Chocolate Factory Theater Mother's Day Open House

The Chocolate Factory Theater proudly announces it’s second annual Mothers’ Day Open House and Block Party. Please join us on Sunday, May 12th, 2024, from 12-4 pm for our community celebration. The Chocolate Factory Theater believes that being a good neighbor means engaging with the community, and so we hatched this idea to create space, share with others, celebrate our new home, and invite everyone to learn more about what we do. 

At this FREE, family-friendly event, we will close the block to traffic and invite everyone to enjoy Hot Dogs and Veggie Dogs, Popcorn, and Drinks. Throughout the day we will host a variety of activities, including cookie decorating with Little Chef Little Kitchen and a chalk mural with Queens Collaborative. Special guests will include Steven Wendt, a multi-talented performer, and solar cooking enthusiast; our friend and magician, Nathan Thompson, will be sure to delight with his magic, and a special edition of Drag Story Hour NYC, providing an engaging book reading. We will host the creation of NIB (New In Box), a durational diorama built-in real-time on the block with Laurie Berg and special guests, and share the short Documentary A Cake For Me, by Yuby Hernandez, A heartfelt film that traces the intertwined artistic paths of a director and her mother, through the lens of cake. From 3-3:30, we will be graced by the one and only DJ LIIIAM with their Special Request Dance Party. DJ LIIIAM will be collecting special song requests throughout the Block Party and invites us all to dance it out together. Audience participation and decoration thought the day is encouraged!

To further support the community, we will be accepting donations for the of cereal, oatmeal, cooking oil, boxed Mac & Cheese, pasta, tomato sauce or canned tomatoes, canned fish (especially with pop-top cans), Snacks for kids of all ages, baby wipes and diapers (especially sizes 4/5/6), and menstrual pads.

We thank our partners, M&T Charitable Foundation, Shine Electronics, Rise and Light Power, and NYC Councilmember Julie Won; the DOT for logistical support, and last but not least, our printing partners and neighbors i2print. 

The Chocolate Factory Theater exists as a space for artist experimentation. Co-founders Sheila Lewandowski and Brian Rogers began making work together in 1995 and quickly saw the need for a creative home to support their work and the work of fellow experimental performance-based artists. As an Artist founded, led, and focused organization, we contribute to elevating New York City as a thriving wellspring of ideas by providing hundreds of artists each year with commissioned premieres, creative residencies, substantial financial support, space, and time to create. We encourage and support our artists in their process of inquiry, challenging themselves and us. 

“The Chocolate Factory Theater is a community space with artists at its center. We are incredibly excited to get to know our neighbors make new friends and supporters by opening our doors wide. The pandemic has made it challenging, but we are all finding our way. We invite everyone to celebrate with us!” - Sheila Lewandowski Co-Founder & Executive Director.

Host or Publisher Chocolate Factory Theater