David Catlin

David Catlin is an American playwright, adaptor, director, and actor, renowned as a founding ensemble member of Chicago's acclaimed Lookingglass Theatre Company. As a key creative force, he served in leadership roles including Artistic Director, Director of Artistic Development, and studio teacher—helping shape the company's bold, ensemble-based approach to storytelling.

His signature work includes Lookingglass Alice, a wildly inventive acrobatic adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, blending physical theatre and aerial spectacle into a visually stunning stage experience.

He also adapted and directed powerful ensemble-oriented works such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Moby Dick, all hallmarks of the company’s evocative repertoire.

In addition to writing and directing, Catlin has an extensive acting portfolio with Lookingglass, performing in productions like The Arabian Nights, Our Town, Argonautika, Hard Times, and more—demonstrating his versatility across performance disciplines.

His adaptation of The Idiot earned him a Joseph Jefferson Award for New Adaptation, and his direction of West also garnered a Jeff award—underscoring his recognition within Chicago’s theatre community.

Catlin is also an educator—teaching acting at Northwestern University—and continues to influence American theatre through his ensemble-driven, imaginative work that marries literary adaptation with theatrical daring