Season Preview: The following is adapted from a news release submitted by an arts organization to Chicago On the Aisle.
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STRAWDOG THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF JERRE DYE’S “DISTANCE” AUGUST 25 – OCTOBER 1

For twenty five seasons, Strawdog Theatre Company presented plays at a second-story walkup on Chicago’s North Side. But that attractive location on Broadway was eventually marked for redevelopment, and Strawdog’s longtime lease came to an end.

Now Strawdog’s an itinerant company, looking for a new home while unrolling the 2016-17 season in Rogers Park. The season’s theme? “We’re looking our new reality straight in the eye, and taking on beautiful plays all about losing one’s place,” said artistic director Hank Boland.

You’ll find Strawdog this season at Factory Theatre in Rogers Park, at 1623 W. Howard, a block east of the Red Line on the Chicago-Evanston border in the historic Howard Theatre building.

Curtain is up on Strawdog’s season opener, “Distance,” with actor Janice O’Neill as Irene Radford, whose struggle with Alzheimers puts those she depends upon beyond her memory’s reach. The world premiere production reunites playwright Jerre Dye and director Erica Weiss, who collaborated on Dye’s “Cicada” for the Route 66 Theatre Company in 2014. Strawdog describes “Distance” as a play that “delves into questions of memory, identity and the inevitability of change.”

Jerre Dye is a Chicago writer, director, and actor who is currently working on opera commissions for Chautauqua Opera, The US Army Field Band and Chorus, a filmed virtual reality opera for Opera on Tap New York, while completing his newest play, “Live Studio Audience.” Erica Weiss is a Jeff Award-nominated theatre director and filmmaker based in Chicago. She was the recipient of The Goodman Theatre’s Michael Maggio Directing Fellowship, and is an ensemble member with The Gift Theatre. Her first feature film, “The View From Tall,” co-directed with Caitlin Parrish, recently premiered to critical acclaim at The Los Angeles Film Festival, and their original television pilot “Red Line” is in development with Warner Brothers.

Previews: Thursday, Aug. 25; Friday, Aug. 26; Saturday, Aug 27 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 28 at 4 p.m.
Opening Night: Monday, Aug. 29 at 8 p.m.
Access Project Performance*: Sunday, Sept. 11 at 4 p.m. (Touch Tour at 2:30 p.m.)
Regular Schedule: Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m.

Two additional productions complete the Strawdog season:

“Cymbeline,” by William Shakespeare, directed by Rob Kauzlaric.
JANUARY 12 – FEBRUARY 25, 2017
“Cymbeline” is a no-holds-barred epic, dark fairy tale set off by a king’s rash verdict and a princess who won’t stand for her man’s wrongful banishment. Kauzlaric, who makes his Strawdog directing debut, also helmed Lifeline Theatre’s “Hunger” and Irish Theatre of Chicago’s “The White Road.”

Previews: Thursday, Jan 12, 2017 and Jan 19, 2017; Friday, Jan 13, 2017 and Jan 20, 2017; Saturday, Jan 14, 2017 and Jan 21, 2017 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Jan 15, 2017 and Jan 22 at 4 p.m.
Opening Night: Monday, Jan. 23 at 8 p.m.
Access Project Performance*: Sunday, Feb. 5 at 4 p.m. (Touch Tour at 2:30 p.m.)
Industry Night: Monday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m.
Regular Schedule: Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m.

“The Night Season,” by British playwright Rebecca Lenkiewicz, directed by Elly Green.
MAY 11, 2017 – JUNE 24, 2017
When the tiny, seaside home town of W.B. Yeats gets occupied by an English film crew making his biopic, the Kennedys figure that providing lodging to the lead actor will put a few extra coins in their pockets. They do get plenty of change, and not just Euros, as the family’s three sisters and their delusional grandmother all decide it’s time to stop letting life pass them by in this skewed romantic comedy. “The Night Season” was first staged at London’s Royal National Theatre in 2004. Green previously directed Strawdog’s “After Miss Julie.”

Previews: Thursday, May. 11, 2017 and May 18, 2017, Friday, May 12, 2017 and May 19, 2017, Saturday, May 13, 2017 and May 20, 2017 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 14, 2017 and May 21, 2017 at 4 p.m.
Opening Night: Monday, May 22, 2017 at 8 p.m.
Access Project Performance*: Sunday, June 4 at 4 p.m. (Touch Tour at 2:30 p.m.)
Industry Monday: Monday, June 5, 2017 at 8 p.m.
Regular Schedule: Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m.

*FULLY ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCE
Strawdog Theatre Company continues to expand its Access Project throughout its 29th season. With street level access at the Factory Theatre, every performance is now wheelchair accessible. The 2016 – 2017 Access Project performances include audio description, open captioning with a touch tour beginning at 2:30 p.m. Performances are at 4 p.m. and scheduled for Sunday Sept. 11, Feb 5, 2017 and June 4, 2017.

RUSH TICKETS
Strawdog Theatre Company offers six tickets at a 50% discount one hour before every production. The rush ticket must be purchased in person, exclusively at the Strawdog Box Office. Limit of two tickets per person, not applicable with other discounts, offers or on previously purchased tickets, first come, first served.

All productions are presented at Strawdog’s itinerant home at The Factory Theatre on the Chicago-Evanston border in Chicago’s Rogers Park, 1621 W. Howard Street. The Strawdog Theatre 29th Season subscription sales go on sale XXX. For more information go to Strawdog.org or call 773.528.9696.

The Factory Theatre neighborhood has paid parking and is easily accessible by public transportation via the Red, Purple, and Yellow Line Howard stop, as well as CTA Buses #22, #97, #147, #151, #201, #205, #206 and Pace Buses #215 and #290.

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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, The Saints, the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency) and the annual support of businesses and individuals.