Theatre News Wire

Strawdog Theatre Company and newly named Artistic Director, Brandon Bruce, are pleased to announce their 24th Anniversary Season. The season includes Old Times by Harold Pinter, directed by Strawdog Artistic Associate Kimberly Senior; Petrified Forest by Robert E. Sherwood, directed by Strawdog Artistic Associate Shade Murray and Duchess of Malfi by John Webster, directed by Strawdog's Artistic Director Brandon Bruce.

Strawdog Theatre Company's 24th Season includes:

Old Times
October 6 - November 12

Kate and her husband Deeley are expecting a visit by Anna, Kate's former flat mate. By all appearances a typical gather, but this is Pinter, and as the friendly meeting begins and memories begin colliding with reality, and people begin colliding with each other, Kate and Deeley's seaside cottage gets a little too cozy for the three.

"What Pinter is asking the audience to consider, and what I am excited to explore, is 'which reigns supreme-- desire or memory?'" says Director and Artistic Associate Kimberly Senior as she prepares to helm the Old Times production this fall at Strawdog.

Petrified Forest
February 23, 2012 - March 31, 2012

Part crime drama, part political allegory, The Petrified Forest uses a tense roadside hostage drama to show both the rewards and the consequences of taking action during a time of widespread stagnation, national uncertainty, and personal desperation. Written by a gifted playwright who would go on to become one of FDR's most valued speech-writers, The Petrified Forest is a Depression-era masterpiece which is alternately funny, romantic, thrilling and violent, but consistently political.
Director and Artistic Associate Shade Murray sees the "Petrified Forest as Sherwood's wake-up call to the revolutionary spirit that lives inside each artist and criminal, entrepreneur and immigrant, ideological teenager and grizzled war-veteran. In essence, each American."

Duchess of Malfi
April 19, 2012 - May 26, 2012

Based on actual events in the Italian Court of the Sixteenth Century, Webster's The Duchess Of Malfi tells the story of the widowed Duchess and her secret marriage to Antonio. The love of the Duchess defies both social convention and the wishes of her brothers, The Cardinal, and her twin, Ferdinand. Publicly the brothers want the Duchess to remain unmarried, appealing to Christian piety; however, their true motives are greed and an incestuous lust. When the brothers learn of the marriage, it unleashes a storm of murderous revenge.

Directing for the first time at Strawdog and for the first time as Artistic Director, Brandon Bruce says, "This is a challenging play about corruption, madness and betrayal. I find it to be a deeply disturbing work that floods its audiences with waves of sexuality and intrigue. I believe it's the perfect play for my re-entry into the Chicago theatre scene."