French With Me 6: A success!

Thanks to everyone who packed the house on Saturday, February 13, for French With Me 6: Le Salon. We so enjoyed sharing the love of the holiday with you.
 
Were you there? Want to relive the evening and see the photos of yourself from the event? Check out our photo gallery on Facebook. Tag yourself and share with your friends.

If you missed the event — that included a romance story involving the moon and sun, another featuring an extremely overprotective cat, a heartfelt monologue about rejection and a soul-stealing circus...well, there's always next year. 

Thanks again to all our sponsors, who played cupid to all this love: Chef Thom Ramirez, 525 Executive Sweets and Finch's Beer Co., and to the gentlemen of Arcana, who closed out the night with a crash, boom, bang!

Next up for Strangeloop? Mitera. Stay tuned for more information!

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: Ellen DeSitter

Ellen DeSitter (The Enchanting Empress of Elevation, Eliana) is an actress, movement performer, and visual artist. She studied theatre at Northern Illinois University and also studied performance abroad at the Moscow Art Theatre. Over the past few years, she has had the pleasure of working with Chicago companies Steep Theatre, Manual Cinema, Redmoon, Strangeloop Theatre, Collaboraction, Navy Pier, Suitcase Shakespeare, Cave Painting Theatre, The Windy City Players, and Starlight Radio Dreams. To learn more about Ellen, check out her webpage at ellendesitter.com.

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: Cat Man Don't

This week, leading up to French With Me 6: Le Salon on Saturday, February 13, we'll be spotlighting the original performance pieces that have been created for this event.

 

In Cat Man Don't, Jean and Daryl have been dating for a few months now and they are finally at that point where things are about to get serious. They have a beautiful night out and Jean takes Daryl back to her place for some post-date recreation. It is here that Daryl meets Jean's beloved cat, Deirdre, for the first time. Unbeknownst to Jean and Daryl, Deirdre is not as cute and cuddly as she seems.

Written by Company Member Michael Wagman, Cat Man Don't stars Megan Donahue as Jean, Ben Page as Daryl and Erin Colleen Gordon as Dierdre.

 

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.  

French With Me 6: An Open Letter of Rejection

This week, leading up to French With Me 6: Le Salon on Saturday, February 13, we'll be spotlighting the original performance pieces that have been created for this event.

A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine the taste and increase the knowledge of the participants through conversation. To that end, Strangeloop Company Member Keith Gatchel will be working to increase your knowledge through his discussion of how Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young still applies to those who are single when you consider it on a quantum level, which or may not involve drinking a Pepsi.


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.

French With Me 6: Lover's Eclipse

It wouldn't be French With Me without the love-based stories that started it all. So this week, leading up to the gala on Saturday, February 13, we'll be spotlighting the original performance pieces that have been created for this event.

First up, Lover's Eclipse - The Untold Story of the Sun and the Moon conceived by Letitia Guillaud, is the silly, unscientific and unseen love story that unfolds between the sun and the moon during an eclipse.

Performers: Letitia Guillaud, Tim Lee and Miona Lee.

 

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.

French With Me 6: Spotlight on Arcana

No French With Me would be complete without a musical act. This year, we are pleased to announce, the Chicago-based brass band Arcana will perform at French With Me 6: Le Salon.

Arcana combines the fun and energy of a street brass band with the intimacy of an instrumental chamber quartet. Whether through crusty folk music, undanceable alt rock or brain-melting originals, Arcana endeavors to musically answer life's most important question: What would Werner Herzog do?

The band features the talents of Joe Clark (trumpet), Mark Hiebert (bari sax), Will Russell (tuba) and David Agee (drums).

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.

Arcana can be heard monthly at the High Hat Club, including on February 18. So if you like what you hear at French With Me on February 13, you only have to wait five days to hear them again.

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... 

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.

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!

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.

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.

French With Me: French With Me (A Mime Love Story)

Mimes in love from 2014's French With Me: French Quarter. 

An inept, but beautiful mime enlists the help of a briliant and charismatic (but nasally afflicted) Mime Master to help her woo a handsome, intellectual mime with whom she has fallen in love. But the Mime Master has her work cut out for her! Further complicating matters, the Mime Master is secretly in love with the mime she's been taxed with helping woo. How will tale of unrequited love, love at first site and love of mime end?

French With Me (A Mime Love Story in Six Parts) stars Enan Heneghan and Stefanie Johnsen as Mimes 1 and 2 and Jean E. Burr as the Mime Master. The piece was conceived and directed by Strangeloop Company Member Maria Burnham.

The title piece is part of French With Me: A Classic Affaire. The gala event begins at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the The Charnel House in Logan Square, 3421 W Fullerton Ave., with a reception and silent auction. The performances begin at 8 p.m. with live music from Hollywood's golden age and dessert to follow.

Tickets are $25 and available at the door or in advance at Brown Paper Tickets.