The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince

A passionate inventor. A machine bound to change the world of art. And a fateful train ride. One unexplained day in history is all that separated him from a household name and near complete obscurity. The story of Louis Le Prince has all the makings of a penny dreadful mystery. But at its heart, beneath the titillating details, lies a story about grief, unresolved tragedy, and an unjust system designed to bend only to uphold capitalist values. One of our favorite kinds of stories are those that leave us thinking, why haven’t I heard about this before? And if you leave the theater wanting to Google how much of this could possibly be true, we’ll have done our job – not only in doing justice to Louis’s story, but in keeping the torch of his memory burning through history.

When I first moved to Chicago in 2012, I had the opportunity to work with many different theatre companies. I was lucky enough to share the stage with some of the city’s best actors and take on a number of fun and challenging roles. But in 2016, I came off a show that was such a rotten experience, I was ready to quit acting altogether. I didn’t go to another audition for months—until I came across one for Zombie Broads, presented by The Factory Theater. I walked into that audition feeling unsure of myself, but I met some amazing humans there—and ended up being cast in the ensemble. What I found at The Factory were some of the most talented, compassionate, and just incredibly f*cking cool artists in the city. Zombie Broads reignited my love for theatre and led to more roles with the company. It was during one of those shows, Prophet$, that I first met Chase and Becca, and a friendship began. Not long after Prophet$ closed, I left Chicago to return to Tennessee and begin a new chapter as a fight director and stage combat teacher. Leaving the city—and especially the folks at The Factory—was bittersweet.

Growing up, I always knew who Louis Le Prince was. If Thomas Edison came up in school, I made sure to correct anyone about who actually invented the motion picture camera. But Louis’s legacy has long been overlooked. So I was stunned (and thrilled) to get a surprise email from Chase in 2021 about a play he was writing on Louis’ work, disappearance, and erasure from history. When I first read the script, I was honored by the time and care Chase put into telling not just Louis’ story, but also those of Adolphe and Lizzie—with real accuracy and reverence. I had the chance to read for Louis during a few Zoom sessions, and after the final one, I really wanted this play to be produced. Thankfully, The Factory recognized what they had and added it to their season. Though my schedule won’t let me attend in person, I know this show will be a big hit—not just for The Factory, but for the whole Chicago theatre scene. Thank you to Chase and Becca for letting me be part of this process. To the cast: break a leg!

It has been gratifying to see the growing interest that film historians, and the public in general, have had in Le Prince and the championing of his rightful place in cinematic history. Although the mysterious circumstances of his disappearance certainly contributes to this, it is my hope, that the focus will remain on his life and his legacy as an early pioneer, the first actually, in the invention of the motion picture camera