Chicago's beloved Lookingglass Theatre celebrates its resurgence with a newly renovated space and the premiere of 'Circus Quixote'.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago's renowned Lookingglass Theatre celebrated its revitalized design and future trajectory on Monday. The Tony Award-winning theatre company hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newly refurbished lobby, bar, and café at the Water Tower Waterworks, situated at 163 E. Pearson St.
Lookingglass co-founder David Schwimmer, whose association with the theatre predates his iconic role as Ross Geller on 'Friends' by six years, was present at the venue to unveil this announcement. Schwimmer unveiled the revamped lobby within the nearly 155-year-old Chicago Avenue Pumping Station complex as the theatre prepares for a triumphant return to the stage following the COVID-19 pandemic and a prolonged hiatus. 'Lookingglass was compelled to close its doors, suspending operations for 19 months, and unfortunately, had to let the majority of our staff go. It was devastating,' Schwimmer expressed. 'But this is Chicago â the City of Big Shoulders â and its inherent strength, resilience, and work ethic serve as an inspiration to us. We resolved to regroup, rebuild, and today, reopen.'Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also graced the event with his presence for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. 'The most effective path out of division and chaos may lie in bringing people together to share experiences and discover common bonds through the imaginative narratives of gifted playwrights and the artistry of actors, and the numerous others who breathe life into Lookingglass,' Pritzker remarked.The Lookingglass is also embarking on a rebranding initiative, renaming its theatre space as the Joan & Paul Theatre in honor of longtime supporters Joan and Paul Rubschlager â whose names also adorn the Rush University Medical Center building that houses the Rush MD Anderson Cancer Center. The inaugural production in the revitalized space will be 'Circus Quixote,' inspired by the early-17th-century Miguel de Cervantes novel 'Don Quixote.' As described by the theatre, the production 'tiltingly, acrobatically delves into the dreamy madness of Don Quixote and his improbable, folly-filled quest to restore acts of kindness to the world â whether the world desires it or not!''Circus Quixote' premieres on Thursday. The Lookingglass Theatre was established in 1988 by Schwimmer and seven other Northwestern University students. Its space within the historic pumping station first opened its doors to the public in 2003. The Chicago Avenue Pumping Station, located across Michigan Avenue from the iconic Chicago Water Tower, was completed in 1869, according to historical records, and it miraculously survived the devastating Great Chicago Fire of 1871 alongside the Water Tower itself. Prior to the Lookingglass' residency, the Chicago Avenue Pumping Station served as the home of the 'Here's Chicago!' exhibition â a captivating display featuring a 13-minute film showcasing the city's history, which ran several times throughout the day in the space from 1983 until 1996. Part of the pumping station continues to fulfill its original purpose as a water utility, diligently pumping 250,000 gallons of water to the city's North Side each day
LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE THEATRE REOPENING CIRCUS QUIXOTE CHICAGO THEATRE DAVID SCHWIMMER COVID-19 PANDEMIC
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