ACT OUT: TRANSFORMATIVE METAMORPHOSES EXTENDED #review

all photos by Liz Lauren

LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE EXTENDS

THE CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED, HIT PRODUCTION

METAMORPHOSES

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY ENSEMBLE MEMBER MARY ZIMMERMAN

**FOUR WEEKS ADDED**

Tickets available through December 16, 2012

Act fast!  These tickets won't last.  We saw Metamorphoses opening night and this production is beyond beautiful.  This is THE must see show of the season.   A decade after Lookingglass first brought Metamorphoses to life, the theatre world was still reeling.   I missed the original run but spoke to a hand full of people right before I saw the show who said the production literally changed their lives.   "You would remember if you'd seen it."    "After seeing Metamorphoses the first time, I've made it a point to see everything Mary Zimmerman has had a hand in."   There's a reason this show went on to Broadway and garnered Mary Zimmerman a 2002 Tony Award for Best Director.

This is definitely a show for mature audiences.   Be aware there is male frontal nudity, an incest scene and every vice known to Ovid.   That said, everything is done in an artistic, amazing way and teens and even mature tweens would be able to handle this show with parental guidance and discussion.   If in doubt, check it out.   As always, you know your own children best and your comfort level and theirs.   Particularly for older children who are familiar with an enjoy and understand Ovid's stories, Midas, Narcissus and the others will forever vividly spring to life after seeing Metamorphoses live.   

Transformative is the word that comes to mind.   From a watery world reminiscent of something primordial, baptismal and subconscious, Metamorphoses emerges with the all the passions, foibles, and human nature of the Greek myths.   I want to come back again and bring everyone I know.  Highly recommended!

Lookingglass Theatre Company announces a four week extension of Metamorphoses, based on the myths of Ovid from a translation by David Slavitt, written and directed by Ensemble Member Mary Zimmerman. The revival production, coinciding with the 10^th Anniversary of the Broadway production, is now playing through December 16, 2012, at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. 

Tickets, $36-$70, are available 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.

In 1998, Lookingglass debuted Metamorphoses, a play of such grace and power that the memory of it still lingers in the minds of audiences today.  The critically-acclaimed, record-breaking Chicago engagement led to a Broadway production that garnered Mary Zimmerman the 2002 Tony Award for Best Director and catapulted Lookingglass onto the national stage. 

From a simple, rippling pool of water, Ensemble Member Mary Zimmerman conjured the force of Ovid’s ancient myths into gorgeous imagery and breathtaking storytelling.  Metamorphoses’ highly-acclaimed Chicago revival features a number of Lookingglass Ensemble Members and original cast members.

In February 2013, Lookingglass Theatre’s production of Metamorphoses, will transfer to The Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.  Last season, The Arena Stage brought Lookingglass’ hit production of The Arabian Nights to its stage.

 

Metamorphoses features members of the original Lookingglass Chicago cast, Anjali 
Bhimani (Myrrha and Others), Lawrence E. DiStasi (Hermes and Others),Marilyn Dodds Frank (Therapist and Others), Raymond Fox (Midas and Others), Douglas Hara (Phaeton and Others), Chris Kipiniak (Erysichthon and Others),Louise Lamson (Alcyone and Others).  The cast also includes returning cast member Anne Fogarty (Aphrodite and Others) and new cast members Usman Ally(Orpheus and Others) and Lauren Orkus (Eurydice and Others).  On November 20, Patrick Andrews will join the cast, replacing Doug Hara as Phaeton and Others; and Metamorphoses original cast member Erik Lochtefeld will return to Lookingglass to play Ceyx and Others, replacing Usman Ally.  On December 4, Ashleigh Lathrop will join the cast as Myrrha and Others, replacing Anjali Bhimani; and Tempe Thomas will play Aphrodite and Others, replacing Anne Fogarty, who moves to playing Therapist and Others in the place of Marrilyn Dodds Frank.

Mary Zimmerman has worked with Lookingglass Theatre Company for more than twenty years. She adapted and directed The Odyssey, The Secret in the Wings, Arabian Nights, S/M, Metamorphoses, the Lookingglass/About Face collaboration of Eleven Rooms of Proust and Argonautika. Zimmerman is also part of the Goodman Theatre artistic team where she adapted and directed The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci (with several members of the Lookingglass ensemble), Silk, Journey to the West, Mirror of the Invisible World and a re-creation of The Odyssey. She has twice directed for the New York Shakespeare Festival in the Park. Her work has won awards in Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, Berkeley and New York including the 2002 Tony Award for her direction of Metamorphoses on Broadway. In the world of opera, she directed and wrote the libretto Galileo Galilei (Philip Glass, composer) which was produced at the Goodman Theatre and the Barbican Theatre in London. Additionally, she has directed three operas at The Metropolitan Opera in New York City: Lucia Di Lammermoor, La Sonnambula, and Rossini’s Armida.  In 1998, she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship. She lives in Evanston and is a professor of Performance Studies at Northwestern University.

 

Tickets and information—Metamorphoses

Tickets, $36-$70, are available 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.

Target Saturday Matinees offer a limited number of buy one, get one free tickets which are available to all 3:00 p.m. 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.

Groups of 10 or more people save up to 20% on tickets.  Special student group tickets are also available.

Lookingglass Theatre 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 both the nearby John Hancock Center and Olympia Centre Self Park (161 E. Chicago Ave.).To purchase tickets, call the Lookingglass Theatre box office at (312) 337-0665 or visit lookingglasstheatre.org.

Production Sponsors for Metamorphoses include United Airlines, the official and exclusive airline of Lookingglass Theatre Company, and The Pauls Foundation.

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.  2012-2013 marks the company’s 25^th 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 58 world premieres at 23 venues across Chicago, and garnered 52 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 original scripts 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 thousands of community members each year.

Lookingglass Theatre Company continues to expand its artistic, financial and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Artistic Director Andrew White, Executive Director Rachel Kraft, 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 Chairman Richard Ditton of Incredible Technologies and President Joe Brady of Jones Lang LaSalle. For more information, visit lookingglasstheatre.org.

 

FACTS/Metamorphoses

Title:                Metamorphoses

Based on the Myths of Ovid

Written &

directed by:      Ensemble Member Mary Zimmerman

Translation by: David Slavitt

Dates:               Regular run:                 September 19 - November 18, 2012

                        Extension                     through December 16, 2012

Times:              Tuesdays:                    7:30 p.m. (10/23, 11/06, 11/20 and12/4 only)

                         Wednesdays:               7:30 p.m.

                         Thursdays:                  3:00 p.m. (10/18, 11/01, 11/15, 11/29 and 12/13 only);

7:30 p.m.

No performances on Thanksgiving

                         Fridays:                       3:00 p.m. (11/23 only); 7:30 p.m.

                                      Saturdays:                  3:00 p.m.; 7:30 p.m.

      Sundays:                      3:00 p.m.; 7:30 p.m. (no 7:30pm show on 11/25)            

Location:          Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic

Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson.  

Prices:             $36 - $70

                                    

Target Saturday Matinees offer a limited number of buy one, get one free tickets which are available to all 3:00 p.m. 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.

Groups of 10 or more patrons save up to 20%. Call the box office for details.

Box Office:       Buy online at www.lookingglasstheatre.org

or by phone at (312) 337-0665

The Lookingglass box office is located at Water Tower Water Works,

821 N. Michigan Ave.