The Factory Theater is a

Chicago theatre The Chicago Theatre, originally known as the Balaban and Katz Chicago Theatre, is a landmark theater located on North State Street in the Loop area of Chicago, Illinois. Built in 1921, the Chicago Theatre was the flagship for the Balaban an ...

company founded in 1992. Originally working out of a 50-seat storefront theater in the

Rogers Park Rogers Park is the first of Chicago's 77 community areas. Located from the Loop, it is on the city's far north side on the shore of Lake Michigan. The neighborhood is commonly known for its cultural diversity, lush green public spaces, early ...

neighborhood in the northern part of

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, the company has produced over 100 shows during its existence (all original scripts written by ensemble members). The typical schedule during the first five seasons of the Factory Theater was a Thursday evening show, a Friday/Saturday mainstage show, and a Friday/Saturday late-night show. In 1997, after years of ongoing improvements and renovations to the theater in an unsuccessful attempt to satisfy building-code requirements, the company moved out of its Rogers Park storefront and into the Footsteps Theater's space on Clark Street in the Andersonville neighborhood. They were itinerant from 2000-2003 then took residence at the Prop Thtr in Chicago. As of 2015, they have moved into their new 70-seat space right back in Rogers Park on Howard Street right by the CTA Red Line.

Artistic leadership

In the resurgence of live theater at the tail end of the pandemic, the Factory announced new Co-Artistic Directors--long time ensemble members Timothy C Amos and Shannon O'Neill. In 2017, the Factory announced the election of their new artistic leadership team, Co-Artistic Directors Stacie Barra and Manny Tamayo. Barra and Tamayo replaced Scott OKen who had served as Artistic Director since 2007."Factory Theater Announces Change of Leadership and 25th Season"
PerformInk, 15 September 2017. Prior to 2007, the Artistic Director was founding member and radio personality Nick Digilio.

The Factory Theater West

The Factory Theater West, composed of Factory Theater ensemble members who had relocated to

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, produced five productions from 1999-2001. All productions were either remounts of past Factory Theater shows or original works.

Members

Founding

*Sean Abley *Bo Blackburn *Michael Meredith *Tom Purcell *Jeff Rogers *Amy Seeley

Current ensemble

Past and emeritus ensemble

Production history

1992

*''Snafu:'' sketch comedy *''Reefer Madness'' by Sean Abley

1993

*''Attack of the Killer B's'' by Sean Abley *''Tribe:'' improv with Bo Blackburn, Joe Dempsey, Marssie Mencotti and Kent Sterling *''The Angry Show'' by Nick Digilio and Mike Meredith *''Buckets of Blood'' by Marssie Mencotti and Dave Springer (based on the film) *''Bitches'' by Sean Abley *''Santa Claus Conquers the Martians - The Musical:'' book by Sean Abley, lyrics by Sean Abley and Amy Seeley, music by Dave Springer

1994

*''Hooray!'' conceived by Amy Seeley, written by Sean Abley, Mike Beyer, Bo Blackburn, Heather Delker, Jenny Kirkland-Laffey, Joey Meyer, Mike Meredith, Amy Seeley and Wendy Tregay *''Alive'' by Nick Digilio and Mike Meredith *''Kong!'' by George Brant *''Free Pizza:'' by Mike Beyer *''Man Card'' by Kirk Pynchon and Jesse Dienstag *''Disco Bob:'' improv with Sean Abley, Bo Blackburn, Mike Meredith, Amy Seeley and Eric Frankie *''Beaverhunt'' by Amy Seeley and Jenny Kirkland-Laffey

1995

*''Sabotage'' by Kirk Pynchon and Jesse Dienstag *''Jailbait'' by Amy Seeley *''P'' by Sean Abley, Bo Blackburn, Heather Delker, Jenny Kirkland-Laffey, Amy Seeley *''Pet-Scare Theater'' by Jill Rothamer *''White Trash Wedding and a Funeral'' by Mike Beyer and Bill Havle *''The Christmas Show'' by Joey Meyer

1996

*''Preying Manthis'' by Wendy Tregay *''ABBArama'' conceived and written by Amy Seeley *''My Period'' by Jenny Kirkland-Laffey *''Urban Legends'' by Bo Blackburn *''Being at Choice:'' by Mike Meredith *''Win, Place or Show'' by Nick Digilio and Ernie Deak *''529 S. Something'' by Molly Brennan *''Rapid Fire'' by Molly Brennan *''Utterly, Completely Bored Out of My Friggin' Mind'' by Jill Rothamer *''Escape from The North Pole'' by Nick Digilio and Mike Meredith *''Second City Didn't Want Us, or, Is There a Spot in the Touring Company for My Girlfriend?'' sketch comedy conceived by Sean Abley and written by Sean Abley, Bo Blackburn, Brooke Dillman, Eric Frankie, Jenny Kirkland-Laffey, Mike Meredith and Amy Seeley

1997

*''Nuclear Family'' by Sean Abley *''Battleaxe Betty'' by Molly Brennan *''The Surreal World'' *''Clean'' by Michael Meredith *''Fat!'' by Michelle Suffredin *''The Factory Theater's Shut Up and Laugh Comedy Festival''

1998

*''The Barbara Walters Interviews'' by Jenny Kirkland-Laffey *''The Factory All-Star Late Night Fiasco'' *''Vinyl Shop'' by Nick Digilio and Mike Vieau *''Amy Seeley and the Moline Madman'' by Amy Seeley *''The Factory Theater's Shut Up and Laugh Comedy Festival''

1999

*''Herb Stabler, Wandering Spirit'' by Mike Beyer *''Surface Dwellers'' by Scott OKen and Ernest Deak *''Dancing With the Past'' by Patricia Sutherland *''Factory Match Game '99'' *''Dragontales'' by Molly Brennan *''Endzone'' by Michael Mazzara *''The Factory Theater's Shut Up and Laugh Comedy Festival'' *''White Trash Wedding and a Funeral'' (Factory Theater West) *''Attack of the Killer B's'' (Factory Theater West): Winner, Backstage West Garland Award for Best Adaptation

2000

*''Gooooooo Speech Team!'' by Jenny Kirkland *''Being at Choice'' (Factory Theater West) *''Kirk du Soleil'' (Factory Theater West)

2001

*''Variations on Death'' *''Captain Raspberry'' by Matthew O'Neill *''The Life and Death of Barb Budonovich'' *''Poppin' and Lockdown'' by Kirk Pynchon and Michael Meredith (Factory Theater West)

2002

*''Poppin and Lockdown'' by Kirk Pynchon and Michael Meredith *''Lab Rats'' by Various Artists *''Eagle Hills, Eagle Ridge, Eagle Landing'' by Brett Neveu *''Among the Dead'' by Ryan Oliver

2003

*''Dick Danger: DJ Crime Solver'' *''Factory Theater Presents.....CHICAGOSTYLE'' by Various Artists *''Here Comes a Regular'' by Nick Digilio and Mike Vieau

2004

*''Being at Choice'' (remount) by Mike Meredith *''Poppin and Lockdown 2: Dance the Right Thing'' by Kirk Pynchon and Mike Meredith *''Ménage À Trailer'' by Laura McKenzie and Mark Sam Rosenthal

2005

*''Toast of the Town'' by Scott OKen and Ernie Deak *''Lonesome Hoboes'' by George Brandt *''Top Shelf...'' by Scott OKen

2006

*''The Willing Participant'' by Matthew O'Neill *''GIs in Europe'' by Scott OKen and Ernie Deak *''Operation Infiltration: An Experiment in Terror'' by Manny Tamayo

2007

*''Janice Dutts Goes to Life Camp'' by Laura McKenzie *''Siskel & Ebert Save Chicago'' by Eric Roach *''Dirty Diamonds'' by Mike Beyer

2008

*''Ceres'' by Heather Tyler *''Ren Faire! A Fistfull of Ducats'' by Matt Engle *''Shameless Shamuses'' by Ernie Deak *''Bustin' Out of the Hell'' by Scott OKen

2009

*''Mop Top Festival'' by Scott OKen *''Dead Wrong'' by Manny Tamayo *''1985'' by Chas Vrba *''Hunky Dory'' by Joe Gehr

2010

*''Hey! Dancin!'' by Kirk Pynchon and Mike Beyer *''The League of Awesome'' by Corrbette Pasko and Sara Sevigny *''Jenny and Jenni'' by Shannon O'Neill and Christine Jennings *''1985'' (remount at the DCA Storefront Theatre) by Chas Vrba *''The New Adventures of Popeye'' by Sarah Rose Graber

2011

*''Easy Six'' by Scott OKen and Ernie Deak *''Black and Blue'' by Anthony Tournis and Nick Digilio *''The Gray Girl'' by Colin Milroy

2012

*''White Trash Wedding and a Funeral'' (20th Season Remount) by Mike Beyer and Bill Halve *''Renfaire! A Fistful of Ducats!'' (20th Season Remount) by Matt Engle *''Toast of the Town'' (20th Season Remount) by Scott OKen and Ernie Deak

2013

*''Incident on Run #1217'' by Manny Tamayo: Winner, Joseph Jefferson Award, Best New Play (Non-Equity Wing) *''Namosaur!'' by Scott OKen *''Street Justice: Condition Red'' by Anthony Tournis and Colin Milroy

2014

*''Hey! Dancin'! Hey! Musical!'' by Kirk Pynchon and Mike Beyer, music & lyrics by Laura McKenzie *''Take the Cake'' by Stacie Barra *''Hotel Aphrodite'' by Angelina Martinez, story by Allison Cain

2015–16 season

*''The Last Big Mistake'' by Ernie Deak *''Dating and Dragons'' by Mike Ooi

2016–17 season

*''Zombie Broads'' by Corrbette Pasko and Sara Sevigny *''Born Ready'' by Stacie Barra *''Fight City'' by Scott OKen

2017–18 season

*''Captain Steve's Caring Kingdom'' by Mike Ooi *''The Next Big Thing'' by Carrie J. Sullivan *''The Adventures of Spirit Force Five'' by Jill Oliver

2018–19 season

*''The Darkness After Dawn'' by Manny Tamayo *''May the Road Rise Up'' by Shannon O'Neill *''Prophet$'' by Anthony Tournis

2019–20 season

*''Oh Sh#t! It's Haunted!'' by Scott OKen *''Last Night in Karaoke Town'' by Mike Beyer and Kirk Pynchon *''The HOA'' by Angelina Martinez

References

External links

Factory Theater's Official WebsiteFactory Theater's Myspace PageFactory Theater's Official Facebook Page
{{Chicago mtp 1992 establishments in Illinois Theatre companies in Chicago