Sunday, February 22, "Cherry Orchard" opening night party (FREE); meet the cast and director Kimberly Senior, with DJs and live music.
Friday, February 27, Hank Boland Presents: Late Night College of Public Domain Knowledge ($5) - Strawdog ensemble member Boland presents a compilation of classic Public Domain Educational films for the amusement and edification of the audience, with the theme "General Knowledge." Films include VD is for Everyone (1969), Beer in America (1952), Sudden Birth (1966), and others. Program begins at 11p.m. and runs approximately one hour with an intermission. Bar open from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Saturday, February 28, Roast of Shade Murray (FREE) - ensemble member and host of "The Game Show Show and Stuff" Anderson Lawfer is Master of Ceremonies for this Friar's Club-style roast, "honoring" Chicago director Shade Murray, whose Strawdog credits include "R.U.R.- Rossum's Universal Robots" and the Jeff Award-winning "Marathon '33" and "Detective Story."
March 2009 Late Night Events:
Sunday, March 1, Butterscotch on the Rocks ($5) - Songwriters Chris Gingrich (formerly of The Working Title) and Henry Riggs develop songs through improvisation, and are occasionally joined by their friends, brothers Matthew and Evan Bivins (formerly of Jump, Little Children). Butterscotch on the Rocks has been described as They Might Be Giants meets The Avett Brothers.
Monday, March 2, Talkback Podcast (FREE, directly after the 8 p.m. play performance) - Strawdog ensemble members Aly Renee Greaves, Carmine Grisolia, Michael Dailey, and Mikhail Fiksel host an entertaining and informative post show talkback/talk show after the added industry performance of "Cherry Orchard." Guests will include cast and company members, and the discussion will be recorded and aired as a part of the Strawdog podcast (available for download at www.strawdog.org).
Saturday, March 7, Direct-Off #5 (FREE) - Hosted by ensemble member Gregor Mortis, Strawdog once again brings you this late-night battle between Chicago's finest theatre directors. The challenge consists of two scenes, two actors, and two props, critiqued by local celebrity judges. Past participants have included Henry Godinez, Sean Graney, Anthony Moseley, Ann Filmer and many others.
Sunday, March 8, Butterscotch on the Rocks ($5) - Songwriters Chris Gingrich (formerly of The Working Title) and Henry Riggs develop songs through improvisation, and are occasionally joined by their friends, brothers Matthew and Evan Bivins (formerly of Jump, Little Children). Butterscotch on the Rocks has been described as They Might Be Giants meets The Avett Brothers. Please note that Daylight Saving Time begins this day.
Friday, March 13, Wigger Lover ($10) - White Boy + Black Dad = Grey Areas. The hysterical account of an interracial family in a segregated city at pivotal time: Chicago, 1979. A one man show written and performed by Strawdog ensemble member James Anthony Zoccoli.
Saturday, March 14, Kyle's Basement (FREE) - The next installment of this "variety underground," featuring sketch comedy, cooking segments, the nightly news and special musical guests - more info at kylesbasement.blogspot.com
Sunday, March 15, Butterscotch on the Rocks ($5) - Songwriters Chris Gingrich (formerly of The Working Title) and Henry Riggs develop songs through improvisation, and are occasionally joined by their friends, brothers Matthew and Evan Bivins (formerly of Jump, Little Children). Butterscotch on the Rocks has been described as They Might Be Giants meets The Avett Brothers.
Thursday March 19, Strawdog Family Game Night (FREE, directly after the 8 p.m. play performance) - Join Strawdog company members for an evening of board games, video games and good-old-fashioned family fun.
Saturday, March 21, The Mic (FREE) - Strawdog ensemble member emeritus Noah Simon hosts this Late Night classic, featuring several of Chicago's noted open mic performers.
Sunday, March 22, Butterscotch on the Rocks ($5) - Songwriters Chris Gingrich (formerly of The Working Title) and Henry Riggs develop songs through improvisation, and are occasionally joined by their friends, brothers Matthew and Evan Bivins (formerly of Jump, Little Children). Butterscotch on the Rocks has been described as They Might Be Giants meets The Avett Brothers.
Friday, March 27, Hit Factory Presents (FREE) - Ensemble playwrights from Strawdog's playwriting initiative The Hit Factory present new work based on foreclosure. Strawdog ensemble member Michaela Petro directs the evening in radio theatre style with live Foley and music, and featuring several cast members of "Cherry Orchard." Hosted by ensemble member Hank Boland.
Saturday, March 28, Cherry Orchard Puppet Show (FREE) - An hilarious Strawdog tradition of ensemble members sending up every production with an affectionate puppet version.
Strawdog Theatre Company is committed to ensemble acting and an immersive design approach, offering Chicago the premiere storefront theatre experience. We develop new work, reimagine classic plays, explore new fusions of music and theatre, ask provocative questions and deliver our audience the unexpected. We provide a home for our celebrated ensemble to work and play with the most sought after artists in Chicago theatre along with the best new talents in the city. Founded in 1988, the Strawdog ensemble has consistently produced shows built on authentic human connections, and our comfortable 70-seat home in Lakeview is perfect for offering our audience a quintessential Chicago storefront theatre experience. "The whole wide world in a little black box." Strawdog is a proud member of the NortHalsted Area Merchant Association, The Chicago Storefront Theatre District and the League of Chicago Theatres.
Strawdog Theatre Company was formed in 1988 by a group of actors who had performed together in a production of Euripides's "Helen" at a (now defunct) theatre on the west side. The group took their name from Sam Peckinpah's movie "Straw Dogs" (Theatresaurus Rex was, thankfully, the runner-up), and they produced their first show, Len Jenkin's "Five of Us" at a (now defunct) space in Bucktown. At the time, the Chicago Reader said "Strawdog Theatre Company's inaugural production brings ... truth home with a vengeance," and Skyline Chicago added "The Strawdog troupe shows us what an ensemble can do." Twenty years later, Strawdog Theatre Company has survived the ups and downs of Chicago theatre, and is still dedicated to bringing the truth to audiences through the committed work of an award-winning ensemble of actors and designers.
Strawdog Theatre Company, 773-528-9889 www.strawdog.org
