French With Me 6: The Inexhaustible, Unpredictable, Amaranthine Shadow Circus

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages! Welcome to the Inexhaustible, Unpredictable, Amaranthine Shadow Circus. Prepare to be amazed, astounded, mesmerized! 

Here at the circus that always was and always will be, two people walk a dangerous tightrope known as love. Haunted by the circus itself, Edgar (Tim Lee) discovers that to win his beloved's heart, he only has to give up his soul.

Created by Strangeloop Company Member Maria Burnham, The Inexhaustible, Unpredictable, Amaranthine Shadow Circus is: The Ringmistress (Stefanie Johnsen); The Enchanting Empress of Elevation, Eliana (Ellen DeSitter); The Great Bela Ignato (Brian Rohde); The White Clown (Richie Schiraldi); The Red Clown (Orion Lay-sleeper), The Black Clown (Nicole Jordan) and The Clown Possibly Not Appearing In This Production (Casey Kells).

The circus rolls into town as part of French With Me 6: Le Salon 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.  

French With Me 6 Bio: Nicole Jordan

Nicole Jordan (The Black Clown) is a performer, instructor, choreographer and director, working with several theatre companies and schools in Chicago. Nicole holds an M.F.A. in Physical Theatre from the Accademia dell'Arte in Arezzo, Italy. She is well-versed in devised movement, various circus arts and Commedia dell'Arte. She is currently a circus arts instructor and the Manager of Operations for CircEsteem, a Chicago nonprofit youth circus. You can catch her movement direction in play at North Park University's upcoming production of Hotel Cassiopeia later this spring. She sends many thanks to Maria's engaging imagination and to this superbly sinister cast of innovators.

French With Me 6 Bio: Richie Schiraldi

Richie Schiraldi (The White Clown) holds a BFA in Physical Theatre from Coastal Carolina University, and he has been clowning his way through Chicago for a little over a year now. He has studied intensively for a year in Italy, learning Comedia, traditional European Clown, and Circus Arts. Recently, he has been part of a few ensemble-devised pieces such as Drunk Donkey, The Titus Andronicus Project and some solo work and performances. Now he teaches children to be spectacular circus stars. In his spare time, he enjoys embarrassing himself in public, telling bad jokes and long walks on the beach.

French With Me 6 Bio: Tim Lee

Tim Lee (Edgar) is very excited to be joining The Inexhaustible, Unpredictable, Amaranthine Shadow Circus. After studying theatre at Evangel University, he toured and performed as a part of the Skinny Improv. He decided to move to Chicago to pursue acting. Some of his most recent roles include, Busman in Strangeloop Theatre’s production of Rossum’s Universal Robots and as Andy in 101 Ways to Fall in Love with Bard and Fool Theatre. He is very proud to be an Associate Member of Strangeloop Theatre and part of Under the Gun Theatre’s ensemble. Thanks to Miona for always being there with love and support.

French With Me 6 Bio: Orion Lay-sleeper

Orion Lay-sleeper (The Red Clown) has been clowning around this broad shouldered, bustling city for the better part of three years now. He's played many roles, as varied as a murderous Shakespearean henchman, a  patriarchal shape-note singer, a crazed ringleader and a bulldog named Herman. He can be seen this March as Banquo with Nothing Special Productions. He is currently taking advantage of the burgeoning circus scene to hone is clowning and pick up a few new tricks. He'd like to thank the creative team for bringing him in to this delightful circus and hopes you enjoy the show!

French With Me 6 Bio: Brian Rohde

Brian Rohde (The Great Bela Ignato) is excited to be performing with Strangeloop for the first time. When not appearing in random one-off fundraisers and galas, Rohde is the Producing Director of Nothing Special Productions. You may recognize him as the host of NSP's FIGHT NIGHT (at which Strangeloop has performed on numerous occasions). Rohde has also appeared in numerous NSP shows, including 2014's immersive theatrical romp The Most Ado: A Party Play. He's also guilty of having written and directed all four installments of the Nightmare in Paradise series. If theatre had rules, it would be a sport.

French With Me 6 Bio: Stefanie Johnsen

Stefanie Johnsen (The Ringmistress) is the Dark Ringmistress of everything. EVERYTHING, PEOPLE!  She fought Krampus in Krampus! with Strangeloop. She ruled as the evil queen in Once Upon a Mattress at Starlight Bowl in Wilmette. She creeped out audience members at last years' Strangeloop French with Me as an inept mime. She broom battled as an S&M zombie witch in Witch Slap! with Babes with Blades. She hopes she has lived up to her idols Elvira, Divine, John Waters and Maleficent. Enjoy the show!!!

French With Me 6 Bio: Casey Kells

Casey Kells (The Clown Possibly Not Appearing In This Production) is glad to be working with Strangeloop Theatre once again! He most recently worked with them on their original production, Thinking Caps. Casey is a graduate of Roosevelt University and does theatre around Chicago.

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.