Thursday, January 28, 2016

Strangeloop announces auditions for its spring show, 'Mitera'


Strangeloop Theatre is seeking 1 male and 4 female actors for the world premiere production of Mitera by Maria Burnham. The play will be directed by Letitia Guillaud and performances will take place at Berger Park North Mansion in Edgewater, beginning in April.
 
Auditions are scheduled for Wednesday, February 3, and Thursday, February 4, at the Theatre School at DePaul University (2350 N Racine Ave, Chicago, IL 60614).  Email headshot and resume to casting@strangelooptheatre.org to reserve an audition spot. Sides will be provided.
 
Roles include:
Olga Sheridan - 40, the eldest sister, unmarried, Greek-America, spent life taking care of her parents
Nitsa Sheridan - 35, the middle sister, unmarried, Greek-American, works in family sweet shop
Dimitra Sheridan - 31, the youngest sister, unmarried, Greek-American, jewelry artist
Sharon Kaskalis - 65, godmother to Dimitra, American, husband was Greek
Dimitris Kokkinakis - 40's, Greek cousin to the Sheridan sisters
 
Please note the role of Dimitris Kokkinakis will require a Greek accent. 
 
Mitera is the story of three, single adult Greek-American sisters who live at home and have their lives turned upside down when they find out their mother is still micromanaging their lives from beyond the grave.
 
More information about the audition can be found here.
 

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

French With Me 6: Spotlight on Chef Thom Ramirez

Strangeloop is excited to have Chef Thom Ramirez as our French With Me food sponsor! Chef Ramirez has some delectable dishes in store for attendees.

A Chicago native and graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, Ramirez is the executive chef of Four Star Lounge in Lincoln Park and is the executive chef and owner of Chef Thom's Custom Catering.

He is bringing his specialty in upscale urban food to our revamped gala, which will weave the intimate storytelling of Strangeloop seamlessly around the creative cuisine of Chef Ramirez.

French With Me 6: Le Salon takes place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 13, at Vagabond School of the Arts (4001 N Ravenswood Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60613). Tickets are $25 in advance or at the door, and are available now through Brown Paper Tickets.

We are elated to have this rising star of the Chicago culinary world join us for French With Me. Come sample his delicious dishes and start your new love affair with food. What you and your hors d'oeuvre do in the dark corners of Vagabond is entire up to you... 

Thursday, January 21, 2016

French With Me 6: Spotlight on 525 Executive Sweets

Also returning to this year's French With Me is our dessert sponsor, 525 Executive Sweets, whose divine baking had us all dreaming of red velvet Oreo cookie crust cupcakes all year long. You don't know love until you've had it this heavenly sweet form!

525 Executive Sweets, owned by baker Jenna Douglas, is a Chicago storefront bakery and sweets truck that creates customized branded sweets for businesses and social events. Her company allows clients to create their own flavor blends and toppers.

French With Me 6: Le Salon takes place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 13, at Vagabond School of the Arts (4001 N Ravenswood Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60613). Tickets are $25 in advance or at the door, and are available now through Brown Paper Tickets.


We are so thrilled to have 525 Executive Sweets back with us this year. Come sample Douglas's succulent treats and you'll forget about all those other cupcake trucks you've seen around town. But don't blame us if you're sweetie ditches you to elope with a carrot cake cupcake. We don't blame her.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

French With Me 6: Spotlight on Finch's Beer

Strangeloop is pleased to announce that Finch's Beer is returning as the beer sponsor of French With Me, providing an array of home-brewed beverages for our gala.

Finch's, a craft brewery that opened in Chicago in 2011, has worked with us since 2013, when French With Me evolved from a Valentine's Day-themed short play festival to the celebration of love it is today. As Finch's has continued to grow into one of the premiere cannery brands, so French With Me has grown, attracting larger and larger crowds interested in celebrating love, community and the arts.


French With Me 6: Le Salon takes place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 13, at Vagabond School of the Arts (4001 N Ravenswood Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60613). Tickets are $25 in advance or at the door, and are available now through Brown Paper Tickets.

We are honored to have Finch's along on this journey with us. Come sample their delicious beers at French With Me drinks, food and performances are included in the price of your ticket then take the love with you and buy Finch's all year long!

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

French With Me 6: Le Salon

French With Me 6: Le Salon will dazzle all your senses as our popular gala returns with a slightly different twist. 

For the last five years, French With Me has featured short, original works by up-and-coming playwrights and showcased the amazing talents of Chicago storefront actors and directors. This year, performances will be integrated with the event in a style evoking 18th Century French salons.

Pieces, created and conceived by Strangeloop Company Members, range from sonnets and short plays to monologues, movement and music. Love comes in all shapes and sizes at French With Me. It's for couples or friends, singletons or marrieds. We have platonic love, maddening love, Shakespearean love and, of course, the love of a good pet. Plus, the Inexhaustible, Unpredictable, Amaranthine Shadow Circus will terrify and amaze us with its unique brand of storytelling.

Musical act, Arcana a Chicago-based brass band featuring the talents of Joe Clark (trumpet), Mark Hiebert (bari sax), Will Russell (tuba) and David Agee (drums) will close out the night. 

But it's not a gala without food and drinks! We'll have fantastic food by Chef Thom Ramirez, delectable deserts by 525 Executive Sweets, blissful beers from Finch's Beer Co. (plus other beverage options for our non-beer drinking friends).

French With Me 6: Le Salon takes place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 13, at Vagabond School of the Arts (4001 N Ravenswood Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60613). Tickets are $25 in advance or at the door, and are available now through Brown Paper Tickets.

Strangeloop is also thrilled to be part of the League of Chicago Theatres' Theatre Week, once again. Chicago Theatre Week celebrates the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago. Returning for the fourth year, Chicago Theatre Week 2016 will be held February 11-21, and includes specially-priced tickets to more than 100 shows, including French With Me. For more information on all the participating shows, visit the Theatre Week website.



Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Happy New Year: French With Me is back as part of Chicago Theatre Week

Our popular gala returns for its sixth year, revamped and refilled with love just in time for Valentine's Day.

We'll have all the details for our event soon, but for now save the date. French With Me 6 takes place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 13, at Vagabond School of the Arts (4001 N Ravenswood Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60613). There will be performances and food and drinks galore!

Strangeloop is also thrilled to be part of the League of Chicago Theatres' Theatre Week, once again.
Chicago Theatre Week celebrates the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago. Returning for the fourth year, Chicago Theatre Week 2016 will be held February 11-21, and includes specially-priced tickets to more than 100 shows, including French With Me. For more information on all the participating shows, visit the Theatre Week website.

Last year, French With Me featured short original works by up-and-coming playwrights and showcased the amazing talents of Chicago storefront actors and directors. This year will be even better. XOXOXO.