Meet a Robber: Stefanie Johnsen on Schweitzer

We'll be sharing perspectives from our cast of "The Robbers" periodically throughout the run. Here's Stefanie Johnsen (pictured, left) on Schweitzer.

What were your initial impressions when you first read The Robbers? I am very attracted to the language and I loved the possibility in a script like this performed for modern audiences with women. It seemed like a BIG challenge, so I was interested to see how it would pan out.
What's your favorite classical play? 
Classical American is Tennessee Williams – no one writes heartbreaking character like he does. When it comes to genuine classical, nothing beats Euripides’ Medea or Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus

If you could play any male role in theatre, what would it be and why? Katurian Katurian Katurian from The Pillowman, Martin McDonagh. Any male character from any of his shows, really. If you haven’t read The Pillowman, give yourself a treat and buy it NOW.
What do you think motivates your character? 
Schweitzer is motivated by violence. He loves his captain only because Charles enables his affair with aggression and bloodshed.
Other than robbing (or ruling, etc), what kind of job do you think your character would be good at? 
Schweitzer would defend his country, absolutely. Army, marines, navy, air force: whatever puts a weapon in his hands and puts him on the front line.
What do you think your character does to relax when not directly involved in the events of the story? 
Hahaha! Probably polishes his knife or bullies the locals.
Tickets and other details for The Robbers at the link below: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/352335911539310/ 

Meet a Robber: Morgan Manasa on Hermann

We'll be sharing perspectives from our actors and crew of "The Robbers" periodically throughout the run. Here's Morgan Manasa (pictured, right) on one of her roles, Hermann.


What were your initial impressions when you first read The Robbers?

This is going to be a beast of play. *puts on big girl pants* Let's do this.

What's your biggest challenge been working on The Robbers? How have you dealt with it?
Aside from wrapping my mouth around the hefty language itself, playing two completely different characters really inspired me to make distinctive physical choices to distinguish who's who, which was both challenging and fun. Hermann's posture alone is challenging. (My back and hands are sore!)

What's your favorite classical play?

I love me some Much Ado About Nothing. 

If you could play any male role in theatre, what would it be and why?

I'd love to take a stab at Horatio or King Lear. I also love George from Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe?

What do you think motivates your character, Hermann?

I think everything Hermann does is out of love for Amelia, which causes him to make some very, very terrible choices. 

Other than robbing (or ruling, etc), what kind of job do you think your character, Hermann, would be good at?Honestly, if Hermann wasn't the son of a Nobleman I think he'd be a pauper. 

What do you think your character, Hermann, does to relax when not directly involved in the events of the story?

I think he writes love letters and poems to Amelia, but never sends them.

Meet a Robber: Jaclyn Jensen on Roller

We'll be sharing perspectives from our actors and crew of "The Robbers" periodically throughout the run. Here's Jaclyn Jensen on ONE OF her roles, Roller.

What were your initial impressions when you first read The Robbers?
I'm not gonna lie - it's heavy, so it was pretty slow going for me at first. But there is a lot of good action! I was really drawn to the melodramatic tendencies.

What's your biggest challenge been working on The Robbers? How have you dealt with it?
Creating the physicality of a male character was a challenge for me. I would practice at home over the top to really bring on the masculinity, and then pull back a bit to reach something more natural. And a bit of feedback from guys!

What's your favorite classical play?
Oedipus the King. Aristotle convinced me.

What do you think motivates Roller?
Loyalty and camaraderie are major factors for him. And although he seems like he could likely be the most practical of the bunch, he still craves the adventure and mischief too.

Other than robbing, what kind of job do you think Roller would be good at?
He likes to talk and has a lot of opinions. In that time - reviewer. Now - blogger.

Tickets and other details for The Robbers at the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/events/352335911539310/

Meet a Robber! Margo Chervony on playing the villainous brother Francis in "The Robbers"

We'll be sharing perspectives from our actors and crew of "The Robbers" periodically throughout the run. First up, Margo Chervony on her character, Francis.

What were your initial impressions when you first read The Robbers?
The Robbers is the first Sturm und Drang play I've ever read, so, upon my first reading, I was pretty uncomfortable with the extreme metaphors, the extreme character choices, and the extreme length. Schiller really seemed to be indulging himself, which was quite honestly a pain, as I was trying to get through it as quickly and efficiently as possible. As I've worked on it though, I've learned that "quick and efficient" is just not The Robbers' way, and that this brand of extreme can be fun and a great challenge.

What's your biggest challenge been working on The Robbers? How have you dealt with it?
This role's been fraught with challenges, but I think the most difficult one was Francis's isolation. He spends a great deal of his time on stage by himself, there aren't many people that he actually interacts with, and he doesn't know how to reach out to any of them. It's self-perpetuated, even if it's the last thing that he wants.  My answer's already longer than it should be, but I dealt with it by doing a ton of homework to begin with, and once we opened I got the lovely gift of an audience to play with, so Francis isn't really alone anymore (my scene partners have been great, too). I'm still figuring out what that dynamic is, but it's a rich journey.

What's your favorite classical play?
That's a kind of unfair question (at least for me).  I used to say Measure for Measure and King Lear, but I find new reasons to appreciate Shakespeare's plays and characters and words all the time, so picking one just doesn't seem right...

If you could play any male role in theatre, what would it be and why?
I used to have all kinds of dreams about male roles that I wanted to play (this was back in high school, so they're pretty embarrassing), but I realized I was setting myself for disappointment and decided to stop thinking about it. I was clearly wrong about the disappointment, as I get cast in male roles pretty frequently, but my wish list is still retired. I'm actually pretty happy with Francis.

What do you think motivates Francis?
In the first act, it's his longing for Amelia. His dad's bad parenting sets the framework, but it's really all Amelia. And in the second act, it's all fear (or, more accurately, "terror").

Other than robbing (or ruling, etc), what kind of job do you think Francis would be good at?
He'd make a great "Hell is Real" poster...

What do you think your character does to relax when not directly involved in the events of the story?
Apparently, he plays the harpsichord sometimes. I don't think Francis knows how to relax.



Tickets and other details for The Robbers at the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/events/352335911539310/

Meet the Cast & Crew of What Was Mine to Do, Opening on September 7th

Strangeloop Theatre is excited to announce the cast and crew of our upcoming production of What Was Mine to Do, opening September 7th.

Cast:  

Monnie Aleahmad (Dadullah) - Monnie is very excited to be making his debut with Strangeloop Theatre after a long hiatus from the stage. Monnie was last seen on stage as Walker Harris in Players, Please Theatre’s production of Two Rooms by Lee Blessing. Previous theatre credits also include multiple plays at College of DuPage; of which his favorites are the Glory of Living; Heroic Journeys, an original play created by cast and crew; and The Laramie Project. Monnie also appeared in A Raisin in the Sun at Harper College, Wheaton Drama’s production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Addison Community Theatre’s production of Juvie, Players, Please Theatre’s W.A.S.P., and Baby With the Bath Water.  

Kate Black-Spence (Claire) - Kate is the Company Manager and an ensemble actor at Stage Left Theatre where she has been seen in The Fisherman, Here Where It's Safe, After Ashley, and coming up this spring in the American Premiere of Rabbit. She has also worked with such companies as A Red Orchid Theatre,  Ruckus Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, Silk Road Rising, and About Face Theatre. In the last couple years Kate has also begun pursuing film and has starred in 2 feature length films and countless shorts- one of which ("By Any Other Name") has toured festivals internationally in New York City, South Korea, New Zealand, and India.  Check out her latest webseries "The Throwaways" with telloFilms which tells the story of Chicago LGBT homeless youth.

 Denise Blank (Candice) - Denise studied at Notre Dame (BA, MNA), Indiana University (MFA) and ACT (SF). Chicago credits: Leaving Iowa (Royal George Cabaret), The Middle Ages (Buffalo Theatre Ensemble), Metropolis PAC, Collaboraction, Seanachai, First Folio, Borealis/Fox Valley Shakespeare and numerous development projects. Other stage credits: Brown County Playhouse, California Conservatory, Lamplighters, San Jose Young Conservatory. On-camera credits: industrials (NHTSA, Ace Hardware), regional commercials, and supporting roles in several independent features. Denise teaches and works in arts administration.

Matthew Lloyd (Thomas) - Matthew is making his first appearance with Strangeloop Theatre. He has worked previously at Blue Collar Theatre, ETA Creative Arts Foundation, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Gorilla Tango Theatre, Muse Theatre, August Augustus Productions, Schaumburg Center of the Performing Arts, Northeastern University, Glenwood Performing Arts Center, The Drama Group, Brooklyn Field House, Maxon Blackhall Community Theatre and Illinois State University. Matthew studied at Illinois State University and works with high school students in the speech and drama programs in the Chicago South Suburban area.

Gustavo Obregon (Kamil) - Gustavo is a graduate of Theatre Program at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. Most recently he performed the part of Hamed in Keith Anwar’s Kabulitis, produced by Polarity Ensemble Theatre in association with Rasaka Theatre Company. This will be the third time he has had the privilege of playing the role of a man from Afghanistan. And the first time he will get to learn a little Pashto.

Andy Quijano (Toons) - Andy is delighted to be working with Strangeloop Theatre for the first time. Previous Chicago credits include Farragut North (Stage Left), An Enemy of the People (Stage Left), Freedom, NY (understudy/Teatro Vista) and 50 Plays by Joe Janes.  Andy is a proud ensemble member of Akvavit Theatre.

Colin Reeves (Frank) - Colin is excited to be working with Strangeloop and being part of the premiere of What Was Mine to Do. Colin studied at the Northwestern University Theater Department in his twenties. Since then, he’s been practicing landscape architecture, with an eye to getting involved in Chicago theater when the time was right.  He made his debut earlier this year, appearing in in Kokkola at the Akvavit Theater.  

CREW: 

Doug Long (Director) - Doug directed the Incubator play development of What Was Mine to Do at the Chicago Cultural Center’s DCA Studio Theatre in March. For Strangeloop, he has previously directed Strangers and Romance and short plays for two Loopshops. He has directed plays and readings in and around Chicago for 16 years, at numerous theatres including VictoryGardens, Steppenwolf, College of DuPage, Emerald City, Bailiwick, the Theatre Building, Village Players, and Chicago Dramatists. Recent productions include The Frogs, Suddenly Last Summer, and the premiere of his own adaptation, Alive and Dead in Indiana, which will receive its third production in South Bend, IN, in November. He is on the faculty at DePaulUniversity and taught acting for several years at the Victory Gardens Training Center. He holds an MFA in Directing from Indiana University and a bachelors in theatre from Ball State University. 

Dustin Spence (Playwright) - Dustin is proud to be debuting his latest work on the Strangeloop Theatre stage. Dustin's other work includes The Sound of a Yellow Flower, Leaving Georgetown, and Close: an examination room encounter. Dustin is a founding member of Strangeloop Theatre. 

Glen Anderson (Scenic Designer) - Glen holds a BS degree in Technical Theatre and Design from Ball State University in Muncie, IN. He received his MFA degree from The University of Florida in Gainesville, Fl. He revived the Barbizon Award for design excellence from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in 2007 for his design of Samuel Becket’s WAITING FOR GODOT. His work has appeared in Light and Sound America, Dance Teacher Magazine, Muse Magazine and the cover of Southern Theatre. Photos of his designs are now included in Author and former SNL writer David Misch’s new book on American comedy “ What’s so funny”. He has displayed his work in the World Stage Design exhibition in Toronto Canada and has been invited to display his work in the Prague quadrennial design exhibition. He has trained in both American and European theatrical design philosophy, combining them both into his work. His work has appeared on Tour and on stages in the United States, Unintended Kingdom and Nigeria with companies such as the Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, Light Opera Oklahoma, The Theatre in The Park, Gorilla Theatre Kansas City, Western Washington University, Theatre Gym Kansas city, Strange loop Chicago, Missouri Western State University, The PK Yong Performing Arts program and ZMirage London/Nigeria.

Libby Beyreis (Violence Designer) -

Libby is delighted to be back at Strangeloop, where her violence design previously appeared in "As You Like It", "The Sound of a Yellow Flower" and "Maid of Orleans".  She has designed violence for Chicago companies including Idle Muse, The DIVISION, Focal Point Theater Company, Chase Park, Free Street, as well as numerous shows with Babes With Blades, where she is an ensemble member.

Ben Campana (Prop Designer) - Ben is proud to be designing props for the world premiere of What Was Mine To Do. He would like to thank his wife Carrie for her support and use of her sowing machine and Michael Bratta for the wonderful props he lent us.

Carrie Campana (Costume Designer) - Carrie is happy to be working on her second production as an Artistic Associate of Strangeloop Theatre. Her work has been seen in Strangeloop's production of "As You Like It", Sheil Park's "The Children's Hour" and Theo Ubique's "Man of La Mancha". 

Lisa Uhlig (Stage Manager) - Lisa is an artistic associate with Strangeloop Theatre, and is very happy to be working on this new piece by Dustin Spence. Stage managing and directing in Chicago for the past several years, she has worked with multiple other companies and hasn't yet found something she hasn't loved. She has stage managed with The Gift, The Hypocrites, Muse of Fire, Project 891, and of course Strangeloop. 

Jason Weinberg (Sound Designer) - Jason is excited to be designing for Strangeloop for the first time. A graduate of Columbia College, Jason has spent the last few years discovering practically every aspect of the business. As an up-and-coming director and Chicago's #1 baritone ukulele act, he is looking forward to a long career in Chicago. 

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Performances:
Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Sundays at 2 p.m.

Playing at The Side Project Theatre (1439 West Jarvis Ave., Chicago).
Tickets are $15 ($10 for students and seniors) and are available at www.strangelooptheatre.org or by calling Strangeloop directly at 773-757-6689.

Meet the Cast & Crew of Shadows & Lust - Coming to the Chicago Fringe Festival on September 1!

 

Strangeloop Theatre is excited to announce the cast and crew of our upcoming production in the Chicago Fringe Festival of Shadows & Lust, opening September 1.

 

Cast:

 

Cristiana Barbatelli (Kelsea) - Cristiana is thrilled to be a part of Strangeloop and The Chicago Fringe Festival this year! After earning her BFA in Acting Performance from Nebraska Wesleyan University, she has since been acquainting herself with the Chicago theater scene for the past year. Most recent credits include The God Committee (Oil Lamp Theatre), Moby Dick(Chicago Mammals), Bed Bath and Beyond (DT Theatre Co) along with various short film projects.

 

 

Matthew Evanoff (Cal) - Matthew Evanoff is fresh off the boat from the West Coast, after graduating with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in acting from California State University, Fullerton. He is happy to call Chicago his new home and is excited to be part of this production.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genevieve Lally (Pengal) - Genevieve is thrilled to be working with Strangeloop for the first time. Recent local performing credits include work with Pretty/Windy Theatre Company, The State Theatre of Chicago, The Shakespeare All-Stars, ROOMS Gallery, The Tall Ship Windy, Chicago dell'Arte, AMEBA Aerial and Acrobatic Dance Company and the Actor's Gymnasium.  Internationally she has performed throughout Greece with the University of Detroit Mercy's production of The Bacchae.  When not acting she studies and performs aerial acrobatic dance, specifically silks and trapeze - and still dreams of running away with the circus someday. 

 

 

Holly Robison (Veronica) -  Holly is thrilled to continue working with her favorite folkses, Strangeloop Theatre.  She previously appeared in Strangeloop prodcutions of As You Like It, Maid of Orleans, Santa Claus v. the Easter Bunny, and Loop Shop. Other past favorite roles include Martha in The Children’s Hour, Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice, and Juliet in Romeo & Juliet. Holly has been living and performing in Chicago for the past few years, and she has studied at Victory Gardens Theater and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. 

 

Shantelle Szyper (Carly) - Shantelle is pleased to be working with Strangeloop for the Fringe Festival. She has previously been seen on the Chicago stage as Pip in the Chicago Mammals production of "All Girl Moby Dick" and as an eyeless creature with Dream Theatre. She has also worked with Pegasus Players on the Young Playwright's Festival. Shantelle is a graduate of UW-Whitewater with a BFA in Performance.

Sean Thomas (Nate) - Sean received his B.A. in English from Judson University and has studied theater at The College of Dupage. Favorite roles include Renfield in Dracula, Joe Keller in All My Sons, both at College of Dupage, and Judas/Thomas (et al) in John: His Story at Overshadowed Theater. He has also acted with First Folio Theatre in Oakbrook, IL and was the literary associate for Fox Valley Repertory’s first Collider New Plays festival.

Strangeloop Theatre's Latest News: Online Auction

Thanks to everyone who came to see Strangeloop's recent adaptation of As You Like It. We really enjoyed sharing our visit to Shakespeare's Arden with you.

We're currently gearing up for our next season so stay tuned for details on upcoming shows, starting in July with our annual workshop series, Loopshop. Stay in the Strangeloop loop by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.

To help produce our next few tales, we're running a fantastic online auction with some donations from generous local businesses, artisans, and friends of the company.



Items include:

- A massage or acupuncture session and group exercise classes from Interchange Medical Wellness Center

- Handcrafts from local artisans 

- Gift certificates to local restaurants and attractions

...and much more!

Visit the auction!

Don't hesitate. Some items end this Friday!

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If you aren't able to participate in the auction, please consider becoming a season-ticket holder or making a tax-deductible donation at strangelooptheatre.org to support quality, affordable theatre, Strangeloop style. You can find more information on supporting Strangeloop on our website.

Or help us by telling a friend about a Strangeloop show you saw and point them to our Facebook page. Your enthusiasm is truly one of the best ways you can support us.

Thanks again for your support and patronage.