Pictured: Jennifer Betancourt, Brittney Brown, Jose M. Cervantes, Michael Jones and Ashley Yates. 

The Factory Theater has announced five new members to its artistic ensemble: Brittney Brown, Jose M. Cervantes, Ashley Yates, Michael Jones and Jennifer Betancourt. Factory’s ensemble members write all of the Factory’s original plays and democratically choose the company’s season and leadership.

The new members join Artistic Directors Manny Tamayo and Stacie Barra, along with Timothy C. Amos, Mike Beyer, Kim Boler, Wm. Bullion, Greg Caldwell, Phil Claudnic, Elise Marie Davis, Spenser Davis, Blake Dalzin, Matt Engle, Linsey Falls, Christine Jennings, Angelina Martinez, Colin Milroy, Jason Moody, Scott OKen, Shannon O’Neill, Eric Roach, Carrie J. Sullivan, Jermaine Thomas, Anthony Tournis, C.W. van Baale, Chas Vrba, and Mandy Walsh.

The Factory Theater’s final mainstage show of its 26th season, “Prophet$” by ensemble member Anthony Tournis, opens June 14. For more information visit www.thefactorytheater.com.

New Ensemble Member Bios:

Brittney Brown

Brittney Brown is an actor/singer and director originally from Louisville, Kentucky. Recent Chicago acting credits include Theo Ubique’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch & Sweeney Todd, Hell in a Handbag’s Poseidon!: An Upside Down Musical, Lucky: A Musical for the CMTF, Factory Theater’s Darkness After Dawn & Adventures of Spirit Force Five, New American Folk Theatre’s Hot Pink or Ready to Blow and Scraps, Kokandy Productions’ Bonnie and Clyde, & Griffin Theatre’s Ragtime and Violet. She also recently assistant directed Factory’s May the Road Rise Up and Exit 63’s Wolves.

Jose M Cervantes

Jose Cervantes graduated from UIC with a BFA in Acting. Cervantes has been seen in the past two Factory shows—The Darkness after Dawn and the Jeff-nominated May the Road Rise Up. He is happy to call The Factory his new home and would like to thank God and his family for the love and support that guides him. He is proudly represented by NV Talent.

Ashley Yates

Ashley Yates is thrilled to be part of the Factory family and will play “Darla” in the upcoming production Prophet$. Previously, Yates has been seen at the Factory in Zombie Broads, Fight City and Captain Steve’s Caring Kingdom. A graduate of University of Iowa, she moved to Chicago in 2011 to pursue theater, film, and more. Yates is represented by Chicago Talent Network.

Michael Jones

Michael Jones is a 2017 graduate of Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts. He’s a performance artist with four years of ukulele under his belt and a frequent fixture in Factory’s Factory Overtime extravaganzas. Jones is excited to be making new art with all his new friends (and some enemies) at The Factory.

Jennifer Betancourt

Jennifer Betancourt was last seen in Factory’s Xmas War, before that, it was Captain Steve’s Caring Kingdom and Fight City and before that, it was Born Ready. She has worked with various other companies around Chicago including Griffin Theatre Co., The Artistic Home, The House Theatre of Chicago, Awkward Pause and Tympanic Theatre Co.