500 Clown Theater,, founded in 2000 and made a non-profit in 2007, presents '500 Clown Madame Barker's Cabaret,' a celebration of Chicago talent hosted by Molly Brennan as Madame Barker of '500 Clown and the Elephant Deal,' as a lead-up to the full production opening at Steppenwolf in June. Guests include 500 Clown, John Fournier (piano/vocals), Dennis Watkins (magic), Happenstance (DC vaudeville), Jessica Hudson (burlesque), Cliff Chamberlain (guitar/voice), Tim Simeone (clown solo), Marika Mashburn (torch song), Pam Chermansky (original music), Galaxie Girls (dance), and Joseph Schupbach (as JonBenet Ramsey).
Strawdog Theatre Company completes their 21st season with Peter Barnes' dark comedy 'Red Noses,' directed by House Theatre's Matt Hawkins. 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 a special mission to save his suffering people ... make 'em laugh. Flote gathers a band of desperately untalented misfits, turns them into clowns and together they search for salvation with hilarity. Hawkins, who also directed House's hit production of 'Hatfield & McCoy,' makes his Strawdog directing debut with a 23-person cast. 'Red Noses' runs about two hours and ten minutes with one intermission, and includes free admittance to Strawdog Late Night following the Friday and Saturday shows (Late Night schedule available at www.strawdog.org).
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