HERSHEL AND THE HANNUKAH GOBLINS and More Set for Strawdog Theatre Company 39th Season
Advance Man, and Mochaunicorn.93 and more will play Chicago's Factory Theater and Raven Theatre.
Strawdog Theatre Company has revealed its 39th season. The 2026-27 season's theme, Consequences, will reverberate through all three shows.
The season will kick off with the first part of a trilogy of plays, Advance Man: Part One of the Honeycomb Trilogy by Mac Rogers. Advance Man will be directed by Strawdog's Co-Artistic Director, Noah Elman and will be the start of a bold two-year project that tackles the problems of a dying planet through one family's far-reaching impact. It will open in August 2026 at Strawdog's new home at the Factory Theater.
Strawdog's season continues in December of 2026 when Hershel and the Hannukah Goblins returns for its 9th annual production. Written by Mike Dailey with music and lyrics by Jacob Combs and adapted from the book by Eric Kimmel, this beloved family tradition will return for its second year to Raven Theatre and will be under new direction by Strawdog Ensemble Member, Ellie Levine.
Finally, Strawdog will present the world premiere of mochaunicorn.93 by Vu Richards, a stomach-churning technothriller. It will premiere at the Factory Theater under Strawdog Ensemble Member Maureen Azzun's direction in April of 2027.
Advance Man
Part One of the Honeycomb Trilogy
by Mac Rogers
directed by Noah Elman
Aug 14-Sept. 27, 2026 at the Factory Theater
When Astronaut Bill Cooke and his team arrive back from Mars, they come with secrets that will forever change Earth and humanity's place on it. What will his family have to say about it? Advance Man kicks off a trilogy of plays, both intimate and global in nature, that ask us: Have humans gone too far and is it someone else's turn?
Strawdog's 9th Annual Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
adapted by Mike Dailey
with Music and Lyrics by Jacob Combs
from the book by Eric Kimmel
directed by Ellie Levine
Nov 28-Dec 27, 2026 at Raven Theatre
Press Opening: Dec 5
Hershel and their troupe are exhausted. They've been traveling for weeks, they're cold and tired AND it's the first night of Hanukkah! What better way to warm up then by telling the story of Hershel's grandfather and how he saved Hanukkah by outwitting the great Goblin King . Based on the award winning book by Eric Kimmel, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is an hour long family holiday show with live music, puppets, and lots and lots of goblins!
School and community groups can reach out to boxoffice@strawdog.org for group sales or private performances
the World Premiere of mochaunicorn.93
by Vu Richards
directed by Maureen Azzun
Apr 9-May 23, 2027 at the Factory Theater
Press Opening: Apr 16
George has a good life. He has a good job and a loving wife, but he can't help but feel a little...unsatisfied. When he decides to buy a program that allows him to connect with women he would never otherwise approach in person, he is overjoyed to live inside his virtual world without consequence. But what happens when his dark fantasies start affecting him IRL? This harrowing play challenges us to face our prejudices head on and explores the dangers of fetishizing Black culture and people.
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