In 1991, in Akron, Ohio, Barbara Ballance, with 18 years’ experience in children’s theater (beginning in 1973 with creation of the Akron Children’s Theatre), and guided by her vision of quality theater for children, created The Illusion Factory.  Formed specifically as a touring company, designed to bring the best of theater directly into the area’s schools, The Illusion Factory continues to successfully meet its stated mission. Its performances, residency days, and theater school classes reach over 50,000 children each year. Because the Illusion Factory is in our Ohio schools, the company takes pride in the way it is able to reach all of the state’s large and diverse student population – rural and urban schools, public and private institutions, minority and disabled students.  Besides its Director, Administrative Assistant, and Company Manager, the company hires actor/teachers, musical directors, choreographers, and designers each season as needed. 

In the coming years, it is the goal of The Illusion Factory’s Board of Directors and Artistic Director to build upon its strong base by continuing to:

•  Perform high-quality productions, from the best of children’s literature, classics, and thought-provoking drama.
• Increase its public performances in the greater Akron area, including the main library.
• Explore ways to further the working partnership with Northwest Family Recreation Center, Akron, and develop a scholarship fund for theater school classes.
• Expand Summer Camp at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron.
• Respond to the increased demand for its Residency/Workshop Program and classes by inclusion of Ohio Standards for Arts in Education.
• Commission original works, to build on the success of “Raggedy Ann and Andy” series (1993) and "Little Black Panda" (2003) by Barbara Ballance; and “Reach for the Stars” (1997), “Alphabet Supes“ (2000), and “Celebrate Ohio!” (2002) by Jo Gibson.

The impact of The Illusion Factory on its young audiences and the theater’s abiding passion to bring the best of theater to Ohio’s students may be best exemplified by quoting Marcus Neiman, Fine Arts Consultant of Medina County Schools.  After a performance of “Reach for the Stars,” about Akron native/Challenger astronaut, Judith Resnik, he wrote: “My sincerest and most heartfelt congratulations…on what I believe was one of the most educationally sound and emotionally moving performances I have ever seen…”