The Factory Theater has announced its 26th anniversary season of world premiers at its Rogers Park home, including 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.

Pictured: Manny Tamayo, Anthony Tournis, and Shannon Oneill

The season kicks off in October with Co-Artistic Director Manny Tamayo’s murder mystery THE DARKNESS AFTER DAWN, directed by Mandy Walsh. Following in February is Shannon O’Neill’s family reunion drama MAY THE ROAD RISE UP, directed by Spenser Davis. Closing the season next June is Anthony Tournis’s PROPHET$, which follows con artists as they enter the tax-free religion arena, in a production directed by Wm. Bullion.

More info at www.thefactorytheater.com.

The Factory Theater’s 26th season (from the press release):

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.