Lookingglass Theatre’s Hit Musical ‘Eastland’ Announces 3 Week Extension
Lookingglass Theatre announces 3 weeks of additional performances forEastland: A New Musical. The world premiere, smash-hit Lookingglasss Original musical written by Artistic Director Andrew White, with music by Andre Pluess and Ben Sussman and direction by Amanda Dehnert, has been extended through August 19, 2012, atLookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago’s historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. Tickets for the extension are now on sale and available online, www.lookingglasstheatre.org; by phone, (312) 337-0665; or at the Lookingglass Theatre box office. For more information and box office hours, visitwww.lookingglasstheatre.org.
July 24,1915: the S.S. Eastland sits on the Chicago River between Clark St. and LaSalle, overflowing with passengers. Slowly the boat leans to port — and keeps leaning, until finally it tips and comes to rest on its side. By day’s end, hundreds will perish, whole families will vanish, and unexpected heroes will emerge.
Unforgettable melodies and haunting harmonies inspired by early American folk music weave a tapestry of working class stories and colorful characters, giving voice to the victims and heroes of that fateful day.
Artistic Director Andrew White (Of One Blood, 1984) resurrects the ghosts of America’s forgotten tragedy in this Lookingglass Original musical, with music by Ben Sussman and Artistic Associate Andre Pluess, the team behind the score of Lookingglass Alice, 1984, Metamorphoses, Hard Times, and The Secret in the Wings, as well as the acclaimedWinesburg, Ohio.
Eastland is based in part on events recounted in Jay Bonansinga’s The Sinking of the Eastland: America’s Forgotten Tragedy.
Eastland: A New Musical features Ensemble Members Larry DiStasi (Otto, Olaf and others),
Christine Mary Dunford (Marianne and others), and Doug Hara (Reggie), as well as
Jeanne T. Arrigo (Sister, musician and others), Derek Hasenstab (Husband, Houdini and others),
Erik Hellman (Grocer, musician and others), Malcolm Ruhl (Musician and others/Music Director),
Michael Smith (Pedersen, musician and others), Scott Stangland (Ernie, musician and others),
Tiffany Topol (Solveig and others), Claire Wellin (Bobbie) and Monica West (Ilse).
Designers include Ensemble Members Dan Ostling (scenic), Mara Blumenfeld(costume), as well as Company Members Christine A. Binder (lighting), Ray Nardelli andJosh Horvath (sound); with Maria DeFabo (properties). Malcolm Ruhl is the music director.
Eastland: A New Musical —Dates, Times and Ticket Information
Title: Eastland: A New Musical
Written by: Artistic Director Andrew White
Music by: Ben Sussman and Artistic Associate Andre Pluess
Directed by: Amanda Dehnert
Dates: Extended through Sunday, August 19, 2012
Times: Wednesdays:
Thursdays: 3:00 p.m.; 7:30 p.m.
Fridays: 7:30 p.m.
Sundays: 3:00 p.m.; 7:30 p.m.
Location: Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago’s historic
Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson.
Prices: Regular run tickets are $34 – $68
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.
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.
The Chicago Community Trust, National Endowment for the Arts: Art Works andUnited Airlines are Production Supporters of Eastland: A New Musical. United Airlines is the Official and Exclusive Airline of Lookingglass Theatre.
Eastland is the recipient of the Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award.
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. 2011-2012 marks the company’s 24th 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 57 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.