Running Nov. 3-19 will be Lydia Diamond's adaptation of Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, directed by Hallie Gordon. The run will follow an Oct. 3-28 stay at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre. The story concerns tormented 11-year-old Pecola Breedlove, who is taunted by her schoolmates. Thinking her dark skin is to blame, she prays for blonde hair and blue eyes.

The following February will see the New York premiere of Lookingglass Alice by the experimental Chicago-based Lookingglass Theatre Company. The show—a past success for the troupe which will be revived by the Chicago company in July 2007—involves "witty word play, madcap mischief and fantastical flights of aerial fancy."

David Catlin's acrobatics-infused adaptation combines Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Lookingglass." Dates are Feb. 9-25, 2007.

A third Windy City-born production is Macbeth, running April 20-29, 2007. The puppet version of Shakespeare's tragedy is the joint work of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Milan's 250-year-old Colla Marionette Company. CST actors give voice to the bloodthirsty Scottish characters in the 90-minute show.

Also part of the New Victory season is Speedmouse, the latest bit of slapstick from Australia's Umbilical Brothers. At one point, the production was expected to arrive at Dodger Stages in fall 2004. Dates are Nov. 10-26.

The Brothers previously experienced success in New York with Thwak!