Lookingglass Theatre Company is proud to announce the cast for Lookingglass Alice, adapted and directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin! The “breathtaking (New York Times)” 90-minute dream-dazzle features Molly Hernández and Artistic Associate Lindsey Noel Whiting sharing the role of Alice, Ensemble Member Kareem Bandealy (Red Queen), Adeoye (Cheshire Cat), Michel Rodriguez Cintra (White Rabbit), and Artistic Associate Samuel Taylor (Dodgson/White Knight).
Lookingglass Alice is about birth and becoming, transition and transformation, and holding fast to the fantastic in the face of it all. It’s the anthem of Theatre Without a Net. And after a 7-year hiatus, the beloved story of a 7-year-old girl is back – painted in a fresh coat of magic for a new generation (audience and artist) to discover.
Ensemble Member David Catlin, whose catalog of work (Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Moby Dick, The Little Prince, and others) has sculpted the Lookingglass aesthetic, adapts and directs this fantastical production that will leave you breathless and believing the impossible. After a period of accelerated change, Lookingglass Alice returns to ask through ages, “Who are you?”
Tickets are now on sale for Lookingglass Alice. Performances begin April 30 and run through July 31. Get tickets: www.lookingglasstheatre.org/lookingglass-alice-tickets Age recommendation 5+. Audience members will need to provide proof of current FDA or WHO authorized vaccination upon entry. View Lookingglass Theatre’s current Health and Safety Guidelines.
More information: www.lookingglasstheatre.org/event/lookingglass-alice-2022
About Lookingglass Alice
Lookingglass Alice
- Adapted and Directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin
- From the works of Lewis Carroll
- Produced in association with The Actors Gymnasium April 30- July 31, 2022
Lookingglass Alice returns for a circus-infused trip down the rabbit hole and deep into your heart. The audience journeys with Alice through birth and becoming, transition and transformation, and holding fast to the fantastic in the face of it all. After a 7-year hiatus, the beloved story of a 7-year- old girl is back – painted in a fresh coat of magic for a new generation (audience and artist) to discover. Ensemble Member David Catlin, whose catalog of work (Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Moby Dick, The Little Prince, and others) has sculpted the Lookingglass aesthetic, adapts and directs this 90-minute dream-dazzle that will leave you breathless and believing the impossible. After a period of accelerated change, Lookingglass Alice returns to ask through ages, “Who are you?”
The New York Times calls this adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories “eye-catching entertainment,” the Chicago Tribune lauds it as “ingenious,” and The Chicago Sun-Times hails the production as “pure, unadulterated magic.”
About the Cast Members
Adeoye (he/him/his) (Cheshire Cat) Lookingglass Theatre credits: The Little Prince, Peter Pan, Icarus, Black Diamond — The Years the Locusts Have Eaten. Chicago credits: The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, Without A Song (Goodman Theatre); The Lost Boys of Sudan (Victory Gardens Theatre); The Unmentionables (Steppenwolf Theatre); Regional credits: Lookingglass Alice (Denver Center for the Performing Arts / Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts / Actor’s Theatre of Louisville); A Raisin in the Sun (Guthrie Theatre and Penumbra Theatre / Cleveland Playhouse / Arizona Theatre Company / Kansas City Repertory Theatre). Other regional credits: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Moby Dick [Suzi Bass Nomination, Best Actor in a Featured Role] (Alliance Theatre); The Magnificents, (Adrienne Arsht Center); Optimism! Or Voltaire’s Candide [Helen Hayes Nomination, Best Ensemble] (Spooky Action Theatre); All’s Well that Ends Well, The Atheist’s Tragedy (Academy for Classical Acting); Intimate Apparel (Clarence Brown Theatre). Television Credits: Detroit 187, Leverage, Prison Break. Film Credit: Chicago Overcoat. Adeoye holds an MFA from The Academy for Classical Acting and is the founder of Quicksilver Shakespeare Company.
Kareem Bandealy (he/him/his) (Red Queen; Lookingglass Ensemble Member) has previously appeared at Lookingglass in 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas, Blood Wedding, Moby Dick (2015 & 2017), The Little Prince, Big Lake Big City, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, The Last Act of Lilka Kadison, and Peter Pan (A Play). His play, Act(s) of God, had its world premiere at Lookingglass in early 2019. Other Chicago credits: A Christmas Carol (2014–2021), Rock N’ Roll, Gas For Less, and King Lear at Goodman Theatre; The Wheel at Steppenwolf Theatre Company; Oklahoma! at Paramount Theatre; Mother of the Maid at Northlight Theatre; The Good Book and The Illusion at Court Theatre; Julius Caesar, Hamlet, The Caretaker, and Heartbreak House at Writers Theatre; A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Edward II, and Romeo & Juliet at Chicago Shakespeare Theater; A Disappearing Number and Blood and Gifts at TimeLine Theatre Company; Othello (as Othello) at The Gift Theatre, and many others. Regional credits include The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Three Musketeers, and The Tempest at Illinois Shakespeare Festival; Love’s Labours Lost at Notre Dame Summer Shakespeare; Julius Caesar and Stuff Happens at PICT Classic Theatre, and four seasons with Orlando Shakespeare Theater. He has appeared in several films including The Merry Gentleman directed by Michael Keaton, on TV in Chicago Fire (NBC), and is a recipient of the 2011 3Arts Artist Award. Kareem is also the Artistic Producer New Works at Lookingglass Theatre Company. He lives in Albany Park with his two children Reza and Anouk.
Molly Hernández (she/her/hers) (Alice) Theatrical credits include: American Mariachi (Goodman Theatre, Dallas Theatre Center); Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre); Into the Woods (Writer's Theatre); Into the Breeches (Northlight Theatre); Masterclass (TimeLine Theatre); The Buddy Holly Story (American Blues Theater - Jeff Award); The Most Happy Fella (Theo Ubique - Jeff Nomination); Carousel, Evita, Scapino, Mary Poppins (Timber Lake Playhouse). Television credits: Power Book IV: Force (STARZ); Chicago Med (NBC); Chicago PD (NBC); APB (Fox). Molly is a graduate of the Actors Gymnasium Circus Conservatory and is represented by Gray Talent Group. Proud member of SAG and AEA. For Gram. @mollymhernandez
Michel Rodriguez Cintra (he/him/his) (White Rabbit) is a Cuban born dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Upon graduating from Escuela Nacional de Arte (National School of Arts) in Havana, Cuba, he was chosen to join Danza Contemporanea de Cuba where he became Principal Dancer and toured internationally. After moving to Chicago in 2008 Rodriguez danced with Hedwig Dances, where he performed and choreographed. In 2013, Michel became an ensemble member with Lucky Plush productions, generating multiple roles in various works in their signature devised dance-theater style, and touring nationally and internationally. He has been seen as a guest artist with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Concert Dance Inc, Khecari, and Chicago Moving Company. At The Dance Center of Columbia College, Rodriguez was an Adjunct Faculty member teaching modern dance technique. Other choreographic credits include Solus for Visceral Dance Company, Dancing in the Parks, and Lit & Luz Festival Chicago-Mexico City, LatinX Chicago Arts Festival, The Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival, and the Latino Artist Festival at Northwestern University. In 2010 Rodriguez was a finalist of the A.W.A.R.D. Show Chicago with his work Moi Aussi and was named one of The Men of 2010 in dance by Timeout Chicago. In October 2013, he was the recipient of the prestigious 3Arts Award and was featured in Dance Magazine’s 25 to watch 2014.
Samuel Taylor (he/him/his) (Dodgson/White Knight; Lookingglass Artistic Associate) Chicago credits include work at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Actors Gymnasium, Redmoon, and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. He is co-founder of the Back Room Shakespeare Project, a decade-long project to do Shakespeare more like how Shakespeare did Shakespeare: with serious actors, no director, only one rehearsal, and in a bar. He is author of the books My Life with the Shakespeare Cult and Blueprints for a Shakespeare Cult. He teaches Shakespeare at the University of Chicago. He is also the founder of Long Table Pancakes: heirloom grain pancake mixes that fight climate change. longtablepancakes.com Regional credits include work at American Players Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Syracuse Stage, and the Guthrie Theater. On Camera credits include recurring roles on Boardwalk Empire and Crisis. www.samuelmtaylor.com
Lindsey Noel Whiting (she/her/hers) (Alice; Lookingglass Artistic Associate) is pleased to be returning for her 10th production of Lookingglass Alice, including touring productions to Actors Theatre of Louisville, Syracuse Stage, The Alliance Theatre, The Adrienne Arsht Center, and Denver Center for the Arts. Lindsey has also appeared at Lookingglass in Mr. & Mrs. Pennyworth, Cascabel, The Great Fire, and Icarus. Additional credits include: Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster (Manual Cinema), The Snow Queen (Victory Gardens Theater), The Year I Didn’t Go To School (Chicago Children’s Theatre), Once Upon a Time, The Cabinet, and Sink, Sank…Sunk (Redmoon Theater), Dream, Lost and Found, and All the Time in the World (The Actors Gymnasium), and A Christmas Carol and Dracula (Actors Theatre of Louisville). TV credits include Chicago Fire. Lindsey is also an Associate Artist at The Actors Gymnasium.
About the Playwright
David Catlin (he/him) (Adapter and Director) is a founding Ensemble Member, actor, writer, director, and former Artistic Director of Lookingglass. Recent Lookingglass Writing/Directing Credits include Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Moby Dick. Other Lookingglass writing credits include Icarus, Her Name Was Danger, and The Idiot (Jeff Award for Adaptation). Most recently, he directed Mr. Dickens’ Hat at Northlight Theatre and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s original, for Alliance Theatre in Atlanta.
Additional Lookingglass directing credits include: The Little Prince, Black Diamond (co-director), Metamorphosis, and West. Lookingglass acting credits include Hard Times, The Arabian Nights, Our Town, Argonautika, La Luna Muda, The Odyssey, and The Jungle. David is an Artistic Associate with Actors Gymnasium and serves as Head of Undergraduate Acting at Northwestern University.
Lookingglass Alice Performance Schedule
Previews
- April 30 – May 10
- Tuesdays – Saturdays 7:30 PM
- Sundays 2 PM
Regular Run
- May 12 – July 31
- Tuesdays 7 PM*
- Wednesdays 7 PM
- Thursdays 1:30 PM* & 7 PM
- Fridays 7:30 PM
- Saturdays 2 PM & 7:30 PM
- Sundays 2 PM & 7:30 PM
*Tuesday Evening and Thursday Matinee performances alternate.
Please see the performance calendar on the website for full calendar and details.
Get tickets: www.lookingglasstheatre.org/lookingglass-alice-tickets/
Thank You to Our Season Sponsors
- BMO Harris Bank
- Hearn
- HMS Media
- Shirley Ryan Ability Lab
- Waldorf Astoria Chicago
Thank You to Our Lookingglass Alice Sponsors
- Production Sponsor: Northern Trust
- Production Support: Steve and Lorrayne Weiss
Become A Scene Maker
Every moment of the creative process is crucial to the final production. And every donation from you, our community, is key to building a thriving arts scene. From inside the storycastle, Lookingglass is looking forward. Forward to telling new stories. Forward to including new audiences. Forward to breaking all conventions of institutional Theatre. Starting now. Play a role in shaping a flourishing, arts-driven tomorrow.
Be a Scene Maker and support Lookingglass at www.lookingglasstheatre.org/scene-maker
About Health and Safety
Audience members will need to provide proof of current FDA or WHO authorized vaccination upon entry. Age recommendation for all performances is 5+. In the coming weeks, we will continue to monitor the public health situation and communicate any COVID-19 protocols prior to your visit to the theatre. Please refer to our health and safety page for more information about our current policies and safety measures regarding COVID-19.
About Accessibility
Lookingglass Theatre offers ground floor and balcony seats for all patrons who use a wheelchair or a scooter, or patrons who cannot walk stairs. Assistive listening devices are available at the patron's request. Dates for shows for hearing and visually impaired audiences to be announced.
About Lookingglass Theatre Company
Inventive. Collaborative. Transformative. Lookingglass Theatre Company, recipient of the 2011 Regional Theatre Tony Award, was founded in 1988 by eight Northwestern University students. Now in its 34th Season, Lookingglass is home to a multi-disciplined ensemble of artists who create storycentered theatrical work that is physical, aurally rich and visually metaphoric. The Company, located in Chicago’s landmark Water Tower Water Works, has staged 70 world premieres, received 161 Joseph Jefferson Award Nominations, and produced work all across the United States. In 2016, Lookingglass received the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions and in 2017, was the recipient of the League of Chicago Theatres’ Artistic Achievement Award.
Lookingglass continues to expand its artistic, financial, and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Artistic Director Heidi Stillman, Executive Director Rachel L. Fink, a 29-member artistic ensemble, 22 artistic associates, an administrative staff, and a dedicated board of directors led by Chair Diane Whatton. For more information, visit www.lookingglasstheatre.org. Engage with us on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. #LookingglassTheatre
About The Actors Gymnasium
The Actors Gymnasium is one of the nation’s premier circus and performing arts training centers. Founded in 1995, Actors Gym is dedicated to expanding human and theatrical potential through the circus arts by pushing the limits of physical, emotional, and creative expression. It is committed to minimizing barriers to circus arts and operating from an anti-racist perspective to ensure diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in all its programs. The Gym provides educational programs for students of all ages and levels, produces original and daring circus-theatre, and offers award-winning entertainment for corporate and other special events
Actors Gym is proud to partner with many performing arts organizations throughout Chicagoland and serves as the exclusive provider of circus performing arts training for Lookingglass Theatre. At The Actors Gymnasium, people learn to fly – physically, emotionally, and creatively.
Event Listing for Lookingglass Alice
Lookingglass Alice
Written and Directed by Artistic Associate David Catlin
From the works of Lewis Carroll
Produced in association with The Actors Gymnasium
April 30 - July 31, 2022
Lookingglass Theatre in Water Tower Water Works 821 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Lookingglass Alice returns for a circus-infused trip down the rabbit hole and deep into your heart, in a production the Chicago Sun-Times calls “pure, unadulterated magic.”
Previews April 30 – May 10
- Tuesdays – Saturdays 7:30 PM
- Sundays 2 pm
Regular Run May 12 – July 31
- Tuesdays 7 PM*
- Wednesdays 7 PM
- Thursdays 1:30 PM* & 7 PM
- Fridays 7:30 PM
- Saturdays 2 PM & 7:30 PM
- Sundays 2 PM & 7:30 PM
*Tuesday Evening and Thursday Matinee performances alternate. Please see the performance calendar on the website for full calendar and details.
Get tickets: www.lookingglasstheatre.org/lookingglass-alice-tickets/