CHICAGO -- Love Medicine, a Native American saga, comes to life Apr. 8 at Lifeline Theatre. Based on Chippewa novelist Louise Erdrich's best-seller about contemporary Native American life (winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award), director Meryl Friedman's world premiere adaptation boasts a cast that includes members of Spiderwoman Theatre, a Native American performance ensemble.

The play offers a multigenerational portrait that depicts hard truths about Native American life, particularly the temptation of young members to leave the reservation -- and their cultural inheritance -- for jobs unknown. The play also depicts the challenge of passing down a culture through storytelling and of preserving that legacy through internecine squabbles.

Love Medicine began previews Apr. 3 for a run through May 31. Designing the show are Rebecca Hamlin (sets), Shannon McKinney (lighting), Serena Zahnke (lighting) and Jennifer Boyer (props).

Gloria and Muriel Miguel, of the Native-American Spiderwoman Theatre star, alongside Myrton Running Wolf, Consuello Allen, Eric Aviles, Bert Matias, Marie-Francoise Theodore and Ann Wakefield.

For information, call (773) 761-0667. -- By Lawrence Bommer
Chicago Correspondent and David Lefkowitz