Lookingglass Theatre Company is proud to announce the cast for Her Honor Jane Byrne! This award-winning play, written and directed by Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks, features Emily Anderson (Reporter), Sydney Charles (Marion Stamps), Robert Cornelius (Black Che), Ensemble Member Christine Mary Dunford (Jane Byrne), Ensemble Member Raymond Fox (Alderman Roti), Nicole Michelle Haskins (Tiger), Renée Lockett (Mabel Foley), Frank Nall (Jay McMullen), Josh Odor (Superintendent Brzczeck), and Willie "Prince Roc" Round (Kid).
Tickets are now on sale for Her Honor Jane Byrne, the national winner of the 2021 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award. Don’t miss the play the Chicago Tribune is calling “a deeply moving portrait of systemic failure and human resilience.”
Lookingglass Ensemble Member and Mellon Playwright in Residence J. Nicole Brooks’ smoldering new play premiered onstage just five days before the theatre went dark due to COVID-19, and now this timely and brilliant play will have its deserved run onstage at Lookingglass Theatre in Water Tower Water Works from November 11- December 19, 2021.
Get tickets: www.lookingglasstheatre.org/event/her-honor-jane-byrne-2021
About Her Honor Jane Byrne
Chicago is “The City That Works”—but does it work for everybody? It’s 1981, the city’s simmering pot of neglected problems boils over, and Chicago’s first woman mayor is moving into Cabrini-Green. Is this just a P.R. stunt, or will it bring the city together? For the next three weeks, residents, activists, media, the “Machine,” and the Mayor herself will collide as the city’s raw truths are exposed. Who will come out on top?
“A screamingly necessary show, executed masterfully” -Rescripted
“A well-argued, passionately delivered piece of Chicago history.” -Newcity
“A stunning world premiere.” - Chicago Reader
About the Playwright
J. NICOLE BROOKS (she/they) (Lookingglass Ensemble Member and Mellon Foundation Playwright in Residence) is an actor, author, director, educator, gremlin, star gazer and social justice warrior based in Chicago. Brooks’ writing practice includes playwriting, screenwriting, essays, and poetry. Other artistic affiliations include artistic membership at Collaboration and Sideshow Theatre Company. As a playwright Brooks has created original works including Black Diamond: The Years the Locusts Have Eaten, Fedra Queen of Haiti, HeLa, and Her Honor Jane Byrne winner of the 2021 Harold and Mimi Steinberg / American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award recognizing the best new script that premiered professionally outside New York City during 2020. Upcoming writing projects and commissions include an adaptation of Eve L. Ewing’s book of poetry 1919 for Steppenwolf Theatre, Rainbow Beach for Chicago Children’s Choir, a science play for Manhattan Theatre Club and various audio and screenplays.
Brooks has also served as director and associate director mounting successful theatre productions of Mr. Rickey Calls A Meeting, Thaddeus & Slocum A Vaudeville Adventure, Her Honor Jane Byrne, Sex with Strangers and Black Diamond the Years the Locusts Have Eaten. Honors include TCG Fox Foundation, 3Arts, Mellon Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts Kilroy List. Brooks is also an award-winning actor appearing in theatrical productions at Goodman Theatre, Lookingglass, Court Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Theatre at Boston Court. Recent television credits include guest recurring roles on the cult fav South Side (Comedy Central, HBO Max), The Chi (Showtime), Chicago Fire (NBC, Hulu) and the critically acclaimed chapter four of Fargo (FX Network) starring opposite Chris Rock. Brooks also appears in the recently released horror film CANDYMAN (Say My Name) directed by Nia DaCosta produced by Jordan Peele. @doctaslick on the socials. Brooks play Her Honor Jane Byrne is the first play back at Lookingglass this November.
About the Cast
EMILY ANDERSON (she/her/hers) (Reporter) is delighted to be making her Lookingglass debut. She is a comedian whose credits include improvising with Whirled News Tonight (iO Theater), The Second City aboard Norwegian Cruise Line, Doing Our Moms (The Annoyance Theatre, iO Theater) which she created and hosted, and solo show Mean to Me: An OCD Odyssey (iO Theater). IG: @emilylyonsanderson
SYDNEY CHARLES (she/her/hers) (Marion Stamps) is very grateful to be making her Lookingglass debut with this powerful production. As an actor, she was most recently seen at Goodman Theatre in the acclaimed live-streamed show I Hate it Here. Other Chicago credits include Duchess! Duchess! Duchess! and Wally World (Steppenwolf Theatre); Theatre for One: Here We Are and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (Court Theatre); Lottery Day and Father Comes Home From the Wars Parts 1, 2 & 3 (Goodman Theatre); The Color Purple (Drury Lane); Nina Simone: Four Women (Northlight Theatre); Flyin’ West (American Blues Theater); The Wiz (Kokandy Productions); and Dessa Rose (Bailiwick Chicago). Regional credits include I Hate it Here (Studio Theatre). Television credits include South Side, The Chi, Shameless, The T and The Haven. Her other work includes assistant director and dramaturg for Bug (Steppenwolf Theatre), associate director for His Shadow (16th Street Theater); and associate director for The Shipment (Red Tape Theatre). She is the recipient of 3Arts “Make a Wave” award, a Black Theater Alliance Award, Chicago Reader’s “Best Stage Performer” runner-up, a four-time Jeff Award nominee and has been featured twice as part of NewCity’s “50 Players of the Year.” Proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA. Represented by Stewart Talent.
ROBERT CORNELIUS (he/him/his) (Black Che) is thrilled to return to Lookingglass Theatre Company for this remount of Her Honor Jane Byrne. Other Chicago credits include the world premiere of Lottery Day at The Goodman Theatre; the radio version of Animal Farm for Steppenwolf for Young Audiences; Rightlynd, Spiele 36, On the Block and Wheatley at Victory Gardens Theater; Picnic with American Theatre Company; W;t with The Hypocrites; Raisin with Court Theatre; Taming of the Shrew at First Folio Theatre; Hamlet at The Gift Theatre; and Aida at Drury Lane Theatre. Regionally, Robert has worked at Indiana Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Madison Repertory Theatre, Montana Repertory Theatre, and St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre. Film/TV credits include Chicago PD, South Side, Shameless, Hoodlum, and The Chi.
CHRISTINE MARY DUNFORD (she/her/hers) (Jane Byrne/Lookingglass Ensemble Member) has appeared in nearly two dozen Lookingglass productions. Christine’s three most recent productions include Blood Wedding, Trust, and Our Town. For Lookingglass’ 25th Anniversary Seasonin 2013, she directed her own original adaptation (Jeff nominated) of Still Alice, based on the book by Lisa Genova, which has been translatedinto multiple languages and is being produced in small theatres across the world. Over the years Christine has served the company as managing director and director of development, and she co-founded and taught with Lookingglass’ Education and Community program. Christine is Director of the School of Theatre and Music at the University of Illinois at Chicago; and she co-founded and helps run the Memory Ensemble —a partnership between Lookingglass and Northwestern’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center (CNADC)—that uses improvisational performance activities to improve life for people with memory loss.
RAYMOND FOX (he/him/his) (Ald. Swibel & Others /Lookingglass Ensemble Member) last appeared at Lookingglass in Hard Times and was most recently seen in Roe at the Goodman Theatre. Off Broadway/Broadway: Metamorphoses (Second Stage Theatre, Circle in the Square Theatre). Regional Credits: Seattle Repertory Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Guthrie Theater, Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse, Arena Stage, Arden Theatre, South Coast Repertory, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, Hartford Stage, American Repertory Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Meadow Brook Theatre, The House Theatre of Chicago, Mark Taper Forum, Court Theatre, McCarter Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, First Folio Theatre, Canada’s Stratford Festival and TimeLine Theatre (Blood and Gifts, 2013 Equity Jeff Award for Supporting Actor). Education: Northwestern University and the A.R.T. Institute at Harvard University.
NICOLE MICHELLE HASKINGS (she/her/hers) (Tiger) Actor. Writer. Director. Artist. Acting credits: The Color Purple (Drury Lane Theatre–Jeff Award Winner–Best Supporting Actor–Musical ) U.S. Premiere of Hopelessly Devoted (Piven Theatre–Jeff Nomination for Best Actor in a Play) Caroline, or Change (Firebrand Theatre–Black Theatre Alliance Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical) Spitfire Grill (Refuge Theatre Project–Jeff Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical) World Premiere of HeLa (Sideshow Theatre) Music Man, Father Comes Home from the Wars Parts 1, 2 & 3, How to Catch Creation (Goodman Theatre) Marie Christine (Boho Theatre) Our Town (Redtwist Theatre) The Wiz (Kokandy Productions–Black Theatre Alliance Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, Jeff Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, TimeOut Chicago Theatre Award nomination for Best Featured Performance in a Musical) Parade (Writers Theatre) RENT (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre) MidWest Premiere MUTT (Stage Left Theatre w/Red Tape Theatre) World Premiere of For her as a Piano (Pegasus Theatre). Proudly Represented by Shirley Hamilton, School at Steppenwolf Acting Fellow 14’, Associate Artist with Black Lives, Black Words International Theatre Collective and MOSAIC Youth Theatre of Detroit Alum. NicoleMichelleHaskins.com (For Chance, Miles and Ava, TiTi loves you.)
RENÉE LOCKETT (she/her/hers) (Mabel Foley) is truly grateful to resume her Lookingglass debut in Her Honor Jane Byrne. Take that COVID!!! Prior to Her Honor Jane Byrne, Renée was last seen on a live stage in First Floor’s Sugar in Our Wounds, as Aunt Mama, for which she received a 2020 Jeff Award for Best Supporting Performer. Other Chicago stage credits include Steppenwolf’s Familiar (performing u/s - Anne), Redtwist’s Surely, Goodness and Mercy as Bernadette, (Jeff Nomination- performer in a drama, BTAA Best Actress nomination), Victory Garden’s Wonder in My Soul, (Performing u/s – Belle Grande), Fleetwood Jourdain’s Crowns, (BTAA Best Ensemble nomination). She has also worked at Babes with Blades, Court Theatre, Northlight, MPAACT, Prologue, Collaboraction, 3 Cat Productions, BET, ETA Creative Arts, Childs Play and X-BAG. Renée is a company member of MPAACT and an Artistic Associate with Black Lives, Black Words. Most recent film credits include Otis’ Dream, Just Cause, The Plow, Freelancers Anonymous and Ageusia. Look for her to return as Dorothy Lorene Brown for season 2 of the HBO MAX comedy South Side. She is grateful to her God to be “still livin’ the dream” and for continued opportunities to be #silveronset! Renée is so very proud to be represented by DDO Artists Agency.
FRANK NALL (he/him/his) (Jay McMullen) is ecstatic to make his Lookingglass debut in this powerful piece by J. Nicole Brooks. A member of the Artistic Home Ensemble, Frank was last seen in their production of Vanya on the Plains as Elijah. Other Chicago credits include: Frankenstein (Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, Jeff Award winner) and Traitor as Howard (A Red Orchid Theatre, Jeff Award winner). Film and TV credits include: the CNN reporter from Spygame, Transplant surgeon on Empire, Carlisle on Boss, and assorted commercials. Frank has an MFA from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign.
JOSH ODOR (he/him/his) (Superintendent Brzczek) is happy to be working with Lookingglass for the first time. Chicago credits: To Catch a Fish and Blood and Gifts (TimeLine Theatre), El Grito del Bronx (Goodman Theatre/Collaboraction Theatre Company), Oorah! (Steppenwolf Theatre Company/LiveWire Chicago), Scientific Method and The Firebirds Take the Field (Rivendell Theatre Ensemble), Welcome to Jesus (American Theater Company), Moment, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, and The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui (Steep Theatre), You on the Moors Now (The Hypocrites), Life On Paper (Jackalope Theatre), Hit the Wall (The Inconvenience), Winterset (Griffin Theatre), The Nutcracker (The House Theatre of Chicago) and Sweet Bird of Youth and The Time of Your Life (The Artistic Home). Regionally Josh has worked at the Long Wharf Theatre. TV/Film credits: The Chi, Chicago Med/PD/Fire, Empire, Boss, Betrayal, Janie Jones, and The Express.
WILLIE “PRINCE ROC” ROUND (he/him/his) (Kid) is a songwriter, playwright, videographer, mentor and hip-hop artist hailing from the West Side of Chicago who has performed across the country and opened for Grammy Award-winning artist Lil Wayne as well as Grammy-nominees Gucci Mane and Ralph Covert. Round does extensive outreach in the North Lawndale neighborhood in Chicago (also known as “The Holy City”) and has mentored inner city youth as part of the College Mentoring Experience as well as his own youth movement called MUD LIFE (Motivating the Urban to be Determined). He holds a BA in Communications Radio and Television Broadcasting from Central State University. He recently performed in Her Honor Jane Byrne at Lookingglass Theatre and his play, Lift Every Voice, (co-written with G. Riley Mills) was recently published by Dramatic Publishing.
Her Honor Jane Byrne Performance Schedule
Regular Run
- Wednesdays 7pm
- Thursdays 2pm* & 7pm
- Fridays 7:30pm
- Saturdays 2pm & 7:30pm
- Sundays 2pm and 7:30pm*
*Thursday Matinee and Sunday Evening performances alternate. Please see the performance calendar on the website for full calendar and details.
Thank You To Our Season Sponsors
- BMO Harris Bank
- Hearn
- HMS Media
- Shirley Ryan Ability Lab
- Waldorf-Astoria, Chicago
Join Lookingglass for the 2021-22 Season with our new gglasspass memberships
By buying a gglasspass, members are brought into closer relationship with the art. It’s a badge of commitment. And by committing to Lookingglass, members add value and get value. With gglasspass, members receive tickets to all three productions in the 2021-22 Season: Her Honor Jane Byrne, Lucy and Charlie’s Honeymoon, and Lookingglass Alice plus direct access to the artistry! Throughout the year, members will have invaluable opportunities to explore Lookingglass’ creative process through deep-delving conversations on each play, making engagement with Theatre fuller, stronger, more meaningful.
Members also get the best seats at the best prices, and enjoy a bounty of benefits including priority seating, no ticket fees, unlimited ticket exchanges, savings when purchasing additional tickets for friends or family, a discount at our online store, and more!
Ticket packages start at $75 and are now on sale: www.lookingglasstheatre.org/membership
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
The health and safety of our audiences, artists, and staff is a top priority. Lookingglass is part of a coalition of more than 65 performing arts venues across Chicagoland implementing unified COVID-19 Vaccination and Mask Requirements for indoor performances through the end of 2021. View Lookingglass Theatre’s current Health and Safety Guidelines.
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 story-centered 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 lookingglasstheatre.org.
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Event Listing for Her Honor Jane Byrne
Her Honor Jane Byrne
Written and Directed by Ensemble Member and Mellon Playwright in Residence J. Nicole Brooks
November 11- December 19, 2021
Lookingglass Theatre in Water Tower Water Works
Chicago is “The City That Works”—but does it work for everybody? The city’s first woman mayor is about to find out in this smoldering new take on Her Honor Jane Byrne.
Performance Schedule:
Regular Run
- Wednesdays 7pm
- Thursdays 2pm* & 7pm
- Fridays 7:30pm
- Saturdays 2pm & 7:30pm
- Sundays 2pm and 7:30pm*
*Thursday Matinee and Sunday Evening performances alternate. Please see the performance calendar on the website for full calendar and details.
Tickets at www.LookingglassTheatre.org