Loopshop 6: Conspiracy Theory [Redacted]

We're previewing all seven of the plays featured in Loopshop 6.

Except Conspiracy Theory. There's nothing to see here. Please move on.

[Summary redacted by the United States government]

Written by and starring alleged Strangeloop company member Brad Gunter, Conspiracy Theory is directed by co-conspirator and company member Letitia Guillaud.

Loopshop is Chicago-based Strangeloop Theatre's annual short play and new works series. This year's production features a mix of short, original plays and scenes from full scripts in development — all from local playwrights.

Performances for Loopshop 6 will be at 8 p.m. on Monday, July 29, and Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at Chemically Imbalanced Comedy Theatre, 1422 West Irving Park Road, Chicago. Tickets for the show are $10.

Loopshop 6: Gassed on the Fourth of July (The Mad Gasser of Mattoon)

We're previewing all seven of the plays featured in Loopshop 6.

In this edition, The Mad Gasser of Mattoon:

Inspired by real events in Illinois from the 1940s, The Mad Gasser of Mattoon is a modern story about love, growing up and gas masks. Playwright and Strangeloop company member Keith Gatchel plunges his audience into the delusional world of a madman(?) making them question what is real and what is madness. Directed by company member Maria Burnham, The Mad Gasser of Mattoon stars Carolyn Minor as Emily, Jason Pereira as Carlos and Lauren Bourke as Audrey.

Loopshop is Chicago-based Strangeloop Theatre's annual short play and new works series. This year's production features a mix of short, original plays and scenes from full scripts in development — all from local playwrights.

 Performances for Loopshop 6 will be at 8 p.m. on Monday, July 29, and Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at Chemically Imbalanced Comedy Theatre, 1422 West Irving Park Road, Chicago. Tickets for the show are $10.

Loopshop 6: In The Light of A Drinking Man’s Moon

We're previewing all seven of the plays featured in Loopshop 6.

Today we get a peek into In The Light of A Drinking Man’s Moon:

A young woman and a homeless man meet on a dark street late one night In The Light of A Drinking Man’s Moon. They share insults, cigarettes and advice on love, all while waiting for the bus...sort of. Playwright Kyle A. Martin scrutinizes the lives we live and how we live them, leaving his audience to wonder who has it bad and who has it worse. Directed by James Sparling, In The Light of A Drinking Man’s Moon stars Paul Tinsley as the Vagrant and Megan Dudzik Farris as Vicki.

Loopshop is Chicago-based Strangeloop Theatre's annual short play and new works series. This year's production features a mix of short, original plays and scenes from full scripts in development — all from local playwrights.

 Performances for Loopshop 6 will be at 8 p.m. on Monday, July 29, and Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at Chemically Imbalanced Comedy Theatre, 1422 West Irving Park Road, Chicago. Tickets for the show are $10.

Loopshop 6: Do not make the gods angry (a.k.a. The Odyssey, an adaptation)

We're previewing all seven of the plays featured in Loopshop 6.

Next up is The Odyssey, an adaptation:

An excerpt from a longer work in development, Strangeloop company members Michael Wagman and Carrie Campana translate Homer’s The Odyssey from epic poem to epic play told with a chorus of voices and bodies. Written by Wagman and directed by Campana, The Odyssey stars Ryan Santa, Ryan Johnson, Miona Lee, Tim Lee, Holly Claire Millican and Beau Buccilli. 

Loopshop is Chicago-based Strangeloop Theatre's annual short play and new works series. This year's production features a mix of short, original plays and scenes from full scripts in development — all from local playwrights.

 Performances for Loopshop 6 will be at 8 p.m. on Monday, July 29, and Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at Chemically Imbalanced Comedy Theatre, 1422 West Irving Park Road, Chicago. Tickets for the show are $10.

Loopshop 6: Mitera, or A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Funeral

We're previewing all seven of the plays featured in Loopshop 6.

Today we get a peek into Mitera:

Three single sisters have their lives turned upside down when they find out their mother is still micromanaging their lives from beyond the grave. Mitera, written by Strangeloop company member Maria Burnham, pokes and prods the boundaries of family loyalty and examines the idea that sometimes the people we’ve known our entire lives are the people we know the least. Directed by Elana Elyce, Mitera stars Allison McCorkle as Olga, Stella Martin as Nitsa and Cyra K. Polizzi as Dimitra.

Loopshop is Chicago-based Strangeloop Theatre's annual short play and new works series. This year's production features a mix of short, original plays and scenes from full scripts in development — all from local playwrights.

Performances for Loopshop 6 will be at 8 p.m. on Monday, July 29, and Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at Chemically Imbalanced Comedy Theatre, 1422 West Irving Park Road, Chicago. Tickets for the show are $10.

Loopshop 6: In which Martha Stewart guides us through Wedding Hell

We're previewing all seven of the plays featured in Loopshop 6.

Today we take a look at Wedding Hell:

A bride-to-be finds herself disorientated and shoeless in her trip through Wedding Hell with only Martha Stewart as her guide and protector. Written by Strangeloop company member Letitia Guillaud, Wedding Hell satirizes our societal expectations of the perfect wedding and proves that most things can be made better with cupcakes. Directed by company member Lisa Uhlig, Wedding Hell stars Jaclyn Jensen as The Bride, Megan Brown-Wood as Martha Stewart and Sam Heindl and Mary Lorenz as ensemble members.

Loopshop is Chicago-based Strangeloop Theatre's annual short play and new works series. This year's production features a mix of short, original plays and scenes from full scripts in development — all from local playwrights. 

Performances for Loopshop 6 will be at 8 p.m. on Monday, July 29, and Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at Chemically Imbalanced Comedy Theatre, 1422 West Irving Park Road, Chicago. Tickets for the show are $10.

Conspiracies, Weddings and Madmen Galore! (a.k.a. Loopshop 6 or How I Learned to Love The Frog)

To get folks ready for Loopshop 6 — which happens at the end of July at Chemically Imbalanced Comedy, — we'll be sharing some short teasers about all seven of our featured plays here and on Facebook. (Like us if you haven't already.)

Performances for Loopshop 6 will be at 8 p.m. on Monday, July 29, and Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at Chemically Imbalanced Comedy Theatre, 1422 West Irving Park Road, Chicago. Tickets for the show are $10.

First up is The Mating Habits of Frogs.

Two sisters discuss The Mating Habits of Frogs and humans in this play by Barbara J. Lhota, which examines the complex relationship between siblings and self and what it is that prevents us from taking chances even when we have nothing to lose. Directed by Ben Campana, “The Mating Habits of Frogs” stars Amber Page as Sylvia and Betty Lorkowski as Alison.

Loopshop is Chicago-based Strangeloop Theatre's annual short play and new works series. This year's production features a mix of short, original plays and scenes from full scripts in development — all from local playwrights. 

MAGIC, MACHINES INVADE NEW SEASON AT STRANGELOOP THEATRE

2013-2014 season launches with Loopshop 6 on July 29 & 30

CHICAGO – Strangeloop Theatre announces its sixth season of pursing the undiscovered, highlighting big stories in intimate spaces. The five productions in the 2013-2014 Season range from new twists on well-known pieces to original works created by company members.

“As our company matures on its journey into the undiscovered, we wanted to consciously reach back and pull from the imagination of childhood,” said Co-Artistic Director Brad Gunter. “These plays continue our mission to present works of consequence, but with the kind of magic and mystery that captivated us when we were young – robots and fairies and frogs.”

The season begins in July with Loopshop 6, the company’s annual short play and new works series, with seven new pieces from local playwrights, each performed both nights of this two-night run.

This year's production features a mix of short, original plays and scenes from full scripts in development, which will give audience members the opportunity to join Strangeloop in the discovery process. The pieces in Loopshop 6 take viewers on a journey from the Animal Universe to Wedding Hell with conspiracy and sibling-rivalry-filled stops in between.

The featured plays of Loopshop 6 are:

• Mitera by Maria Burnham (Directed by Elana Elyce)
• The Mad Gasser of Mattoon by Keith Gatchel (Directed by Maria Burnham)
• Wedding Hell by Letitia Guillaud (Directed by Lisa Uhlig) 
• Conspiracy Theory by Brad Gunter (Directed by Letitia Guillaud) 
• The Mating Habits of Frogs by Barb Lhota (Directed by Ben Campana) 
• In Light of the Drinking Man’s Moon by Kyle Martin (Directed by James Sparling) 
• The Odyssey an adaptation by Michael Wagman (Directed by Carrie Campana) 

Performances for Loopshop 6 will be at 8 p.m. on Monday, July 29, and Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at Chemically Imbalanced Comedy Theatre, 1422 West Irving Park Road, Chicago. Tickets for the show are $10 at the door or online at www.strangelooptheatre.org.

The sixth season continues in the fall with R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots), by the Czech writer Karel Capek and directed by Brad Gunter. The play, which introduced the word robot (from the Czech robota, meaning forced labor) to the world in 1920, examines what it is to be human and robot, and what it means to love. R.U.R. runs Sept. 5 through Oct. 6, 2013, at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays.

The company will continue its collaborative tradition of developing a holiday show in December, and bring back its popular French With Me production with vignette-style musings on love just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Next spring, the season will close with an original interpretation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, bringing a fun-filled and intimate approach to this perennial favorite. Company member Holly Robison will direct this classic story of girl loves boy who loves other girl who loves other boy. (Now with more fairies!)

With R.U.R. and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Strangeloop returns to The Side Project Theatre, 1439 West Jarvis Ave, Chicago.

Season 6 subscriptions will be available at Loopshop 6 and online at www.strangelooptheatre.com.