At long last, our 2024/2025 Season has arrived. Eeee!!
We are beyond thrilled to welcome you back into the world of Lookingglass, both indoors and out. This year we travel along the great lake, across this beautiful city, and then back home to our newly renovated event space and beloved Joan & Paul Theatre at the historic Water Tower Water Works. Here we bring you two world premieres.
We are proud to offer a Season full of joy, laughter, deep thoughts, ritual, reflection, and above all, Transformation. We could not have done this without you.
And now, may we please present (drumroll)…
– Kasey Foster, Artistic Director
CIRCUS QUIXOTE
January 30 – March 30, 2025
Somewhere in La Mancha there lived a man who read so many books that his brains dried up…Saddle up with Lookingglass as we go tiltingly, 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!
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Young Ensemble Presents
THE PORTRAIT
OF MADAME X
March 2 – March 4, 2025
Written by Phil Smith based on an adaptation of Alexander Pushkin’s Queen of Spades by Tommy Rapley and Dennis Watkins
Codirected by Lookingglass Ensemble Members Louise Lamson and Phil Smith
Who is really holding the cards at Madame X’s high stakes Gaming Parlor? Find out as the one and only Lookingglass Young Ensemble unspools their feverish take of Alexander Pushkin’s unrivaled tale of gambling and the supernatural, “The Queen of Spades.”
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IRAQ, BUT FUNNY
May 29 – July 20, 2025
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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MEMBERSCRIPTIONS
Memberscriptions are just like they sound, a theatre membership and a subscription all mashed up into one new Lookingglass creation. Memberscribers get tickets to each show, PLUS many other ticketing treats, bar benefits, and plus perks. Memberscriptions are the best way to join the journey. Memberscriptions are sold out for the 24-25 Season, but stay tuned for when 25-26 Memberscriptions go on sale.
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Season Artwork portraits by Sully Ratke, graphics by Matthew C. Yee
New! This season, go behind the scenes of every Lookingglass show with workshops and classes designed to spark your curiosity. During Circus Quixote, join Lookingglass and the Actors Gymnasium before the show for a juggling lesson that will lift your spirits and get you ready to show off new party tricks. Let's play! Best for …
Theatre loving, Chicago area teens are invited for pre-show pizza and Circus Quixote artist chat before heading into the theatre for the performance. Tickets are LIMITED.
A Reflect Panel Discussion Series The REFLECT Panel Discussion Series draws on a theme or social issue inherent in the current production and gives space to speak on them and with each other. Lookingglass Ensemble Member and Teatro Vista Producing Artistic Director Wendy Mateo and Teatro Vista Managing Director Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel examine Cervantes’ text as a tool …
Latine culture is the world. And the world is here in our Chicago. The fiesta begins at 5:30 p.m. with a pre-show mixer featuring full bar service and a vast curation of Latine Music spun by DJ Charly Garcia of Sonorama Discos and Lumpen Radio. The evening continues with the main event – the night’s performance …
A Reflect Panel Discussion Series in partnership with Instituto Cervantes The REFLECT Panel Discussion Series draws on a theme or social issue inherent in our current production and gives us a space to speak on them and with each other. Manuel Valenzuela (Administrador del Instituto Cervantes) joins public media personality Narimon Safavi to engage in a fascinating …
Have you just begun your quest to create professional theatre? Want to meet other emerging artists but aren't sure where to start? Join us before Circus Quixote on March 25 for a meet and greet! Circus Quixote tickets are always $25 for students, but for this special event students also get half off all beverages. Your artistic …
Join Lookingglass before the show for drag performances from Luv Ami-Stoole, Fantasy Banks, and Spirit Apothrosis. Remember to bring dollar bills to tip the performers! Meet members of the Center on Halsted staff in the lobby and learn about their healthcare and advocacy work. Throughout June, sales from a special drink at the bar will support …
Get to know Chicago in this fun-filled evening of variety entertainment and conversation with the inaugural offering of Lookingglass Presents. This month the evening includes Brian Babylon (comedian and fashion designer), Ensemble Member Atra Asdou (writer and performer) and Third Coast Chorus, a 40-person choir!
Lookingg to find your artistic home? Want to meet other early career artists? Join Actors Gymnasium and Lookingglass at 6 p.m. for Emerging Artist Night. Early career and new-to-Chicago artists may participate in a free pre-show workshop, see Iraq, But Funny at the industry rate and stick around after the show for a meet & …
Before the show, explore the art in our lobby gallery and meet the women and femme artists representing and reshaping cultural traditions from across Southwest Asia and North Africa. After the show, join Iraq, But Funny playwright and performer Atra Asdou for a panel discussion celebrating women in the arts--past, present, and future. Featuring
New! This season, go behind the scenes of every Lookingglass show with workshops and classes designed to spark your curiosity. During IRAQ, BUT FUNNY, join Lookingglass artist John Gregorio before the show for a gentle introduction to improv that will leave a laughing impression. Bringing a group? Request a custom workshop. Let’s play!
Southwest Asia and North Africa: a crossroads for the world. The SWANA community in CHI itself is vast and diverse. Cause enough to congregate around our production of IRAQ, BUT FUNNY and celebrate Chicago’s SWANA community. Join us on July 10th for a pre-show mixer at 6pm featuring live music and scrumptious bites. Stick around after the …
Lookingglass Theatre and Actors Gymnasium team up once to again, as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks, to bring you an original, circus-infused story that showcases the transformative magic of a simple act of kindness. Conveyed without spoken language, and through dance, clown, and circus, Ice Cream Circus! is designed …
For the first time in Lookingglass’ history, audiences are invited to go behind the scenes and experience its new play development program, gglassworks, with the inaugural GglassFest. Attendees will have the opportunity to see how the Lookingglass Ensemble proposes new work to one another, to preview stories coming to the Lookingglass stage, and to participate …
MEMBERSHIPS
Membership & Ticket information coming soon!
