BEAR
Playing age: ageless
A stuffed bear. The softest of the inhabitants, literally and figuratively. Kind, accepting, good natured. Constantly pondering. Looking for meaning. Spends most of the day in their own head.
The Factory Theater
The Machine
Audition · Chicago
Apply by
Mon, Oct 5, 2026
How to auditionEmail
The role
Who they’re looking for
Actors of all sizes, ethnicities, abilities, and gender identities may submit; all roles are ageless, genderless, and not race specific.
DOLL
Playing age: ageless
A film spin-off doll. The newest in the machine. Strong, articulated, hungry for knowledge. Ever curious. Something is off about her, but that is not a flaw.
SHARK
Playing age: ageless
A stuffed shark wearing an eyepatch. Greaser vibes. Tough and mouthy. Walls are always up, but belies a deeply flawed personality that craves attachment. If they owned a leather jacket, they would wear it everywhere.
DOG
Playing age: ageless
A stuffed hound dog. The oldest in the machine. The keeper of memories. Respected and grizzled. Hunched from age. Basically if Ben Franklin was a youth pastor.
MONKEY
Playing age: ageless
A sock monkey. Affable and conflict avoidant. Hasn’t had too many thoughts beyond the confines of the machine. Kind to a fault.
GIRAFFE
Playing age: ageless
A stuffed giraffe. A nervous wreck. Anything beyond the plexiglas walls scares them to their core. Quick witted and easy to make friends with. A bit of a doormat.
Playing age, Equity, understudy… what do these mean?
Playing age is how old a character appears, which may differ from your own age. Equity is the actors’ union; check each theatre’s eligibility rules. An understudy learns a role to perform when the main actor is unavailable.
The commitment
What does it pay?
$200 for both principals and understudies
Contract: Non-Equity
Dates & location
Callbacks
Oct 18, 2026 – Oct 18, 2026
In-Person Callbacks will take place on Sunday, October 18th from 6:00-10:00 PM
Rehearsals
Dec 9, 2026 – Dec 16, 2026
This show utilizes puppetry so there will be a puppetry workshop at Factory on December 9th and 16th prior to the start of rehearsals
Rehearsals
Jan 2, 2027 – Feb 3, 2027
Rehearsals-01/02/2027-02/03/2027
Technical rehearsals
Feb 7, 2027 – Feb 11, 2027
Tech-02/07/2027-02/11/2027
Performances
Feb 12, 2027 – Feb 14, 2027
Previews-02/12/2027-02/14/2027
Rehearsals
Feb 15, 2027 – Feb 17, 2027
Brush Up Rehearsals-02/15/2027-02/17/2027
Performances
Feb 18, 2027 – Feb 18, 2027
Final Preview-02/18/2027
Performances
Feb 19, 2027 – Feb 19, 2027
Opening-02/19/2027
Performances
Mar 14, 2027 – Mar 14, 2027
Understudy Performance-03/14/2027
Performances
Mar 22, 2027 – Mar 22, 2027
Industry Night-03/22/2027
Performances
Mar 27, 2027 – Mar 27, 2027
Closing-03/27/2027
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will be Monday-Wednesday evenings from 7-10 PM, Saturdays from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM, & Sundays from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM.
Performances
Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM plus 1 industry night on a Monday.
Open the download in your calendar app to add the dates and a reminder the day before.
Get ready
What to prepare
Help with headshots, résumés, and self-tapes
A headshot is a clear photo of you. An acting résumé lists your performance experience and training. A self-tape is a recorded audition video. Sides are the short script excerpts the theatre asks you to perform. Follow this theatre’s specific instructions.
Your next step
How to apply
Please send your headshot and resume labeled as your name (one file is preferred but two is fine as long as they’re labeled with your name) to casting@thefactorytheater.com and sides/directives will be provided.
Go to the application page →Opens another website. You’ll complete your application with the theatre.
Application email: casting@thefactorytheater.com
Full posting and updates
The Factory Theater is casting actors for both main cast and understudy roles in The Machine by Bill Daniel, directed by Chase Wheaton-Werle. Actors of all sizes, ethnicities, abilities, and gender identities are invited to submit; all roles are ageless, genderless, and not race specific. Virtual submissions are due by 6:00 PM on Monday, October 5th; in-person callbacks take place Sunday, October 18th from 6:00-10:00 PM. Send a headshot and resume labeled with your name to casting@thefactorytheater.com; sides/directives will be provided. Pay rate is $200 for both principals and understudies. The show utilizes puppetry, with a puppetry workshop at Factory on December 9th and 16th before rehearsals; there is a guaranteed understudy performance.
We last checked the posting on Sep 23, 2026. The theatre may have updated it since.
What changed?
Schedule · Sep 22, 2026
Description: In-Person Callbacks will take place on Sunday, October 18th from 6:00-10:00 PM
End: 2026-10-18
Kind: callback
Start: 2026-10-18
Description: a puppetry workshop at Factory on December 9th and 16th prior to the start of rehearsals
End: 2026-12-09
Kind: rehearsal
Start: 2026-12-09
Description: a puppetry workshop at Factory on December 9th and 16th prior to the start of rehearsals
End: 2026-12-16
Kind: rehearsal
Start: 2026-12-16
Description: Rehearsals-01/02/2027-02/03/2027; Rehearsals will be Monday-Wednesday evenings from 7-10 PM, Saturdays from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM, & Sundays from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM.
End: 2027-02-03
Kind: rehearsal
Start: 2027-01-02
Description: Tech-02/07/2027-02/11/2027
End: 2027-02-11
Kind: tech
Start: 2027-02-07
Description: Previews-02/12/2027-02/14/2027
End: 2027-02-14
Kind: performance
Start: 2027-02-12
Description: Brush Up Rehearsals-02/15/2027-02/17/2027
End: 2027-02-17
Kind: rehearsal
Start: 2027-02-15
Description: Final Preview-02/18/2027
End: 2027-02-18
Kind: performance
Start: 2027-02-18
Description: Opening-02/19/2027 ... Closing-03/27/2027. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM plus 1 industry night on a Monday.
End: 2027-03-27
Kind: performance
Start: 2027-02-19
Description: Understudy Performance-03/14/2027. There will be a guaranteed understudy performance
End: 2027-03-14
Kind: performance
Start: 2027-03-14
Description: Industry Night-03/22/2027
End: 2027-03-22
Kind: performance
Start: 2027-03-22 → Description: In-Person Callbacks will take place on Sunday, October 18th from 6:00-10:00 PM
End: 2026-10-18
Kind: callback
Start: 2026-10-18
Description: This show utilizes puppetry so there will be a puppetry workshop at Factory on December 9th and 16th prior to the start of rehearsals
End: 2026-12-16
Kind: rehearsal
Start: 2026-12-09
Description: Rehearsals-01/02/2027-02/03/2027
End: 2027-02-03
Kind: rehearsal
Start: 2027-01-02
Description: Tech-02/07/2027-02/11/2027
End: 2027-02-11
Kind: tech
Start: 2027-02-07
Description: Previews-02/12/2027-02/14/2027
End: 2027-02-14
Kind: performance
Start: 2027-02-12
Description: Brush Up Rehearsals-02/15/2027-02/17/2027
End: 2027-02-17
Kind: rehearsal
Start: 2027-02-15
Description: Final Preview-02/18/2027
End: 2027-02-18
Kind: performance
Start: 2027-02-18
Description: Opening-02/19/2027
End: 2027-02-19
Kind: performance
Start: 2027-02-19
Description: Understudy Performance-03/14/2027
End: 2027-03-14
Kind: performance
Start: 2027-03-14
Description: Industry Night-03/22/2027
End: 2027-03-22
Kind: performance
Start: 2027-03-22
Description: Closing-03/27/2027
End: 2027-03-27
Kind: performance
Start: 2027-03-27
Description: Rehearsals will be Monday-Wednesday evenings from 7-10 PM, Saturdays from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM, & Sundays from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM.
Kind: rehearsal
Description: Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM plus 1 industry night on a Monday.
Kind: performance
Roles · Sep 22, 2026
Description: A stuffed bear. The softest of the inhabitants, literally and figuratively. Kind, accepting, good natured. Constantly pondering. Looking for meaning. Spends most of the day in their own head.
Name: BEAR
Playing age: ageless
Status: open
Description: A film spin-off doll. The newest in the machine. Strong, articulated, hungry for knowledge. Ever curious. Something is off about her, but that is not a flaw.
Name: DOLL
Playing age: ageless
Status: open
Description: A stuffed shark wearing an eyepatch. Greaser vibes. Tough and mouthy. Walls are always up, but belies a deeply flawed personality that craves attachment. If they owned a leather jacket, they would wear it everywhere.
Name: SHARK
Playing age: ageless
Status: open
Description: A stuffed hound dog. The oldest in the machine. The keeper of memories. Respected and grizzled. Hunched from age. Basically if Ben Franklin was a youth pastor.
Name: DOG
Playing age: ageless
Status: open
Description: A sock monkey. Affable and conflict avoidant. Hasn't had too many thoughts beyond the confines of the machine. Kind to a fault.
Name: MONKEY
Playing age: ageless
Status: open
Description: A stuffed giraffe. A nervous wreck. Anything beyond the plexiglas walls scares them to their core. Quick witted and easy to make friends with. A bit of a doormat.
Name: GIRAFFE
Playing age: ageless
Status: open → Description: A stuffed bear. The softest of the inhabitants, literally and figuratively. Kind, accepting, good natured. Constantly pondering. Looking for meaning. Spends most of the day in their own head.
Name: BEAR
Playing age: ageless
Status: open
Description: A film spin-off doll. The newest in the machine. Strong, articulated, hungry for knowledge. Ever curious. Something is off about her, but that is not a flaw.
Name: DOLL
Playing age: ageless
Status: open
Description: A stuffed shark wearing an eyepatch. Greaser vibes. Tough and mouthy. Walls are always up, but belies a deeply flawed personality that craves attachment. If they owned a leather jacket, they would wear it everywhere.
Name: SHARK
Playing age: ageless
Status: open
Description: A stuffed hound dog. The oldest in the machine. The keeper of memories. Respected and grizzled. Hunched from age. Basically if Ben Franklin was a youth pastor.
Name: DOG
Playing age: ageless
Status: open
Description: A sock monkey. Affable and conflict avoidant. Hasn’t had too many thoughts beyond the confines of the machine. Kind to a fault.
Name: MONKEY
Playing age: ageless
Status: open
Description: A stuffed giraffe. A nervous wreck. Anything beyond the plexiglas walls scares them to their core. Quick witted and easy to make friends with. A bit of a doormat.
Name: GIRAFFE
Playing age: ageless
Status: open
Locations · Sep 22, 2026
Not specified → Address: 1623 W Howard Street
City: Chicago
Kind: rehearsal
Name: The Factory Theater
Eligibility · Sep 22, 2026
Seeking actors of all sizes, ethnicities, abilities, and gender identities to submit. All roles are ageless, genderless, and are not race specific. → Actors of all sizes, ethnicities, abilities, and gender identities may submit; all roles are ageless, genderless, and not race specific.
How to apply · Sep 22, 2026
Deadline text: Virtual Submissions are due by 6:00 PM on Monday, October 5th
Email: casting@thefactorytheater.com
Instructions: Please send your headshot and resume labeled as your name (one file is preferred but two is fine as long as they're labeled with your name) to casting@thefactorytheater.com and sides/directives will be provided.
Materials: headshot
resume
Method: email → Deadline text: Virtual Submissions are due by 6:00 PM on Monday, October 5th
Email: casting@thefactorytheater.com
Instructions: Please send your headshot and resume labeled as your name (one file is preferred but two is fine as long as they’re labeled with your name) to casting@thefactorytheater.com and sides/directives will be provided.
Materials: headshot
resume
Method: email
Link: https://auditions.leagueofchicagotheatres.org/audition/the-factory-theater-non-equity-the-machine/