
Marathon ’33
Gripped by The Great Depression, America gives birth to a brutal new form of entertainment: the dance marathon. Prize money (and free meals for the duration of the contest) keeps desperate people dancing … for days, weeks, months. Vaudevillians, suddenly unable to find a paying audience, flock to this vicious new sport, hoping their talents will induce people to throw spare change at the stage; and June, a child star who made the mistake of growing up, finds herself dancing on the edge of physical and mental collapse.
Jeff Awards
Ensemble
“… in the inventive hands of director Shade Murray … the hellish world of Depression-era marathon dances comes to sizzling life.”
— Chicago Tribune
“… richly atmospheric production …”
— Chicago Sun-Times
“… vivid … visceral …”
— Windy City Times
Cast

Carmen Aiello
as Al

Brian Amidei
as Mr. Forbes

Janet Ulrich Brooks
as Rae

Amanda Christensen
as The Mick

Michael Dailey*
as Patsy

Anita Deely
as Flo

Amy Dunlap
as Melba Marvel

Amanda Eaton
as Ida

Matt Engle
as Abe

John Ferrick*
as Scotty

Mierka Girten
as Rita

Carmine Grisolia*
as Lusty

Kevin Grubb
as Beefy

Chris Hainsworth
as Ruddy

Kyle Hamman*
as Bozo

Tom Hickey
as Schnozz

Shannon Hoag*
as Sugar Hips

Melanie Keller
as Pearl

Laurie Larson
as Mrs. Beckett-Jones

Anderson Lawfer*
as Red

Nick Lewis
as Hinky

John Luzar
as Mittens

Kat McDonnell*
as June

Laura McKenzie
as Pinky

John Moran
as Beezer

Michaela Petro*
as Robin

Molly Reynolds
as Eve

Helen Sadler
as Specta

Sara Sevigny
as Helen

Justin Shueman
as Mike Pete

Noah Simon
as Mr. Dankle

Scott Westerman
as Mr. James
Creative Team
June Havoc
Author
Shade Murray
Director
Russell Berns
Assistant Director
Robert Moore
Set Design
Sean T. Mallary
Light Design
Aly Renee Amidei*
Costume Design
Elea Crowther
Costume Design
Daniel Pellant
Props Design
Donald Cardiff
Music Director
Dan Apodaca
Musician
Paul Foster
Musician
Paul Gilvary
Musician
Kevin Richey
Musician
Neva Whipple
Musician
Shaun Whitley
Musician
Mikhail Fiksel
Sound Design
Eilleen Mallary
Choreography
Mike Smallwood
Technical Direction
Erin Carlson
Stage Manager
Kyle D. Hillman
Producer
Cortney Hurley
Production Manager
Maggie Fullilove-Nugent
Master Electrician
* Strawdog Theatre ensemble member