The Ruckus Kicks Off 6th Season with THE STRANGE by Jenny Magnus

The Ruckus kicks off their sixth season with a remount of The Strange by Jenny Magnus, presented in partnership with Athenaeum Theatre Productions, beginning June 13 at the Athenaeum Theatre. The Ruckus’ production of The Strange first appeared as a part of Curious Theatre Branch’s Magnus In Play festival in February 2014, receiving three performances. Ruckus Artistic Director Allison Shoemaker returns as director, and Julie Cowden (The Mammals, Stage Left) who was most recently seen in The Ruckus’ production of The Deer, reprises her role as the Woman. Ruckus Ensemble Member Stevie Chaddock-Lambert (Ka-Tet Theatre, Strangeloop Theatre) joins the cast as the Girl.
 

Performances of The Strange begin Friday, June 13 at 8 p.m., with a preview on June 12, and runs through July 6, 2014 at Athenaeum Theatre (2936 N Southport Ave.); performances are Thursday – Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 3 pm. There will be no performance on Friday, July 4. An industry performance will take place on Monday, June 16 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $16 and are on sale now at athenaeumtheatre.org. The Ruckus is partially funded by the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. 
 
When a drunk woman stumbles into a young girl’s bedroom, it’s a mistake. The next time it happens, though, is anything but accidental. Jenny Magnus’ savage, darkly funny The Strange peers through a cracked closet door into a room after dark, where two strangers pummel, infect, and—for better or worse—connect with each other. The Ruckus’ production of The Strange first appeared as a part of Curious Theatre Branch’s 2014 Magnus In Play Festival, and it now roars to life again in partnership with the Athenaeum Theater.
 
“We’re so excited to be starting our sixth season by revisiting Jenny’s funny and frightening play, and relish the chance to introduce these strange, lovely, and awful characters to new audiences,” said Shoemaker. “The Athenaeum has created a great home for artists in the city, and we’re so pleased to be partnering with them.”

The Ruckus is also pleased to announce their nine newest ensemble and company members: Bryan Bosque, Kristin Davis, Beth Lach, Kate Leslie, Carmen Molina, Jillian Rea, Nicholas Shaw, Mike Steele, and Zachary Webb.

Last, The Ruckus is proud to announce that ensemble member Elise Mayfield will be competing for an apron on FOX’s MasterChef, which premieres on Monday, May 26 at 7 p.m. CST. Information on upcoming watch parties will be posted onFacebook.com/TheRuckusTheater, and supporters can join the conversation using hashtag #teamelisemayfield on Facebook and Twitter.

About The Ruckus Theater

Founded by an industrious group of Michigan ex-pats, The Ruckus is composed of actors, directors, playwrights, musicians, casting directors, publicity managers, grant writers, baristas, grad students, poets, computer fixers, appointment-makers and census-takers who aim to create a new kind of company—a casteless theater that blends the lines between playwright and actor, audience and company member. The Ruckus Theater is led by Artistic Director Allison Shoemaker, Associate Artistic Director Joshua Davis, and Managing Director Catherine Bullard.

We’re here to create, to examine, to invent, to explode—to create a ruckus. The Ruckus develops new work and the artists who create that work. Our ensemble breaks down the walls of traditional methods to nurture new plays and challenge exceptional artists. We believe in creating our process for every project from the ground up. We commit to the growth of our ensemble, the artists we collaborate with, and the plays we develop. We aim to deepen the cultural bedrock of our community by giving megaphones to new voices and by making theater affordable. By fostering conversations that rip through the curtain, we aim to lead both artist and audience down an unexpected path with art that doesn’t play by the rules.

 See how we make a ruckus all over the internet at facebook.com/theruckustheater; follow our tweets at twitter.com/ruckustheater; and spend hours atyoutube.com/theruckustheater.

LISTING INFO

The Strange
by Jenny Magnus
directed by Allison Shoemaker

Preview June 12, 2014 at 8 p.m.
Press performance Friday, June 13 at 8 p.m.
Regular Run June 13 – July 6, 2014
Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m.

* No performance on Friday, July 4, 2014
* Industry performance on Monday, June 16 at 8 p.m.

Performances at Athenaeum Theatre
2936 N Southport Ave., Chicago IL 60657

Tickets: $16, available now at http://athenaeumtheatre.org/