The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince

Written by: Chase Wheaton-Werle

Directed by: Becca Holloway

Assistant Director: Christine Watt

Production Manager: Miranda Hernandez

Scenic Designer: Hayley Wallenfeldt

Costume Designer: Victoria Jablonski

Props Designer: Rachel Livingston

Lighting Designer: Jack Goodman

Master Electrician: Henry Bender

Sound Designer: Sebby Woldt

Projections Designer: David Sajweich

The Factory Theatre, June - July, 2025

A deceptively simple question: WHO INVENTED THE MOTION PICTURE CAMERA?

Nearly every history textbook will attribute this invention to Thomas Edison. But as with most of his inventions, the story is much more complicated. In fact, French inventor Louis Le Prince perfected such an apparatus years before Edison even thought of applying for a patent. But here's the twist! Le Prince intended to travel to New York to unveil his invention and solidify his place in history, until he vanished mid-transit from a moving train without a trace; leaving the way open for Edison to reveal his own oddly similar creation. Now Le Prince's widow Lizzie and his son Adolphe must pick up the trail of their missing husband and father and fight to defend his legacy against America's celebrity inventor Thomas Edison himself.

Half Victorian-era mystery, half courtroom drama, The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince explores how we struggle with unresolved tragedies and how we remember (or don't remember) the people in our history.