Lookingglass Theatre Presents 'The Brothers Karamazov'

LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE CELEBRATES ITS
50TH WORLD PREMIERE WITH
THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV
ADAPTED AND DIRECTED BY ENSEMBLE MEMBER HEIDI STILLMAN

October 15- December 7, 2008

Lookingglass Theatre Company presents its 50th World Premiere with its production of the Lookingglass Original, The Brothers Karamazov, written and directed by Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman, adapted from the novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky.  The production runs October 15- December 7, 2008 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson.  The press opening is Saturday, October 25, 2008, at 7:30 p.m.

Fyodor Karamazov is one of literature’s most lecherous, greedy and delightfully despicable fathers. When his eldest son discovers he and his father are rivals for the affection of the same wayward woman, a storm of violence, betrayal and passion rains down on the Karamazov family and the world beyond. Ensemble member and Lookingglass Artistic Director of New Work Heidi Stillman, award-winning adaptor and director of Charles Dickens' Hard Times, brings new life to Dostoevsky's epic masterpiece of murder, greed and treachery.

“The plot is a murder mystery revolving around the Karamazov brothers, all of whom are involved in some way in their father’s murder, though their involvement is not necessarily obvious or even literal,” explains director Heidi Stillman. “The ideas swirling around and within the plot have to do with the existence of God, the meaning of life, the broadness and contradictions in human nature, and the interconnectedness of humanity - that we are ‘all responsible for all’ - in other words, kind of all the biggest, deepest life questions.”

The Brothers Karamazov is the 50th World Premiere staged by Lookingglass Theatre Company in its 21- year history. Lookingglass is the largest ensemble-based theater company in the U.S. that consistently creates work from within the company. The company has established itself on a national level for world premiere adaptations of new work, including notable World Premieres such as The Jungle, Hard Times, Metamorphoses, Race, The Shaggs, The Idiot, Argonautika, The Odyssey, The Arabian Nights, Lookingglass Alice, and Hephaestus.

Lookingglass Original productions are developed through gglassworks, an initiative that is unique to Lookingglass.  Gglassworks supports the writing process while providing the resources necessary for artists to explore their material through various forms of performative expression as dictated by the needs of the story. Tailoring the development of each theatrical piece with its own specific protocol is the hallmark of gglassworks, and developing new work by this method can take anywhere from two to five years. The resource-intensive process of nurturing new work, crafting innovative new metaphorical images, and re-imagining disparate techniques for the stage demands a heavy investment in the gglassworks process.

Lookingglass Theatre Company’s 21st season is marked by impressive Lookingglass Ensemble participation. The Brothers Karamazov is a platform for ensemble acting, one of the trademarks of Lookingglass Theatre Company.  The production features Ensemble Members Eva Barr (Mrs. Kolklakov), last seen in The Wooden Breeks; Doug Hara (Alyosha) whose Lookingglass credits include West, The Arabian Nights and Lookingglass Alice; Producing Artistic Director Philip R. Smith (Ivan), most recently seen in Around the World in 80 Days, The Wooden Breeks, and Hillbilly Antigone. Artistic Associate Louise Lamson (Katerina) has appeared with Lookingglass in The Idiot, Metamorphoses, Hard Times, and The Secret in the Wings, among other productions. 

Other cast members include Maury Cooper (Father Zosima), Chaon Cross (Grushenka), Larry Grimm (Smerdyakov), Steve Key (Captain, Rakitin, Police Officer), Joe Sikora (Dmitri) and Craig Spidle (Fyodor).  The children in the cast are Abigail Droeger (Illyusha), Malcolm Harris (Tuzekov), Robert Gerdisch (Kartashov), Ruby Keutzer (Smurov), and Nick Dilenardi (Kolya). 
(Note to press: Full cast bios are available upon request.)

Designers include Ensemble Members Mara Blumenfeld (costume design) and Dan Ostling (scenic design), Artistic Associates Chris Binder (lighting design) and Rick Sims (music composition) and Production Affiliate Ray Nardelli (sound design). Matthew Hawkins is the fight choreographer.  The production stage manager is Production Affiliate Jonathan Templeton.

Heidi Stillman (adaptor and director) is an actress, writer, director and Lookingglass Ensemble Member. She most recently adapted and co-directed directed Lookingglass’ Hephaestus.  Other directing credits with Lookingglass include Hard Times (also toured to Philadelphia), The Wooden Breeks, Hillbilly Antigone, and The Master and Margarita, co-directed with David Catlin. Adaptation credits include Hard Times, The Baron in the Trees, co-adapted with Larry DiStasi, and The Master and Margarita. Stillman was last seen on stage at Lookingglass in The Secret in the Wings. She has performed at the Goodman, Steppenwolf, and Remains Theatre in Chicago, and Second Stage Theatre in New York. Heidi has served as Artistic Director and currently serves as the Artistic Director of New Work at Lookingglass. 

The Brothers Karamazov - Dates, Times and Ticket Information
Tickets are currently on sale. For tickets and information, call (312) 337-0665, or visit lookingglasstheatre.org. 

Previews of The Brothers Karamazov are October 15-24, 2008, Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm. Preview tickets are $30. Press opening is Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 7:30 pm.  Performances continue through December 7, 2008: Wednesdays at 7:30 pm; Thursdays at 7:30 pm; Fridays at 7:30 pm; Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm.  Tickets are $30-$60.  Target Saturday Matinees offer a limited number of buy one, get one free tickets which are available to all 2 pm Saturday matinees. This program is made possible with the generous support of Target, working with Lookingglass to make the arts accessible to all. A limited number of student tickets are available the day of the show for $20 with valid student ID.

Lookingglass Theatre Company is located in the heart of the Magnificent Mile shopping district inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson.  Discounted parking is available for Lookingglass patrons at nearby Olympia Centre Garage (161 E. Chicago Ave.).

Subscriptions
Subscriptions to the Lookingglass 2008-2009 season are still available and start at only $81 for all three plays. For season subscription and ticket information, call the Lookingglass Theatre box office at (312) 337-0665 or visit lookingglasstheatre.org.

About Lookingglass Theatre Company
Inventive.  Collaborative.  Transformative.  Lookingglass Theatre Company was founded in 1988 by eight Northwestern University students.  2007-2008 marked the Company’s 20th anniversary season.  Lookingglass remains a 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 50 world premieres at 23 venues across Chicago, and garnered 39 Joseph Jefferson Awards and Citations.      

Its work has toured to New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Berkeley, Philadelphia, Princeton, Hartford and St. Louis. Work premiered at Lookingglass has 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 15,000 students 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, Producing Artistic Director Philip R. Smith, Artistic Director of New Work Heidi Stillman, a 22-member artistic ensemble, 14 artisic associates, 13 production affiliates and an administrative staff.  Board Chairman Lisa Green leads a dedicated board of directors.  For more information, visit lookingglasstheatre.org.

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