The Theatre
Factory prepares
to launch the
second half of
their 2017-2018
season this
February.
Matthew Rush, Marianne Bayard,
Charlie Russell and Mark Henne
in "A Christmas Story."
"Snoopy the Musical"— Katie Kerr-Springer,
Jacob Grantz, Autumn Hadbavny, Alyssa
Bruno-Walls, Emily Ann Stephens, Justin Snyder,
Jonathan Charles Heinbaugh.
BY NICOLE TAFE
T
he Theatre Factory has been wowing
audiences in Pittsburgh and its
surrounding communities for more
than 20 years. This year’s season is dazzling
audiences as local performers grace the stage
to share their talents.
The Theatre Factory was founded in 1995
by five local residents— Gary Surmacz,
Harry and Carol Connelly, Carmen
Augustine and Dan Spinazzola— and a small
group of hard-working volunteers including
Karen Alexander and Bonnie Castellion,
who still volunteer at the theatre today. The
first performance was a the musical revue
titled Some Enchanted Evening. The dinner
theater performance was a benefit to raise
the necessary funds to establish the theatre
as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.
Performances took place for many years
at the Polish Club in Trafford before The
Theatre Factory acquired their current space
on Cavitt Avenue.
The group is run by a volunteer board
of directors, consisting of 14 members,
and is funded by ticket sales and various
fundraisers held throughout the year. While
most of the staff is volunteer, some actors
are paid small stipends. “Members meet
regularly to discuss upcoming events, finalize
plans and make important theatre decisions,”
says production manager Sue Kurey.
Each season, shows are researched by
the group’s Artistic Director, Scott
Calhoon, and then presented
to the Board of Directors, who
choose from what is presented.
The Theatre Factory does six Main
Stage Shows—three or four of which are
musicals—a drama and a comedy/farce and
three to four KidWork Productions. The age
Kidworks two-week camp at The Theatre Factory.
range of the shows varies due to content, but
all of the group’s KidWork Productions are
acceptable for all ages. In addition to offering
KidWork productions, The Theatre Factory
hosts a musical theater/acting workshop for
kids four times throughout the year, and a
summer camp for interested students.
The Theatre Factory partners with
Parentes restaurant for a dinner theatre
package, available for Main Stage shows.
Equity and non-equity performers from
all over the Pittsburgh area take part in the
productions.
Directors come from all over to be a
part of The Theatre Factory, and are each
interviewed before chosen. Audition notices
are sent out six to eight weeks before a
production, and the notices include the
appropriate age range on the listing. Actors
are generally asked to prepare a one- to
two-minute monologue for a play, and for a
musical—16 to 32 bars of music.
“We are in the second half of our season,”
says Kurey. “We open on Feb. 15 with
“Sylvia,” followed by “Forbidden Broadway”
“The Theatre Factory
has been providing
quality performances to
the area for 23 years,”
says Kurey. “We bring
people of all ages together
who share a common
interest, to bond
and create friendships and
memories that last a lifetime.”
in May and “Big Fish” in July.” The
Kidworks productions will open in March
with “The Velveteen Rabbit,” foll owed by
“Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook” in June and
“Jungle Book” in August.
In addition to performing, members of
The Theatre Company try to do community
outreach whenever possible. They recently
performed at Children's Hospital of
Pittsburgh of UMPC, did a donation drive
for a local animal shelter and donated
funds to a local women's shelter. Currently,
members are trying to schedule an
adoption day with Animal Friends to find
adoptable dogs forever homes.
“The Theatre Factory has been providing
quality performances to the area for 23
years,” says Kurey. “We bring people of
all ages together who share a common
interest, to bond and create friendships and
memories that last a lifetime.”
The Theatre Factory is always looking for
volunteers. The only cost is time! Interested
parties can email the organization directly
from their website—thetheatrefactory.
org/— or visit The Theatre Factory on
Facebook, where calls for actors, directors,
musicians and volunteers are available.
Dates, descriptions and ticket
prices for upcoming shows
are also available on the
website. n
MONROEVILLE
❘
SP R I NG 2018
15