A Drink With…Stacie Barra

Bartender, I’ll have a…Super Dirty Martini.

I’m SURE you remember me from such Factory shows as…G.I.s in Europe, both runs of 1985, and Take the Cake.

I got involved with the Factory because…I wanted to make my own opportunities and write my own pieces. Also, I love having an artistic tribe of hilarious women to surround myself with…the guys are kind of funny too.

My current/next gig is…Being a new mom, acting as Casting Director for Zombie Broads, and writing, writing, writing.

I give a shit about our move to Rogers Park because…It’s my neighborhood! Rogers Park is really growing and changing, and I’m so glad that The Factory gets to be part of that…and obviously, I’m a fan of the convenience…ok, it’s really the convenience. In all seriousness, it’s amazing to have The Factory recognized for its wealth of potential. We are cooking up some wonderful things, and having our own space in such a great location will help us broaden our audience and give us a home to do finally realize some long terms goals. Get ready, Chicago. Get ready, Rogers Park.

If I had to force you to listen to 2 albums, they would be…Beatles One: Because The Beatles are the greatest band of all time. Don’t give me lip-I know it’s a compilation and not really an album.

The Soundtrack to The Book of Mormon: Because it makes me cry with laughter every time I listen to it, and it inspires me to keep striving to write smart things.

My favourite Factory memory is…goes without saying that having my play, Take the Cake, produced and performing with my husband while pregnant with my daughter was amazing, but I also really cherish the camaraderie and fun we had in the ladies dressing room when we remounted 1985 at the DCA. Diva Cup, anyone?

I’m switching drinks, I’ll have a…Shiner.

This is Stacie with her cowboy boots and Shiner, because Texas. But don’t let that cute smile fool you. Girl is wicked sick and quick about it. She’s Factory after all. Yeeha!

 

A Drink With…Shannon O’Neill

Bartender, I’ll have a…Glass of 1973 Romanée-Conti Pinot Noir.

P.S. I’ll need that on the house unless you have $80K I can borrow. Thanks!

I’m SURE you remember me from such Factory shows as…The Barbara Walters Interviews, Dick Danger: DJ Crime Solver, Dragontales, Janice Dutts Goes to Life Camp, Mop Top Festival, Jenny and Jenni, White Trash Wedding and a Funeral (remount).

I got involved with the Factory because…It was love at first sight. I saw White Trash in 1996 at their Loyola space in Rogers Park. I was 20 years old and couldn’t believe what my eyes were seeing. I never laughed so hard or gasped as loud as I did seeing that show…again and again. I didn’t mind waiting in line late in the night, I didn’t mind holding my bladder to the point I was crying piss by the end and I didn’t even mind bolting into the alley to relieve myself if I couldn’t hold it. It was all worth it and I was hooked. Audacious, courageous and hilarious, show after show. The only theater in Chicago that knows exactly who it is and wears its heart on its sleeve with no apologies – definitely my kind of family.

My current/next gig is…Georgia Hays Patella due July 2015!

I give a shit about our move to Rogers Park because…A company that works this hard for decades deserves to have a place we can call home. We will thrive in Rogers Park, as we did 20 years ago. What happens when Factory reintegrates into an historic north side neighborhood is the chapter in the book everyone can’t wait to read.

If I had to force you to listen to 2 albums, they would be…Pete Fountain’s New Orleans at Midnight and 2 Live Crew’s Is What We Are.

My favourite Factory memory is…Breaking Christine Jennings and Heather Moran my first few seconds of acting on the Factory stage.

I’m switching drinks, I’ll have a…Gimme $80K I’ll switch to whatever you want, honey.

 

This is Shannon. She is awesome and probably has wine in that water bottle she’s carrying.

A Drink With…Timothy C. Amos

Bartender, I’ll have a…Vodka Cranberry with twist of Lime. We sophistic-ants types call it a Cape Cod.

I’m SURE you remember me from such Factory shows as… Siskel and Ebert Save Chicago, Mop Top Festival, Shameless Shamuses, 1985, Dead Wrong, ‘Namosaur!, Take the Cake (Director)

I got involved with the Factory because… It was the chance to work with a company that did original works. I always said I would rather wait tables the rest of my life then have to do theater just like the guy before me did it. I am now a better actor because of the work I do here. Playing roles that challenge not just highlight my talents. That’s an ensemble every actor should find. That which makes you better on stage.

My current/next gig is… The Last Big Mistake, the second show of our first season in our new space! Can’t wait to get going.

I give a shit about our move to Rogers Park because… It’s fine time we have our own home. It’s a great step up for us and wonderful chance to be part of the up and coming Rogers Park community which I love so much.

If I had to force you to listen to 2 albums, they would be… Bob Mould Workbook…oh hell, EVERYTHING BOB MOULD EVER WROTE…AND JIMMY BUFFET TOO! They Might be Giants Greatest hits, and all the classic Sesame Street songs. Just 2…seriously.

(Editor’s Note: That greatest hits is called “Dial-A-Song: 20 Years of They Might Be Giants. Also, two. TWO, TIM.)

My favourite Factory memory is… Sitting on a table with Allison Cain at the closing night of Siskel and Ebert (my first show with the company) watching all the crazy people we had just closed this show with (after some literal blood, sweat, and tears), and knowing I was in a good place. Cheers.

I’m switching drinks, I’ll have a… Scotch in a snifter, neat. YES IN A SNIFTER GET OVER IT!

Tim and Jaimo share a drink. If you happen to be one of Tim’s dogs, you are the luckiest animal ever, by the way. Also, the cutest.

A Drink With…Christine Jennings (aka Cissy J.)

Bartender, I’ll have a…Tito’s and soda water.

I’m SURE you remember me from such Factory shows as… 529 S Something, Fat!, White Trash Wedding and a Funeral, Clean, Battleaxe Betty, The Barbara Walters Interviews, Herb Stabler! Wandering Spirit!, Surface Dwellers, Factory Match Game 99, Menage A Trailer, Toast of the Town, Lonesome Hobos, Janice Dutts Goes to Life Camp, Shameless Shamuses, Bustin’ Out of the Hell, Mop Top Festival, Hunky Dory, and Jenny and Jenni.

I got involved with the Factory because… Steve Walker. A bunch of us were studying at Columbia College together. Walker got to know the folks at Factory in their second season (1994). Walker, Jerry Hlava and Micheal Mazzara got cast in Alive, which went on to be a cult hit. I instantly fell in love with the tribe. Complete knuckleheads with a creative canvas that stretched my brain. I wanted in. I was dating Mazzara at the time, so me hanging around wasn’t too obvious. The original space on Loyola was a hangout. Constant rehearsals, shows, and parties. People lived in the basement at times. My beloved Miss Molly Brennan asked me to do my first Factory show in 1996. I found my family. I was home.

My current/next gig is… An interview show based and shot right here in our beautiful city. I’ll be asking you the questions next.

I give a shit about our move to Rogers Park because… Oh man, oh man! I’m so stoked. Well, we started off there so it’s so fitting, like an homage. When we left R.P., we produced at so many different spaces- the old Footsteps in Andersonville, Athenaeum in Lakeview, Stage Left in Wrigleyville, Chopin in Wicker Park, Angel Island in Lakeview, and, of course, The Prop in Albany Park. So, we’re going home. There is so much excitement within our current ensemble and board, let alone the community of R.P.- man, I cannot wait. It’s such an eclectic neighborhood, so it’s very fitting for us oddballs.

If I had to force you to listen to 2 albums, they would be… Neil Young’s ‘Decade’ & Nina Simone’s ‘To Love Somebody’

My favourite Factory memory is… Oh crap, there’s so many! First comes to mind- people walking across the stage during White Trash at the Loyola space (we only had one toilet and it was backstage). But- I’ll have to go soft and say Jenny & Jenni. My best friend, Shannon O’Neill, worked so frickin hard on that show that I was just so rocked and proud of her when it went up. We got to play best friends and had such an amazing ride. Love that girl.

I’m switching drinks, I’ll have a… an ale and a shot of bourbon. This round’s on me.

This is Cissy J. She’s pretty much the coolest. Ever. Ask her about Factory’s history and Chicago’s music scene. Get comfy, cause she’s a font of knowledge and beauty.

A Drink With…Kim Boler

Bartender, I’ll have a…An Angel’s Envy Bourbon on the rocks…but with one of those fancy single whiskey rocks…cuz I’m Fancy.

I’m SURE you remember me from such Factory shows as…Jenny & Jenni

I got involved with the Factory because…As a performer, I’m ultimately interested in telling a good story and I think the Factory has always managed to put a good story on the stage. Combine that with how well they work as a team, support like a family, and party like rock stars…I’ll drink to that!

My current/next gig is…Currently I am involved with Akvavit Theatre’s production Blue Planet  showing now at the DCASE Storefront Theatre. I will also be in the Factory’s production The Last Big Mistake which opens in January 2016….GEEZ!!! That’s so far away!!!!!

I give a shit about our move to Rogers Park because…It’s really awesome to be so intimately involved in how your theatrical space evolves and the Factory is primed and ready. We get to build a theatrical space from scratch!!!! AND THEN PLAY ON IT!!!! I’m excited to see what we do with this new and singular opportunity and how much we can grow.

If I had to force you to listen to 2 albums, they would be…Led Zeppelin II: my first Zeppelin album! Beastie Boys, Paul’s Boutique.

My favourite Factory memory is…The day that Scott OKen informed me I had been voted into the company. I was at work. And I remember being happy and all that garbage. But when I got off the bus at the end of the day and started walking west to my apartment. The sun came out and it was still a little warm and I couldn’t help but smile and there was this rat dog that was just partying on its leash and it almost felt like I was floating a little and, yeah, I may have squeezed a couple of happy tears out…man, I just felt so happy and a part of something special.

I’m switching drinks, I’ll have a…Makers Mark and Ginger Beer…mixed together…it’s delicious!

You may be cool, but you’ll never be THIS cool. That’s reserved for Kim Boler.