FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Artem Yatsunov / StrangeDog Theatre co.
E-MAIL: artem@strangedogtheatre.com
WEBSITE: www.strangedogtheatre.com

STRANGEDOG AND LUNA STAGE PRESENT BOOTSTRAPS

    MONTCLAIR, NJ &mdash From August 6 through August 16, Wednesday through Saturday, Luna Stage will present StrangeDog Theatre's new dark comedy Bootstraps by Ben Clawson, directed by Artem Yastunov, at Luna's Main Stage. For more information and tickets call 908-273-0363 or visit www.strangedogtheatre.com.

    Bootstraps tells the story of one night in the lives of four employees of the Branchhill Industrial Supply company &mdash a firm with the motto "Nothing We Can't Get;" guaranteeing to retrieve and supply you with whatever you need even when all the ethical options have been exhausted. On this particular night the mythic and lauded position of Corporate Representative may have finally opened up and the two main heroes Mike and Loudjack will fight to secure their places for this cushy job with all the perks. But there can be only one Corporate Rep. The examination of what they won't do to get it is the center of this dark comedy about ambition, trust, and antique ice machines.

    StrangeDog Theatre is a group of actors, writers and directors intent on producing new work in a variety of genres and mediums throughout New Jersey and New York. Formed this past May by five former class-mates from Montclair State University StrangeDog made its debut in the world with Eric Bogosian's Suburbia in Jersey City in June. With Bootstraps, written by StrangeDog co-founder Ben Clawson, at Luna Stage in Montclair this August StrangeDog Theatre Company hopes to reach out to a new community and to all the other artists of all mediums in the area.

    Bootstraps author Ben Clawson is a young emerging playwright and is a finalist for the Princess Grace Award in play-writing, and a recipient of the Kennedy Center's David Mark Cohen award. Ben is a Montclair resident and B.F.A. graduate of Montclair State University. An evening of his short plays entitled Attention Span of a Fly reopened the historic Paramount Theater in Asbury Park last summer.

    Artem Yatsunov (Director, StrangeDog co-founder) received his B.F.A. in Acting this spring from MSU. This June in collaboration with the Jersey City Theatre Center (JCTC) and Jersey City Powerhouse Arts District Neighborhood Association (PADNA) he directed StrangeDog's inaugural production of Eric Bogosian's SubUrbia in Jersey City in the found-space at 150 Bay Street. Suburbia was the first play to ever be staged at 150 Bay Street and was set against the bare interior of this unfurnished and dilapidated warehouse. Artem frequently collaborates with Abbey Theatre's David Gothard and JCTC Artistic Director Jorge Cacheiro.

    Bootstraps, starring David Murgittroyd (Mike), Scott Cagney (Loudjack), Tim Artz (Dougan)* and Malachy Orozco (Skipper) runs at Luna Stage's Main Stage August 6th to August 16th, Wendesday through Saturday. Tickets are $20, and $15 for students, senior citizens and Luna subscribers. Tickets are on sale now and can be reserved through the web at www.strangedogtheare.com or by calling 908-273-0363

*Tim Artz appearing courtesy of the Actors' Equity Association.