One of Chicago's most important directors, Mary Zimmerman, will have works old and new playing at the Goodman Studio Theatre within months of each other. Beginning April 11 is the world premiere of Mirror Of The Invisible World, an epic of seven stories about seven princesses. Mirror will be Zimmerman's second theatrical trip to Asia, after her highly acclaimed, Journey To The West.

Taking its cue from the 12th century Persian epic poem, "Haft Paykar," by Nizami, Mirror looks at love through stories that are adventurous, romantic and funny. Appearing as the princesses are Chicago actresses Jenny Bacon, Anjali Bhimani, Anne Dudek, Lynn House, Mariann Mayberry, Naama Potok and Lisa Tejero. Faran Tahir will play King Bahran. As with other Zimmerman works created with the Lookingglass Theatre Company (The Arabian Nights, S/M), Mirror will use highly physical and theatrical -- even acrobatic -- techniques in telling its tales.

Designing the piece are Daniel Ostling (set), Mara Blumenfeld (costumes), John Culbert (lighting) and Michael Bodeen (sound). For tickets ($18-$26) and information on Mirror Of The Invisible World, which opens April 21 and runs to May 11, call (312) 443-3800.

Mirror closes this year's Studio season, but Zimmerman will also be represented in the next: The Notebooks Of Leonardo da Vinci, adapted and directed by Zimmerman. The show premiered in 1993 at the Goodman Studio and has since played Off-Broadway. Zimmerman based her adaptation on 5,000 pages of da Vinci's observations and drawings. Notebooks runs Dec. 12-Jan. 11 with an official opening Dec. 15.

--By David Lefkowitz