OPENING NIGHT: Sunday, August 29th @ 7pm
Continuing Fridays and Saturdays @ 8pm Sundays @ 7pm.
Through October 3rd.
INDUSTRY NIGHTS: Mondays Sept 13th, Sept. 27th at 8pm.
TICKETS: $18.00, FACTORY BENEFIT GALA Tickets: $30.00
312.409.3247 for information and reservations.
Appeared in September 2004
Synopsis
Poppin' and Lockdown 2: Dance the Right Thing is a new comedy set in 1989 that tells the streetwise story of Turbo, a dedicated breakdancer trying to save his hood from the evil spread of crack cocaine. Teaming up with ex-con, ex-banger & excellent breaker Caesar and the crew from The MLK, Malcom X, Huey P. Newton, Bobby Seal, Eldridge Cleaver, Nipsey Russell Youth Empowerment & Dance Center, Turbo tackles the drug lord Mendoza and his goons in a phat throw down of dance domination. In this breakdance/action flick homage, Turbo must draw strength from the power of the dance to rid his hood of crack, defeat Mendoza and rescue his fallen love, Emma Goodheart from her new best friend: a big chunk of crack.
The Cast
Amanda Putman
Amanda Putman (Emma) Amanda thinks the Factory is PHAT and is very happy to be working with them. She is a company member with The Hypocrites, and was last seen in their production of Camille/La Traviata. Along with The Hypocrites, she's worked with the fine folks at Strawdog, Lifeline and The Griffin. Love to the ladies of S.W.A.T. Charming
Andre Vawdrey
Andre Vawdrey (Little Jesus) is excited to be back for P & L 2, doin' it '89 style this time. He recalls those days of silk shirts, nasty patterned vests, and tappered pant legs. Fortunately, his character in Part 2 has a little more style. Andre wishes peace for the Nation of Islam and big props to the JB's, Divine Sty, Tribe, X Clan, and the everlasting Big C. PS: Andre is white
Angela Oliver
Angela Oliver (Wiggles) is originally from Little Rock, AR and has received training at the premier school for visual and performing arts, Columbia College. Angela made her way to the Factory by way of Columbia College's internship program, and most recently interned for Being at Choice. She is proud to announce her Factory debut, and would like to thank everyone for being so much fun to work with. Angela's most recent work includes Cornservatory Theater's Aunt Nancy and a Day at the Carnival and Columbia College's Once on this Island. She has also worked with other local independent theater groups in the city.
Brian Jackson
Brian Jackson (Senior Love Daddy) He's Back! Remixing his role as DJ in part 2 of our break dancing saga. Well, what can we say? The Kid still can't act, but he's letting us use his equipment for free.
Chas Vrba
Chas Vrba (Sam) has appeared in a number of Factory shows over the years. Some of which include, Chicagostyle, Captain Raspberry, EndZone, White Trash Wedding & A Funeral, Goooooo Speech Team!, Variations on Death, and of course the first Poppin' and Lockdown where he played Gravel, the prison bitch, and a special break dancer in the Jerry's Kids Crew. Additionally, he has appeared in shows with Defiant, European Rep., The Journeymen, Mary-Arrchie, Raven Theatre, and Steppenwolf among others. Sound Design/Effects credits include Being at
Choice (remount), Here Comes a Regular, Among the Dead, Dick Danger DJ: Crimesolver! for the Factory, as well as work for Hope and Nonthings, The Journeymen, Northlight Kids, Open Eye, and Rivendell. He remembers 1989 as a great year to be a 17 year old in Chicago. He sends love to his fellow cast & crewmembers, his Factory cohorts, anyone he knew in 1989 that he still considers a friend today, and always, Barbara.
Cheryl Markowitz
Cheryl Markowitz (Ensemble) is excited to be working with Factory Theater. Past credits include, Balls with Backstage Theatre Company, The 24 Hour Plays, work with Borealis Theatre Reverie, and the Rhino Fest
David Greico
David Greico (Ensemble) is excited to be working with the factory. You may remember him from some of his most noteworthy performances in safety films such as, “sharp objects, tools and friends” or “Fire is your friend”. Be good
Derrick Nelson
Derrick Nelson (Caesar) Breakdown sukkaz!
Y'all know me!
Jen Gehr
Jen Gehr (Mrs. Kirkland) is geeked to be reprising the role of Mrs.Kirkland and to be working with Factory again. She's done a lot of theatre in Chicago with many companies but is a devout follower/member of Defiant and OEP. See their shows too. Donate money to theatres (like Factory and the aforementioned 2) and vote Democratic in the fall. Now she's done talking.
Jeremy Gickstein
Jeremy Gickstein (Turbo) P&L2 is Jeremy's first show with Factory Theatre and he is thrilled to be involved. He was seen most recently on stage as David Beeves in Raven Theatre's critically acclaimed production of Arthur Miller's THE MAN WHO HAD ALL THE LUCK, where he as appeared in numerous shows. Right after P&L2 he will be acting in Piven Theatre's next main stage production, OUR COUNTRY'S GOOD.
Jeremy's performed with many Chicago companies, was a company member of the late Half-Cocked Productions and just finished acting in his first SAG feature film, PEARL DIVER, due out by mid 2005. He would like to thank his family, friends, Scott Shallenbarger, Katherine Gately, Dale Calandra, Mike Menendian & the Raven Theatre, Piven Theatre and to the slammin' Factory Theatre, stank you smelly much! Peace and much love-Silver Tongue J. Flex- Ya'll about to GET SERVED!!!
Katherine Ripley
Katherine Ripley (Chesty) was last seen as Lady Vanity in Defiant's production of The Pyrates. She is a University of Illinois graduate.
Mike Beyer
Mike Beyer (Freeze) Poppin and Lockdown 2 is the 56th original show to be produced by the Factory, and Mike has appeared in exactly half of them. He is very happy to be reunited with Steve Walker (and indirectly with Kirk Pynchon & Mike Meredith) for Poppin' And Lockdown 2. Mike is an ensemble member, and first joined the Factory in 1992. He's been showing up in various capacities ever since. He served as president of the Factory from 1995-1997, and has written four original shows for the Factory, including White Trash Wedding And A Funeral (with Bill Havle), which was directed by Nick Digilio and was one of the theater's biggest hits.
As a writer, he received a Jeff nomination for Best New Work with Herb Stabler: Wandering Spirit, which was produced at the Factory. As an actor, he has appeared in some of the Factory's most acclaimed productions. These include (but are ! not limited to) Bitches, Santa Claus Conquers The Martians, Alive, Being At Choice, The Barbara Walters Interviews, Gooooooo Speech Team! and most recently Here Comes A Regular. Film credits include Face Cards and Schmeckman. He is also somewhere on the cutting room floor for Dot. Love always to Eileen & little Declan.
Sid Feldman
Sid Feldman (Mendoza) In 1999, after working as a producer for New Crime Productions and a director for The Acme Arts Society, Sid retired from theater vowing, "The only thing that could bring me back would be if I was an actor in an anti-crack, breakdancing parody of the 80's." He had no idea.
Tucker Curtis
Tucker Curtis (Ensemble) is mad happy to be stylin' and profilin' with the dope peeps at the Factory Theater for the very first time. Around Chicago, he's done his theatrical thang with the Viaduct, Open Eye, The Free Associates, The Playground, WNEP (where he is an Artistic Associate...word!), and others. He is a founding member, co-developer, performer, and
tireless advocate of Thinkprov, where patience equals perfection. Tucker gives props to all those what gave him due respect over da years and sends out big love to his girl, Mix-master K, for all she done in keepin' the flow. Let's get stupid!
The Staff
Steve Walker
Steve Walker (Director) most recently directed Ian Pierce.s Four Clowns and a Bench in Los Angeles. He is an Ensemble Member with the Factory and served as Artistic Director for two years. He directed the first Poppin. and Lockdown for the Factory, as well as Captain Raspberry (also playing the title role), Brett Neveu.s Eagle Hills Eagle Ridge Eagle Landing, Repair Guys, Endzone, a remount of White Trash Wedding and a Funeral and co-directed Win Place or Show and the Jeff Nominated Herb Stabler: Wandering Spirit. As an actor he appeared in the Factory.s Alive, Preying Manthis, Win Place or Show, Clean, The Vinyl Shop, Surface Dwellers and Captain Raspberry, among others. He has worked for many theater companies including Steppenwolf, Curious Theater Branch, Theater Oobleck, Neofuturists, Hypocrites, Defiant, Hope and Nonthings, Viadu! ct and many more. He had principle roles in the films Stir of Echoes and Dot.
Joe Gehr
Joe Gehr (Production Stage Manager) should not be taken seriously. Nor in large doses. Anything he says just let drip drippity drop out your head. Performing with laser light precision and verbal incision for a linguistic ballistic lobotomy mind f*$%ing you of psycho sodomy of the medulla oblongata. Exit your mind down your spine and out your behind.
Brett Radford
Brett Radford (Technical Director) has done nothing until now. Thank you Factory for waking him.
Geoff Vines
Geoff Vines (Light Designer) is glad to be working with The Factory once agian. Post projects have included lighting for Popin' and Lockdown, Among The Dead, Eagle Hills, Eagle Ridge, Eagle Landing, and Lab Rats. He's also worked extensivly with Open Eye Productions
Becky Marshall
Becky Marshall (Set Designer) is giddy with excitement to be working with Walker again. Right now, she.s a graduate student at Columbia. For the decade before that, she designed scenery or did props for pretty much everyone in town.
Chas Vrba
Chas Vrba (Sound Designer) - See above under CAST!
Camilla Ha
Camilla Ha (Costumer) With no formal training and little interest, Camilla Ha stumbled onto the fashion world like Forrest Gump; and like the loveable retard, she hopes her little story will inspire similarly deficient people. Somehow she's worked as a fashion editor, stylist, and make-up artist in Chicago and elsewhere. Her work has appeared in Jane, Venus, Newcity, and Chicago Social. Currently she is doing makeup and styling for an "alternative" porn site and designing costumes for Plasticene Theater's newest production. In her other life she performs/records solo music as Magic is Kuntmaster and has various side projects with Chicago's wierdest. She makes ugly little dolls, trashy jewelry and clothes and is also a butoh dancer whose most recent performance was at the Million Tongues Psych Rock Festival at the Empty Bottle.
Michael Mazzara
Michael Mazzara (Fight Choreographer) Aiyyo Jay yo Jay, check this out I was born Son of Byford, brother of Al Bad as my mamma and Run's, my pal It's McDaniels, not McDonald's These rhymes are Darryl's, those burgers are RONALD'S I ran down, my family tree My mother, my father, my brother and D Huh. Thanks to Derrick and the cast for all their contributions and talent.
Czarina Mirani
Czarina Mirani (Dance Choreographer) graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Theater. She has worked for theaters such as Healthworks, Organic, The Goodman, Appletree, European Repertory, Strawdog, Collaboraction and Bailiwick. Czarina created Fivestar Boogie Productions, a company of dancers getting down to hip-hop, house, breakdancing and jazz. Fivestar shows were Hip-Hop Cinderella, Ladies Night Out and The Girlie Show. She currently dances with the Joel Hall dancers. Check out www.fivestarboogie.com
Lara Maerz
Lara Maerz (Props Master) Bio removed-
Laurie Canning
Laurie Canning (Assistant Dance Choreographer) a native of Chicago, is a dancer, choreographer, and writer. She has danced, choreographed, and acted in Five Star Boogie Production's Cinderella: A Hip Hop Tale of an Illegal Alien, Ladies Night Out, and most recently The Girlie Show. Laurie can also be seen as a principle dancer in the motion picture "Soul Survivors" and in other movies such as "Just Visiting", "Save the Last Dance" and various music videos. Laurie has studied with the Joel Hall Dance Center for the past 10 years and has also danced with Ascension: The Kirby Reed Project, R.A.G.E., L.I.F.E., and Culture Shock Chicago, where she was an Artistic Director. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in English from Northeastern Illinois University, Laurie has been a freelance writer for magazines such as Dance Spirit.
Chicago Reader's 2002 review of the original Poppin and Lockdown:
Poppin' and Lockdown, Factory Theater, at Angel Island. The mid-80s musicals about break dancing--that spinning-on-your-head electric boogie thang that birthed hip-hop--have practically disappeared. I had no luck at several video stores and libraries asking for Beat Street, Breakin', or Krush Groove. Yet there is hope for fans: playwrights Mike Meredith and Kirk Pynchon have managed to cram all those bad mamma jammas into this wicked fresh parody. Set in a black box covered in neon graffiti, with DJ Boogie Down Bronx (Brian Jackson) spinnin' and scratchin' in the corner, the show's got it all: rival gangs, star-crossed love, a murder frame-up, and a final dance-off that will launch the winners to stardom. Parody is deceptively hard, but Meredith, Pynchon, and director Steve Walker clearly get it. They surprise us with long-lost references ("We're gonna be Joe Piscopo huge!") and know when to go broad, as they do with ancillary characters like Chesty McBooby (Katherine Ripley) and Lou Jewison (Noah Simon), president of "the leading entertainment management of break and break-related dancing." They also know when to keep it real--Walker and the performers understand that comedy fails when the actor seems in on the joke. Great example: even after being "compromised" in prison, hero Turbo (Danny Belrose) refuses to give up his Mickey Rooney-like enthusiasm ("Break dancing can save the world!"). And the dancing? No physics-defying moves, but respectable. Highly Recommended.
