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12:01 - The designer presentations continue. The assistant costume designer passes around sketches of the costumes. Lots of white dresses for the first two acts, darker colors for the third.

Schwimmer: What’s Emily’s costume going to look like?”

“The skirt’ll be made of ombre… do you know what that is?”

All of us stare blankly.

Schwimmer: No.

The silence stretches uncomfortably.

Schwimmer: Unless you mean a Latino male.

The whole room kind of loses it.

Anna: THAT’S why this play is so expensive!

11:07 - Sara Gmitter, the stage manager, calls the meeting to order. We (the cast, the designers, the Lookingglass admin staff, and we overeager interns) are all crammed into a rehearsal room—the cast are arranged around a square of tables in the center of the room, and everyone else is sitting in chairs along the wall. Tight quarters. My knees are pressed awkwardly against the back of David Kersnar’s chair. Brilliant!

Someone’s provided bagels. And cookies. I try not to get any cream cheese on either Kersnar or Laura Eason, who has just sat down next to us.

This Winter's show, Our Town, will be co directed by Jessica Thebus and Anna Shapiro. Ensemble Member Tracy Walsh was able to catch up with Anna, asking her about the challenges of co-direction, the appeal of Lookingglass as a company, and trapezes.

Tracy: What inspired you to take up Our Town at this point in your life, and this time in history?

During our Lookingglass staff retreat, David Catlin led the staff in both boisterous theatre games, and sobering reflection. As the Lookingglass Marketing Intern, I was invited to participate.

The Box Office crowd presented their piece next.

At David Catlin’s suggestion, Lizzie Perkins thumped on the moss-colored wallpaper, and Erik “ting”-ed out a beat on the radiator, high and quick. Lizz Edele and Jonathan Green rocked back and forth to the beat, hands raised in claw shapes, teeth bared, stifling giggles.

There's an old saying in show business, that you should never work with children or animals, because you'll be upstaged every time. Well, in The Brothers Karamazov we work with both, and it works just fine, thank you very much. We thought we'd share a little more of the spotlight with Ella the Dog in the profile below. Enjoy!

Ella the Dog as Zhuchka with Craig Spidle as Fyodor Karmazov

During our Lookingglass staff retreat, David Catlin led the staff in both boisterous theatre games, and sobering reflection. As the Lookingglass Marketing Intern, I was invited to participate.

We assembled in one of the Rehearsal rooms—a large, empty space with thick, forest green carpeting and carved wooden doors. David Catlin hurried in, face bright with excitement.

The Arabian Nights opened this week in California at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. The reviews are in, and the show is a hit! Our friends at Berkeley Rep sent us clippings from some of the best reviews. We're getting excited about the show!

The Arabian Nights begins on May 20, 2009 in Chicago at Lookingglass in the Water Tower Water Works. Tickets will go on sale to subscribers on February 25, 2009 and on sale to the public March 13, 2009.

Director, adapter and Lookingglass Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman discusses with Lookingglass marketing intern
Jessica Wright why she became interested in The Brothers Karamazov, the production’s unique design choices,
and which Karamazov brother she is most like.

Jessica Wright- As you edited the script, were there things that, throughout the entire two-year process, you’re like, “This absolutely has to be in there,” and some parts you eventually had to cut?

Director, adapter and Lookingglass Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman discusses with Lookingglass marketing intern
Jessica Wright why she became interested in The Brothers Karamazov, the production’s unique design choices,
and which Karamazov brother she is most like.

Director, adapter and Lookingglass Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman discusses with Lookingglass’ marketing intern Jessica Wright why she became interested in The Brothers Karamazov, the production’s unique design choices, and which Karamazov brother she is most like.

Jessica Wright- Why The Brothers Karamazov? Why now?