Lookingglass Theatre Company is thrilled to announce tickets are now on sale for Her Honor Jane Byrne, the national winner of the 2020 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ American Theatre Critics Association Best New Play Award. 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: 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 deeply moving portrait of systemic failure and human resilience.” -Chicago Tribune
“A well-argued, passionately delivered piece of Chicago history.” -Newcity
“A stunning world premiere.” - Chicago Reader
About the Playwright
J. Nicole Brooks (she/they) (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.
Her Honor Jane Byrne Performance Schedule
Previews
November 11-13, 7:30pm
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.
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.
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 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.
Engage with us on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. #LookingglassTheatre
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
Tickets at LookingglassTheatre.org
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:
Previews
November 11-13, 7:30pm
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.