Strawdog's HERSHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS Makes World Premiere This Winter

Strawdog Theatre Company celebrates the holidays with its world premiere adaptation of the family classic HERSHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS, based on the book by Eric Kimmel, with book and adaptation by ensemble member Michael Dailey*, music and lyrics by Jacob Combs, direction by Jacqueline Stone and music direction by Rachel Hoovler. HERSHEL will play December 1, 2018 - January 5, 2019 at Strawdog's new home at 1802 W. Berenice Ave. in Chicago's Northcenter neighborhood. Single tickets are currently available at www.strawdog.org. Season subscriptions are currently available. The press opening is Sunday, December 2 at 1 pm.

HERSHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS features Strawdog ensemble members Nicole Bloomsmith* and Anderson Lawfer* with Frank Gasparro, Jon Penick, Sophie Scanlon and Harmony Zhang.

This new stage adaptation of the classic children's holiday book is the latest edition of Strawdog's programming geared towards families and young audiences. The creative team, led by Emerald City Theatre Artistic Director Jacqueline Stone, will use live music to tell the fantastical story of Hershel of Ostropol defeating a series of goblins over the eight days of Hanukkah.

The production team for HERSHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS includes: John Ross Wilson (scenic and props design, technical director), Rachel Sypniewski (costume design), Aaron Lorenz (lighting design), Jeffery Levin (sound design), Gianna Charron (assistant costume designer) and Hannah Cremin (stage manager).

* Denotes Strawdog ensemble member

About the Artists

Jacob Combs (Music and Lyrics) is a writer, director and composer based in San Francisco. His previous musical theater projects include Palin! The Musical (music and lyrics), Unraveling (book, music and lyrics), Falling Apart, Coming Together (music and lyrics) and Legends & Lore (book). He is currently writing the book, music and lyrics for the musical Selling Out, which was workshopped at Chicago's Strawdog Theatre in June 2018. In addition to his theater endeavors, Jacob works in creative development at Pixar Animation Studios. He is also in post-production on the live action short film Without, which he wrote and directed.

Michael Dailey (Adapter) Currently one of the company's Co-Artistic Directors, Michael has appeared as an actor in 24 mainstage productions with the company since joining Strawdog in 1997. Writing credits include three radio plays presented as part of Radio Theatre 7, co-writer on the late night series The Adventures of Picklebot and Lawfer and script editor for Strawdog's productions of 1001 Afternoons in Chicago, Julius Caesar and Measure for Measure.

Eric Kimmel (Author) is the author of over 130 books for children, including Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock and the classic Hanukkah tale, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins. He is a five-time winner of the National Jewish Book Award and the Sydney Taylor Award for Lifetime Achievement. Dr. Kimmel and his wife Doris live in Portland, Oregon.

Jacqueline Stone (Director) is the co-founder and Artistic Director of TUTA Theatre in Chicago, an experimental and process-based ensemble company established in 1996, most widely known for reimagining classic and contemporary works through an Eastern European lens. Most recently Jackie directed the Off-Broadway premiere of Adam Rapp's The Edge of our Bodies at 59E59 Theaters in NY. Other recent TUTA directing credits include the Chicago premiere of The Edge of Our Bodies, the world premiere of The Anyway Cabaret and the U.S. premiere of The Silent Language. Her TUTA performance credits include Fulton Street Sessions, Baal, The Wedding, Uncle Vanya, A Still Life in Color, The Birds, The Little Prince, Alice and The Hour. Jacqueline also serves as the current Artistic Director of Emerald City Theatre, Chicago's largest professional theatre serving young audiences now entering its 23rd season. Upcoming ECT directing credits include the Chicago premiere of Fantastic Mr. Fox at Victory Gardens Theater and the hit production Ken Ludwig's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas in partnership with Broadway in Chicago. Jacqueline is the co-founder of Sirens, the longest running all-female improv group in the United States. She has appeared in and created over 200 original shows with them. Stone taught acting and improvisation at The Second City for ten years and Columbia College Chicago for five years.

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.

Strawdog Theatre Company is supported in part by The Macarthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Alphawood Foundation, The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

PHOTO CREDIT: Hershel (pictured) Ensemble member Anderson Lawfer in a publicity image for Strawdog Theatre Company's world premiere of HERSHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS. Photo by Jon Cole/photo illustration by Rachel Barish.

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