Being at Choice Schedule:
Friday June 4th, 8pm - Preview
Saturday June 5th, 8pm -- Benefit - Tickets $25
Sunday June 6th, 7pm - Opening Night
All Shows are at the Prop Theater
3504 N. Elston - Chicago
For Reservations call (312) 409-3247
Appeared in 2004 (Remount)
Synopsis
Can you change your life in 24 hours?
The New Points Life Design And Growth 24 Hour Seminar thinks you can. Everyone came for a reason. Carol to stop smoking, Steve doesn't know how to love, Sue to break the chains of repression, Brian to come to terms with his new found homosexuality and Kevin to please his Girlfriend. With the guidance of Marc Nyborg, the recovering crack head/seminar leader and Lois, New Points veteran and art therapist, the participants confront the fears of the past and, as Marc puts it, to stalk and kill the demons that are making you crawl, when you can run. Many questions are answered, while more are discovered. Find out who killed a senior citizen?, Who broke down during The Prince Of Tides?, Who wants a date with Larry Wilcox ?, Who has never touched a mans thingy?, Who are Claire and Coco?, and who nailed their best friends Mom? Remember questions are all right when you are Being At Choice.
In 1996, Being At Choice had its world premiere at The Factory Theater. The hit comedy by Michael R. Meredith made several top ten list and was hailed by Chicago critics as "loud", "crass", "hilarious", "excellent", "hysterical", "contains more laughs per minute than any show I've seen in a long time" and "One of the funniest group of neurotics this side of the classic Bob Newhart Show." Since then Being At Choice has been produced in Los Angeles and Washington D.C.
The Cast
Allison Cain
Allison Cain (Carol Wagner) received her training at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Columbia College in Chicago, Illinois. She has worked almost exclusively on new work since 1990, in Los Angeles, Connecticut, Scotland and Chicago. She moved to Chicago 1992 and became the Artistic Director of Studio 108 for six years, where she produced twelve new works, co-directing two of them. She has been a member of the Factory since
2000 and was elected the President in 2002. With the inception of an Outside Board, Allison now holds the role of Executive Director. Allison has been in a ton of shows over her lifetime but she has had the most fun playing with the Factory. Thanks to Nick for casting her. As usual, it's been a treat and to her fellow cast mates who are some of the funniest people she has ever worked with (she prays she doesn't break this evening). Enjoy the neuroses!
Keith Ellis
Keith Ellis (Kevin Simonson) joined the Factory Ensemble in 2003 after appearing in the productions of Eagle Hills, Eagle Ridge, Eagle Landing and Among the Dead. Keith moved to Chicago from Detroit in 1992 in order to immerse himself in the Chicago Theater scene. After toiling in obscurity for several years he finally got the chance to be directed by
ensemble member Steve Walker, who was the first to notice that Keith may have some sort of talent for acting. He looks forward to appearing in Being at Choice this summer (Directed by Factory legend Nick Digilio) and also looks forward to moving in with his greatest Love, Cynthia Boccio.
Matt Engle
Matt Engle (Brian Nowlan) is originally from South Carolina. He grew up on a Christmas tree farm. Later, he went to the Univ. of S. Carolina. While studying there, he cheered for the Gamecocks and received a BA in theatre. Afterwards, he worked at a professional theatre company called Trustus. He loved it. In '98, he moved to Chicago. Since then he's worked in various theatre companies around town. Matt now loves Chicago and the Factory.
Robert McLean (Steve Ditko) is making his first appearance with The Factory. Rob was most recently seen in Lifeline Theatre's The Killer Angels as General George Pickett, and various other bearded officers. Also at Lifeline, he has appeared in Around the World in 80 Days, The Return of the King, The Two Towers, and Pistols for Two. A company member with The Hypocrites, Rob was last seen as Fick in Balm in Gilea, and was also in The Hypocrites productions of Rhinoceros, Henry 5, Ajax, and the Nick Digilio directed Lakeboat.
Scott OKen
Scott OKen (Mark Nyeborg) is pleased to tell all that there is nothing wrong with the Scorps, even the later lp's. Boston's "Third Stage" is great and he doesn't care who says otherwise! He also likes both the concept album AND the Soundtrack of "Jesus Christ Superstar" Run out tonight and purchase "Bloodrock 2" by Bloodrock and "Tyr" by Black Sabbath (Tony Martin on vocals-not a damn thing wrong with it)
......oh......he's been in Factory Productions such as Clean, Urban Legends, Escape from the North Pole, The EndZone, Surface Dwellers,Preying Manthis, White Trash Wedding and a Funeral, Here Comes the Regular, ILL Sabatoge, and Win, Place, and Show.....so he is qualified....somewhat
Jennifer Pompa
Jennifer Pompa (Lois Dolenz) is proud to say that she has been a member of the Factory Theater since May of 1999. Before she joined the company, she had been a huge fan and supporter of the Factory for as long as she can remember. She attended Columbia College in Chicago where she met some of her fellow ensemble members. Jennifer has appeared in several
Factory shows, including The Vinyl Shop, Goooooo Speech Team!, White Trash Wedding and a Funeral, Poppin' and Lockdown, and The Death and Life of Barb Budonovich, which was performed at PSNBC in New York. She has also been very lucky to have worked with many of the Factory members in the past, on various shows outside of the company. Currently, she is also working at Navy Pier performing with 'A Piering Daily', an entertainment group geared towards children. She has also performed at other theater companies around town, including Famous Door Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre and most recently Visions and Voices. In 2003, Jennifer played the role of Melony in Famous Door Theatre's, The Cider House Rules: Parts I and II, which garnered several Jeff Awards, including a Jeff Award for Jennifer for Best Supporting Actress. Film & Television credits include: "dot" (where you'll see many, many more Fine Factory Folks) and "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment." Look for her in the upcoming Factory show, Being At Choice.
The Crew
Nick Digilio
Nick Digilio (Director) Nick is an ensemble member of the Factory and has written, directed and/or acted in (or any combination of the three) over 20 shows in the history of the company. Titles include: The Vinyl Shop, Alive, White Trash Wedding and a Funeral, Win Place or Show, Surface Dwellers, Rapid Fire, Nuclear Family, Escape from the North Pole, The Angry Show,
Clean, Preying Manthis, Dick Danger: DJ Crimesolver and Among the Dead. He has also worked with The Hypocrites where he appeared in Jack or the Submission, Curse of the Starving Class, Arcadia and Rhinoceros, and directed David Mamet's Lakeboat. Other directing credits include Occupation and Congratulations for Not Killing Anyone for Studio 108. Most recently Nick appeared in, directed and co-wrote the autobiographical comedy Here Comes a Regular, which went onto become one of the Factory's biggest hits. He hosts a late night talk show on WGN-AM radio and will next direct Factory Theater's production of Menage A Trailer, opening in November.
Michael R. Meredith
Michael R. Meredith (Playwright) is a Washington DC native who lives in Los Angeles after a ten year stretch in Chicago. Michaels proudest Windy City achievement is being a founding member of The Factory Theater. The critically acclaimed theater company has been producing original comedies for over ten years. Michael has written material for Hooray! and the notorious Second City Didnt Want Us, or Is There A Spot In The Touring Company For My Girlfriend ? He co-wrote The Angry Show and the
four year hit, Alive. All by his lonesome, he wrote the smash hit Being at Choice, Clean, and Escape From The North Pole. As an actor Michael has appeared in over 25 Factory shows. Since arriving in LA, Michael has co-written, with Kirk Pynchon, the break-dancing prison comedy, Poppin' and Lockdown and Poppin' and Lockdown 2: Dance The Right Thing. The latter has its Chicago premier this fall at The Factory. In 2003, Michael co-wrote the porn mocumentary Stunt C*cks. The award winning short played over 20 festivals including the Florida and Tribeca Film Festivals.
Carrie J Sullivan
Carrie J Sullivan (Stage Manager) began her foray into stage managing a few years ago working on Hi-Volt theatre's production of Lick the Mouse. Subsequently she ran sound on Defiant's Sci-Fi Action Move in Space Prison and Among the Dead - her first Factory show. Last summer she stage-managed and did shots of So-Co with the cast of Calgony Springs, another High-Volt show. She's sobered up long enough to work on Being at Choice though probably not for long. She's thrilled to be working with the Factory again and would like to thank Al for giving her
the call. Special love and thanks to Javina: the cumquat farm won't be the same without you.
Chas Vrba
Chas Vrba (Sound Design) Chas has participated in a number of Factory shows in various capacities. He likes being involved with Being at Choice.
