Photo Flash: THE NORTH CHINA LOVER Opens World Premiere Tonight at Lookingglass

Kicking off its 26th Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the World Premiere stage adaptation of Marguerite Duras' The North China Lover, translated by Leigh Hafrey and adapted and directed by Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman. The North China Lover runs now through November 10, 2013, with opening set for tonight, October 5, at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. You never forget your first lover. The affair plays like a moving picture over and over in your mind: passionate, consuming, secret, taboo. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Fade in: the seamy French Quarter of Southern Indochina in the 1930s where the impoverished schoolgirl who will someday be French novelist Marguerite Duras is about to meet and captivate a wealthy 27-year-old Chinese aristocrat. With the older Duras as our guide, The North China Lover transports us on a provocative and haunting journey of awakening and sacrifice, revealing the delicate and indelible effect of life on art.

The cast includes: Ensemble member Tracy Walsh (Woman in Red); Walter Owen Briggs(Pierre), Amy J. Carle (Mother), Tim Chiou (The Lover), Deanna Dunagan (M), Rae Gray(The Child), JJ Phillips (Paolo), Allison Torem (Helene) and Betti Xiang (Musician).

The creative team for The North China Lover includes: Ensemble member Daniel Ostling(Scenic/Lighting), Ana Kuzmanic (Costumes), Artistic Associate Rick Sims (Sound), Maria DeFabo (Properties), Sheila Schmidt (Stage Manager) and Amanda Weener (Assistant Stage Manager). Live music is performed by Betti Xiang and Ensemble member Tracy Walsh is Choreographer.