Irish Family Improv!!!

So here we are, half way through the run of Strangeloop Theatre's second full production: Living Quarters by Brial Friel. Two weeks in and two weeks to go! Last week you heard about what the Reader had to say about the show. Well, since then Living Quarters has gotten stellar reviews from many other places. Here are some snippets...

“Small and simply produced by Strangeloop Theatre, it is the very definition of excellence. ”

Paige Listerud, Chicago Theater Blog (read full article)

Three and a Half Stars

“...fans of Friel’s muted poetry should welcome this young company’s foray into his work.”

Kerry Reid, Chicago Tribune (read full article)

Three Stars

“The adroit cast keeps us firmly anchored in the intimate scenario [...], while the technical staff delivers environmental artistry...”

Mary Shen Barnidge, Windy City Times (read full article)

If you haven't come and seen our little-show-that-could go to our website and buy your tickets now!

This past Friday we had a special treat for those who came and saw the show. Friday was Late Night Improv #1 with special guests Counter-Productive Lover and Boyfriend/Girlfriend! It was a rollicking good time for all, audience and performers alike!

Missed out on last weeks improv? Don't worry! Late Night Improv #2 will be taking place this Friday (3/5) at 10:30 pm after the evening's performance of Living Quarters. This week will feature special guests Funtime Comedy and Barry Menilow! You can get our special Irish Improv package deal (Living Quarters + Late Night Improv #2) for only $17 on our website!

We look forward to seeing you at the show!

Have you heard the news!!!

So the word is out folks, and Strangeloop Theatre's Living Quarters is open and ready to be seen. It was a jam packed opening at Trap Door Theatre this past weekend with plenty of smiling faces ready to come see some theatre! Members of the press made it to the opening as well. Click here, and see what Chicago Reader critic Keith Griffith had to say about the show. Tickets are going fast so buy your's today!

This opening weekend would not have been a success without the wonderful support we have from the Chicago theatre community. Artists and patrons, aficionados and theatre grazers are all a part of what makes Strangeloop Theatre a success. Thank you!

Still not convinced??? There are still three weeks left in this run of Living Quarters, Strangeloop's second fully produced show! This weekend we add a little treat. Come and see Friday night's show and stay for some improv comedy afterward! This Friday features Counter-Productive Lover. Many laughs to be had by all. Check out the special improv package deal on our website strangelooptheatre.org

We hope to see you at the show!!!

So what can I say? Load in was long and involved, but we have a set!!! With just two days before Living Quarters opens at Trap Door Theatre we are sooooooo excited to have an amazing set design by Glen Anderson with equally stunning lighting design by Leigh Barrett.

Here you can see us hard at work dressing the set. Just for the record the load-in was from 6 pm - 12 am on Sunday, and tech continued at 10 am the next morning lasting until 2 am on Tuesday. You gotta believe we worked our butts off for this. So with that in mind there are still plenty of opportunities to buy tickets. Just visit strangelooptheatre.org for more information. With all that said we promise not to show up for opening looking like this...

Just two weeks away...

That's right my friends! Strangeloop Theatre's production of Living Quarters opens in just two short weeks. The actors are busily rehearsing, and the designers are busily designing, and let's face it Thomas Murray (our fearless director) has not slept in a month! Seriously though, this upcoming Sunday we will load in to Trap Door Theatre. I will try and have some load-in pics for everyone for the next "In the Loop" post. A little story about our tech process: not only is Living Quarters going to be Strangeloop's largest show to date (doubling our budget and theatre size!), but our scening designer, Glen Anderson, is hauling the set all the way from St. Louis so that we can have something amazing for you to see! So if you haven't bought your ticket already, visit Brown Paper Tickets to get one. Just click here!

In other exciting Strangeloop news, Strangeloop Theatre has just been accepted into the League of Chicago Theatres! We are very excited to be a part of this outstanding Chicago theatre organization. And let's face it we could not have done it with out all of you loyal Strangeloopers out there! To all of you a great big Strangeloop thanks!

Welcome to the show!

"The home, the house, the living-quarters of Commandant Frank Butler..." With these words Brian Friel begins his timeless Irish family drama, Living Quarters. As of this past Friday Strangeloop's production of Living Quarters is half-way through the rehearsal process. On January 29th the cast completed its first run-through (aptly called a "stumble-through") of the play. With only two weeks of rehearsal under their belts the actors have the play on its feet.

With just two weeks before we load into the Trap Door Theatre, the actors are working hard, taking risks, and spending the time and dedication needed to create a truly wonderful piece of theatre. We have included some of the pictures from the stumble-through so that you may get a glimpse of the work in progress.

Brought together under the tireless direction of Thomas Murray, Strangeloop Theatre's second full production is sure to be a hit. Thomas has extensively researched the production and the culture (go so far as to travel to Donnegal itself!) to create a truly rich theatrical experience.

Tickets for the production are already available online on Strangeloop Theatre's website. Be sure to buy your's today! This is one show you simply do not want to miss.

What a great party!!!

So the time finally came for Strangeloop's final fundraising event before Living Quarters opens. Strangeloop Theatre would like to thank all of our friends at The Long Room for hosting the Living Quarters Launch Party. If you look at the count down on the webpage you will see that there are about 23 days before we open!!! Just a reminder that Living Quarters runs February 18-March 14 at Trap Door Theatre. The cast, crew, and of course those on the Strangeloop artistic board are very excited that we have made it to this point. Just as a recap we have spent roughly nine months raising the funds and gathering the artists necessary to make our second full production a success. We at Strangeloop would like to thank all those who have contributed artistically and financially to make the work that we do a success!

In the picture to the right you can see some of our marvelous cast reading a scene from Act

1 of the play at the Launch Party. As a note on the artistic process, this Friday the cast will be doing its first "Stumble thru" (first run of the play in rehearsal), which will mark the half way point of the rehearsal process! This is Strangeloop's first show for which we held open call auditions, and we have been blessed with such an amazing cast!

Tickets for Strangeloop Theatre's production of Living Quarters are now on sale. Come and see this seldom-seen-in-Chicago play by Brian Friel. You can purchase your tickets at Brown Paper Tickets. We look forward to seeing you there!

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!