Chicago’s Tony Award-winning Lookingglass Theatre Company held a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday, Jan. 27 at the Water Tower Water Works, 163 E Pearson St. at Michigan Ave. with Governor JB Pritzker and Lookkingglass leadership including Founding Ensemble Member, Board Member, Actor and Director David Schwimmer.
Other guests in attendance included First Lady MK Pritzker and Deputy Mayor Kenya Merritt. The event celebrated the return of this ensemble-based Company founded in 1988–reopening on Jan. 30 with a redesigned lobby, bar and café made possible by support from the State of Illinois, and a new show, Circus Quixote (January 30 – March 30), in The Joan and Paul mainstage theatre named in honor of Lookingglass’ longtime supporters Joan and Paul Rubschlager.
“Chicago’s downtown is a thriving example of community, global business, tourism and the arts—and with the reopening of Lookingglass Theatre, the Mag Mile has yet another shining gem to attract visitors and Chicagoans to come downtown and see some world-class theater,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Art is especially necessary in challenging times and I know Lookingglass will be an important part of that unifying work in this new and improved space.”
“Lookingglass’s home on Michigan Avenue is primed and ready to become a dynamic creative hub, community anchor and ‘third place’ for Chicagoans and visitors alike,” said Artistic Director Kasey Foster. “This historic landmark building survived a great fire and now, we too emerge from the ashes to redefine the limits of theatrical experience–leaving audiences changed, charged and empowered.”
In June 2023, owing to the challenges faced by many arts organizations in the wake of the pandemic, Lookingglass paused operations to reorganize and create a new business model. The Company announced ensemble member and multi-hyphenate artist Kasey Foster as artistic director in 2024 and also welcomed four new members into its ensemble: Atra Asdou, Wendy Mateo, Ericka Ratcliff and Matthew C. Yee. Later that year, Jamey Lundblad (formerly with the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs department) joined Lookingglass as managing director, Chicago attorney Richard Chapman was named chair of the Board of Directors and two new members were added to the Board: actor and director David Schwimmer and Chicago attorney James (Jimmy) Oh.
In 2019, Lookingglass received a $2 million capital funding grant from the State of Illinois to re-envision and renovate the outer lobby space in the Water Tower Water Works building. (Funds were distributed in 2023 by the Illinois Arts Council Agency.) Additionally, the Company received $450,000 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, as part of its Tourism Attraction Grant Program, to enhance Lookingglass’ presence on the Mag Mile. Phase 2 construction funding to date includes $250,000 from the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation.
The new lobby includes a bar and café, with alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, fare from local vendors and a variety of Lookingglass merchandise designed by ensemble member Matthew C. Yee and artistic associate Sully Ratke and crafted by Ratke.
The expanded lobby, which also serves as Lookingglass Theatre’ box office, features new universal restrooms, an accessible ramp to the inner lobby, a video wall designed by Liviu Pasare and art elements by Clare Brew, Brandin Hurley, Sully Ratke and Matthew C. Yee.
Lookingglass will use this space to build community, with cultural programming that reflects its ongoing initiatives. Upcoming education and community events are listed on the company’s website.
ABOUT THE 2024/2025 SEASON
Circus Quixote
January 30 – March 30
Based on Miguel de Cervantes’ “Don Quijote of La Mancha”
Adapted and Directed by Kerry and David Catlin
Circus by Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi
Produced in Association with Actors Gymnasium Circus School & Theatre Company
Featuring Michel Rodríguez Cintra, Micah Figueroa, Julian Hester, Laura Murillo Hart, Andrea San Miguel, Ayana Strutz and Eduardo Martinez
The Joan and Paul Theatre at Water Tower Water Works, 163 E Pearson St. at Michigan Ave.
Previews: Thursday, Jan. 30 – Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Feb. 5 – Friday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Performance schedule for Feb. 9 – March 30: Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m., Thursdays at 1:30 and 7 p.m., Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 1:30 and 7 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m.
Tickets are $30 – $80
LookingglassTheatre.org
For more than 400 years, Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quijote of La Mancha has inspired readers and cultures across the globe. Lookingglass’ production, first incubated at The Actors Gymnasium, brings this literary classic to life anew in 2025. Somewhere in La Mancha there lived a man who read so many books about chivalry that his brains dried up. In this world premiere, Lookingglass transports audiences tiltingly and acrobatically into the dreamy madness of Don Quixote and his impossible folly-filled quest to bring good-deed doing back into the world … whether the world wants it or not.
Iraq, But Funny
May 29 – July 20
Written by Atra Asdou
Directed Dalia Ashurina
The Joan and Paul Theatre at Water Tower Water Works, 163 E. Pearson St. at Michigan Ave.
Tickets: $30 – $80
LookingglassTheatre.org
A raucous satire about five generations of Assyrian women reclaiming their stories, as narrated by a British guy. Making its world premiere at Lookingglass Theatre, Ensemble Member Atra Asdou’s original dark comedy jauntily marches through the Ottoman Empire to modern-day U.S.A. exploring history, family and dysfunction.
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