The Factory Theater Announces 2018 - 2019 26th Anniversary Season

The Factory Theater is proud to announce its 26th anniversary season of world premieres at its Rogers Park home. The 2018 - 2019 Season includes Manny Tamayo's The Darkness After Dawn, October 19 - December 1; Shannon O'Neill's May the Road Rise Up, February 15 - March 30, 2019 and Anthony Tournis's Prophet$, June 7 - July 20, 2019. Recently appointed Co-Artistic Directors Manny Tamayo and Stacie Barra begin their first full season in their new positions. Single tickets are $25 and three-show subscription packages are $60 and available for purchase now at www.thefactorytheater.com. All performances take place at Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago.

The Factory Theater, celebrating four years in Rogers Park, continues the tradition it established at Season One: producing original, impactful, timely work that is important to the company, its ensemble and Chicago. The Factory's core values have not changed and it continues to do what it does best: unabashedly entertain its audience totally, and completely. Season 26 gets up-close and personal with a home invasion-turned-noir murder mystery by a Jeff Award-winning playwright, a young musician's desperate trip back to his hometown and a shamelessly comedic religious con story.

The Factory Theater's 26th Anniversary Season includes:

The Darkness After Dawn

Written by Manny Tamayo

Directed by Mandy Walsh

October 19 - December 1

Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago

Performance Schedule: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Ticket Price: $25

An early morning home invasion becomes a murder, and that's just the start of a very bad day for Rosemary Ward. As the list of suspects dwindles, the motives multiply and the police aren't exactly helping. Rosemary finds herself in a battle of wits and cons with one man for survival - and it's a game neither of them plan to lose. Factory Theater Co-Artistic Director and Jeff Award-winning playwright Manny Tamayo brings in a sizzling noir detective mystery to this fall under the direction of Mandy Walsh.

Third Annual Shameless Ball

Thursday, Nov, 8

7 - 10 p.m.

Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago

A different kind of theater company deserves a different kind of gala. The Factory Theater presents the 3rd Annual Shameless Ball, a party where dressed up doesn't mean buttoned up. This year, our house becomes your Funhouse, and shameless surprises are around every tempting corner.

May the Road Rise Up

Written by Shannon O'Neill

Directed by Spenser Davis

February 15 - March 30, 2019

Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago

Performance Schedule: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Ticket Price: $25

On the eve of his grandfather's birthday, Michael Murphy steps off the bus into his hometown with only the clothes on his back and his guitar. A happy reunion with family and friends threatens to collapse under the weight of his long-buried guilt and the plague of the past on his family. Ensemble member Shannon O'Neill's newest play asks if a community can rebuild from unspeakable tragedy, or does running away create its own monsters?

Prophet$

Written by Anthony Tournis

Directed by Wm. Bullion

June 7 - July 20, 2019

Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago

Performance Schedule: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Ticket Price: $25

Religion took in 71 billion dollars last year, tax free. A couple of con artists get into the business of belief in Ensemble Member Anthony Tournis's hilarious slack-to-riches story. The Factory returns to shameless comedy just in time for the summer.

About Manny Tamayo, co-artistic director

Manny Tamayo has been an active Factory Ensemble Member since 2002. He has worked with the company in many capacities - as an actor, director, writer and production manager/producer. As an actor, some favorites include: Among the Dead, Here Comes a Regular, Toast of the Town, and Easy Six. As a production manager, Tamayo has produced many of the all-time Factory Classics: Siskel and Ebert Save Chicago, Hey Dancin! Hey Musical! and Fight City. Tamayo has written four productions for The Factory utilizing his love of B-Movies, exploitation pictures and gritty noir. Most notably, he wrote Incident on Run #1217, which won the Joseph Jefferson Citation for Best New Play in 2014. Before devoting a massive chunk of his life to the Factory, Tamayo worked as an actor with several companies including: The Hypocrites, Stage Left and Lifeline Theatre. Tamayo holds a bachelor's degree from Stephens College for Women in Columbia, MO and hails from Joliet.

About Stacie Barra, co-artistic director

Stacie Barra found her way to Chicago from East Texas. She's proud to have worked as an actor with Milwaukee Rep, Griffin Theatre Company, Lifeline Theatre and Strangeloop, to name a few. After performing with The Factory in GIs in Europe and two productions of 1985, she found herself a company member where she began to stretch her playwriting muscles. She's been lucky enough to have two of her plays produced, Take the Cake and Born Ready. In late 2013, she took over as The Factory's casting director and finds such joy in creating a fun space to audition. Barra will also continue as The Factory's casting director.

About The Factory Theater

For more than 25 years, The Factory has created its shows from scratch, doing exactly the kind of theater they wanted to do. From writing workshops to the closing night bash, Factory shows are a unique experience that fits its exacting standards: original, bold, and full-tilt. Its shameless ensemble are ambassadors of a good time, making certain that Chicago remains heartily entertained.

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