Big Changes Ahead for Factory Theater’s 28th Season

For more than 27 years, The Factory Theater 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.

The Factory Theater is proud to announce its 28th anniversary season of world premieres including Angelina Martinez’s HOA, September 9 – October 22, Shannon O’Neill’s The Kelly Girls, February 17 – April 1, 2023 and Len Foote and Scott OKen’s Lane Call, June 9 – July 22, 2023 and the late night variety show series Factory After Dark. Single tickets and three show subscription packages are available for purchase now at TheFactoryTheater.com. All performances take place at Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St.

The Factory Theater also announces new officers, company members and artistic associates as it launches its 28th season. Phil Claudnic is the company’s new managing director, Timothy C. Amos and Shannon O’Neill assume the position of co-artistic directors with Brittney Brown, casting director and Ashley Yates, marketing director. Morgan Gire, Becca Holloway and Chase Wheaton-Werle join The Factory Theater as ensemble members and Eric Frederickson, Ellie Humphrys, Kirk Jackson, Vic Kuligoski, Manuel Ortiz, Josh Razavi, Bradford Stevens and Amber Washington are named artistic associates.

Phil Claudnic stage managed his first Factory show, Hey! Dancin'!, in 2010, and knew that he had to stick around this wacky crew of brilliant artists. He joined the company in 2011, was elected to be operations manager in 2012, added the duties of booking manager when the company moved into their new Howard Street home in 2016, and has now been promoted to managing director. Though Claudnic has appeared on the Factory stage a couple times as an actor or understudy: White Trash Wedding and Funeral Remount and Captain Steve's Caring Kingdom, he has also contributed as a production manager: Toast of the Town Remount and Hotel Aphrodite and primarily as a stage manager: Hey! Dancin!, League of Awesome, Easy Six, Gray Girl, Namosaur, Take the Cake, Zombie Broads, Fight City and Last Night in Karaoke Town. During his time on the Chicago theater scene, he has also enjoyed working with other wonderful companies including Lifeline Theatre, Adventure Stage Chicago, Akvavkit Theatre and Infamous Commonwealth Theatre. He graduated from Northern Illinois University with a BA in Theatre Studies.

Timothy C. Amos has been with the Factory since 2007 where he made his Factory debut in Siskel and Ebert Save Chicago. Since then Amos has appeared in many Factory productions, including Mop Top Festival, Namasaur, Dead Wrong, White Trash Wedding and a Funeral, 1985, The Last Big Mistake, Prophet$ and Oh, Sh#t! It's Haunted!. He also directed Take the Cake by Stacie Barra and was the production manager for both Captain Steve's Caring Kingdom and Last Night in Karaoke Town. Stepping into the role of co-artistic director, he is looking forward to continuing the culture and originality the Factory has created during the last 28 years.

Shannon O'Neill has been an active Factory ensemble member since 2003. She has worked with the company in many capacities: as an actor, writer, fight choreographer and production manager/producer. Her first contribution to The Factory as a playwright was with Jenny and Jenni in 2010. The 2019-production of May the Road Rise Up marked the second full-length play she wrote for Factory. As an actor, she has appeared in the Factory productions of Dick Danger: DJ Crime Solver, Janice Dutts Goes to Life Camp, Mop Top Festival, White Trash Wedding and a Funeral – The Remount and Jenny and Jenni. As a production manager, O’Neill has produced Operation Infiltration and Incident on Run 1217, both by Joseph Jefferson Award-winning playwright Manny Tamayo. O’Neill graduated with a BA in Theater from Columbia College Chicago and has had the privilege of working with a variety of theaters in Chicago since then: Lifeline, Trap Door, Steep, Stage Left, Journeymen and The Hypocrites.

The current ensemble includes Timothy C. Amos, CW Van Baale, Jennifer Betancourt, Mike Beyer, Kim Boler, Brittney Brown, Linsey Falls, Jose Cervantes, Phil Claudnic, E. M. Davis, Spenser Davis, Matt Engle, Morgan Gire, Becca Holloway, Christine Jennings, Michael Jones, Shannon O’Neill, Chas Vrba, Chase Wheaton-Werle and Ashley Yates.