Factory Theater

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 Footsteps Theater's space on Clark Street in the Andersonville neighborhood. They were itinerant from 2000-2003 then took residence at the Prop Theatre in Chicago. As of 2015, they have moved into their new space right back in Rogers Park on Howard Street right by the CTA Red Line. 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

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 (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 Neveau
• 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
• Menage A Trailer by Laura McKenzie and

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
• GI's 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
• Jenni and Jenny by Shannon O'Neill
• 1985(remount)(at the DCA) by Chas Vrba
• The New Adventure 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 (remount) by Mike Beyer and Bill Halve
• Renfaire! A Fistful of Ducats! (remount) by Matt Engle
• Toast of the Town(remount) by Scott OKen and Ernie Deak

2013

• Incident on Run #2017 by Manny Tamayo
• 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 songs by Laura McKenzie
• Take the Cake by Stacie Barra
• Hotel Aphrodite by Angelina Martinez, story by Allison Cain

2016

• The Last Big Mistake by Ernie Deak
• Dating and Dragons by Mike Ooi
• Zombie Broads by Corrbette Pasko and Sara Sevigny

2017

• Born Ready by Stacie Barra
• Fight City by Scott OKen
• Captain Steve's Caring Kingdom by Mike Ooi

2018

• The Next Big Thing by Carrie J. Sullivan
• Lametown and the Adventures of Spirit Force Five by Jill Oliver

External links

• Factory Theater's Official Website
• Factory Theater's Myspace Page
• Factory Theater's Going Friends & Fans Page