THE HUNTING OF THE SNARK to Make World Premiere with Strawdog Theatre, 5/6

Anderson Lawfer, artistic director of Strawdog Theatre Company's Hugen Hall, has announced the world premiere of The Hunting Of The Snark, based on the poem by Lewis Carroll and directed by Josh Sobel, May 6 - May 28 at Strawdog Theatre Hugen Hall, 3829 North Broadway Street.

The performance schedule is Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m.; May 20 and 21 performances are at 9 p.m. Opening/Press Night is Monday, May 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. Tickets may be ordered online at strawdog.org or by calling OvationTix toll-free: 866-811-4111.

Based on the classic Lewis Carroll poem, The Hunting Of The Snark, is a family friendly show inviting its guests to come aboard for a tall tale of mischief and mayhem, of high sea hijinks and impossible voyages, of an improbable crew and an extraordinary task, of an inconceivable creature in a peculiar land, and of the unquenchable thirst for adventure. A design and ensemble-based piece mixing theatrical influences from Chicago and around the world; Strawdog stretches, flexes, trips over a ladder and treats the audience to a hilarious and touching take on one of the world's best loved poems.

"Lewis Carroll's larger-than-life and nonsensical poem just begs to be brought to life, and I'm beyond excited to have the chance to do so with Strawdog," says director Josh Sobel. "This is a magnificently imaginative, funny and harrowing story of adventure and tomfoolery, and we are taking the opportunity to up the ante on the imagination factor. Presenting the tale of this fantastical hunt environmentally in the intimate Hugen Hall, using minimal props and maximum creativity, we look forward to letting the story, the characters, and the audience's imagination all run wild."

The cast features some of Chicago's brightest young talent including Andrew Bailes (Banker), Emily Gann (Barrister), Sarah Rose Graber (Baker), Kaitlyn Majoy (Bonnets), Errol McLendon (Narrator), Julia Meese (Beaver), Michael Mercier (Bellman), Casey Pilkenton (Butcher), Ed Porter (Boots), Alexis Randolph (Bard), Christian Stokes (Billiard-maker) and Suzanna Ziko (Broker).

The production team features Michelle Underwood (projection design), Gregor Mortis (sound design), Nic Dimond (set design), Jeffrey Glass (lighting design), Joanna Melville (costume design), Aileen McGroddy (movement director), Leah Tirado (music director), Kelsey Rhiann Shipley (assistant stage manager), Alex Huntsberger (dramaturg/assistant director), Michelle Maier (stage manager) and Morgan Gire (production manager).

ABOUT Lewis Carroll: The Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (January 27, 1832 -J January 14, 1898), better known by the pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English author, mathematician, logician, Anglican clergyman and photographer. His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There as well as the poems "The Hunting of the Snark" and "Jabberwocky". His writings have delighted audiences ranging from children to the literary elite, and his work has become embedded deeply in modern culture, directly influencing many diverse authors and artists.

ABOUT JOSH SOBEL, director: Josh Sobel currently serves as Literary Manager of Strawdog Theatre Company and has worked administratively with Victory Gardens Theater, A Red Orchid Theatre, New Leaf Theatre and Redtwist Theatre. Chicago directing credits include The Xylophone West (Fine Print), American Agency (Abbie-Fest XXIII), Still Life Of A Moving Picture (Reading, New Leaf), and pieces in The One-Minute Play Festival (Victory Gardens) and Chicago Madness (Mortar/Pegasus). Assistant credits include work at The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, Victory Gardens, A Red Orchid, Bohemian Theatre Ensemble, New Leaf, and The State. Upcoming directing projects include Miracles In The Fall at Polarity Ensemble Theatre and Bethlehem by Octavio Solis at Proxy Theatre Company (San Antonio, TX). Sobel is the recipient of a Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation Observership on Hamlet at Writers' Theatre and is an Associate Member of SDC. He served as associate director of the National Theater Institute summer Theatermakers program from 2010 - 2012, and currently teaches Dramatic Literature at Shimer College.

ABOUT Anderson Lawfer, Hugen Hall Artistic Director: Anderson Lawfer is a Strawdog Company Member since 2002, appearing recently in Conquest of the South Pole and The Master & Margarita. He also directed Hugen Hall's critically acclaimed Pontypool and Kill Shakespeare. He is the host of Theatre Wars! at Strawdog and the late night hit The Game Show Show...and Stuff! Lawfer is also the curator of the Chicago theatre insider blog "Eric and Andy's Reviews You Can Iews."

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 Hank Boland, Michael Dailey, Anita Deely, Paul Fagen, John Ferrick, 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 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).

The Hunting Of The Snark, based on the poem by Lewis Carroll and directed by Josh Sobel, May 6 - May 28 at Strawdog Theatre Hugen Hall, 3829 North Broadway Street. The performance schedule is Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m.; May 20 and 21 performances are at 9 p.m. Opening/Press Night is Monday, May 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. Tickets may be ordered online at strawdog.org or by calling OvationTix toll-free: 866-811-4111.

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