Strawdog Theatre Presents Curt Columbus' Translation Of UNCLE VANYA, Opens 2/21/2010

Strawdog Theatre Company continues their 22nd Anniversary Season with Curt Columbus' translation of Anton Chekhov's classic Uncle Vanya. Chekhov's classic about a country gentlemen's forbidden love for his brother's beautiful wife gets a smoldering translation from former Steppenwolf Associate Artistic Director and current Artistic Director of Trinity Repertory Company, Providence, Rhode Island Curt Columbus at Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway Street, Sunday, Feb. 21 - Saturday, March 27, 2010.

Previews are Friday, Feb. 19 and Saturday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. The Press/Opening Nightis Sunday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. with reception immediately following performance.

The weekly performance schedule is Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 7 p.m. An industry nightperformance is Monday, March 8 at 7 p.m., Theatre Thursday is Thursday, March 18 at 8 p.m. and there is an added performance Thursday March 25 at 8 p.m. There is a special gala benefit performance,February 20 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 - $40 and are currently on sale at 773-528-9696 or www.strawdog.org.

Directing the production is Strawdog Company Member Kimberly Senior. Senior has directed their Critically acclaimed Cherry Orchard in 2009 and Three Sisters in 2005. Senior also directed RedtwistTheatre's new production of The Pillowman, TimeLine's All My Sons and Dolly West's Kitchen as well aslast spring's critically acclaimed production of The Overwhelming for Next Theatre.

Columbus is the current Artistic Director of Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island, and was the associate artistic director of Steppenwolf Theater Company (2000-2005), where his translations ofUncle Vanya and Cherry Orchard first premiered. Columbus was also the Artistic Director ofChicago Park District's Theater on the Lake and was an artistic associate at Victory Gardens Theater (1990-2006).

Uncle Vanya includes Strawdog ensemble members Carmine Grisolia (Telegin), Tom Hickey (Vanya),Kyle Hamman (Astrov), Shannon Hoag (Yelena) and Michaela Petro (Sonya) with guest artists TimCurtis (Serebrykov), Ryan PatRick Dolan (Yefim), Patricia Donegan (Marina) and MargaretKusterman (Marya).

Additional Strawdog Company members involved in the production include Michael Caloia (Casting),Mikhail Fiksel (Sound Design), Aly Renee Greaves (Costume Design), Cortney Hurley (Production Manager), Sean Mallary (Lighting Design) with guest artists Tom Burch (Scenic Design) Mike Mroch(Dramaturgy), Ellen Willett (Stage Manager).Strawdog Theatre Company presents The Phonebook. A special Strawdog Gala Benefit featuring Chicago celebrities reading the phone book directed by Strawdog Artistic Director Nic Dimond. The evening will include full bar and appetizers as well as silent auction. Monday, February 1 st at 7 p.m. atStrawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway Chicago, Illinois.

Strawdog will continue their 22 nd season with David Harrower's translation of Bertolt Brecht's classicfable The Good Soul of Szechuan, directed by Strawdog Artistic Associate Shade Murray, running April 22-May 29, 2010.

Strawdog Theatre Company is committed to ensemble acting and an immersive design approach,offering Chicago the premiere storefront theatre experience. They develop new work, reimagine classicplays, explore new fusions of music and theatre, ask provocative questions and deliver their audience the unexpected. Strawdog provides a home for our celebrated ensemble to work and play with the mostsought 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 their comfortable 70-seat home in Lakeview is perfect for offering any 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 theyproduced 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-two 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 is supported in part by The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Alphawood Foundation, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency), Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, Gerry Brown and Associates and the annual support of businesses and individuals.

Tickets are now on sale for Uncle Vanya at Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway Street. Call 773-528-9696 or go online at www.strawdog.org. Preview performance tickets are $10 Friday, Feb. 19 and Saturday, Feb. 20.

Tickets for regular performances are $20 and $15 for students and seniors (with ID), and for groups of ten or more. Regular ticket purchase also includes admittance to Strawdog Late Night (improv, comedy, music, etc. performances that begin immediately after Friday and Saturday night shows.

Tickets are $40 for Gala Benefit, Saturday, Feb. 20, ticket price includes wine and appetizers. Tickets are $10 for industry show Monday, March 8 (with resume/headshot/card).Uncle Vanya runs two hours with one intermission. Strawdog Late Night programming schedule available on www.strawdog.org

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