A new year a new Loop!!!

So my friends, theatre goers of every stripe and walk of life, the Strangeloop Theatre blog is back in action! We've got a new year and a new blog all ready to go for you. So... I'd like to thank you for checking back here once again. Strangeloop Theatre is one month away from opening our second full production: Living Quarters by Brian Friel directed by Thomas Murray. Now I know what you are thinking, what on earth does he mean by "full production"? Well it means that we have been spending the past nine months planing and fundraising so that we can present a quality show for four weeks at the Trap Door Theatre! So why don't you come out to see the show!?!

But wait, you say, a month is an awfully long way away... So here's what we have done. This Saturday (1/24) from 3-5 we will be hosting a launch party at the Long Room (1612 West Irving Park Road) you will get to hobnob with Strangeloop Theatre artists, fellow fans, and much much more.

We hope that you will be checking back here regularly at In the Loop where we will be posting all of the most up to date info on Strangeloop Theatre!

Oh, boy the Loop is Busy!!!

Well loyal Strangeloop followers as the title of this post says Strangeloop Theatre has been busy. It has been about a month since the last post so let me update everyone on what is going on in Strangeloop Land! Loopshop, our second evening of original works, was a smash hit! Stage Left Theatre was packed two nights in a row for the fun and frivolity that Strangeloop's new playwrights were able to offer. Thank you for all who were able to attend. Your support was amazing!

October promises to be an exciting month for Strangeloop with two events. First of all we will be holding auditions for Brian Friel's Living Quarters, Strangeloop's 2nd fully produced show. Audition information is as follows

Living Quarters by Brian Friel

Date: Monday, October 5, 2009

Time: 6-10pm

Audition Location: North Lakeside Cultural Center, 6219 N. Sheridan Rd. Please send a headshot/resume by email to casting@strangelooptheatre.org. You will be contacted with an appointment time.

Pay: No Pay

Equity / Non Equity: Non-Equity

Type / Restrictions: Living Quarters looks back on the tragedies that irrevocably separated the Butler Family of County Donegal. A memory play with a seemingly impartial narrator-as-referee, the Butlers reconstruct the events that led up to their “point of no return” and wrestle with the desire to alter their chosen courses. Dialects will not be required during the audition process. Seeking two men aged 40s-60s, three men aged 20s-30s, and four women aged 20s-30s.

Time Commitment: Callbacks from assigned sides will be held at the same location on Tuesday, October 6th from 6-10pm. Rehearsals begin Monday, January 18. Sixteen performances will run Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm, February 18-March 14 at Trap Door Theatre - 1655 W. Cortland.

Material to Prepare: Please prepare a monologue 1-2 minutes in length for the general.

Contact Info: Thomas Murray, Director

Reply to Email: casting@strangelooptheatre.org

If you are interested in joining us for this Irish delight come out and audition! Also at the end of October Strangeloop will be celebrating a birthday. Thanks right, Strangeloop Theatre will be 1 year old and we are having a Karaoke Birthday Party at The Spot! to celebrate. Come and join the party.

Last but certainly not least. If you have been wanting to donate to Strangeloop Theatre, but just haven't quite figured out how to attend an even or a show, fear not! You can donate by clicking on the donation button at the bottom of out main website strangelooptheatre.org No donation is too small.

As always thanks to everyone for all of their support! We love you guys!

Loopshop 1 Week Away!!!

Okay dear readers! The evening of original works is almost upon us! Loopshop is getting all geared up and ready to go! We are truly excited for this awesome production and hope you will join us. The following are the pieces and artists you will see in this evening of originality!



LoopShop
August 24th-25th at 8pm
@ Stage Left
3408 N. Sheffield
$8 in advance/$10 at the door
Order now!


If Only by Jared Dager
Diary of Sarah Fishkin by Whitney Kraus
Nightsongmanchild by Martin Monahan
Baptism and Please Hold Me The Forgotten Way by Harrison David Rivers
The Sound of a Yellow Flower by Dustin Spence

Directors: Leigh Barrett, Brittany Covert, Jeffrey Nils Gardner, Michael Wagman, and AJ Wright

Cast: Bear Bellin, Clayton Faits, Nathan Hart, Shelly Koop, Keely Leonard, Meghan M. Martinez, Ian Maxwell, Emily Nejad, Erin Ordway, Ilana Plen, Frank Sjodin, Nick Vidal

Announcing LOOPSHOP!

Well folks Strangeloop Theatre is at it again! August 23 and 24 at 8:00 Strangeloop Theatre will be presenting our latest evening of new works. And this time 'round we have a pretty cool name. Come to Stage Left Theatre (3408 N. Sheffield Avenue) for Loopshop, an evening that is sure to blow you away. Loopshop will feature four pieces never before seen onstage. Stay tuned for more details and for ticket information. If you attended our last evening of new works at ATC you know that this will not be an event to miss!

Strangeloop Happenings!

Well it has been a big week for Strangeloop Theatre! Over the weekend Brad Gunter and Ticha Guillaud (two of our illustrious board members) tied the knot! All of Strangeloop is happy to see them so happy as they move forward with their lives together. Way to go you two!

Also on a business note, Strangeloop Theatre is busy choosing it's space for our next full production. Keep your eyes peeled as there will be big announcements in the future!

Also with the beginning of the month looming on the horizon the board will commence with the arduous task of selecting the pieces for Strangeloop's upcoming New Works Workshop. As always we will announce the pieces and the performance here so be sure to stay tuned.

I'm sure that folks have noticed that the posts have not been as regular as in previous months. However, as the production schedule begins to pick up so will this blog!

To an Artistic Future!

May 21, 2009 marked the turning of a new page for Strangeloop Theatre. On that fateful Thursday night, roughly a week ago, Strangeloop Theatre discussed the future of the company at our aptly named Artistic Futures Meeting. Many things were discussed including a detailed talk through of the events of Strangeloop's first year, and what has effected the attendees most during that year. Most notably, however, were two bold steps Strangeloop Theatre has taken in its development.

Strangeloop Theatre has decided to appoint the Strangeloop Theatre Board as both administrative and artistic head of the company. This was a structure that had essentially already been in place, but was made official at the meeting. The Board felt that, with the added authority given by the other Strangeloop artists, it could now move forward in bolder and more decisive directions for the good of the company. The members of the Board (Ticha Guillaud, Bradley Gunter, Nathan Hart, Martin Monahan, Thomas Murray, Jill Rafa, Danni Smith, and Dustin Spence) stressed, however, that they would maintain an open structure in allowing any interested artists to participate to the full extent of their commitment to the company, and that, once merited, inclusion in the board was open to all.

The other major decision was made regarding Strangeloop's artistic statement. The previous, intentionally vague, statement has been retired, and a new statement has taken its place.

Strangeloop Theatre examines the theatricality in life and art, and explores the relationship between the story and the telling.

As with the board structure this artistic statement will allow Strangeloop Theatre to have a guiding principle in moving forward with productions and other artistic endeavors. With all of these decisions Strangeloop Theatre will boldly go where no chicken or egg has gone before!

An ending and a beginning

We are about ready to wrap up Strangeloop Theatre's first full production The Millionaire Farmer. As mentioned in a previous post this production has been over a year in the making and it is now in it's final week. The experience of having 47 people all crammed into the Boho theatre (30 audience+15 cast+1 stage manager+1 house manager) has been a riveting and sweaty experience for all involved. In the month of May Strangeloop will be having a postmortem meeting and an artistic directions meeting to go over the experience of the last few months and the last year. We will assess the direction in which the company would like to go. Keep your eyes peeled oh faithful readers and see where we're headed and where we've been. This blog will be updated on at least a weekly basis to let you know the goings on of the company as things unfold at this exciting stage of Strangeloop's artistic life!