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