Strawdog Theatre Opens New Adaptation of GREAT EXPECTATIONS Today

Strawdog Theatre Company and Interim Artistic Director Hank Boland present a new adaption of Charles Dickens' classic Great Expectations, adapted by Gale Childs Daly and directed by Jason W. Gerace, beginning today, November 11 - December 14, at Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway Street. Preview performance tickets are $15 with performances Friday, Nov. 1 and Nov. 8, Saturday, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 3 at 4 p.m. There is a Preview Party, Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m., with $50 tickets that include access to a post-performance reception. Opening/Press night is Monday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. Industry night is Monday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Single Tickets are $28 and on sale now. Subscriptions, group, senior and student discounts are also available. Tickets may be ordered online at strawdog.org or by calling 773.528.9696.

Jason W. Gerace, the critically acclaimed director of Redtwist Theatre's Opus, makes his Strawdog debut directing Great Expectations where a cast of six (Amanda Drinkall, John Ferrick*, Kyle A. Gibson*, Megan Kohl, John Taflan and Mike Tepeli) quick-change their way through nearly 40 characters as the classic novel is reinvented as a fast-paced theatrical feat. Great Expectations, a masterpiece of Victorian literature tells the story of an orphan named Pip, who is plucked from poverty and thrust into the upper class, his benefactor's identity and motives hidden by lawyers and other minions. As Pip tries to find love and a living in his radically changed circumstances, he untangles a fascinating web of secret identities and hidden pasts.

The production crew includes Hilary Holbrook, musician; Joanna Iwanicka, set design; John Kelly, light designer; Brittany Dee Bodley, costume design; Emily Guthrie, props design; Kathy Logelin, dialect coach; Sam Hubbard, fight choreographer; Mike Przygoda*, music director; Mike Mroch*, production manger; Danielle Whaley, assistant production manager; Michelle Maier, stage manager; Gordan Granger, technical director; and Smooch Medina, master electrician.

*connotes a Strawdog Theatre Company member

ABOUT JASON W. GERACE: Jason W. Gerace has directed and associate directed for theater companies throughout Chicagoland including Profiles Theatre, Fox Valley Repertory, American Theater Company, Northlight Theatre and at RedTwist where he directed the Chicago premieres of Opus. He was born in Anchorage, Alaska and holds an MFA in directing from The University of Oklahoma. His credits include Hamlet (Oklahoma Summer Shakespeare), The Miracle Worker (Theatrikos), Love Letters (Theatre Works), Antigone, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Theatre for Young People), and Godspell (New School for the Arts). Gerace also assisted PJ Paparelli on his Chicago debut, the regional premiere of Speech & Debate, which was nominated for a Jeff Award for direction of a play. He was awarded the Rupel J. Jones award for excellence in directing for his production of Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, and again for directing his own original work, The Arthur Miller Project for OU University Theatre. He is an associate member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and a member of The Arthur Miller Society. He is currently artistic associate at American Theater Company.

ABOUT GALE CHILDS DALY: Gale Childs Daly has an MFA in Theatre from Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago (now DePaul University). She has worked with Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Great River Shakespeare Festival and directed the FreshINK dramatic reading God of Carnage and the main stage production of Hamlet for the University of Wisconsin.

ABOUT STRAWDOG THEATRE COMPANY: Since its founding in 1988, Strawdog Theatre Company has offered Chicagoland the premiere storefront theatre experience and garnered numerous Non-Equity Jeff Awards with its commitment to ensemble acting and an immersive design approach. The celebrated Company develops new work, re-imagines the classics, melds music with theatre, asks provocative questions and delivers their audience the unexpected.

The current Strawdog ensemble includes Jenny Avery, Hank Boland, Michael Dailey, Anita Deely, Paul Fagen, John Ferrick, Misha Fiskel, Kyle Gibson, Sarah Goeden, Aly Greaves Amidei, Carmine Grisolia, Kyle Hamman, Tom Hickey, Shannon Hoag, Jordan Kardasz, Anderson Lawfer, Sean Mallary, Kat McDonnell, Joanna Melville, Gregor Mortis, Mike Mroch, Michaela Petro, Mike Przygoda, John Henry Roberts, Justine C. Turner, and Jamie Vann. Strawdog's interim artistic director is Hank Boland and the general manager is Mike Mroch. Notable Strawdog alums include Elizabeth Auman (TimeLine), Alexandra Billings (actress, cabaret star), Nancy Bishop (casting director), Chrisanne Blankenship (director), Becca Cardo (voice-over artist), Kristin Caskey (Fox Theatricals), Scott Cummins (actor, director) and James Denton (Desperate Housewives).

Strawdog Theatre Company Board of Directors includes Seth Rickard, Gregory Altman, Stephen Bennett, Meaghan Clayton, Jim Hobart, Thomas V. Linguanti, Jennifer Nelson, Jack Rubin, Mark D. Warner, Pat Yuzawa-Rubin.

All productions, plus ongoing late night offerings, are presented at Strawdog's space in the heart of Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, 3829 N. Broadway Street. Tickets are available at .773.528.9696 or www.strawdog.org. The neighborhood has limited paid parking and is easily accessible by public transportation (via the Red Line Sheridan stop, plus 36-Broadway, 80-Irving Park, and 151-Sheridan buses).

Strawdog Theatre Company presents a new adaption of Charles Dickens' classic Great Expectations, adapted by Gale Childs Daly and directed by Jason Gerace, November 11 - December 14, at Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway Street. Preview performance tickets are $15 with performancesFriday, Nov. 1 and Nov. 8, Saturday, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 3 at 4 p.m. There is a Board Preview performance, Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m., with $50 tickets that include access to a post-performance reception. Opening/press night is Monday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. Industry night is Monday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Single Tickets are $28 and on sale now. Subscriptions, group, senior and student discounts are also available. Tickets may be ordered online at strawdog.org or by calling 773.528.9696.

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