Paradise Poetry

Friday, Aug. 22, at 7:00 pm

An evening of multi-sensory readings that challenge the norms and celebrate the possibilities of the art form.

Featuring:
Denver Butson with Brandon Lopez, bass
Joseph Carey
Jennifer Firestone
Rachel Levitsky
hosted by Ben Miller

Tickets available here.

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

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.

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

Paradise Short Film Night
Paradise Factory Artistic Director Joan Mathieu introduces Shorts Night 2025
Ken Forman, producing director, discusses upcoming one-act festival Workplace Injuries
Rhonda Keyser alum makes bid for much-needed financial support
Paradise Factory hosts its third successful event -- and momentum is building!

First Shorts, March 2025

First Shorts packed in the crowd!
Producing Director Ken Forman, Max Sharam and Artistic Director Joan Mathieu
Scene from Adam Davidson's LUNCH DATE

What Happened Was… 30th Anniversary Screening

What Happened Was... Screening and Party
Karen Sillas (What Happened Was...) back at Paradise Factory
Jim Gaffigan (The Skinny), Tal Shamir (The Vermeers), Ken Forman (New Moon)
“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
Jay O. Sanders (Girl from the North Country, Apple Family Plays) and Joan Mathieu
Playwright Risa Mickenberg (Egg) and director Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones, Mad Men, The Sopranos)

“Whether you encounter Tom Noonan through his writing, his performance or his direction, the result is the same – you will look at the performing arts in a way that’s more honest and intense than it was before.”

Paradise Poetry

Look Both Ways by Chuck Blasius

Problematic Tendencies

Paradise Short Film Night

Paradise Factory Artistic Director Joan Mathieu introduces Shorts Night 2025

Ken Forman, producing director, discusses upcoming one-act festival Workplace Injuries

Rhonda Keyser alum makes bid for much-needed financial support

Paradise Factory hosts its third successful event -- and momentum is building!

First Shorts packed in the crowd!

Producing Director Ken Forman, Max Sharam and Artistic Director Joan Mathieu

Scene from Adam Davidson's LUNCH DATE

What Happened Was... Screening and Party

Karen Sillas (What Happened Was...) back at Paradise Factory

Jim Gaffigan (The Skinny), Tal Shamir (The Vermeers), Ken Forman (New Moon)

“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

Jay O. Sanders (Girl from the North Country, Apple Family Plays) and Joan Mathieu

Playwright Risa Mickenberg (Egg) and director Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones, Mad Men, The Sopranos)

“Whether you encounter Tom Noonan through his writing, his performance or his direction, the result is the same – you will look at the performing arts in a way that’s more honest and intense than it was before.”

– Jim Parsons