Strawdog Theatre Company Remounts RED NOSES This Summer 7/14-18

Strawdog Theatre Company is proud to announce a four-week remount of Peter Barnes' "Red Noses", directed by Strawdog Artistic Associate Matt Hawkins, at the Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway Street. The remount takes place immediately following a week-long engagement, Wednesday, July 14 - Sunday, July 18 at Chicago's Theater on the Lake, 2400 N. Lake Shore Drive. Time Out Chicago says Strawdog's "Red Noses" is one of their top three productions of 2009 and the Chicago Tribune calls it "One of the best productions of the year." In Barnes' 1985 Olivier Award-winning play, the Black Plague has wiped out half of Europe's 14th century population, so God gives the young priest Father Flote (Strawdog Company member John Ferrick) a special mission to save his suffering people ... and make them laugh. Flote gathers a band of desperately untalented misfits, turns them into clowns and together they search for salvation with hilarity. "Red Noses" has a preview performance Thursday, July 22 at 8 p.m. and opens Friday, July 23 at 8 p.m. running thru Sunday, August 15 at 3 p.m. Performances are Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 for the preview and $20 for all other performances. There is a $15 ticket for students and seniors (with ID), and for groups of ten or more. Call 773-528-9696, or visit www.strawdog.org to order tickets.

Strawdog Artistic Associate Matt Hawkins, directed the Hypocrites' "Cabaret," the House Theatre's "Hatfield & McCoy," and is currently appearing as Stanley in David Cromer's production of "A Streetcar Named

Desire" at Writer's Theatre in Glencoe, returns to Strawdog with his 23-person, Jeff-Nominated ensemble. "Red Noses" runs about two hours with intermission.

The Strawdog Company Members involved in "Red Noses" are Michael Caloia (Casting), Nic Dimond (Set Design), Aly Renee Greaves (Costume Design), Mikhail Fiksel (Sound Design), Cortney Hurley (Production Manager), Matt Hawkins (Director), Mike Przygoda (Musical Director), with guest artists Deirdre Connelly (Assistant Production Manager/ Run Crew), Grayson Cunningham (Run Crew), Heather Gilbert (Lighting Design), Nic Jones (Master Electrician), Allison Latta (Assistant Director), DJ Reed (Props Design), Clare Roche (Stage Manager) and Tyler Wilsey (Run Crew).

Strawdog Company members cast in the production are Michael Dailey (Grez), Paul Fagen (Father Toulon), John Ferrick (Father Flote), Kyle Hamman (Brodin), Shannon Hoag (Marguerite), Anderson Lawfer (LeGrue) and Michaela Petro (Black Raven) with guest artists Will Allan (Frapper), Mikala Bierma (Flagellant), Jessie Fisher (Flagellant), Kyle Gibson (Player), Sarah Goeden (Bells), Nikki Klix (Player), Chelsea Paice (Tricycle Clown), Michael Peters (Rochfort), Eric Pogrelis (Boutros Brother), Edgar Miguel Sanchez (Monselet), Matthew Sherbach (Boutros Brother), Michael E. Smith (Pope/ Master Pestillence), Niccole Thurman (Player), Jeff Trainor (Player), Andrew Trygstad (Bembo) and Rebekah Ward-Hays (Black Raven).

British screenwriter and playwright Peter Barnes' (1931-2004) work includes the Academy Award-nominated films "The Ruling Class" (1972) and "Enchanted April" (1992). His stage work includes "Leonardo's Last

Supper" (1969), "The Bewitched" (1974), "Laughter!" (1978), "Sunsets and Glories" (1990), "Dreaming" (1999), and "Jubilee" (2001).

Strawdog Theatre Company is committed to ensemble acting and an immersive design approach, offering Chicago the premiere storefront theatre experience. The Company develops new work, reimagines classic plays, explores new fusions of music and theatre, asks provocative questions and delivers their audience the unexpected. Strawdog provides a home for their 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 the comfortable 70-seat theater in Lakeview is perfect for offering their 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-three 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 and their production of "Red Noses" is supported in part by The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, 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), Gerry Brown and Associates and the annual support of businesses and individuals.

The remount of "Red Noses" takes place at the Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway Street, after a week-long engagement, Wed., July 14 - 18 at Chicago's Theater on the Lake, 2400 N Lake Shore Drive.
Tickets for Theatre on the Lake are available at 312.742.7994. "Red Noses" at the Strawdog Theatre has a preview performance Thursday, July 22 at 8 p.m. and opens Friday, July 23 at 8 p.m. running thru
Sunday, August 15 at 3 p.m. Performances are Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 for the preview and $20 for all other performances. There is a $15 ticket for students
and seniors (with ID), and for groups of ten or more. Call 773-528-9696, or visit www.strawdog.org to order tickets.