You wanna perform, you’re talented, you love original work, you love The Factory. You’re in the right place!
Upcoming Auditions
Pay Rate: $200 for both principals and understudies
Audition Date and Time: Virtual Submissions are due by 6:00 PM on Monday, October 5th; In-Person Callbacks will take place on Sunday, October 18th from 6:00-10:00 PM
Contact Person Email: casting@thefactorytheater.com
Contact Person Name: Brittney Brown
The Factory Theater is seeking actors for both main cast and understudy roles for The Machine by Bill Daniel and directed by Chase Wheaton-Werle. We are seeking actors of all sizes, ethnicities, abilities, and gender identities to submit. All roles are ageless and genderless.
Show Description: Doll is dropped into a claw machine inhabited by 5 stuffed animals, and her arrival is exactly the spark they needed. They have a dream, they have a plan, and tonight is the night they decide to escape.
Material to Prepare:
Please send your headshot and resume labeled as your name (one file is preferred but two is fine as long as they’re labeled with your name) to casting@thefactorytheater.com and sides/directives will be provided.
Time Commitment:
**This show utilizes puppetry so there will be a puppetry workshop at Factory on December 9th and 16th prior to the start of rehearsals**
Rehearsals-01/02/2027-02/03/2027
Tech-02/07/2027-02/11/2027
Previews-02/12/2027-02/14/2027
Brush Up Rehearsals-02/15/2027-02/17/2027
Final Preview-02/18/2027
Opening-02/19/2027
Understudy Performance-03/14/2027
Industry Night-03/22/2027
Closing-03/27/2027
Rehearsals will be Monday-Wednesday evenings from 7-10 PM, Saturdays from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM, & Sundays from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM.
Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM plus 1 industry night on a Monday.
**There will be a guaranteed understudy performance**
Character Type/Restrictions:
BEAR: A stuffed bear. The softest of the inhabitants, literally and figuratively. Kind, accepting, good natured. Constantly pondering. Looking for meaning. Spends most of the day in their own head.
DOLL: A film spin-off doll. The newest in the machine. Strong, articulated, hungry for knowledge. Ever curious. Something is off about her, but that is not a flaw.
SHARK: A stuffed shark wearing an eyepatch. Greaser vibes. Tough and mouthy. Walls are always up, but belies a deeply flawed personality that craves attachment. If they owned a leather jacket, they would wear it everywhere.
DOG: A stuffed hound dog. The oldest in the machine. The keeper of memories. Respected and grizzled. Hunched from age. Basically if Ben Franklin was a youth pastor.
MONKEY: A sock monkey. Affable and conflict avoidant. Hasn’t had too many thoughts beyond the confines of the machine. Kind to a fault.
GIRAFFE: A stuffed giraffe. A nervous wreck. Anything beyond the plexiglas walls scares them to their core. Quick witted and easy to make friends with. A bit of a doormat.
**We are seeking actors of all sizes, ethnicities, abilities, and gender identities to submit. All roles are ageless, genderless, and are not race specific.**
GET INVOLVED
We are currently seeking volunteer board members.
WHAT IS THE JOB?
The Factory Theater, Chicago’s longest surviving non-profit producer of exclusively original theatrical works, seeks experienced, committed, and eager board members to contribute to the organization’s sustainability and herald our culture of Chicago-based theater making throughout their communities.
WHO ARE WE?
Our Mission: The Factory Theater delivers unexpected, unapologetic theatrical experiences through original works forged and assembled by our shameless ensemble. Translation: We provide an artistic home for Chicago-based theater-makers to develop and produce brand new theatrical works by Chicago artists.
ARE YOU A GOOD FIT?
All board members are expected to commit to the following if selected:
- The length of a board member’s term is 3 years.
- Board members should expect to spend 5-10 hrs/month working on board duties. i.e. attending meetings, advocating for the theater, any assigned committee work, etc.
- All members are expected to contribute an annual donation of $250.
- All members are expected to attend at least three Factory productions a season and bring a friend.
- Each board member will make good faith efforts to fundraise on The Factory’s behalf, with an annual goal of $2500 per board member.
- All members are expected to attend at least six of twelve monthly meetings per year.
- Meetings currently fall on the second Tuesday of the month, however we will reassess the exact schedule of meetings at the first meeting of the New Year and it will be adjusted to suit the majority’s schedule.
- Most meetings are held via zoom, especially in the winter.
- We try to gather in person at least twice a year based on board availability.
- All members are expected to serve on at least one committee:
- Executive/Governing
- Nominating
- Fundraising/Budgeting
- PR/Marketing
- All board members must be local to Chicago (Cook and Lake County, other neighboring areas are open to discussion).
ARE YOU IN?
