Paradise Poetry
Look Both Ways by Chuck Blasius
Monday - Tuesday, Aug. 25 - 26 at 7PM
On the night of the 1977 New York City blackout, a handful of gay activists meet in a church basement and must contend with splintering ideals, infighting, and the dark...
As the night progresses, they're visited by three mysterious figures who force them to confront their gay past and present and how they will approach the future.
Written by Chuck Blasius
Directed by Robert Gomes
Featuring: Moe Bertran, Kevin Boseman, Brandon Espinoza, Ken Forman, Neil Redfield, Joshua David Robinson, Karen Sillas, Monique Vukovic
This is a staged reading.
Tickets available here.
Problematic Tendencies
Friday and Saturday, September 5 and 6 at 7PM
Sunday, September 7 at 3PM
This collection of monologues features the masterful work of our favorite storytellers exposing unique layers of the human condition -- from funny to sad to horrifying.
New Work by: Richard Alfredo, Richard Caliban, Lisa Ebersole, Ken Forman, Eric Maierson, Joan Mathieu, Risa Mickenberg, Traci Parks, Jacquelyn Reingold, Bill Schaumberg
Featuring: Dontonio Demarco, Lisa Ebersole, Sean Patrick Folster, Ken Forman, Petra Hinds, Katie Honaker, Rhonda Keyser, Beatrice Low, Joan Mathieu, Monique Vukovic
Directed by: Richard Alfredo, Richard Caliban, Lisa Ebersole, Ken Forman, Joan Mathieu, Cady McClain, Risa Mickenberg, Nate Nguepsi, Traci Park, Shannon Patterson, Monique Vukovic
Tickets available here.
AI vs. Hannah by David Deblinger
Thursday, August 28 at 7:00 pm
Morris is tired of being emotionally triggered by men, women and animals. He seeks treatment from an A.I. psychotherapist, taking a psilocybin-type substance which has him leap into the dream world of his unconscious.
This is a free staged reading.
Tickets available here.
Road Kills
August 15 - September 6
What happens to the stains you can’t get out?
Owen is a roadkill collector. Jaki was busted for drunk driving. And for the next six Saturdays, they’re stuck with each other.
As they traverse the highways of Wisconsin, they connect over their common ground as outsiders, challenge each other on issues of faith and family, and careen towards a collision that threatens to shatter them both.
Sophie McIntosh’s unflinching new play Road Kills forces us to confront the long-lasting repercussions of abuse — and urges us not to look away.
Following a sold-out reading with the Frontera Series, Road Kills will have a full production at Paradise Factory, running August 15 - September 6, 2025. Tickets are now on sale.
Understudy Anna Aubry will be performing as "Jaki" on the performances scheduled for August 29th and 30th at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets available here.
Mated
August 15 - 17
It's the year 2094.
The United States government is attempting to create a new race of intelligent, attractive, and enhanced humans.
The government uses prisoners as their test dummies for this experiment.
Number Seventeen and Number Eighteen must conceive a child or will be terminated.
As their time in the room continues, secrets are revealed.
Alice Tinari's new fucked up play, MATED, directed by Maggie Brockman, asks audiences to challenge their empathy and morals.
Tickets available here.
Leni’s Last Lament, May - June 2025
In Gil Kofman’s smart, hilarious play fresh from a critically acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Fringe, Obie Award-winning actress Jodie Markell plays Hitler’s notorious filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl.
Framed as a macabre cabaret that takes place in an ethereal editing room, Leni attempts to re-edit her controversial Nazi past and make it more palatable. Directed by Richard Caliban (“legendary downtown theater-maker” —Village Voice), this wild ride of a play received top awards at United Solo Fest: Best Script, Best Actor, and Best Director.
Written by Gil Kofman
Starring Jodie Markell
Directed by Richard Caliban
Musician Spiff Wiegand
Workplace Injuries, May - June 2025
Exploitation, theft, heartbreak, death -- it’s all in a day’s work.
Paradise Factory presents three one-act plays showcasing our company’s distinct voices and talent. Playwrights Eric Maierson, Joan Mathieu and Grant James Varjas studied with Tom Noonan, iconoclastic actor, writer, director and founder of Paradise Factory.
The evening features performances by Sean Patrick Folster and Katie Moore in THAT PICTURE OF YOU (directed by Sean Patrick Folster), Monique Vukovic and Ken Forman in DIET COKE FOR THE DEAD (directed by Howard Fishman), and Chase McCloud and Joan Mathieu in BOOKSTORE (directed by Chuck Blasius).
Artistic Director: Joan Mathieu
Producing Directors: Ken Forman, Eric Maierson
Managing Director: Joseph Carey
Lighting Design: Sasha Finley
Set Design: Evan Frank
Stage Manager: Charles Cassano
Assistant Stage Manager: Ceydan (Dany) Sibilni
Intimacy Coordinator: Brooke M. Haney
Publicity Photos: Leandro Badalotti, Bob Sacha
Short Film Night, March 2025
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Paradise Short Film Night
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Paradise Factory Artistic Director Joan Mathieu introduces Shorts Night 2025
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Ken Forman, producing director, discusses upcoming one-act festival Workplace Injuries
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Rhonda Keyser alum makes bid for much-needed financial support
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Paradise Factory hosts its third successful event -- and momentum is building!
First Shorts, March 2025
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First Shorts packed in the crowd!
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Producing Director Ken Forman, Max Sharam and Artistic Director Joan Mathieu
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Scene from Adam Davidson's LUNCH DATE
What Happened Was… 30th Anniversary Screening
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What Happened Was... Screening and Party
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Karen Sillas (What Happened Was...) back at Paradise Factory
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Jim Gaffigan (The Skinny), Tal Shamir (The Vermeers), Ken Forman (New Moon)
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“What Happened Was, which began in this very theater, shows us that a great film can and should be incubated within the beautiful constraints of the stage.” – Artistic Director Joan Mathieu
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Jay O. Sanders (Girl from the North Country, Apple Family Plays) and Joan Mathieu
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Playwright Risa Mickenberg (Egg) and director Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones, Mad Men, The Sopranos)
