THE ARSONISTS, GREAT EXPECTATIONS & More Set for Strawdog Theatre Company's 2014-15 Season

Strawdog Theatre Company and Interim Artistic Director Hank Boland are proud to announce their 2014 - 2015 season, "Deniable Truths / Undeniable Lies." The 27th season takes place at the Strawdog Theatre space in the heart of Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, 3829 N. Broadway St. Subscriptions for the season are available now at Strawdog Theatre's Box Office, 773.528.9696, or go to strawdog.org. Single tickets for each production go on July 1, 2014.

Strawdog Theatre's main stage productions include:
The Arsonists by Max Frisch adapted by Alistair Beaton, directed by Matt Hawkins, August 15 - September 27, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and adapted for the stage by Gale Childs Daly, directed by Jason Gerace, October 31 - December 20; The Sweeter Option by John Henry Roberts, directed by Marti Lyons, February 13, 2015 - March 28, 2015 and Quiz Show by Rob Drummond, directed by Max Truax, May 1, 2015 - June 13, 2015.

Strawdog Theatre's Hugen Hall productions include:
Fail/Safe by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler and adapted for stage by Nikki Klix and Anderson Lawfer, directed by Anderson Lawfer, September 14 - October 14, Desperate Dolls by Darren Callahan, directed by Michael Driscoll, November 24, - December 23; Third production- TBA adapted for stage by Ann Sonneville and Clint Sheffer, directed by Mike Mroch, March 8, 2015 - April 7, 2015 and Fourth production - TBA adapted for stage by Forks and Hope, directed by Josh Sobel, May 31, 2015 - June 30, 2015.

For subscriptions, single tickets and group sales contact Strawdog Theatre's Box Office at 773.528.9696.

"There is no denying Season 27 is going to be a big one for Strawdog. We're presenting eight full productions under the thematic banner of "Deniable Truths / Undeniable Lies." With that theme and these eight shows we look forward to guiding our audiences through an ongoing exploration of Strawdog's core values of genuine connection, community, challenge and ensemble. After leveraging our successes this season and expanding to a fourth show on our main stage, we're continuing with a four-show season for 2014 - 2015. We're equally excited to be bringing the work in Hugen Hall up to the level of Jeff eligibility and the attention of a broader audience. It's time to unify our programming and offer one eight-show season across both spaces. It's going to be non-stop at Strawdog and we're excited to be offering all these opportunities to welcome Chicago into our home." said Interim Artistic Director Hank Boland.

Strawdog Theatre Company's 27th season main stage productions:

The Arsonists
By Max Frisch
Adapted by Alistair Beaton
Directed by Matt Hawkins
August 15 - September 27
Previews: Thursday, Aug. 21, Friday, Aug. 15 and Aug. 22, Saturday, Aug. 16 and Aug. 23 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 24 at 4 p.m.
Opening Night: Monday, Aug. 25 at 8 p.m.
Industry Monday: Monday, Sept. 8 at 8 p.m.
Regular Schedule: Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m.

The 27th season begins with Max Frisch's wickedly funny political farce. Fires are breaking out all over the city, and to make matters worse for Biedermann, one of the town's leading businessmen, two needy strangers have talked their way into his home. The evidence is piling up that these are the very arsonists that have brought the city to its knees. Can Biedermann use logic and philanthropy to dissuade these invaders from following through on their fiery intentions? Artistic Associate Matt Hawkins (Red Noses, Big Love) returns to helm this parable about society's capacity to accommodate the very thing that destroys it.

Great Expectations
By Charles Dickens
Adapted for the stage by Gale Childs Daly
Directed by Jason Gerace
October 31 - December 20
Previews: Thursday, Nov. 6, Friday, Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, Saturday, Nov. 1 and Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 9 at 4 p.m.
Opening Night: Monday, Nov. 10 at 8 p.m.
Industry Monday: Monday, Nov. 17 at 8 p.m.
Regular Schedule: Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m.

Strawdog's smash hit which debuted in winter 2013 and currently nominated for four Joseph Jefferson awards returns to the stage. A cast of six quick-change their way through nearly 40 characters as the classic novel is reinvented as a fast-paced theatrical feat, courtesy of a daring adaptation by Gale Childs Daly, directed by Jason Gerace. Pip, an orphan 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 Sweeter Option
By John Henry Roberts
Directed by Marti Lyons
WORLD PREMIERE
February 13, 2015 - March 28, 2015
Previews: Thursday, 19, 2015, Feb. Friday, Feb. 13, 2015 and Feb. 20, 2015, Saturday, Feb 14, 2015 and Feb. 21, 2015 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 at 4 p.m.
Opening Night: Monday, Feb. 23, 2014 at 8 p.m.
Industry Monday: Monday, Mar. 2 at 8 p.m.
Regular Schedule: Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m.

A low-rent investigator named Tucker tracks a stolen rent-a-car and stumbles neck-deep into an embezzlement scheme gone sour. There's enough cash up for grabs to finance a whole new life, but the only way to it is through Irene Pike, a suburban housewife who is clearly more than she lets on. This world premiere is a fast-paced and darkly funny psychological thriller set in 1971 Chicagoland written by Strawdog ensemble member John Henry Roberts and directed by Lookingglass Theatre's Marti Lyons, who helmed Haven Theatre's hit production of Seminar and Gift Theatre's Mine.

Quiz Show
By Rob Drummond
Directed by Max Truax
UNITED STATES PREMIERE
May 1, 2015 - June 13, 2015
Previews: Friday, May 1, 2015, Saturday, May 2, 2015, Thursday, May 7, 2015, Friday, May 8, 2015, Saturday, May 9, 2015 at 8 p.m. and Sunday May 10, 2015 at 4 p.m.
Opening Night: Monday, May 11, 2014 at 8 p.m.
Industry Monday: Monday, May 18 at 8 p.m.
Regular Schedule: Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m.

The U.S. Premiere of this stunning play from one of the U.K.'s most exciting new playwrights. Audiences join everyone's favorite Quizmaster Daniel Caplin, on the set of "FALSE!," the popular game show where gifted contestants must catch the lies to win the ultimate prize - the chance to find out what's behind the "Door of Truth." Sandra is ready to take down the defending champion, but as the questions become increasingly strange, those within the game start to sense the rules are changing. Oracle Theatre's Max Truax, director of their smash hit The Mother, makes his Strawdog debut in this urgent response to the power of celebrity and the horrors it can disguise.

Strawdog Theatre Company Hugen Hall productions:

Fail/Safe
based on the novel by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler
Adapted by Nikki Klix and Anderson Lawfer
Directed by Anderson Lawfer
September 14 - October 14
Previews: Sunday, September 14 at 8p.m.
Opening Night: Monday, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m.
Regular Schedule: Sundays at 12 and 8 p.m. and Mondays - Tuesdays at 8 p.m.

A system failure threatens to trigger World War III in this Cold War thriller, adapted from the acclaimed 1964 film. As time runs out, the president of the United States and his advisors scramble to find a strategy that will save the planet from total annihilation.

Desperate Dolls
By Darren Callahan
Directed by Michael Driscoll
November 23 - December 23
Previews: Sunday, November 23 at 8p.m.
Opening Night: Monday, Nov. 24 at 8 p.m.
Regular Schedule: Sundays at 12 and 8 p.m. and Mondays - Tuesdays at 8 p.m.

It's Hollywood, 1968, and three beautiful women are in big trouble. Sunny Jack Fennigan has the best intentions: to make female-led independent features that turn a quick buck at the box office. A powerful agent known only as "Captain" has a proposition that may be the answer to all his hopes. His three best prospects, girls who go by Matchbox, Pretty Sexy, and The Vil, are ripe for stardom. But a dark trip through seedy motels and murder scenes threatens to turn their dreams into the kind of nightmare where one cannot wake up.

Third Production - TBA
Adapted by Ann Sonneville and Clint Sheffer
Directed by Mike Mroch
March 8, 2015 - April 7, 2015
Previews: Sunday, March 8, 2015 at 8 p.m.
Opening Night: Monday, March 9, 2015 at 8 p.m.
Regular Schedule: Sundays at 12 and 8 p.m. and Mondays - Tuesdays at 8 p.m.

Hugen Hall's third production is a theatrical adaptation of a classic work written by Anne Sonneville and Clint Sheffer and directed by Mike Mroch. This show features puppetry, music and spectacle never before seen in Hugen Hall.

Fourth Production - TBA
Adapted by Forks and Hope Ensemble
Directed by Josh Sobel
May 31, 2015 - June 30, 2015
Previews: Sunday, May 31, 2015 at 8p.m.
Opening Night: Monday, June 1 at 8 p.m.
Regular Schedule: Sundays at 12 and 8 p.m. and Mondays - Tuesdays at 8 p.m.

The Forks and Hope Ensemble returns to Strawdog following their hit riffs on Lewis Carroll's The Hunting of the Snark and Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories for another wild and crazy adventure for the whole family.

Strawdog Theatre Company Special Event:
The Phone Book
Strawdog's Annual Fundraiser
Monday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.

The sixth edition of Strawdog Theatre Company's annual fundraiser is, as always, a notoriously unpredictable mashup of celebrity guests and the company's own ensemble, performing music, original short plays, improv, personal essays and performance art. Tickets are $100 and include entertainment, a silent auction, access to a full bar and hors d'oeuvres.

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