CHICAGO- Continuing in it's commitment to bring you the whole wide world in a little black box, Strawdog Theatre Company will present the MIDWEST PREMIERE of Sam Shepard's Tooth of Crime (Second Dance) directed by Artistic Director Nic Dimond. Performances begin April 6 and run through May 27 at Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway (half a block North of the intersection of Broadway and Halsted). There will be a special benefit performance on Saturday April 8 at 7pm. Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 773.528.9696 or on the web at www.strawdog.org.

Tooth of Crime, considered by many to be Pulitzer-Prize-winning playwright Sam Shepard's best play, is a masterpiece of post-apocalyptic, rock-and-roll anarchy. Originally premiering in the Spring of 1973, Tooth of Crime found rebirth in 1996 as Tooth of Crime (Second Dance) with a production at New York's 2econd Stage Company, featuring music by T-Bone Burnett. This story about two dominant killer rock stars engaging in a gladiator-style musical battle to the death will feature Shepard and Burnett's lyrics set to a newly arranged score by ensemble member Mikhail Fiksel. Composer of Strawdog's original musical, last summer's The True Ballad of Fall's Blessings, Fiksel has prepared music for the show's six musical numbers that will be rocked out by a five piece band.

Artistic Director Nic Dimond returns to Strawdog where he last directed the world premiere production of Strawdog's The True Ballad of Fall's Blessings. "At it's core, [Tooth of Crime] seems to be about authenticity and identity," says Dimond, "and the difference between being an insulated Insider and a hungry Outsider.  In this play being the freshest, baddest and wildest is not just about Street Cred — it's about life or death.  In the end, there are no holds barred — two men enter, and only one will remain. This is a story I've been waiting to tell since I was 19 years old, and one that I know Strawdog is uniquely suited to tackle."  Dimond also recently directed Ichor for the EP Theatre, The Lovesong of J. Robert Oppenheimer for the Next Theatre and Concerto Chicago for Victory Gardens. He has been Artistic Director of Strawdog Theatre Company since August 2003, and his Strawdog credits include their acclaimed productions of Julius Caesar, Measure for Measure, Return to the Howard Bowl and The Waltz Invention.

Tooth of Crime (Second Dance) runs from April 6-May 27 at Strawdog Theatre Company, 3829 N. Broadway. Tickets can be purchased by calling 773.528.9696 or on the web at www.strawdog.org. General run tickets are $20 and Students and Seniors are $15. Previews are April 6 & 7 at 8pm and tickets are $10. There will be a special benefit performance on April 8 at 7pm and tickets are $30. Opening night is April 9 at 7pm and tickets are $20. Performances will be Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 7pm through May 27.

PRESS OPENING is Sunday APRIL 9 at 7pm. Please RSVP to SHANNON HOAG at 773.209.6446 (cell) or 773.528.9889x3 (office) or shannonhoag@strawdog.org

Tooth of Crime (Second Dance) will feature six members of the award-winning Strawdog acting ensemble including: John Ferrick, Carmine Grisolia, Christopher Hainsworth, John Henry Roberts and James Anthony Zoccoli. Strawdog Theatre Company is pleased to welcome Guest Artists Brian Amidei, Carolyn Klein and Rob Skrocki. The Tooth of Crime (Second Dance) Band will feature Guest Artists Dan Apadaca, Paul Foster, Kevin Richie and Angela Maria Rojas as well as Ensemble members Don Cardiff and Mikhail Fiksel. Robert Moore will design the set, Ensemble member Allison Greaves will design the costumes, Ensemble member Sean Mallary will design the lights and Ensemble Member Erin Carlson will stage manage.

About Strawdog Theatre Company
STRAWDOG THEATRE COMPANY — The whole wide world in a little black box. From fresh takes on the classics and kitchen-sink dramas to inventive world premieres, we are committed to presenting great stories.  We tell these stories to provoke the important questions and excite the imagination of our audiences.  And we use our amazing, intimate space to fully immerse people into the unique worlds that we create for each one of our productions.  Founded in 1988, the Strawdog ensemble has consistently produced shows built on authentic human connections, and our comfortable 70-seat home in Lakeview is perfect for offering our audience a quintessential Chicago storefront theatre experience. Please visit www.strawdog.org for more information about Strawdog Theatre Company and our upcoming, landmark 20th Season!