2026 Season Casting Call
2026-01-20 18:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Avalon Theatre, 40 E Dover St, Easton, MD, 21601, United States
The Factory Arts Project is excited to announce a season-wide casting call for our 2026 productions, produced under Groove Theatre Company, our latest partnership and new live theatre imprint. This season marks an exciting evolution of our work, presenting a full slate of scripted productions centered on strong storytelling, ensemble-driven performance, and thoughtful collaboration.
This casting call will is intended for actors who would like to be considered for particular or multiple productions in our 2026 season. By gathering talent in one setting, our directors are able to see a wide range of performers at once and thoughtfully consider casting across a season that flows fluidly from show to show. While each production still plans to hold its own show-specific auditions at later dates, this initial casting call allows our creative team to plan ahead, identify potential overlaps, and begin casting conversations early.

Auditions! | Picasso at Lapin Agile | Tues, Apr 7
2026-04-07 18:30 - 20:00 | Avalon Theatre, 40 E Dover St, Easton, MD, 21601, United States
The Groove/Factory is excited to announce auditions for its upcoming production of Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile!
Set in the bohemian heart of 1904 Paris, Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile is a brilliant, absurdist comedy that imagines a chance encounter between two of the 20th century’s most legendary minds. The play unfolds at the historic Lapin Agile cabaret, where a 23-year-old Pablo Picasso and a 25-year-old Albert Einstein engage in a high-stakes battle of wits. Both men stand on the precipice of greatness—Picasso is months away from painting the revolutionary Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, while Einstein is nearing the publication of his Special Theory of Relativity. Through their spirited debate, Martin explores the idea that the creative spark driving scientific discovery is identical to the one fueling artistic genius.
The production is much more than a historical period piece; it is a witty, self-aware farce that frequently breaks the fourth wall and toys with time itself. As the two geniuses argue over the future of the new century, they are surrounded by a cast of eccentric barflies and dreamers who provide both comic relief and philosophical grounding. The play reaches its surreal peak with the arrival of a mysterious, time-traveling “Visitor” from the 1950s, symbolizing the eventual rise of global pop culture. Ultimately, Picasso at the Lapin Agile is a hilarious yet profound celebration of the transformative power of the human imagination.
Performance Dates
July 10-12 | Avalon Theatre (Easton, MD)
Auditions
Tuesday, April 7 + Wednesday, April 8
6:30 pm | Avalon Theatre
Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Actors of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend.
Characters Breakdown
Freddy – The owner and bartender of the Lapin Agile.
Gaston – An abrupt and direct old Frenchman with prostate problems, who talks plainly and seems to care only about sex and drinking.
Germaine – A waitress at the Lapin Agile.
Albert Einstein – A 25-year-old scientist with big aspirations.
Suzanne – A beautiful 19-year-old girl who is infatuated with Picasso.
Sagot – Picasso’s art dealer, who is obsessed with finding and selling great pieces of art for profit.
Pablo Picasso – A talented and charismatic 23-year-old painter.
Charles Dabernow Schmendiman – A young inventor with huge dreams and little knowledge.
The Countess – An extremely intelligent and attractive woman, with whom Einstein is infatuated.
A Female Admirer – A young admirer Picasso assumes is a fan of his, but who turns out to be an admirer of Schmendiman.
The Visitor – A polite and talented country-boy time-traveler, who adds another dimension and point of view to Einstein’s and Picasso’s debate. He is a blue-suede-shoed musician.

For more information, DM @thefactoryartsproject on social media or contact the production team, hello@thefactoryartsproject.org.

Auditions! | Picasso at Lapin Agile | Wed, Apr 8
2026-04-08 18:30 - 20:00 | Avalon Theatre, 40 E Dover St, Easton, MD, 21601, United States

53% Of | Thurs, Apr 16
2026-04-16 20:00 - 22:00 | The Waterfowl Building, 40 S Harrison St, Easton, 21601, United States
By Steph Del Rosso
Directed by E.T. Wilford
Set against the backdrop of an upper middle class home, during a national election, 53% Of explores the complicated intersections of gender, politics, friendship, and identity. As six women confront one another in moments both mundane and volatile, the play examines how personal relationships are shaped—and strained—by societal expectations and political divides. Sharp, contemporary, and intimate, the piece offers rich emotional terrain for its ensemble.

53% Of | Fri, Apr 17
2026-04-17 20:00 - 22:00 | The Waterfowl Building, 40 S Harrison St, Easton, 21601, United States

53% Of | Sat, Apr 18
2026-04-18 20:00 - 22:00 | The Waterfowl Building, 40 S Harrison St, Easton, 21601, United States

53% Of | Sun, Apr 19
2026-04-19 15:00 - 17:00 | The Waterfowl Building, 40 S Harrison St, Easton, 21601, United States

Perfect Arrangement | Fri, Jun 5
2026-06-05 20:00 - 22:00 | The Garfield Center for the Arts, 210 High Street, Chestertown, MD, 21620, United States
By Topher Payne
Directed by Joseph Fox

Inspired by real events in 1950s Washington, DC, Perfect Arrangement follows two seemingly traditional married couples whose carefully constructed lives conceal deeper truths. As professional pressures and personal secrets collide, the play navigates love, loyalty, and survival in a time when being oneself carried serious consequences. Warm, witty, and ultimately tender, the story balances humor with emotional depth while addressing themes of identity, intimacy, and societal constraint.

Perfect Arrangement | Sat, Jun 6
2026-06-06 20:00 - 22:00 | The Garfield Center for the Arts, 210 High Street, Chestertown, MD, 21620, United States

Perfect Arrangement | Sun, Jun 7
2026-06-07 14:00 - 16:00 | The Garfield Center for the Arts, 210 High Street, Chestertown, MD, 21620, United States

Warhorses of Letters – A Radio Play Live Broadcasting | Sat, Jun 13
2026-06-13 12:30 - 14:00 | Delmarva Pride Festival, S Harrison Street, Easton, MD, 21601, United States
“Warhorses of Letters” is a live recording of a radio play, performed on the Main Stage at the 5th Annual Delmarva Pride Festival in downtown Easton, MD.
Written by Robert Hudson and Marie Phillips and directed by Cecile Davis, this heartwarming comedy is crafted entirely from the secret correspondence between Napoleon’s horse and Wellington’s horse… It’s the perfect love story in honor of Pride, just not the one you learned about in history class.
Join us June 13th at 12:30 PM for a performance you won’t soon forget, starring Groove/Factory’s Tyler Henry and Max Brennan.

FREE AND OPEN TO ALL!

Groove/Factory, formerly known as The Factory Arts Project, is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing bold, original performing arts to the Mid-Shore. Learn more by visiting thefactoryartsproject.org.

Pride Dance 2026 at Hummingbird Inn
2026-06-13 19:00 - 23:30 | Hummingbird Inn, 14 N Aurora St, Easton, MD, 21601, United States
We are so honored to be this year’s beneficiary of the Hummingbird Inn’s annual Pride Dance!
Every year during the Delmarva Pride Festival, the Hummingbird Inn hosts one of Easton’s most beloved Pride weekend events, and donates all proceeds to an organization of their choosing. This year, they’ve chosen Groove/Factory, and we couldn’t be more grateful.
Join the celebration on Saturday, June 13 from 7 pm-11:30 pm, featuring a live set from DJ Tezrah. The event is open to everyone, and every dollar donated at the door comes directly to us, supporting our mission to bring bold, original performing arts to the Mid-Shore.
When: Saturday, June 13, 2026 | 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM
Where: Hummingbird Inn, 14 N Aurora Street, Easton, MD 21601
Admission: Free and open to all | Donations appreciated
Must be 21 or older to drink alcohol.

June Conversation on Race: The Dramatic Irony of Racial Discussion
2026-06-22 17:30 - 19:30 | Talbot County Free Library, 100 W Dover Street, Easton, MD, 21601, United States
Talbot Family Network’s June Conversations on Race program will explore how theater can reflect contemporary conversations about race, identity, and community dialogue through a partnership with Groove/Factory.
The evening features a 40-minute live performance of excerpts from 53% Of followed by a facilitated community discussion.
Free and open to the public. Advance registration required; seating is limited.
