I'll admit to being a theater snob. Born and raised in Chicago, I was surrounded by the best of the best. I spent my teenage years working as stage crew at several theaters around town and then continued during college for three years working at Steppenwolf Theater. During my time at Steppenwolf I spent my lunch breaks sitting in the back of the theater watching rehearsals. I'd even get to work early or stay late just to have the opportunity to watch rehearsals.
After nine years of living in Los Angeles, I've seen a lot of really great shows. Most of what I've liked have been at the Mark Tapper Forum, Kirk Douglas Theater or even the Ahmanson Theater. I've given many of my Friday and Saturday nights to small theater companies in hopes of discovering some new talent or finding a new and exciting young theater company.
I haven't.
Just over a year ago, a friend of mine asked me to see a play with him. He had wanted to go support a friend in this production. When I walked into the lobby, I recognized the two people behind the ticket booth. Adam Shapiro and Stephanie Black were actors that I had met in my time as a casting director. Seeing them eased my anxiety about having to sit through a potentially bad show in Los Angeles. We got our seats (general admission), and waited for the show to start. It's a small theater...one of those spaces where you fell like you may as well just be sitting on stage with the actors. The lights went down and the show began. For the next few hours, I was mesmerized. We had just found a gem of a show, a gem of a theater company (IAMA) and finally some amazing untapped talent in Los Angeles. I couldn't have been any more impressed. My friend and I were moved, touched and inspired by these group of friends who put together an impressive piece.
I sat down with Stephanie and Adam to find out more about who they are, what the company stands for and what their intentions are for future productions.
So here we go...
What does IAMA stand for?
IAMA is actually not an acronym, it literally means I AM A.
How did you come up with that name?
Like champagne and penicillin, the name was a complete accident. It actually comes from a Kristen Wiig character on SNL. She does a sketch where she's constantly trying to one-up people. If someone were to brag that they have a Bentley, Kirsten's character would say "I AM a Bentley." Anyway, we were sitting around trying to come up with names for the company....and failing miserably at it. Amidst the chaos of us all trying to make up the most ridiculous name possible, Amy Rosoff (one of our founding members) started to imitate this Kristen Wiig character and out came "I am a theater company." We all cracked up, but at the same time, we realized that it was actually just what we were looking for.
Who makes up IAMA and how did you all find each other?
IAMA was founded by Wes Whitehead, Laila Ayad, Stefanie Black, Amy Rosoff, Brandon Scott, Sarah Utterback, Katie Lowes and Adam Shapiro. Leslye Headland is our playwright/director-in-residence. Since then Melissa Stephens, Louise Munson, and Graham Sibley have also joined our ranks. Many of us met as students at NYU, but we really began as just a collective of friends who had all drifted west and wanted to keep our creative selves busy. Several of us had produced showcases and plays together back in New York, so we already understood each other's strengths and work ethic. We had similar goals and it made sense to make them happen with people we admire and trust.
What is your intention for each play?
The series as a whole is meant to examine the manifestation of sin in the modern world, and in particular, how each sin and its accompanying vice leads to personal pain. The plays show how destructive that pain can be, but also how it forces one to grow into an adult. Each play delves into the addiction to a particular vice that this current generation is presented with, and how this bizarre, media-saturated world is constantly changing the dynamic.
What is the big picture goal for the company?
Los Angeles is the entertainment capitol of the world, and we believe that there is room in it for a really thriving and sustainable independent theater scene. We want IAMA to be at the forefront of that development. Ultimately, we hope to become a home for new artists from many different fields to create great work, and most importantly, to give performances that continue to excite and engage our audience.
How do you determine your budget for each show and where does your funding come from?
Our budgets are small and that's how we keep the company sustainable. We determine the minimum amount of money necessary to do justice to Leslye's plays and to meet our artistic standards. Of course, we never want to make sacrifices that would negatively affect our productions, but we are very conscientious about keeping IAMA afloat in a difficult and competitive industry. The money comes from ticket sales, incredibly generous donations, benefit performances, and some memorable fundraiser parties. Also, we are currently under the fiscal umbrella of a company called The Field, a non-for-profit artist sponsorship program based in NYC that allows all donations to IAMA to be tax deductible.
What do you want people to know about the company?
We want people to know that we are incredibly passionate about this art form. We want to present plays that are entertaining, affecting, and stimulating to an audience that feels it is a real participant in the theater experience, not just an observer. Many of our company members already have successful careers in the industry, but we all donate our time and energy because this is what we love to do!
Their newest show, REVERB, begins on Friday, January 16th and is scheduled to run through February 22nd. Written and directed by Leslye Headland, Reverb tackles the deadly sin of "wrath". The plot follows a musician, Dorian, and his struggle to cope with his abusive father's ailing health and his first taste of professional success. Rushing back into the arms of June, his estranged girlfriend, Dorian slips into a dangerous cycle of violence that casts June as both his savior and oppressor. History threatens to repeat itself as the troubled lovers purge mutual pain by inflicting it on each other.
If IAMA Theater company continues to do what they do, I think Steppenwolf and its founding members have a new generation to look out for!
I promise you a night of theater that you won't forget. Amazing talent, wonderful direction and beautifully constructed writing. Check them out and see for yourself: www.IAMATHEATRE.com
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