Lookingglass Theatre

Lookingglass Theatre announced the limited run of Our Future Metropolis: Mr. D.H. Burnham Presents a Plain Talk for the Development of Chicago, adapted and directed by Ensemble Member John Musial, featuring Ensemble Member Raymond Fox. The production will play at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson on Monday, July 13, Monday, July 20 and Tuesday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m.

A special benefit performance honoring Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Lois Weisberg will be held in the theater on Tuesday, July 14, 2009. Event highlights will include a pre-show reception in the Lookingglass Lobby, gala performance of Our Future Metropolis, and post-show party hosted by EVE at 840 N Wabash.

Lookingglass, the only theater company participating in the City-wide Burnham Plan Centennial, is proud to pay tribute to this important part of Chicago's history. The limited run production celebrates the anniversary of Burnham's groundbreaking plan for the urban design of the City of Chicago .

Adapted and directed by Ensemble Member John Musial, Our Future Metropolis draws from the archives of the Burnham Library at the Art Institute of Chicago to recreate the initial presentation of Burnham's Plan for The City of Chicago given 100 years ago. Lookingglass Ensemble Member Raymond Fox plays Daniel Burnham as he struggles to win over a skeptical audience using nothing more than early "magic lantern" slides and his own conviction in Chicago 's greatness.

"It is exciting to be looking backward to Burnham's original vision for the development of the city, at a time when Chicago looks forward to a new century's growth with the 2020 plan and as we contemplate an Olympic bid," says John Musial. "The themes Burnham set forth 100 years ago have tangible continuity to our present- so many issues he wrestled with remain with us today. The scale of his approach remains a gauntlet thrown to the future. Burnham challenges us to dream big."

Lookingglass Ensemble Member John Musial has created several theatrical productions celebrating Chicago 's history and culture, including the adaptation and direction of Nelson Algren: For Keeps and A Single Day and The Great Fire. He most recently designed the set for Lookingglass' acclaimed production of Our Town.

Ensemble Member Raymond Fox has worked with Lookingglass since 1989. In addition to numerous roles with Lookingglass, he has appeared at the Goodman, Remy Bumppo, Court, and off-Broadway in Mary Zimmerman's Metamorphoses. He was most recently seen in Lookingglass' spring production of Our Town.

Tickets are $25 and are available by calling the Lookingglass Theatre box office at 312-337-0665 or by visiting lookingglasstheatre.org.