Strawdog Theatre's Hugen Hall Presents Tony Burgess's PONTYPOOL, 10/13-11/4

Strawdog Theatre Company's Hugen Hall has announced the Midwest premiere of Pontypool, directed by Hugen Hall Artistic Director Anderson Lawfer, October 13 – November 4 at the Strawdog Theatre Hugen Hall, 3829 North Broadway Street. The performance schedule is Fridays and Saturdays at 11 p.m. and Sundays at 8 p.m. with an added Halloween performance, Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. Opening/Press Night is Sunday, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. Tickets may be ordered online at strawdog.org or by calling OvationTix toll-free: 866-811-4111.

Grant Mazzy (Jamie Vann) has hit rock bottom. The one time popular morning zoo radio jock has wound up doing traffic and temperature at a small station in the even smaller town of Pontypool, Illinois. Until one day the calls start to pour in; people are talking about bizarre mob attacks, military quarantines and people eating other people. Is this a hoax? Is Mazzy a victim of a small town prank? And if it is not a prank, will anyone survive.

Based on the Tony Burgess novel, Pontypool Changes Everything, and the popular film, Pontypool, by Bruce McDonald, Pontypool is a new and refreshing take on the zombie genre. Adapted by Burgess for the stage including the story now being set in Illinois and an entirely new ending. Pontypool may not be appropriate for some audiences. It contains violence, adult language, blood, and zombies.

Anderson Lawfer, in his Strawdog debut as director says, "In our 24-hour news world, what excites me the most about this piece is the way we spread information in a disaster and the inherent speculation and misinformation that joins it. A War Of The Worlds for our generation."
The cast features Strawdog ensemble members Jamie Vann (Grant Mazzy), Carmine Grisolia (Dr. Mendez) with guest artists Mierka Girten (Sydney Briar), Nikki Klix (Laurel Ann), with Michael Dailey (Ken Loney) and Adam Schulmerich (Howard Ng).

The production team features Strawdog ensemble members Carmine Grisolia (set design), Aly Renee Amidei (blood and costumes), Jordan Kardasz (lights), Gregor Mortis (sound design) as well as John Moran (combat design), Josh Sobel (dramaturgy), Paige Reilly (props and blood) and Morgan Gire (production and stage manager).

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