Chicago's Raven Theatre, co-founded 16 years ago by Michael Menendian, will open David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross Feb. 12. Previews began Feb. 5 for a run through April 3.

Menendian, who both directs and designs Glengarry, has staged such other American-themed dramas at the company as Death of a Sealesman, The Crucible and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.

A view into the early 80s world of a group of salesmen pitching scam real estate, Glengarry Glen Ross was made into a 1992 film starring Jack Lemmon, Kevin Spacey and Al Pacino. Other plays by Chicago native Mamet include Sexual Perversity in Chicago, Speed-The-Plow, American Buffalo and The Old Neighborhood.

Raven's Artistic Director and co-founder Michael Menendian directs Brian McCaskill (Roma), Jordan Teplitz (Levene), Bill Mages (Williamson), Chuck Spencer (Moss), Christopher Soheithe (Aaronow) and Leif Olsen (Lingk).

Designing the show are Menendian (sets), Michelle Smietana and Stephanie Schaefer (lighting), Jana Stauffer (costumes) and David Martin (sound). Carrie Certa is production stage manager and Bill McGough is assistant director. Tickets ($20) are available by calling the Raven Theatre box office at 773-338-2177. The Raven Theatre is located at 6931 North Clark Street.

-- By Christine Ehren