Strangeloop gets all Dolled up for Fight Night: X this Friday!

This Friday at the Mayne Stage in Rogers Park, Strangeloop brings it darkly humorous tale of violent sex and silicone to Nothing Special Production's Fight Night: X.


A collector of sex dolls brings his new acquisition home, but too late finds out she isn't quite like the rest. With the help of her glassy-eyed sisters, she exacts her revenge on the man who would keep her on a shelf.  

Doll, written and directed by Company Member Maria Burnham, stars Artistic Associates Jean E. Burr and Miona Lee, as well as guest artists Grace DeSant and Nora Lise Ulrey as the Dolls and Mark Edward Penzien as the collector. The piece is co-directed by Artistic Associate John Morrison. Violence is designed by Artistic Associate Justin Martin Fill. The fight captain is Mark Edward Penzien.


Fight Night is a one-night, violent cabaret celebrating the art of stage combat through original storytelling and violence design. Fight Night: X is a night of theatrical violence. No theme, no rules, just fights. 

The event takes place on Friday, September 4. Music by Barker begins at 8 p.m. Fights begin at 8:30 p.m. 
Tickets are $15 online, and $18 at the door. Purchasing in advance is highly recommended as this show always sells out.

Thinking Caps Bio: Robert Tobin

Robert Tobin (Violence Designer) is excited to be back working stage violence with Strangeloop after designing the violence for last year's A Midsummer Night's Dream. He has choreographed fights now for several years in Los Angeles and Chicago for numerous theatre companies. Robert is also currently the Artistic Director with AstonRep Theatre Company. Enjoy the show!!

Strangeloop returns to Fight Night!

Strangeloop is excited to once again be part of Nothing Special Production's Fight Night!

This time we bring you Fight of The Bumblebee, conceived and directed by Strangeloop Company Member Holly Robison and starring company members Maria Burnham, Carrie Campana and Michael Houghton Wagman. Violence is once again designed by Justin Martin Fill.

Fight Night is a one-night, (now in prime-time!) violent cabaret celebrating the art of stage combat through original storytelling and violence design...and this time, it’s MUSICAL!

Fight Night: A Little Fight Music challenges eight Chicago theater companies to each create a 10-minute play combining violence design with musical elements.

The event takes place at 8 p.m. Friday, March 20 at the Mayne Stage in Rogers Park.

In addition to Strangeloop, other companies are: Live Action Theatre, To The Point, Walkabout Theater Company, Wayward Productions, Robert Frosty and Bare Knuckle Productions.

The evening also includes the opening act and house band Realife Dinosaurs.

Tickets are $15 online, and $18 at the door.

Hack/Slash Bio: Barbara Charlene

Barbara Charlene (Violence Director) is a Chicago-based Fight Director and Actor, a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors, and an Artist-in-Residence with Halcyon Theatre Company. Recent Fight Directing credits include Twelfth Night with Gary Shakespeare Company, The Warzone is my Bed with Halcyon Theatre Company and The Nightmare Room with Towle Theatre. She worked on the first Broadway touring production of Spring Awakening, and was the Assistant Fight Director at Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Crimes of the Heart, directed by Kathleen Turner. She was nominated for a New York Innovative Theatre Award for Best Choreography on The Accidental Patriot with Stolen Chair Theatre Company, and has also worked at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, The Cherokee Historical Association, The Lost Colony and the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. She is the Audience Designer at Theater Wit and performs with Room Escape Adventures in Trapped in a Room with a Zombie. She will be performing next in Accidental Shakespeare Company's production of Macbeth, opening October 16th. www.barbaracharlene.com

Hack/Slash Bio: Christopher DeNardo

Christopher DeNardo (Assistant Violence Director/Choreographer) This is Chris' first production with Strangeloop Theatre. He is proud of all the hard work the cast has put in to make the fights as exciting as possible. Obsessing over the best angles for stabs and other violence has been a dream come true for him. He should probably talk to a professional about that.