Factory Theater Presents THE ADVENTURES OF SPIRIT FORCE FIVE

The Factory Theater presents the world premiere of The Adventures of Spirit Force Five, playing June 29 - August 11 at the Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St. The new play is written by Jill Oliver and directed by Spenser Davis. Previews are Friday, June 29 and Saturday, June 30 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, July 1 at 3 p.m. Opening night is Friday, July 6 at 8 p.m. Performance times during the regular run, July 7 - August 11, are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for previews, $18 for students and seniors and $25 for general admission. Tickets may be purchased through the Box Office by calling 866-811-4111or by visiting TheFactoryTheater.com.

When a cheerleading squad is called upon to save the parallel universe of Lej, they must summon their collective team spirit to destroy the evil spirit stick, save the citizens of Lametown and be back in time for the state championship. Jill Oliver's debut play asks the question, "Ummm...there's an evil stick in this play?"

The cast for The Adventures of Spirit Force Five includes: Kevin Alves+, (Coach K); Abby Blankenship, (Layla); Brittney Brown, (Ensemble); Tommy Bullington, (Ensemble); Carmen Molina, (Flora); Charlie Irving, (Ensemble); Jill Oliver+, (Lolahdy); Eric Roach+, (Ensemble); Joshua Servantez, (Garin); Stephanie Shum, (Gilda) and Elise Marie Davis+, (Lady Mauron).

The Adventures of Spirit Force Five understudies include: Alyssa Balogh, (Ensemble Women); Turner Frankosky, (Ensemble Men); Koya Frye, (Mauron/Lolahdy); Genna Lynn Guidry, (Gilda/Layla); Kelley Holcomb, (Flora); Esteban Reyna, (Garin) and David Trudeau, (Coach K).

The production team for The Adventures of Spirit Force Five includes: Eric Backus, sound designer/composer, Kim Boler+, assistant director; Joyanne Cox, assistant costume designer; Spenser Davis+, director; Jill Frederickson, puppet designer; Devon Green, set and prop designer; Rose Hamill, stage manager; Laura McKenzie, music director; Jill Oliver+, playwright/choreographer; Claire Sangster, lighting designer; Chris Smith, fight choreographer; Rachel Sypniewski+, costume designer; C.W. van Baale+, master electrician and Maureen Yasko, fight choreographer

+Connotes Factory Theater Ensemble Member

ABOUT Jill Oliver, playwright/choreographer

Jill Oliver has been an ensemble member with the Factory Theater since 2011, The Adventures of Spirit Force Five is her debut as a playwright. She directed her first full-length production for Factory, Fight City, after directing the short 30 Days Down the Rabbit Hole for Abbie Hoffman Festival. Oliver normally wears the actor hat and has worked with other companies such as Artistic Home, A Red Orchid Theatre, Irish Theatre of Chicago, LiveWire Theatre, Wayward Productions and Shattered Globe. She is represented by Shirley Hamilton Talent.

ABOUT SPENSER DAVIS, director

Spencer Davis is a Factory Theater ensemble member and is a longtime company member of Broken Nose Theatre (BNT), where he most recently directed Michael Perlman's At The Table, names "One of the Best Plays of 2017" by the Chicago Tribune, Time Out Chicago, Newcity and teen critic Ada Grey; it also received four Joseph Jefferson Awards, including Best Director/Play and Best Production/Play. Also at BNT, Davis directed Perlman's From White Plains, Elise Spoerlein's A Phase and several editions of Bechdel Fest and acted in My First Time, Beautiful Broken and My First Time: The Remount. Additional directing includes Bachelorette at Level 11, numerous editions of the One Minute Play Festival, as well as work with Strawdog Theatre Company, Otherworld, Mary-Arrchie, First Floor and Pride Films and Plays. He has assistant directed both Pilgrim's Progress and 3C at a Red Orchid, as well as Divine Sister with Hell in a Handbag, all with Shade Murray. As a playwright, he is the past winner of Scotland's Solas Festival, a finalist for the Actors Theater of Louisville Heideman Award and his first full-length play, Merge, about the rise and fall of the video game company Atari, closed The New Colony's eighth season. His plays have been produced across the United States and Canada and have been published by Smith & Kraus New York.

About The Factory Theater

For almost 25 years, The Factory has created its shows from scratch, doing exactly the kind of theater they wanted to do. From writing workshops to the closing night bash, Factory shows are a unique experience that fits its exacting standards: original, bold, and full-tilt. Its shameless ensemble are ambassadors of a good time, making certain that Chicago remains heartily entertained.

The Factory Theater presents the world premiere of The Adventures of Spirit Force Five, playing June 29 - August 11 at the Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St. The new play is written by Jill Oliver and directed by Spenser Davis. Previews are Friday, June 29 and Saturday, June 30 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, July 1 at 3 p.m. Opening night is Friday, July 6 at 8 p.m. Performance times during the regular run, July 7 - August 11, are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for previews, $18 for students and seniors and $25 for general admission. Tickets may be purchased through the Box Office by calling 866-811-4111 or by visiting TheFactoryTheater.com.

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