Lookingglass Theatre Offers Magnificent Gift Pass

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Lookingglass Theatre Company has created the Magnificent Gift Pass, which includes two tickets for any performance in Lookingglass' 2010-2011 season, a three-course dinner for two at by Executive Chef Mark Payne of deca RESTAURANT + BAR in The Ritz-Carlton Chicago (a Four Seasons Hotel), and complimentary valet parking.

The Magnificent Gift Pass is $174 and arrives in an elegant gift enclosure. The Pass can be ordered online, www.lookingglasstheatre.org; by phone, (312) 337-0665; or at the Lookingglass Theatre box office, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. For more information and box office hours, visit www.lookingglasstheatre.org. Order by February 2 to ensure delivery by February 14.

About the World Premiere of the Lookingglass Original Ethan Frome
Ethan Frome is directed and adapted from the novel by Edith Wharton by company member Laura Eason. The production runs February 23 - April 17, 2011 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson.

Fervent desire burns just beneath the surface of a snowy New England farm. Stoic farmer Ethan Frome trudges through a joyless marriage with his ailing wife, Zena, until they hire her young cousin to tend to the house. Her vibrant spirit awakens a passion in Ethan that neither of them dare acknowledge. This classic, by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Age of Innocence, is a deeply poetic story about the staggering beauty of true love and the desolation of the unalterable life choices we make. Award-winning Ensemble Member Laura Eason (Around the World in 80 Days) directs this new, smoldering adaptation.

Ethan Frome features company members Philip R Smith, Andrew White, Louise Lamson and Lisa Tejero, with Erik Lochtefeld.

About the World Premiere of the Lookingglass Original The Last Act of Lilka Kadison

Last Act of Lilka Kadison by Nicola Behrman, David Kersnar and Abbie Phillips, directed by Lookingglass Ensemble Member David Kersnar, is an original story about a spirited woman facing some complicated decisions in the twilight of her life. The production runs June 1-July 24, 2011 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson.

Lilith Kadison (Lilka) is struggling to reconcile with her distant son, fend off ghostly visitations from her irreverent artistic partner and lover from 1939 Poland, and relinquish her independence to her assigned
but unwelcome caregiver, Menelik Khan. A classic hoarder of both objects and memories, Lilka now faces the universal dilemma of what to cling to and what to let go in this powerful piece about art and survival.

The play is dedicated to Johanna Cooper and inspired in part by the audio series, One People, Many Stories, produced for Los Angeles Public Radio. Script development was funded by a generous grant from Steven Spielberg's Righteous Persons Foundation.

About Lookingglass Theatre Company

Inventive. Collaborative. Transformative. Lookingglass Theatre Company was founded in 1988 by eight Northwestern University students.

2010-2011 marks the company's 23nd anniversary 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. Lookingglass has staged 53 world premieres at 23 venues across Chicago, and garnered 42 Joseph Jefferson Awards and Citations.

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 Alice played earlier this fall at The Actors Theatre of Louisville; it is currently playing at Syracuse Stage and will be seen later this season at the ALLIANCE THEATRE in Atlanta. Around The World in 80 Days recently played at Centerstage in Baltimore and at Kansas City Repertory in Kansas City. Lookingglass Originals 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 more than 15,000 community members each year.

Lookingglass Theatre Company continues to expand its artistic, financial and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Artistic Director David Catlin, Executive Director Rachel Kraft, Artistic Director Elect Andrew White, Producing Artistic Director Philip R. Smith, Artistic Director of New Work Heidi Stillman, a 22-member artistic ensemble, 15 artistic associates, 11 production affiliates, an administrative staff and a dedicated board of directors led by Lisa Naparstek Green. For more information, visit lookingglasstheatre.org or call 312-337-0665.