Strawdog Theatre Company to Remount PONTYPOOL, 1/9-2/2

Strawdog Theatre Company and Hugen Hall have announced the remount of the smash hit Pontypool by Tony Burgess and directed by Hugen Hall Artistic Director Anderson Lawfer, January 9 - February 2, 2014 at Strawdog Theatre Hugen Hall, 3829 N. Broadway St. The performance schedule is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at

8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Opening/Press Night is Saturday, Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. Tickets may be purchased online at strawdog.org or by calling OvationTix toll-free: 866-811-4111.

Grant Mazzy (Jamie Vann) has hit rock bottom. The one time popular morning zoo radio jock has wound up doing traffic and temperature at a small station in the even smaller town of Pontypool, Illinois. Until one day the calls start to pour in; people are talking about bizarre mob attacks, military quarantines and people eating other people. Is this a hoax? Is Mazzy a victim of a small town prank? And if it is not a prank, will anyone survive?

Pontypool returns to Strawdog's Hugen Hall after a critically acclaimed Chicago premiere production in the fall 2012 including a "Highly Recommended" review from NewCity Chicago which exclaimed "Pontypool is as much fun as a trip to the haunted house." and Gapersblock.com saying "Pontypool is fast-pace hour of delightful fright..." Based on the Tony Burgess novel, Pontypool Changes Everything, and the popular cult film, Pontypool, by Bruce McDonald, the story is a new and refreshing take on the zombie genre. Adapted by Burgess for the stage including the story now being set in Illinois and an entirely new ending, Pontypool may not be appropriate for some audiences. It contains violence, adult language, blood, and zombies.

"In our 24-hour news world, what excites me most about this piece is the way we spread information in a disaster and the inherent speculation and misinformation that joins it. Pontypool is a War of the Worlds for our generation," said Lawfer.

The cast features Strawdog ensemble members Jamie Vann and Anita Deely, who are joined by guest artists Nikki Klix and Jacob Alexander with additional voiceovers by Michael Dailey and Adam Schulmerich.

The production team features Strawdog ensemble members Carmine Grisolia (set design), Aly Renee Amidei (blood and costumes), Jordan Kardasz (lights), Gregor Mortis (sound design), John Moran (combat design), Josh Sobel (dramaturgy), Paige Reilly (props and blood), Morgan Gire (production) and Hilary Surface (stage manager).

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