Strawdog Theatre Company Presents "Improbable Frequency"

CHICAGO – Strawdog Theatre Company continues their 25^th anniversary season with the Midwest premiere of Improbable Frequency, book & lyrics by Arthur Riordan and music by Bell Helicopter, directed by Strawdog Ensemble Member Kyle Hamman and musical direction by Strawdog Ensemble Member, Mike Przygoda, February 24  – March 31 at the Strawdog Theatre, 3829 North Broadway Street. The performance schedule is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Preview performance tickets are $15 with performances Thursday, Feb. 22 and Friday, Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. There is a gala benefit performance, Saturday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m., with $50 tickets that include access to a post-performance reception. Opening/Press Nights are Sunday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $28 with group, senior and student discounts available. Thursday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. is an industry performance where available tickets are $10 for people presenting resumes or headshots. Tickets may be ordered online at strawdog.org or by calling OvationTix toll-free: 866-811-4111.

Arthur Riordan’s comedy, featuring an original score by Irish band Bell Helicopter, follows the exploits of British code breaker and cruciverbalist Tristram Faraday’s (Strawdog Ensemble Member Mike Dailey) secret mission to 1941 Dublin to investigate suspicious radio broadcasts.  Before long, Faraday is drawn into a morass of intrigue and deception that involves overthrowing the British, undermining the Nationalists, subverting the forces of nature and of course, impressing the lovely and brainy Philomena (Strawdog Ensemble Member Sarah Goeden).

The cast also features Scott Danielson (Mudloon/Myles), Jason Grimm (Betjeman/Meehawl), Christina Hall (Agent Green) and Eric Paskey (Erwin Schrodinger/Colonel).

The production team features Strawdog Ensemble Member Jordan Kardasz (light design), and with guest production members Joanna Iwanicka (scenic design), Jordan Muller (stage manager), Sarah Burnham (production manager), Rachel Sypniewski (costume design), Heath Hays (sound design), Jeff Shields (props designer), Kathy Logelin (dialect coach), Eli King (technical director) and Aaron Cannon (master electrician).

ABOUT ARTHUR RIORDAN

Arthur Riordan's writing includes Hidden Charges and MC Dev's Emergency Session (both for Rough Magic), Rap Eire, (co-written with Des Bishop for Bickerstaffe), Love Me?! (Corn Exchange's Car Show), The Last Temptation Of Michael Flatley (Macra na Feirme commission) and Blood, Sweat and Breakfast In Bed (RTÉ Radio).

As an actor, Arthur has performed extensively with Rough Magic, Druid, The Passion Machine, Project, Storytellers, Fishamble, and The Abbey and Peacock, as well as numerous film and TV appearances, including Fair City, Showbands, The Chosen, Borstal Boy, Bachelor's Walk, The Ambassador, The Last September, My Dinner With Oswald, and Joyce and Beckett Play Pitch and Putt.

ABOUT BELL HELICOPTER

Conor Kelly and Sam Park, under the name Bell Helicopter, have composed extensively for theatre and contemporary dance, including work for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford Upon Avon; The Royal Court Theatre, London; Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh; Lyric Theatre, Belfast and Abbey Theatre, Dublin and Purcell Rooms.

ABOUT KYLE HAMMAN

Kyle Hamman has been involved in Chicago theatre as an actor, designer, director and producer for almost 15 years. Hamman has been a member of the Strawdog Ensemble since 2000. He has appeared in more than 20 Strawdog productions and facilitated numerous others behind the scenes including his Strawdog directorial debut, Old Town. Hamman is originally from North Little Rock, Arkansas. After graduating from Ouachita Baptist University, Hamman spent a season at Actors Theatre of Louisville as an acting apprentice and then moved to Chicago. Hamman has worked with numerous Chicago theatres including Mary-Arrchie (Freedom of the City, Jeff Nomination- Best Actor), CollaborAction, Noble Fool, Northlight, Teatro Vista, Theatre Seven, WildClaw Theatre, Writers Theatre and The Factory where he directed Ren Faire! A Fistful of Ducats. He is married to fellow Strawdog Ensemble member Shannon Hoag.

ABOUT MIKE PRZYGODA

Mike Przygoda has created music and sound design for Strawdog productions including The Duchess of Malfi, State of the Union, The Good Soul Of Szechuan, Red Noses and its 2011 remount; as well as for Barrel Of Monkeys, The Hypocrites and The House Theatre.  He received a Jeff Award in 2012 for Artistic Specialization In Percussion for The Building Stage's production of Moby Dick.  Przygoda has produced and engineered records for many Chicago bands including Diana & The Dishes, The Projects, Kevin O'Donnell and more in conjunction with his production company, Speedi-Fi.

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.

The current Strawdog ensemble includes Jenny Avery, Hank Boland, Michael Dailey, Anita Deely, Paul Fagen, John Ferrick, Misha Fiskel, 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, Managing Director is Patrick Rybarczyk 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).

Strawdog Theatre Company Board of Directors include Seth Rickard, Gregory Altman, Stephen Bennett, Meaghan Clayton, Jim Hobart, Romain Ichbiah, Thomas V. Linguanti, Joyce McGreevy, Jennifer Nelson, Jack Rubin, Mark D. Warner, Pat Yuzawa-Rubin.

All productions, plus ongoing late night offerings, are presented at Strawdog’s space in the heart of Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, 3829 N. Broadway Street. Tickets are available at .773.528.9696 or www.strawdog.org 

The neighborhood has limited paid parking and is easily accessible by public transportation (via the Red Line Sheridan stop, plus 36-Broadway, 80-Irving Park, and 151-Sheridan buses).

Strawdog Theatre Company presents the Midwest premiere of Improbable Frequency, February 24  – March 31 at the Strawdog Theatre, 3829 North Broadway Street. The performance schedule is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Preview performance tickets are $15 with performances Thursday, Feb. 22 and Friday, Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. There is a gala benefit performance, Saturday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m., with $50 tickets that include access to a post-performance reception. Opening/Press Nights are Sunday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $28 with group, senior and student discounts available. Thursday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. is an industry performance where available tickets are $10 for people presenting resumes or headshots. Tickets may be ordered online at strawdog.org or by calling OvationTix toll-free: 866-811-4111.

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Strawdog Theatre Company is supported in part by The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Alphawood Foundation, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency) and the annual support of businesses and individuals.