Strawdog's THE DUCHESS OF MALFI Runs 4/19-5/26

By: Mar. 12, 2012
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Strawdog Theatre Company concludes its 24th season with a new adaptation of John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi, directed by Strawdog Artistic Director Brandon Bruce, adapted by Bruce and Christine Scarfuto, April 19 – May 26 at the Strawdog Theatre, 3829 North Broadway Street. The performance schedule is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Preview performance tickets are $15 with performances Thursday, April 19 and Friday, April 20 at 8 p.m. There is a gala benefit performance, Saturday, April 21 at 7 p.m., $50 tickets include access to post-performance reception. 

Opening/Press Night is Sunday, April 22 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $28 with group, senior and student discounts available. Thursday, April 26 at 8 p.m. is an industry performance where available tickets are $10 for people presenting resumes or headshots. Tickets may be ordered online at strawdog.org or by calling OvationTix toll-free: 866-811-4111.

Based on actual events in the Italian Court of the sixteenth century, Webster's The Duchess Of Malfi tells the story of the widowed Duchess (Strawdog Ensemble Member Justine C. Turner) and her secret marriage to Antonio (Stephen Dunn). The love of the Duchess defies both social convention and the wishes of her brothers, The Cardinal (Christopher Walsh), and her twin, Ferdinand (JohnTaflan).  Publicly the brothers want the Duchess to remain unmarried, appealing to Christian piety; however, their true motives are greed and an incestuous lust. When the brothers learn of the marriage, it unleashes a storm of murderous revenge.
 
Directing for the first time at Strawdog and for the first time as artistic director, Brandon Bruce says, "I believe this is the perfect play for my re-entry into the Chicago theatre scene. It is a challenging play about corruption, madness and betrayal. A deeply disturbing work that floods its audiences with waves of sexuality and intrigue."
 
The cast features Strawdog Company Ensemble Members Paul Fagen (Chorus/Castruchio), and Kyle Gibson (Chorus/Doctor) as well as Nigel Brown (Chorus/Silvio), McKenzie Chinn (Julia), Joshua Davis (Bosola), Cate Davison (Chorus/Delia), Lindsey Dorcus (Cariola), Andrew Goetten (Chorus/Malateste) and Michael Sherwin (Chorus/Pescara).
 
The production team features Strawdog Ensemble Members Mike Przygoda (sound design), Joanna Melville (costume design), Aly Greaves Amidei (makeup/mask design), and Jordan Kardasz (light design) with guest production members Anna Brenner (assistant director/dramaturg), Joe Schermoly (set design), Mary O'Dowd (props design), Matt Buettner (technical direction), Lindsey Miller (stage manager), Dan Laushman (master electrician) and Tyler Wilsey (production manager). 

"PLAY RITES!"
Strawdog Theatre's second installment of "Play Rites!," a free series of interactive conversations, visual displays and events designed around the award-winning theatre company's productions. The next "Play Rites!" is Monday, April 30 at 6 p.m. in Hugen Hall at Strawdog Theatre, 3829 North Broadway Street.
 
ABOUT BRANDON BRUCE
Brandon Bruce, Strawdog's artistic director, comes to Strawdog after an award-winning tenure as artistic director of Chicago's BackStage Theatre and as the Iowa Arts Directing Fellow at the University of Iowa. At BackStage, Bruce directed the Joseph Jefferson Award-winning production of The Skin of Our Teeth, The Ruling Class, the world premiere of Denise Druczweski's Inferno and Terra Nova (Jeff Recommended). At the University of Iowa (where he received his MFA in directing), Bruce directed Reefer Madness! The Musical and Akarui (IRAM Award for Outstanding Direction). In 2006, Bruce received the Orgie Award for "Best Director" for his staging of Tango at Chicago's Chopin Theatre. Time Out Chicago listed Bruce as one of the "Top 20 Chicagoans to Watch." In 2009, his production of The Little Foxes at Chicago's Shattered Globe received three Joseph Jefferson nominations including "Best Production."
 
STRAWDOG'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON: 2012 - 2013

Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom
by Jennifer Haley
Directed by Joanie Schultz
CHICAGO PREMIERE
October 7 – November 10
Opening Night: Sunday, Oct. 7 at 4 p.m.
 
The Phone Book
Strawdog's Annual Fundraiser
Monday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.
 
Improbable Frequency
Book and Lyrics by Arthur Riordan, Music by Bell Helicopter
Directed by Strawdog Artistic Director Brandon Bruce
Music Direction by Strawdog Ensemble Member Mike Przygoda
MIDWEST PREMIERE
February 24 – March 30, 2013
Opening Night: Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 at 4 p.m.
 
Big Love
Directed by Strawdog Artistic Associate Matt Hawkins
April 21 – May 25, 2013
Opening: Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 4 p.m.

ABOUT STRAWDOG THEATRE COMPANY
Since its founding in 1988, Strawdog Theatre Company has offered Chicagoland the premiere storefront theatre experience and garnered numerous Non-Equity Jeff Awards with its commitment to ensemble acting and an immersive design approach. The celebrated Company develops new work, re-imagines the classics, melds music with theatre, asks provocative questions and delivers their audience the unexpected.
 
The current Strawdog ensemble includes Jennifer Avery, Hank Boland, Michael Dailey, Anita Deely, Paul Fagen, John Ferrick, Mikhail Fiksel, Aly Greaves Amidei, Carmine Grisolia, Kyle Hamman, Erik Hellman, Tom Hickey, Shannon Hoag, Jordan Kardasz, Anderson Lawfer, Sean Mallary, Kat McDonnell, Joanna Melville, Gregor Mortis, Mike Mroch, Michaela Petro, Mike Przygoda, John Henry Roberts, Justine C. Turner, Jamie Vann and James Anthony Zoccoli.  Strawdog Artistic Director is Brandon Bruce, Managing Director is Patrick Rybarczyk and General Manager is Cortney Hurley. Notable Strawdog alums include Elizabeth Auman (TimeLine), Alexandra Billings (actress, cabaret star), Nancy Bishop (casting director), Chrisanne Blankenship (director), Becca Cardo (voice-over artist), Kristin Caskey (Fox Theatricals), Scott Cummins (actor, director) and James Denton (Desperate Housewives). Strawdog supports Mookie Jam, a Chicago-based, not-for-profit organization created to assist artists living with multiple sclerosis - www.mookiejam.org
 
All productions, plus ongoing late night offerings, are presented at Strawdog's space in the heart of Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, 3829 N. Broadway Street. Tickets are available at .773.528.9696 or www.strawdog.org 
 
Strawdog Theatre Company's The Duchess of Malfi runs April 19 - May 26 at the Strawdog Theatre, 3829 North Broadway Street. The performance schedule is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Preview performance tickets are $15 with performances Thursday, April 19 and Friday, April 20 24 at 8 p.m. There is a gala benefit performance, Saturday, April 21 at 7 p.m., $50 tickets include access to post-performance reception. Opening/Press Night is Sunday, April 22 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $28 with group, senior and student discounts available. Thursday, April 26 at 8 p.m. is an industry performance where available tickets are $10 for people presenting resumes or headshots. Tickets may be ordered online at strawdog.org or by calling OvationTix toll-free: 866-811-4111.
 
The neighborhood has limited paid parking and is easily accessible by public transportation (via the Red Line Sheridan stop, plus 36-Broadway, 80-Irving Park, and 151-Sheridan buses).


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