Magic, Mortals And Martinis Mix In Strangeloop's Production of ‘A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM’

CHICAGO - March 25, 2014 - PRLog -- CHICAGO – Strangeloop Theatre closes out its fifth season with William Shakespeare’s perennial favorite, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Presented promenade-style, Strangeloop brings an intimate twist to Shakespeare’s classic tale of girl loves boy who loves other girl who loves other boy. Join the lovers in the Athenian forest as they (and the audience) struggle with the pitfalls of love during the shortest night of the year while fairies and magic are afoot.

Strangeloop’s production takes place in the 1940s  — a time period that shares much with the ancient Athens of Shakespeare’s original setting: political turmoil, war and the subduing of monstrous beasts (literal in one case, figurative in the other). Women take on jobs traditionally held by men and struggle for the freedom to love the person they choose, not the ones chosen for them. But despite all of the societal and otherworldly obstacles strewn in the paths of the story’s couples, love still finds a place to bloom.

Directed by Strangeloop company member Holly Robison, this production features promenade-style staging, which blends stage and seating into the same area, allowing audience members to move and sit amongst the action of the play. Limited reserved seating will be available for those with disabilities or who cannot move easily throughout the space.

“This staging creates an immediacy and immersion for audience members,” Robison said. “I knew it was the best choice for Midsummer. The play is a big rollicking, goofball farce, really, and with promenade staging, we could show the audience a really good time – and blow up the notion that theatre means sitting quietly in a chair in the dark.”

The cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is: Mary-Kate Arnold (Helena), Maria Burnham (Quince), Letitia Guillaud (Hermia), Caitlin Jackson (Hippolyta/Titania), Tim Larson (Demetrius), Miona Lee (Cobweb/Snug), Naomi Lindh (Peaseblossom/Flute), Ken Miller (Lysander), Kitty Mortland (Egeus), Julia Rigby (Puck), Michael Wagman (Bottom) and Geoff Zimmerman (Theseus/Oberon). 

The production team includes: Lauren Angel-Nichols (set designer), Maria Burnham (marketing), Carrie Campana (costume designer), Keith Gatchel (sound designer), Brad Gunter (production manager), Jaclyn Jensen (audience development), Holly Robison (director & script editor), Lisa Uhlig (stage manager), Eric Van Tassell (lighting designer) and Mike Wozniak (graphic designer).

A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs April 26 through May 25 at The Side Project Theatre (1439 W. Jarvis Ave.) in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Preview performances are April 24 and April 25 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $18 for general admission and available online at Brown Paper Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/611962. Discounts are available for students and senior citizens.

Strangeloop Theatre pursues the undiscovered. Our pursuit is guided by the following:

1. NEW WORK - Producing new or newly adapted work, we ensure that any Strangeloop show will be a unique experience for our audience and ourselves.
2. STORIES OF SCOPE - Focusing on work that is large in scope - whether sweeping tales or stories dealing with large ideas - we present plays of consequence.
3. COLLABORATION - Giving a strong role to each element of production, we emphasize processes that allow more voices to emerge.
4. IMMEDIACY - Using intimate spaces and excellent actors, we bring our audience a visceral understanding of story.