Lookingglass Theatre Company on Monday announced Jamey Lundblad has been named the new managing director for the Tony Award-winning theater company, effective immediately.
Lundblad, who formerly worked as a deputy commissioner at the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), will oversee the theater’s day-to-day operations as well as its strategic planning, Monday’s announcement said.
Artistic director Kasey Foster revealed the news on Monday on behalf of the company, which paused operations last year to transform its mission. To wit, Richard Chapman has been named the new chairman of the board for the company, having served on the board since 2011. The new business model, announced in 2023, includes staging two original works each year, while fostering community outreach.
Lookingglass’ 2024-2025 season will feature two world premieres: “Circus Quixote” ( Jan. 30 – March 30) adapted and directed by Kerry and David Catlin with circus arts by Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, in association with Actors Gymnasium and featuring Michel Rodriguez-Cintra; and “Iraq, but Funny” (May 29-July 20), written by Atra Asdou and directed by Dalia Ashurina.
A new bar/café and lobby space is scheduled to open year’s end or in early 2025, Foster said during a phone chat with the Sun-Times on Monday. In addition, the theater’s main stage has been named the Joan and Paul Theatre, in honor of longtime supporters Joan and Paul Rubschlager.
“This business model was really taking into consideration how costs have gone up to produce the theater that we want to produce, which is why bringing it down to two productions a year felt smart. [And it also allows us to] also focus on touring, which is an added bonus because by touring we are assisting ourselves financially and bringing our art to the country for it to be seen by more people, and also bring more tourists in when they’re [visiting] Chicago because they already know about Lookingglass,” Foster said.
In addition to 11 years at DCASE, where he led marketing and development strategy on myriad projects, including the citywide #TheatreSeason yearlong initiative, Lundblad previously held senior leadership roles at the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, VSA Partners global creative agency, and the Chicago Public Library.
“I’ve been a big fan for a long time of Lookingglass … I also really appreciate the opportunity they have in this location on Michigan Avenue in this historic building. We just have such an opportunity to re-launch and re-engage and re-build in a really intentional way, and that’s gonna require the skills set that I bring in marketing and development and the partnerships that I built at the city. So all those things made it seem like the perfect fit for me,” Lundblad said of his new post, during the same phone chat.
“Lookingglass can mean more things to more people. That’s really my hope and that’s going to be one way we’re going to expand our audience and make sure Lookingglass is sustainable going forward,” he said.
Season “memberscriptions” (memberships-subscriptions) are available at LookingglassTheatre.org.