An outgrowth of Neighborhood Music, Factory Five Five offers creatives of all ages an opportunity to explore their inner fashion designer, filmmaker, thespian, stage tech, and drag queen. Their recurring programs, which run out of a studio in Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace and an office/theater space nearby, start anew this month.

Aspiring video creators ages eight to 17 can take a ten-week Intro to Short Film Making course to learn script writing, directing, camera angles and movements, lens choices, and lighting, culminating in a public debut of their pictures.
Designers who love to make patterns and sew can join an 11-week workshop to prepare garments that will show at Denver Fashion Week in April. Young drag stars have an opportunity to learn how to complete elaborate looks and performances during the Drag Tween-Teen “werkshops,” led by local queen Diamond and sewing instructors. Join one, two, or all three sessions in January for $50 each.

Auditions for James and the Giant Peach Jr. (age 7 and up) and The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical (tween/teen) begin early January. The continuous Storybook Theater program invites little ones (ages 5-6) to learn how to act out scenes from children’s books; spring 2022 sessions include Dory Fantasmagory and My Father’s Dragon. Factory Theatre community theatre actors also put on shows for kid and adult audiences, check online for schedules. Many performances in the Factory’s black box theater offer a full bar and concessions.