancers" who basically just jiggled scenery seemed extraneous in just about every scene. The demented looking penguins, the snow man, and the nude body suit dude wrapped in ribbons seemed like costuming meant more to demean the actors than delight audiences. 



The soldier had so much mascara around his eyes he resembled a skull. And don't get me started about the odd thing in the sleigh that looked like a Thanksgiving turkey on stilts with an elf head...

This show is the theatre equivalent of what my kids have dubbed the "grandma faker" DVDs--low production value knock offs that resemble high quality hits just enough to avoid copyright infringement and sucker people into mistaking them for the real thing.

For the money you are far better off seeing Lookingglass Theatre's phenomenal Alice in Wonderland for superior circus arts and a far better story line. Even cheap ticket locals like El Circo Cheapo, Midnight Circus and Actor's Gym have more innovative routines and highly skilled circus performers for under $20 a ticket. We've seen better Cyr Wheel from Chicago's own Shayna Swanson in the late stages of her pregnancy!

We left laughing at the costumes (shimmering gold pants ending in candy cane stripes?) and bewildered at the odd song choices--a sexy aerial routine to a Christmas Hymn?! There were no live musicians and the canned tunes were standard cliche holiday hits mixed with poor rip offs of Harry Potter and Willy Wonka where they snuck in a few familiar bars then riffed on them. The few talented acts in the show deserved a better showcase than this shoddy set, and 2nd rate costuming & choreography provided them.

That said, we have seen more than our fair share of stellar, world class circus arts, including almost all of the real Cirque du Soleil shows, so we do have pretty high standards. We are also big fans of shows that actually have plot lines versus a disjointed run of tricks, like Cirque Dreams. If that's not a deal breaker and you do decide to go, here are the details. 

CIRQUE DREAMS RETURNS TO CHICAGO WITH “CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE” A NEW CIRQUE SHOW, BROADWAY MUSICAL AND FAMILY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR ALL IN ONE

Celebrate the Season with the Greatest Holiday Variety Show on the Planet through December 21, 2014 at the Chicago Theatre

Cirque Dreams triumphantly returns to Chicago with its critically acclaimed holiday stage extravaganza, Cirque Dreams Holidaze, December 17- 21 at the Chicago Theatre (175 North State St.) From the creators of the groundbreaking Broadway hit Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy, Cirque Dreams Holidaze is the perfect holiday gift for families and audiences of all ages. Be amazed by this holiday spectacle with over 300 costumes, 20 acts and 30 artists from every corner of the globe. Many of these acts have been featured on “America’s Got Talent” and similar TV shows in other countries making Cirque Dreams Holidaze the greatest variety show on the planet!

Before opening in New York in 2015, Cirque Dreams Holidaze will dazzle Chicago audiences with a magnificent production that brings together the best elements of a new cirque show, a Broadway musical, a Christmas spectacular and a family holiday show all in one. Watch in disbelief as snowmen, penguins, angels, reindeer, toy soldiers, gingerbread men, ornaments and of course Santa perform elaborate production numbers, soaring acrobatics, gravity-defying feats, astounding illusions and more. The show also celebrates the most wonderful time of the year with singers, original music and seasonal favorites all performed in a winter wonderland of enchantment.

Directed by world-renowned circus impresario and Broadway director, Neil Goldberg. Cirque Dreams Holidaze re-imagines the holiday season with glitz and suspense that one can only dream of in a “Holidaze.” The New York Daily News raves a "delicious confection of charm, sparkle and talent by the sleigh-load and so full of energy it could end our dependence on oil” and The Washington Post proclaims that the production "dazzled...at The Kennedy Center.” Cirque Dreams Holidaze is presented locally by Jam Theatricals. For more information visit jamtheatricals.com

    

Performance Schedule

•   Wed., Dec. 17, 2014 7:30 p.m. 
•   Thu., Dec. 18, 2014 7:30 p.m. 
•   Fri., Dec. 19, 2014 7:30 p.m. 
•   Sat., Dec. 20, 2014 2 p.m. 
•   Sat., Dec. 20, 2014 7:30 p.m. 
•   Sun., Dec. 21, 2014 2 p.m. 

Ticket Information

Tickets are $25-$75 and are available at the Chicago Theatre box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or via phone at 800-745-3000. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more are available by calling GroupTix at 773.327.3778, by visiting www.grouptix.net, by calling Group Theater Tix at 312.423.6612 or by visiting www.grouptheatertix.com.

About Cirque Dreams
Cirque Dreams shows have entertained over 50 million people since 1993 across thousands of cities worldwide in theatres, casinos, theme parks, cruise lines, and on Broadway. The company has evolved into an enterprise of accomplished producers, directors and innovators, hand-picked by founder and Broadway director Neil Goldberg, that have transformed Cirque Dreams into a global entertainment brand and business empire widely respected by critics, industry leaders and fans alike. Cirque Dreams Holidaze will tour 3 companies in 2014 and employ over 150 artists, crew and personnel from over 15 countries and design, rehearse and produce every show component from within the company’s 30,000 sq. ft. Dream Studios production complex in Pompano Beach, FL. Other Cirque Dreams shows include Cirque Dreams & Dinner onboard Norwegian Epic & Breakaway, Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy - Broadway & National Tour, Cirque Dreams Revealed at Mohegan Sun, Cirque Dreams Splashtastic at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Cirque Dreams Illumination and Cirque Dreams Rocks. More information at www.cirqueproductions.com.

About Jam Theatricals
Jam Theatricals (Presenter) is a Chicago-based entertainment company that presents and produces Broadway engagements throughout North America. Under the direction of co-founders Arny Granat and Steve Traxler, Jam Theatricals manages subscription seasons in 30 cities where they strive to bring the best of Broadway to the communities served. Current presentations include some of Broadway’ biggest blockbusters: “Wicked,” “The Book of Mormon,” “Jersey Boys” and many more. Jam Theatricals and its principals are the recipients of seven Tony Awards® for producing “Glengarry Glen Ross” (Best Revival of a Play, 2005), “Monty Python’s Spamalot” (Best Musical, 2005), “The History Boys” (Best Play, 2006), “August: Osage County” (Best Play, 2008), “Hair” (Best Revival of a Musical, 2009), “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” (Best Revival of a Play, 2013) and “All The Way” (Best Play, 2014). Currently on Broadway, Jam Theatricals is producing “You Can’t Take It With You,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. For more information, please visit www.jamtheatricals.com.

Alice Opening At Lookingglass And Closing At Upended #theatre

The Chicago Theatre scene is a microcosm, a world of it's own full of magical coincidences and oddly interwoven themes. This season is no exception. We're way beyond stoked here at ChiIL Mama/ChiIL Live Shows that one of our favorite stories is springing to life in parallel universes in very different ways. 

Alice (of Wonderland fame) is popping up in mirror worlds across town, at the aptly named Lookingglass Nov 12-Feb 15 and all over Andersonville (beginning at the Neo-Futurarium) in an "ambulatory, multi-disciplinary theatrical experience" through Nov. 2. These productions are both highly anticipated remounts and we can't wait to catch it all!

UPENDED PRODUCTIONS ALICE

Photo: Johnny Knight

8 Andersonville venues, 9 artists, 12 chapters, 6 rabbits, 1 wild afternoon. Noelle Krimm gives audiences a seat at the tea party with a re-imagining of her 2004 hit, Alice. The show runs through with tours beginning at 1:00 p.m. and leaving every 15 minutes until 2:00 p.m. All tours start at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland. Space is limited and advanced purchase is very highly recommended. Don't be late!

Recommended by The Trib, The Sun-Times, The Reader, Newcity Stage and more, here’s what some of the critics had to say about 2004’s Alice.

Upended Productions’ Alice – The reviews are in!!

Stage and Cinema Raves!  

“Throughout the whimsical and comic episodes, there are consistent reminders of the subjective nature of reality, a medicine that goes down easily, delivered as it is with a bit of sugar—not pepper—and a wry touch. Attend Alice with an open spirit and light heart, or arrive as a grump and a cynic and leave with a smile and a less-heavy step nonetheless.”                    -Erika Mikkalo                                                    

Recommended by New City!  

“Other standout vignettes include the most interactive portions, like the tea party and croquet game led by the ShowParty! collective. A headier but equally captivating highlight is the eleventh chapter from Sid Branca & Amanda Fink, staged in a pet supply shop, wherein the trial over the tarts becomes a sort of nonsensical polemic attack on meaning and ownership while revealing much truth through almost aggressive wordplay.”                                                              - Raymond Rehayem                                                                               

Recommended by Chicago Theatre Review! 

“But Alice is more than its ambulatory conceit—it also features witty and imaginative writing that gets to the emotional core of the original. Chad the Bird’s meditations on humans and animals seemed both apt and fitting for a story that is filled with many anthropomorphic animals. A final scene towards the end of the play poses a choice between dreams and the reality that inspires them. Alice is ultimately a fun production that is at times unfaithful to the letter of the original, but fully faithful to its spirit. It invites you to stroll through its Wonderland, but urges you to eventually wake up, refreshed, from the dream.
                                                                                            - Ivy Perez

And perhaps most importantly...

10-year-old theater critic Ada Grey of Ada Grey Reviews For You had a blast!

“People who would like this show are people who like bunnies, insanity, and lollipops. I think should definitely see this show. It is so funny, and I had so much fun, and I think you should bring all your best friends to it because they will have a lot of fun. It is basically like you get to go on the experience of going to Wonderland with your friend.”                               -Ada Grey

Alice is an ambulatory, multi-disciplinary theatrical experience. The audience, traveling in groups of 15, follows a white rabbit to various locations throughout the Andersonville neighborhood. Ducking into storerooms and back patios, through bookstores and taverns and galleries, the audience IS Alice and the Andersonville neighborhood becomes a wonderland. Chapters of the book are divided amongst Chicago fringe theater companies, visual and film artists and performed in various locations throughout the neighborhood.

Locations include: The Neo-Futurarium, Simon's Tavern, The Landmark of Andersonville, Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities, Rad Vintage, George's Ice Cream and Sweets, The Swedish American Museum, and Women and Children First Bookstore.

(Wow! Just WOW. So many of our favs are representing here.)  Alice features original work by: The Neo-Futurists, Striding Lion Performance Group, The Whiskey Rebellion Theatre, ShowParty, Sophisticated Cornbread, David Kodeski, Corrbette Pasko, Emmy Bean, Josh Zagoren, Greg Allen, Bilal Dardai, Dina Walters, Logan Kibens, John Randle and other special guests.

Don't sit in the dark and wait to be entertained. Be Alice. Chase the rabbit!

Noelle Krimm states, "I originally created the show for The Neo-Futurists in 2004. It was a great success and I have often thought of remounting it. This fall is the 10th anniversary of the first production and it falls at a time when I think we all need to be able to look around and see a little wonder."

Noelle Krimm (Creator/Rabbit) After being thoroughly educated in theater/musical theater performance at the Florida School of the Arts and Florida State University, Noelle became a Neo-Futurist ensemble member in 1999 where she wrote and performed regularly in their signature show, Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind for 10 years (and still comes back every once in a while). While with The Neo-Futurists, Noelle also created several full-length original shows including The Neo-Futurists' first full-length musical, City Girl!, which had an extended run in Chicago in 2002 and went to the Minnesota Fringe Festival in 2003 where it won Artists' Choice and Critics' Choice for Best Musical. In 2004, Noelle created and curated Alice for The Neo-Futurists which involved more than 50 cast members from numerous experimental theater companies and took place over an entire city block of Andersonville. Using a similar model, she created Fear in 2009 which, touted as "a thinking man's haunted house, " involved dozens of different artists who worked in mediums from graffiti to modern dance. Fear took place throughout the fairly creepy building which houses The Neo-Futurarium. The 2014 production of Alice is the inaugural show for Krimm's new production company.

Upended Productions was founded by Neo-Futurist alumni Noelle Krimm in the summer of 2014. After creating Alice and Fear for The Neo-Futurists, Noelle became really interested in creating theatrical events that collage the work of many different artists into one semi-coherent piece.

Upended Productions' Alice is part of Chicago Artists Month 2014, the 19th annual celebration of Chicago's vibrant art community presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. For more information, visit www.chicagoartistsmonth.org.

Sign up for a specific tour time by purchasing tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com. Tickets are $20 or $15 with a valid student ID. All performances begin at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland. For more information, visit www.upendedproductions.com or call 773-817-3956.

LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE
Lookingglass Alice
Adapted and Directed by David Catlin
From the works of Lewis Carroll
Produced in association with The Actors Gymnasium
November 12, 2014 – February 15, 2015
Press Opening: Saturday, November 22, 2014 at 2pm
Location: Lookingglass Theatre, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson  
Tickets: $35-$45 previews, $45-$75 regular run

Imagination soars and laughter and awe abound when this signature production returns with all its gravity-defying spectacle and breathtaking theatricality.  Lookingglass Alice is a marvel for all ages, transporting audiences down the rabbit hole to a circus-infused playground for an exhilarating wonderland adventure inspired by Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories.

Lookingglass Theatre Company announces casting for the return of signature Lookingglass production Lookingglass Alice, adapted and directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin from the works of Lewis Carroll, produced in association with The Actors Gymnasium. Artistic Associates Lauren Hirte and Lindsey Noel Whiting both return to share the role of Alice. Lookingglass Alice runs November 12, 2014 – February 15, 2015 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. Tickets are currently on sale to the general public and can be purchased through the box office at (312) 337-0665 or www.lookingglasstheatre.org.  

Lookingglass Alice features Ensemble Members Kevin Douglas (Mad Hatter) and Anthony Fleming III (Cheshire Cat) and also includes Molly Brennan (Red Queen), Artistic Associate Lauren Hirte (Alice), Samuel Taylor (White Knight) and Artistic Associate Lindsey Noel Whiting (Alice).

The creative team includes Ensemble Member Daniel Ostling (scenic design), Ensemble Member Mara Blumenfeld (costume design), Artistic Associate Alison Siple (associate costume design), Artistic Associate Christine A Binder (lighting design), Production Affiliate Ray Nardelli (sound design), Sarah Burnham (properties), Artistic Associate Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi (choreographer) and Lee Brasuell (rigger). Jeri Frederickson is the stage manager for Lookingglass Alice.

Imagination soars and laughter and awe abound when this signature production returns with all its gravity-defying spectacle and breathtaking theatricality.  Lookingglass Alice is a marvel for all ages, transporting audiences down the rabbit hole to a circus-infused playground for an exhilarating wonderland adventure inspired by Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories.

FACT SHEET/Lookingglass Alice

Dates:  Previews:  November 12 – 21, 2014

                      

            Regular run:  November 25, 2014 – February 15, 2015

Times:      Tuesdays:                    3:00 p.m. (Dec 23 only)

7:30 p.m. (Nov 25; Dec 23 and 30 only)

Wednesdays:                1:00 p.m. (Dec 24 only)

3:00 p.m. (Nov 26, Dec 31 only)

7:30 p.m.

Thursdays:                   3:00 p.m. (except Nov 13, 20, 27; Dec 25; Jan 1, 8, 22; Feb 5 and 12)

7:30 p.m. (except Nov 25, Dec 25 and Jan 1)

                 Fridays:                        3:00 p.m. (Nov 28, Dec 26 and Jan 2 only)

7:30 p.m.

                          Saturdays:                    3:00 p.m. (except Nov 15 and 22)

7:30 p.m. (except Nov 22)

Sundays:                      3:00 p.m. (except Nov 23)

7:30 p.m. (Dec 7, 14, 21; Jan 11 and 25;

Feb 8 and 15 only)

Accessible

Performances:  Touch tour/Audio described performance, Sunday, February 1, 2015 at 3 p.m.

Open captioned performance, Sunday, January 25, 2015 at 3 p.m. Partial support for open captioning provided by Theatre Development Fund.

Location:          Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson.  

Prices:      Previews are $25 - $40

Regular Run is $40 - $80

                                   

A limited number of student tickets are available the day of the show for $20 with valid student ID.

Groups of 8 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

The Lookingglass box office is located at Water Tower Water Works,

821 N. Michigan Ave.

About Lookingglass Theatre Company
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 27^th 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. The Company has staged 62 world premieres, received 101 Joseph Jefferson awards and nominations, and 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 Joe Brady of Jones Lang LaSalle and President John McGowan of CTC | myCFO (a part of BMO Financial Group). For more information, visit lookingglasstheatre.org.