Our Mission
EXPERIMENTATION
COLLABORATION
CATHARSIS
JOY
Our goals
01
Original, New Work
Our aim is to amplify the voices of the playwrights and theater artists who live among us, seasoned creators and first timers alike. To encourage and celebrate those who have a story to tell and to provide a platform from which their inspiration, dreams and visions can be shared.
02
Community Driven
We are dedicated to showcasing fresh, exciting and transformative theater that contributes to the cultural vibrancy of the San Juan Islands, with a focus on stories that engage our incredible local audiences, sparking moments of reflection, awe, grief, joy and catharsis.
03
Process-Oriented
Theater is more than what happens on opening night. When we tell stories together we build stronger relationships, create opportunities for transformational self-expression and personal growth and strengthen our empathy through playful curiosity and character exploration.
How it all started
Lopez Original Theater was conceptualized one blissful night in late summer 2024, by two local creatives. That chance conversation ignited something that quickly sparked and grew into small gatherings in the library meeting room attended by a dedicated group of local artists. Less than three months later, our inaugural production, “Thoughts and Players”, a compilation of eight original one act plays, sold out the Lopez Center for Community and the Arts’ 180 seat theater all three nights of its run.
LOT is always growing and adapting as a collective-driven organization, building out our structures in real time with a consensus decision-making model. LOT only exists due to the passion and hard work of dedicated volunteers. All are invited to join us and contribute to Lopez Original Theater’s trajectory!