THE CURIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES OF LOUIS LE PRINCE VIA THE FACTORY THEATER JUNE 6 - JULY 19, 2025

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THE FACTORY THEATER ANNOUNCES

THE CURIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES OF 

LOUIS LE PRINCE

JUNE 6 - JULY 19

 WRITTEN BY CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER CHASE WHEATON-WERLE

AND DIRECTED BY BECCA HOLLOWAY

This Courtroom Drama Inspired by Real Events is the Final Production of 

The Factory’s 30th Season

The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., is proud to announce the final production of their 30th season, The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince, written by Factory Chief Operations Officer Chase Wheaton-Werle and directed by Becca Holloway, June 6 - July 19. Previews for The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince are Friday, June 6, Saturday, June 7 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 8 at 3 p.m. The press opening is Friday, June 13 at 8 p.m. The regular performance schedule includes Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. There will be additional Thursday performances July 10 and 17 at 8 p.m. An accessibility performance is Sunday, June  29 at 3 p.m. and an understudy performance is Sunday, July 6 at 3 p.m. The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince has an approximate runtime of one hour and thirty minutes. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased at the door or by visiting TheFactoryTheater.com.

On September 16, 1890, inventor Louis Le Prince boarded a train bound for Paris, in preparation for a visit to the United States to demonstrate his single-lens motion picture camera. He never reached his destination. Seven years later, it falls to his widow and son to investigate his disappearance and fight for his legacy in this amazing story based on true events.

Based on the true unsolved mystery of Louis Le Prince, this play follows Lizzie and Adolphe Le Prince as they track the inventor’s last known whereabouts and cross the Atlantic to a New York courtroom for a confrontation with legendary inventor Thomas Edison.

Half Victorian-era mystery, half courtroom drama, The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince explores how we struggle with unresolved tragedies, and how we remember (or don’t remember) the people in our history.

Top Row (left to right): Ethan Smith (Adolphe), Aimee Kleiman (Lizzie), Patrick Blashill (Edison/Seward), Joe Sergio (Louis/Albert),

Middle Row (left to right): Joel Ottenheimer (John/Page), Ksa Curry (Dickson/Higginbotham/Longley), Andrew Bosworth (Mason/Dougan/Tate), Alex Albrecht (Richard/Dyer/Morgan),

Bottom Row (left to right) Joseph Antonio (Adolphe U/S), Jill Smethells Frederickson (Lizzie U/S), Anthony Augustine (Louis/Albert/Seward/Edison U/S), Natalie Opoku (Page/Mason/Tate/Wilson/Dyer U/S) 

The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince cast includes Ethan Smith (Adolph Le Prince); Aimee Kleiman (Lizzie Le Prince); Patrick Blashill (Clarence Seward/Thomas Edison); Joe Sergio (Louis Le Prince/Albert Le Prince); Joel Ottenheimer (Parker Page track); Ksa Curry (William Dickson track); Andrew Bosworth (Fred Mason/Mr. Tate track); Alex Albrecht (Richard Wilson/Richard Dyer track); Joseph Antonio (US Adolphe); Jill Frederickson~ (US Lizzie and Dickson); Anthony Augustine (US Louis/Albert & Seward/Edison) and Natalie Opoku (US Page, Mason/Tate & Wilson/Dyer).

The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince creative team includes Chase Wheaton-Werle~ (playwright); Becca Holloway (director); Christine Watt (assistant director); Miranda Hernandez (production manager); Aidan Leake (stage manager); Hayley Wallenfeldt (set designer/charge); Victoria Jablonski (costume designer); Rachel Livingston (props designer); Jack Goodman (lighting designer); Henry Bender* (master electrician); Sebby Woldt (sound designer); David Sajewich (projections designer) and Andersonville Scenic (technical director/master carpenter).

∽ denotes Factory Ensemble; * denotes Artistic Associate  

ABOUT CHASE WHEATON-WERLE, playwright

Chase Wheaton-Werle is a proud member of The Factory Theater ensemble as well as its Chief Operations Officer. His mainstage Factory credits include Prophet$, Last Night in Karaoke Town, The Kelly Girls and Die Hard 4 Your Luv.  Most recently you may have seen Wheaton-Werle’s writing with the Jeff-nominated Factory show Wise Guys: The First Christmas Story. He is represented by Big Mouth Talent Agency.

ABOUT BECCA HOLLOWAY, director

Becca Holloway is an emeritus member of the Factory ensemble and a director and casting director around the city. Previous Factory credits include Die Hard 4 Your Luv (2024; director), Wide Guys: The First Christmas Story (2023; director), Last Night in Karaoke Town (2020/2022; AD/music director/choreographer), The Hamilton Beach 420 Special (The 2021 Factory Holiday Show; director), The Factory Zone (2019; actor) and Prophet$! (2019; AD/choreographer). She is also a proud company member of Red Theater where she is also the resident casting director. Halloway has been lucky enough to work on the directing teams of companies including Hell in a Handbag, Broken Nose Theater, Oil Lamp Theater, Theatre Evolve, The Comrades, Refuge Theatre and many others. On a personal note, she and Chase Wheaton-Werle are married and partners in life and art.

ABOUT THE FACTORY THEATER

Since 1992, The Factory Theater has delivered unexpected, unapologetic theatrical experiences through original works, forged and assembled by our shameless ensemble.

The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., is proud to announce the final production of their 30th season, The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince, written by Factory Chief Operations Officer Chase Wheaton-Werle and directed by Becca Holloway, June 6 - July 19. Previews for The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince are Friday, June 6, Saturday, June 7 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 8 at 3 p.m. The press opening is Friday, June 13 at 8 p.m. The regular performance schedule includes Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. There will be additional Thursday performances July 10 and 17 at 8 p.m. An accessibility performance is Sunday, June  29 at 3 p.m. and an understudy performance is Sunday, July 6 at 3 p.m. The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince has an approximate runtime of one hour and thirty minutes. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased at the door or by visiting TheFactoryTheater.com.

DIE HARD 4 YOUR LUV VIA THE FACTORY THEATER MAY 31 - JULY 13

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THE FACTORY THEATER ANNOUNCES

DIE HARD 4 YOUR LUV 

MAY 31 - JULY 13 

WRITTEN BY KIRK PYNCHON AND MIKE BEYER

The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., is proud to announce the third production of The Factory’s 29th season, Die Hard 4 Your Luv, opening June 7. The production runs through July 13 and was written by Kirk Pynchon and Mike Beyer and directed by Becca Holloway. Previews for Die Hard 4 Your Luv are Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 2 at 3 p.m. The performance schedule includes Friday and Saturday performances at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. and Thursday, June 27 and July 11 at 8 p.m. An understudy performance will occur on Sunday, June 30 at 3 p.m. and there will be an accessibility performance on Sunday, June 23 at 3 p.m. Tickets for Die Hard 4 Your Luv are $25 and may be purchased through the Box Office by calling 312-275-5757 or by visiting TheFactoryTheater.com.

It’s NYE 1999. A group of sinister mercenaries are holding the world’s most popular boy band hostage! Unless the nations of the world hand over their vital Y2K codes by midnight, Boyz Will B Boyz will become Boyz Will B Dead! Will the least talented band member save the day? Or will the bad guys escape to their all-inclusive resort with the water ski package?

The Die Hard 4 Your Luv cast includes Whitney Ann Bates^ (ensemble/ Yana US/ Alyssa US); Katy Campbell++ (Hailey/ensemble); Matt Chester+ (Authentic); Jeffrey David Thomas+ (J Swizzle); Brittany Ellis*++ (Yana Petrovian); Jacob Fjare+ (Todd US); Peri Griffiths++ (Hailey US/ensemble US); Joshua Hogan+ (J Swizzle US/Authentic US); Lexy Hope Weixel^ (ensemble/Whitney US/Chuckie Bones US); Madelyn Loehr++ (ensemble/ Meg US); Marisa Macella++ (Meg Lawson); Tierra Matthews++ (Whitney); Brandy Miller+ (Alyssa Tallinger); Hazel Monson++ (ensemble US); Liam Ryan+ (Chuckie Bones); and Chase Wheaton-Werle~+ (Todd).

The Die Hard 4 Your Luv creative team includes Kirk Pynchon**+ (playwright); Mike Beyer**+ (playwright); Becca Holloway~++ (director); Taylor Pasche++ (assistant director); Miranda Hernandez++ (stage manager); Shelby Burgus~++ (production manager); Spencer Gjerde+ (scenic design); Ellie Humphrys*++^ (light design); Stephanie Senior++ (sound design); Henry Bender* (props design); Vicki Jablonski++ (costume designer); and Jillian Leff++ (fight director)

~ Denotes The Factory Ensemble, *Denotes Factory Artistic Associate,

 **Denotes The Factory Theater Ensemble Emeritus

 Pronoun Key: + (he/him/his); ++(she/her/hers); ^ (they, them, theirs). = (any with respect)

ABOUT KIRK PYNCHON, playwright

Kirk Pynchon (he/him) was one of the original ensemble members when The Factory Theater first started literally one millions years ago, and since then he has written such hits for The Factory as Man Card, Poppin’ and Lockdown, Poppin’ and Lockdown 2:Dance the Right Thing, Hey! Dancin’!, Hey! Dancin’! Hey! Musical!, and most recently the Jeff nominated, Last Night in Karaoke Town. He lives in Los Angeles, works as an Editorial Director for an ad agency, and is a constant embarrassment to his teenage kids.

ABOUT MIKE BEYER, playwright

Mike Beyer (he/him) is a Factory Emeritus Ensemble Member, and has been a part of The Factory since the days of Bill Clinton.  He authored or co-authored several Factory hit shows, including White Trash Wedding and a Funeral, Dirty Diamonds, Hey! Dancin'! (and Hey! Dancin'! Hey! Musical!), and Last Night in Karaoke Town (all with Kirk Pynchon).  Mike is newly settled in Cleveland, and also hosts the podcast Jagbags.

ABOUT BECCA HOLLOWAY, director

Becca Holloway (she/her) A Factory Ensemble member since 2021, Becca is a director and casting director around the city. Previous Factory credits include Last Night in Karaoke Town (2020/2022; AD/music director/choreographer), The Hamilton Beach 420 Special (The 2021 Factory Holiday Show; director), The Factory Zone (2019; actor) and Prophet$! (2019; AD/choreographer). Becca is also a proud company member of Red Theater where she is also the resident casting director. Becca has been lucky enough to work on the directing teams of several companies including: Hell in a Handbag, Broken Nose Theater, Oil Lamp Theater, Theatre Evolve, The Comrades, Refuge Theatre, and many others. On a personal note, she and fellow Ensemble member Chase Wheaton-Werle just got married and are partners in life and art.

ABOUT THE FACTORY THEATER

For 30 years, the Factory has created its shows from scratch, doing exactly the kind of theater they wanted to do. From writing workshops to the closing night bash, Factory shows are a unique experience that fits its exacting standards: original, bold, and full-tilt. Its shameless ensemble is an ambassador of a good time, ensuring Chicago remains heartily entertained.

The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., presents Die Hard 4 Your Luv, May 31 - July 13, written by Kirk Pynchon and Mike Beyer and directed by Becca Holloway. Previews for Die Hard 4 Your Luv are Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 2 at 3 p.m.The performance schedule includes Friday and Saturday performances at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. and Thursday, June 27 and July 11 at 8 p.m. An understudy performance will occur on Sunday, June 30 at 3 p.m. and there will be an accessibility performance on Sunday, June 23 at 3 p.m. Tickets for Die Hard 4 Your Luv are $25 and may be purchased through the Box Office by calling 312-275-5757 or by visiting TheFactoryTheater.com.

 

RETURNING THIS SUMMER WITH ALL NEW EPISODES: THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes, Vol. 2 Via Hell in a Handbag Productions at Mary’s Attic

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Ready to go to Hell in a Handbag this summer...

Hell in a Handbag Productions Presents 

THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes, Vol. 2

By Artistic Director David Cerda

Directed by Becca Holloway

June 19 – September 7, 2018 at Mary’s Attic

(left to right) Ed Jones, David Cerda, Adrian Hadlock and Grant Drager in a publicity image for Hell in a Handbag Productions’ parody THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes, Vol. 2. All Photos by Rick Aguilar Studios.

This summer, Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to bring back Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia for THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes, Vol. 2. Following last year’s sold-out, seven-month run, Handbag’s parody of the beloved TV sitcom returns with all new adventures written by Artistic Director David Cerda* and directed by Becca Holloway. THE GOLDEN GIRLS will play June 19 – September 7, 2018 at Mary’s Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood. Tickets are now on sale brownpapertickets.com or by calling (800) 838-3006. The press opening is Friday, June 22 at 7:30 pm.

The 2017 cast returns with David Cerda* as Dorothy, Grant Drager* as Blanche, Adrian Hadlock* as Sophia and Ed Jones* as Rose with Chazie Bly*, Michael Rashid and Michael S. Miller* as various silly characters.

When THE GOLDEN GIRLS – THE LOST EPISODES debuted in June 2017, it was supposed to be a short summer treat for Handbag audiences, but quickly turned into one of the biggest hits in the company’s history. Now, these lovely women from the classic TV sitcom return with new stories of friendship, love and cheesecake – all with the Handbag twist audiences have come to love!

The all new episodes include Machiavellian mayhem when Dorothy, Rose and Blanche are all nominated for Women of the Year by the Miami Women’s Auxiliary League; Sophia’s mysterious part-time job; and a deep dark secret from Rose’s past that shocks the girls to their core!

The production team for THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes, Vol. 2 includes: Roger Wykes (scenic design), David Cerda* (costume design), Cat Wilson* (lighting design), Isaac Mandel (sound design), Keith Ryan* (wig design), Adrian Hadlock* (props design), Lana Whittington (violence coordinator), AJ Wright* (production manager) and Amanda Kay Wyatt (stage manager).

*Denotes Handbag ensemble member.

Location: Mary’s Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago
Dates: Previews: Tuesday, June 19 at 7:30 pm, Wednesday, June 20 at 7:30 pm and Thursday, June 21 at 7:30 pm. 
Opening/Press performance: Friday, June 22, 2018, 7:30 pm
Regular run: Wednesday June 27 – Friday, September 7, 2018 
Curtain Times: Wednesdays, Thursday and Fridays at 7:30 pm through August 10, 2018; Fridays at 7:30 pm August 17 – September 7, 2018. Please note: there will not be performances on Wednesday, July 4 at 7:30 pm or Friday, July 6 at 7:30 pm.
Tickets: Previews $19. Regular run $25 in advance, $27 at the door. Group rates $20 for 10 or more. Tickets are currently on sale at brownpapertickets.com or by calling (800) 838-3006. 



About the Artists

David Cerda (Playwright) is the Artistic Director and co-founder of Hell in a Handbag Productions. Cerda has written or collaborated on POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical, Caged Dames, Sexy Baby, Lady X: The Musical, Christmas Dearest, Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, SCARRIE-The Musical, and many others. He has also worked as a songwriter with Amazon Studios and as an actor around Chicago. In 2016 Cerda was in inducted into the Chicago GLBT Hall of Fame and in 2017 he received a Lifetime Achievement Jeff Award for his contributions to the Chicago theater community and philanthropic efforts. He is most definitely a Dorothy. 

Becca Holloway (Director) is thrilled to be back with Hell in a Handbag for her 5th production with them, after working on Bewildered, L'imitation of Life, and directing Rudolph (2017) and Bette: Xmas at the Continental Baths. Other directing credits include, 44 Plays for 44 Presidents (Oil Lamp Theater), Cut to the Chase Festival (Artistic Home) and The RBP's 13th Birthday Party Showcase (Right Brain Project). Becca has been lucky enough to have worked with Broken Nose, Brown Paper Box Co., The Comrades, Refuge Theatre Project, and Big Noise Theater. Oh and in case you're wondering, she's a Dorothy.

About Hell in a Handbag Productions

Hell in a Handbag is dedicated to the preservation, exploration, and celebration of works ingrained in the realm of popular culture via theatrical productions through parody, music and homage. Handbag is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit.