Pictured: Timothy C. Amos

The Factory Theater has announced its 27th season of scratch-made bold new plays in Rogers Park.

The 2019 – 2020 Season opens this fall with Scott OKen’s Scooby-Doo adjacent “Oh Sh#t! It’s Haunted!,” Followed by Mike Beyer and Kirk Pynchon’s “Last Night in Karaoke Town,” about the impending doom of a beloved karaoke bar in what the Factory calls “the only known tribute to Cleveland in the history of American theater.” Closing the season is Angelina Martinez’s “The HOA,” a “Stepford Wives-meets-Valley of the Dolls-inspired chiller” set in suburban America.

Additionally, The Factory announced that Timothy C. Amos will step into the role of managing director and Anthony Tournis will be the new casting director. Amos replaces ensemble member Carrie J. Sullivan who will shift focus to development, and Tournis replaces Stacie Barra, who will remain co-artistic director with Manny Tamayo.

The Factory Theater’s 27th Anniversary Season (from the press release):

Factory Theater programming is divided into “Mainstage” – the fully-produced, original, full-length, full-run shows—and “Overtime.” Overtime is auxiliary programming developed, curated, hosted and/or produced by ensemble members as a kind of “amuse-bouche” of the intense antics that the Factory is known for.

MAINSTAGE 1:
“Oh Sh#t! It’s Haunted!”
Written by Scott OKen
September 27 – November 9, 2019
Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago
Press Opening: Friday, October 4
Performance Schedule: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.
Ticket Price: $25, $18 for students and seniors

They say that the old Lockwood place is haunted, not just by a heartbroken old man, but by actual ghosts. Sounds of polka music, acid guitar and people chomping on pirogi can be heard inside. Can the gang of Darla, Mo, Slats and Henry get to the bottom of this before the opportunistic Mrs. Ingersson can buy the property? Find out in this very Scooby-Doo–like tale from ensemble member Scott OKen, author of Factory’s 2017 hit, Fight City.

MAINSTAGE 2:
“Last Night in Karaoke Town”
Written by Mike Beyer and Kirk Pynchon
February 14- March 28, 2020
Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago
Press Opening: Friday, February 21
Performance Schedule: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.
Ticket Price: $25, $18 for students and seniors

One of Cleveland’s oldest karaoke bars may have to close its doors forever, unless the long-time proprietor can convince the new building owner not to change it into a cider bar. With a neighborhood slowly gentrifying around them, the longtime patrons embark on a plan to keep their beloved watering hole intact. It all comes down to one final night, where the beer flows freely and the karaoke soars higher than Steve Perry’s vocals on “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Mike Beyer and Kirk Pynchon, creators of Factory hit “Hey! Dancin’!” bring the only known tribute to Cleveland in the history of American theater to the Factory this winter season.

MAINSTAGE 3:
“The HOA”
Written by Angelina Martinez
June 12–July 25, 2020
Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago
Press Opening: Friday, June 19
Performance Schedule: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.
Ticket Price: $25

Thanks to his recent promotion, Steve and his wife Cassie move cross-country to a sleepy, family-oriented neighborhood, preparing for the next phase of their life together. At first, all seems quiet suburban-normal. But as they get to know their new neighbors, Cassie starts to notice that things in this quaint cul-de-sac are a little … off. Horrifyingly off. Ensemble member Angelina Martinez, in her Stepford Wives-meets-Valley of the Dolls-inspired chiller, revisits traditional gender power dynamics through the lens of today’s post-modern sensibilities, exploring the idea that even though things look very different now, in actuality, they have remained very much the same.

OVERTIME:

Factory After Dark 11
Sunday, Nov. 2 at 10:30 p.m.
Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago
Ticket Price: $10

The eleventh installment of the Factory’s late-night variety show is filled with the best Chicago talent and sprinkled with some Factory surprises. THIS TIME IT’S HALLOWEEN. Who’s on the docket? A big bucket of HELL YEAH (TBD). Hosted by Eric Roach

Factory Theater Presents: The Twilight Zone Event
Created by Manny Tamayo and Stacie Barra
Thursday, Nov. 15 and Friday, Nov.16
Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago
Ticket Price: $10

“The Xmas War: Endgame”
Created by Scott OKen
December 13, 14, 20, 21
Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago
Performance Schedule: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Ticket Price: $10

Factory goes Overtime with the SEQUEL to their first-ish-ever holiday extravaganza, 2018’s “The Xmas War: A Christmas Play.” Do you like Christmas plays? Planning on seeing “The Avengers: Endgame”? Then you will REALLY LIKE THIS. Directed by Matt Engle

Factory After Dark 12
TBD, March 2020, 10:30 p.m.
Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago
Ticket Price: $10

The twelfth installment of our late-night variety show filled with the best Chicago talent and sprinkled with some Factory surprises. THIS TIME IT’S THE VERNAL EQUINOX. Who’s on the docket? A big bucket of HELL YEAH (TBD). Hosted by Eric Roach

Return of Fact-o-Mania Slambouree!
Written by Scott OKen
April 3-4, 2020 at 8 p.m.
Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago
Ticket Price: $10

Factory’s epic pro-wrestling tribute is BACK and here to kick some behind.

Factory After Dark 13
TBD, July 2020 at 10:30 p.m.
Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago
Ticket Price: $10
The thirteenth installment of our late-night variety show filled with the best Chicago talent and sprinkled with some Factory surprises. THIS TIME IT’S SUMMER HEAT. Who’s on the docket? A big bucket of HELL YEAH (TBD). Hosted by Eric Roach

Factory Legends!
Created by Greg Caldwell
ONE NIGHT ONLY! Thursday, Aug. 1, 2020
Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago
Ticket Price: $10

Factory Legends! is an all-glam Tribute show (think: Elvis, Madonna, Liberace, Cher impersonators…) featuring all your favorites, as faithfully re-created by Factory ensemble members and our special group of Factory friends.

More info at www.thefactorytheater.com.