Lookingglass Theatre Company

PRESENTATION OF LIVE THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS, EDUCATION, TEACHING, COMMUNITY, & OUTREACH PROGRAMS.

FOR 35 YEARS, LOOKINGGLASS HAS BEEN ON THE MAP AS AN INFLUENTIAL AMERICAN THEATRE. FOUNDED IN 1988 BY NORTHWESTERN THEATRE GRADUATES, AND WITH A ROSTER OF 29 ENSEMBLE MEMBERS AND 21 ARTISTIC ASSOCIATES, LOOKINGGLASS PRODUCTIONS ARE CENTERED ON ENSEMBLE WITH TRAINING IN THEATRE, DANCE, MUSIC, AND CIRCUS ARTS. THROUGH ITS POWERFUL, ORIGINAL THEATRE, THE COMPANY'S GOAL IS TO FIRE THE IMAGINATION WITH LOVE, TO CELEBRATE THE HUMAN CAPACITY TO TASTE AND SMELL, WEEP AND LAUGH, CREATE AND DESTROY, AND WAKE UP WHERE WE FIRST FELL - CHANGED, CHARGED AND EMPOWERED. LOOKINGGLASS' SIGNATURE NEW WORK DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY, GGLASSWORKS, FUELS THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE COMPANY'S BODY OF WORK PRODUCING OVER 70 WORLD PREMIERES AND ON AVERAGE HAS 15-20 NEW WORKS IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. (SEE SCH O) A RECIPIENT OF THE TONY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING REGIONAL THEATRE, LOOKINGGLASS IS A NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER IN THE PRODUCTION OF NEW, ENSEMBLE-DRIVEN THEATRE THAT IS EVOCATIVE AND VISUALLY RICH. LOOKINGGLASS' PRODUCTIONS HAVE TOURED 17 U.S. CITIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH REGIONAL THEATERS INCLUDING ACTORS THEATRE OF LOUISVILLE, ARENA STAGE, BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE, MARK TAPER FORUM, MCCARTER THEATRE CENTER, SEATTLE REPERTORY THEATRE, SOUTH COAST REPERTORY, AND OTHERS. LOOKINGGLASS RECEIVED THE MACARTHUR AWARD FOR CREATIVE AND EFFECTIVE INSTITUTIONS IN 2016, THE 2017 ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FROM THE LEAGUE OF CHICAGO THEATRES, AND 57 JOSEPH JEFFERSON AWARDS. LOOKINGGLASS WAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. LOOKINGGLASS SPENT MUCH OF THE SEASON ADJUSTING TO THE ONGOING CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, FINDING NEW WAYS TO ENCOURAGE AUDIENCES TO RETURN TO THE THEATRE, AS WELL AS POSTPONING A WORLD PREMIERE DUE TO A MID-WINTER COVID SURGE. THE COMPANY REHIRED STAFF POSITIONS, BUT DID NOT SET UP A BRICK AND MORTAR OFFICE SPACE. IN ADDITION TO LIVE PRODUCTIONS IN OUR SPACE, THE COMPANY CONTINUED DEVELOPING THE 50 WARDS" A CIVIC MOSAIC PROJECT AS WELL AS THE SITE SPECIFIC, SUNSET 1919. THE COMPANY CONTINUED ITS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING THRU BOTH ONLINE AND OUTDOOR IN-PERSON EVENTS. THE SEASON BEGAN WITH A REMOUNTING OF "HER HONOR JANE BYRNE" THE SHOW THAT CLOSED ONE PERFORMANCE AFTER OPENING IN MARCH OF 2020. THE SHOW FOCUSED ON THE PERIOD OF HER TIME AS MAYOR WHEN SHE MOVED INTO A HOUSING PROJECT. FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS, RESIDENTS, ACTIVISTS, MEDIA, THE "MACHINE, AND THE MAYOR HERSELF COLLIDE AS THE CITY'S RAW TRUTHS ARE EXPOSED. A DRAMATIC NARRATIVE SHAPED BY RIGOROUS RESEARCH AND INTERVIEWS, HER HONOR JANE BYRNE DELIVERS A CRITICAL, TIMELY STORY WITH THE VIBRANCE AND FIERCE ORIGINALITY THAT DEFINES BROOKS' WORK. AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL BY MATT YEE, LUCY & CHARLIE'S HONEYMOON WAS POSTPONED TO THE FY23 SEASON, BUT WORK CONTINUED ON THE SCRIPT IN THE FORM OF WORKSHOPS AND READINGS. THE BOOK AND MUSIC BY ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE MATTHEW C. YEE AND DIRECTED BY AMANDA DEHNERT. LUCY AND CHARLIE ARE FIRST GENERATION ASIAN AMERICAN RENEGADES, IN LOVE AND ON THE RUN. FEATURING ORIGINAL COUNTRY WESTERN AND FOLK SONGS PERFORMED LIVE BY A MULTITALENTED ENSEMBLE, LUCY AND CHARLIE'S HONEYMOON TRACKS A YOUNG COUPLE AS THEY REV IT DOWN QUINTESSENTIALLY AMERICAN HIGHWAYS AND ACROSS STEREOTYPIC BORDERS, FLEEING EXPECTATION AND TRAWLING UP TROUBLE ALONG THE WAY. IN THE SUMMER LOOKINGGLASS PRESENTED A RE-IMAGINED, BUT PERENNIAL FAVORITE, LOOKINGGLASS ALICE. ONE OF LOOKINGGLASS' SIGNATURE PRODUCTIONS, ADAPTED AND DIRECTED BY ENSEMBLE MEMBER DAVID CATLIN, LOOKINGGLASS ALICE DELIVERS A CIRCUS-INFUSED TRIP DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE THAT CAPTIVATES CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALIKE. A PRODUCTION THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES CALLS "PURE, UNADULTERATED MAGIC," LOOKINGGLASS ALICE RETURNS HOME TO TRANSPORT CHICAGO AUDIENCES ONCE AGAIN.IN THE SPRING, LOOKINGGLASS PRESENTED IT'S FIRST IN PERSON FUNDRAISER, UNGALA, CATALYZING BROAD SUPPORT FOR ITS WORK FROM AN AUDIENCE THAT IS EAGER TO SUPPORT THE THEATRE THRU THE REOPENING PROCESS. IN JULY, LOOKINGGLASS OFFERED A LIVE, IN-PERSON PERFORMANCE ADAPTATION OF BROOKS' SHORT 2020 FILM, SUNSET 1919, AT CHICAGO'S LAKEFRONT. A TOUCHING REMEMBRANCE OF THE RED SUMMER OF 1919, SUNSET 1919 TELLS THE STORY OF EUGENE WILLIAMS, A 17-YEAR-OLD BLACK BOY WHO WAS KILLED AFTER UNINTENTIONALLY SWIMMING IN AN AREA OF LAKE MICHIGAN RESERVED FOR WHITE SWIMMERS. WILLIAMS' DEATH SPARKED A WEEK OF RIOTS THAT LEFT DOZENS DEAD AND HUNDREDS INJURED.

DEPARTMENT OF CURIOSITY ANNUALLY PARTNERS WITH OVER 20 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND TEACHES IN MORE THAN 70 CLASSROOMS IN 20 SCHOOLS, INCLUDING 15 CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE COMPANY OFFERS FOUR KEY PROGRAMS: RESIDENCIES IN SCHOOLS AND OTHER YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED DRAMA PROGRAMS BOTH DURING AND AFTER SCHOOL. A MULTI-SESSION RESIDENCY MAY FOCUS ON ARTS INTEGRATION PROGRAMMING FOR CORE CURRICULUM SUBJECTS OR DRAMA SKILLS SUCH AS PLAYWRITING, ACTING, AND ENSEMBLE-BUILDING. EVERY LOOKINGGLASS RESIDENCY REINFORCES AND BUILDS UPON NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEARNING STANDARDS IN ARTS EDUCATION AND RELATED SUBJECT AREAS, AND THE COMPANY DEPLOYS A RIGOROUS ASSESSMENT PRACTICE TO CONTINUALLY INCREASE THE (SEE SCH O) EFFECTIVENESS OF ITS PROGRAMMING. PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, LOOKINGGLASS' RESIDENCIES TYPICALLY SERVED 3,000-4,000 STUDENTS EACH YEAR. RECENTLY, THE PANDEMIC HAS LIMITED THE SCOPE OF THE COMPANY'S RESIDENCIES: DURING THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR, LOOKINGGLASS ENGAGED 1500 STUDENTS IN 12 CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, GUIDING STUDENTS IN THEIR EXPLORATION OF GREEK MYTH, DIGITAL THEATRE, AND CHICAGO HISTORY. STUDENT MATINEES INCLUDE A FIELD TRIP TO LOOKINGGLASS FOR A PERFORMANCE AND POST-SHOW CONVERSATION WITH ARTISTS, AS WELL AS PRE- AND POST-SHOW CLASSROOM WORKSHOPS. LOOKINGGLASS TYPICALLY WELCOMES 1,000-2,000 STUDENTS TO ITS THEATRE FOR WEEKDAY MATINEES EACH YEAR. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, LOOKINGGLASS DID NOT HOST STUDENT MATINEES DURING THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR, BUT THE COMPANY IS SET TO REINTRODUCE THE PROGRAM ONCE IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. STUDIO CLASSES AND SUMMER CAMPS OFFER YOUTH AGES 3 - 18 THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN LOOKINGGLASS' COLLABORATIVE, PROCESS-BASED APPROACH. IN 2020, 2021 AND 2022, THE PANDEMIC PROHIBITED LOOKINGGLASS' USUAL IN-PERSON SUMMER CAMPS AND STUDIO CLASSES, WHICH OFTEN SERVE HUNDREDS OF YOUNG ARTISTS. LOOKINGGLASS LAUNCHED A SUITE OF BRAND-NEW ONLINE GGLASSCLASSES FOR ADULTS AND FAMILIES IN 2020, OFFERING INSTRUCTION IN WRITING, DESIGN, PUPPETRY, COMEDY, AND OTHER TOPICS TO 190 STUDENTS, INCLUDING 145 CHILDREN UNDER 18 LAST SEASON. THE COMPANY IS SET TO OFFER IN-PERSON SUMMER WORKSHOPS IN 2023. THE YOUNG ENSEMBLE IS AN AUDITION-BASED CORPS OF APPROXIMATELY 20 STUDENTS FROM GRADES 5 - 12 WHO ENGAGE LOOKINGGLASS ARTISTS FOR A FULL YEAR TO LEARN THE COMPANY'S ENSEMBLE-BASED PROCESS FOR CREATING ORIGINAL WORK. UNDER ORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES, THE YOUNG ENSEMBLE'S WORK CULMINATES IN TWO PERFORMANCES EACH SPRING. OVER THE PAST YEAR, LOOKINGGLASS HAS INVITED ITS YOUNG ENSEMBLE MEMBERS TO PROPOSE CREATIVE ADAPTATIONS TO THE PANDEMIC, RESULTING IN A SERIES OF VIRTUAL PLAY READINGS AND WEBISODES FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

LOOKINGGLASS' COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS BUILD UNIQUE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OVER 20 GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS EACH YEAR, HELPING ARTISTS AND CITIZENS EFFECT TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE DEPARTMENT OF CURIOSITY ALSO OFFERS IN-HOUSE ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS THAT DEEPEN PATRONS' EXPERIENCE OF THEATRE. LOOKINGGLASS PRESENTS THREE KEY COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: REFLECT PANELS SUPPLEMENT LOOKINGGLASS' MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS BY INVITING AUDIENCE MEMBERS INTO DISCUSSIONS WITH ACTORS AND LEADING THINKERS ON THE VARIED THEMES OF EACH SHOW. COMMUNITY PARTNER SUBSCRIPTIONS PROVIDE 250 FREE TICKETS TO EVERY SHOW FOR PARTNERING SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS ART ON SEDGWICK, BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF CHICAGO, CHICAGO HELP INITIATIVE, (SEE SCH O) LATINOS PROGRESANDO, STRENGHTENING CHICAGO'S YOUTH, AND MY BLOCK MY HOOD MY CITY. CIVIC PRACTICE PARTNERSHIPS CONNECT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WITH LOOKINGGLASS' TEACHING ARTISTS TO PILOT ARTS-BASED SOLUTIONS TO THE PARTICULAR NEEDS, CHALLENGES, OR QUESTIONS THE ORGANIZATION IS FACING. RECENT EXAMPLES OF SUCH PROGRAMS INCLUDE: PROVIDING ARTS PROGRAMMING TO PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND THEIR CARE PARTNERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ARTS FOR BRAIN HEALTH COALITION; AND LEADING WORKSHOPS WITH UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS TO SHOWCASE THEIR WRITING, WORK, AND PERFORMANCE THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHICAGO HELP INITIATIVE. LOOKINGGLASS' DEPARTMENT OF CURIOSITY FOCUSES ESPECIALLY ON ENGAGING STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEIGHBORHOODS ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH AND WEST SIDES. PARTICIPANTS IN LOOKINGGLASS' DEPARTMENT OF CURIOSITY PROGRAMMING REPRESENT NEARLY 15% OF THE THEATRE'S TOTAL ANNUAL REACH. FOR MANY OF THESE PARTICIPANTS, LOOKINGGLASS' PROGRAMS ARE THE ONLY AVAILABLE SOURCE OF QUALITY THEATRE TRAINING, AN ESSENTIAL EDUCATION THAT CULTIVATES THEIR CURIOSITY, EXPANDS THEIR SELF-EXPRESSION, GROWS THEIR CAPACITY FOR TELLING AND UNDERSTANDING STORIES, AND SUPPORTS THEM TO COMMUNICATE AND COLLABORATE WITH THEIR PEERS AND NEIGHBORS. LOOKINGGLASS' EDUCATION ACTIVITY IN PARTICULAR IS DIRECTED AT STUDENTS IN LESS-RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS. DURING THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 77% OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN LOOKINGGLASS EDUCATION PROGRAMS WERE FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, ACCORDING TO PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DISTRICT DATA. DATA ALSO SHOW THAT STUDENTS IN LOOKINGGLASS' CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROGRAMS WERE APPROXIMATELY 54% AFRICAN AMERICAN, 40% HISPANIC, 4% WHITE, 1% MULTI-RACIAL, AND 1% OTHER.