Factory Theater

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The Factory Theater is a Chicago theatre company founded in 1992. Originally working out of a 50-seat storefront theater in the Rogers Park neighborhood in the northern part of Chicago, the company has produced over 70 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 Griffin Theater's space on Clark Street in the Andersonville neighborhood. At present, it are in residence at the Prop Theatre in Chicago. The Factory Theater West, composed of Factory Theater ensemble members who have relocated to Los Angeles, produced five productions from 1999-2001. All productions were either remounts of past Factory Theater shows or original works.

Founding members

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

Past and present ensemble members

Jenny Laffey (née Kirkland)
Molly Brennan
Joey Meyer
Nick Digilio
Jill Rothamer
Wendy Tregay
Kirk Pynchon
Mike Beyer
Steve Walker
Cynthia Cervini
Brooke Dillman
Carl Andress (aka Andruskevich)
George Brant
Matt O'Neil
Wendy Avon
David Babbitt
Nick Booth
David Bryson
Keith Ellis
Jennifer Gehr
Jerry Hlava
Joie Jackson-Graves
Jason Lubow
Peter Marcy
Michael Mazzara
Darryl Miller
Heather Moran
Christian Murphy
Todd Oldham
Ryan Oliver
Matthew O'Neill
Kevin Rich
Dale Rivera
Noah Simon
Michelle Suffredin
Patricia Sutherland
Dan Tamarkin
Heather Tyler
Steve Wilson
Tim Amos
Ray Brazaski
Allison Cain
Tucker Curtis
Ernie Deak
Catherine Dughi
Matt Engle
Corri Feuerstein
Joe Gehr
Sarah Rose Graber
Josh Graves
Christine Jennings
Angelina Martinez
Laura McKenzie
Paul Metreyeon
Colin Milroy
Scott OKen
Shannon O'Neill
Jennifer Pompa
Eric Roach
Sara Sevigny
Carrie J. Sullivan
Manny Tamayo
Anthony Tournis
C.W. VanBaale
Chas Vrba
Jesse Dienstag
Stephanie Boles
Mike Ooi
Scott Pasko
Esteban Andres Cruz
Jill Oliver
Phil Claudnic

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 and Scott OKen
The Surreal World
Clean
Fat!
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
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
The Life and Death of Barb Budonovich
Poppin' and Lockdown (Factory Theater West)

2002

Poppin and Lockdown
Lab Rats
Eagle Hills, Eagle Ridge, Eagle Landing
Among The Dead

2003

Dick Danger: DJ Crime Solver
Factory Theater Presents.....CHICAGOSTYLE
Here Comes A Regular

2004

Being At Choice (remount)
Poppin and Lockdown 2: Dance the Right Thing
Menage A Trailer

2005

Toast of the Town
Lonesome Hoboes
Top Shelf...

2006

The Willing Participant
GI's in Europe
Operation Infiltration: An Experiment in Terror

2007

Janice Dutts Goes to Life Camp
Siskel & Ebert Save Chicago
Dirty Diamonds

2008

Ceres
Ren Faire! A Fistfull of Ducats
Shameless Shamuses
Bustin' Out Of The Hell

2009

Mop Top Festival
Dead Wrong
1985
Hunky Dory

External links

Factory Theater

Contents