ARTfactory

Dark, unsettling, and endlessly thought-provoking, No Exit is one of the most famous works of existential drama ever written. First performed in 1944, Jean-Paul Sartre’s groundbreaking play confronts audiences with urgent questions about identity, responsibility, and the ways we define ourselves through others.
The play takes place in a stark, windowless room in the afterlife, where three strangers—Garcin, Inès, and Estelle—are brought together with no mirrors, no escape, and no explanation of their punishment. As they wait for the expected physical tortures of hell to begin, they instead find themselves trapped in an eternal psychological standoff. With nothing to do but talk, observe, and judge one another, their past actions and deepest insecurities are slowly revealed.
As the characters attempt to justify their lives and seek validation, it becomes clear that each is both victim and tormentor. Sartre’s famously chilling conclusion—that “hell is other people”—emerges not as a casual provocation, but as a devastating insight into how self-deception, dependency, and the need for approval can become forms of punishment. The characters are condemned to see themselves reflected endlessly in the eyes of others, with no possibility of escape or redemption.
No Exit is a defining expression of Sartre’s existential philosophy, dramatizing the idea that individuals are responsible for who they are, and that avoidance of that responsibility leads to anguish and entrapment. The play explores themes of freedom, choice, guilt, and bad faith, challenging audiences to consider how much of their identity is shaped—or distorted—by the perceptions of others.
Performances will be held in the Wind River Theater at the ARTfactory.PERFORMANCE DATES:
Friday, September 11 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, September 12 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, September 13 at 2:00 PM
Friday, September 18 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, September 19 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, September 20 at 2:00 PM

Local Event: No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre

Prince William County

Manassas

Virginia

No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre

Dark, unsettling, and endlessly thought-provoking, No Exit is one of the most famous works of existential drama ever written....

Hylton Performing Arts Center

It’s big hair and even bigger dreams in Hairspray the Musical! Set in 1960s Baltimore, this high-energy show follows Tracy Turnblad, a spirited teen with a passion for dance, as she fights for love, equality, and a spot on The Corny Collins Show. Bursting with catchy tunes, dazzling dances, and plenty of heart, Hairspray is a joyful celebration of acceptance and the power of being yourself!
Directed by Chris Maulden
Showtimes on September 18, 19, 25, 26 at 7PM, September 20 &amp; 27 at 2PM in the Gregory Family Theater at Hylton Performing Arts Center
HAIRSPRAY is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. <a href="https://www.mtishows.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">mtishows.com</a>

Local Event: Hairspray

Hairspray

It’s big hair and even bigger dreams in Hairspray the Musical! Set in 1960s Baltimore, this high-energy show follows Tracy...

A deadly outbreak has consumed the once-thriving ARTfactory, transforming its four floors into a nightmare of infection, chaos, and survival. As emergency systems fail and the virus spreads unchecked, visitors must navigate dark corridors, abandoned laboratories, and quarantined work spaces overrun by grotesque mutations and desperate survivors. Every level reveals a new stage of the catastrophe, drawing guests deeper into the heart of the outbreak. The only question is whether you’ll escape the Factory of Fear—or become part of it.Patrons can receive $3 off admission on Thursday, October 15 and 22. Enter code THURSDAYSCARIES at checkout. All proceeds benefit ARTfactory.

Local Event: Factory of Fear - Outbreak

Factory of Fear - Outbreak

A deadly outbreak has consumed the once-thriving ARTfactory, transforming its four floors into a nightmare of infection, chaos,...

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Posting Activity

No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre

SEP

11

7:30 PM

ARTfactory, 9419 Battle St, Manassas, VA

Hairspray

SEP

18

7:00 PM

Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Cir, Manassas, VA

No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre

SEP

20

2:00 PM

ARTfactory, 9419 Battle St, Manassas, VA

Hairspray

SEP

27

2:00 PM

Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Cir, Manassas, VA

Factory of Fear - Outbreak

OCT

15

7:00 PM

ARTfactory, 9419 Battle St, Manassas, VA

Factory of Fear - Outbreak

OCT

24

7:00 PM

ARTfactory, 9419 Battle St, Manassas, VA