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.

Meet a Robber: Letitia Guillaud on Ameilia

We'll be sharing perspectives from our actors and crew of "The Robbers" periodically throughout the run. Here's Letitia Guillaud on Ameilia.

What were your initial impressions when you first read The Robbers?
As a company we were considering producing it with an all-female cast, so I was reading it from that perspective. I was pretty excited by all the youthful male anger and the desire for destruction and revolution that drives many of the characters. These are themes that women seldom get to play with on stage, esp in classical works. Plus, I just really love stage violence and this script has plenty of opportunities for that.

What's your biggest challenge been working on The Robbers? How have you dealt with it?
Amelia, as the only female written into the script, was difficult for me for a few reasons. Firstly, I don't consider myself to be the most ladylike of women, so it took some time for me to sink into the idea of being cast as her and of being the only "woman" in a cast of women. Second, she spends most of the play at the mercy of the other characters, so some of her choices seem strange at times, but it is due to her limited power in this world. Don't get me wrong, Schiller wrote a very strong woman here.  She speaks her thoughts and feelings, and is fully capable of defending herself. Once I let myself connect more with her strength and sunk into her reality a bit, I was able to connect the dots of her journey a little better.

What's your favorite classical play?
I don't know that I have a favorite, but I would love to play Medea someday.  I have a fascination with the insanity and clarity that exists in a character when they choose to pursue one singular purpose, the way she does.

What do you think motivates Amelia?
Her love for the ideal of Charles is her motivation.  

What kind of job do you think Amelia would be good at?
There are a lot of bits that were cut, with Amelia wondering around playing the guitar and singing.  I think, today she would be some sort of singer/songwriter/activist.

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

Meet a Robber: Moira Begale on Speigelberg

We'll be sharing perspectives from our actors and crew of "The Robbers" periodically throughout the run. Here's Moira Begale (pictured, left) on Speigelberg.

What were your initial impressions when you first read The Robbers?
A little terrified. The script was daunting and long but the story was incredibly intriguing and the character they asked me to read for was a shit-disturber!  

What's your biggest challenge been working on The Robbers?  How have you dealt with it?
The biggest challenge was being honest and truthful as a different gender. I dealt with it by working on my relationships with the other characters and realized that I cannot control the fact that I am not a man but I can be an honest person onstage, reacting truthfully to the situation at hand.

What's your favorite classical play?
Winter's Tale by Shakespeare. It has almost every genre in it!   

If you could play any male role in theatre, what would it be and why?
I would say King Lear by William Shakespeare. Lear gets to live through all the stages of life!

What do you think motivates Spiegelberg?
The fear of being forgotten and the need for fame.

Other than robbing (or ruling, etc), what kind of job do you think Spiegelberg would be good at?
Salesman!  Shoes or insurance.   

What do you think your character, Spiegelberg, does to relax when not directly involved in the events of the story?
Plays darts with Charlie's picture attached to the dart board. 

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