The LAMB Timeline

1979: LAMB Productions Theatre was formed in July 1979 by Russell and Diana Wooley. The theatre's first production was Neil Simon's Last of the Red Hot Lovers which had a three-performance run at the Sioux City Hilton(now the Clarion) After sixteen “bus and truck” productions at the Hilton, LAMB took a nine month hiatus to seek out a permanent home. 1986: In November of 1986, after incorporating with the help and support of Marvin & Frances Kline, LAMB moved into the recently vacated Webster School building at 417 Market Street where the company continues to produce theatre and teach classes for young people. The first fifteen years in this location, the theatre was known as a dinner theatre as meals were a featured part of the evening. 1988: The Hot Dog Theatre for Kids series began. This series featured adult performers and a few child actors in the productions. This evolved into The LAMB School Children’s Theatre in 2000, where productions were performed entirely with LAMB School students and finally morphed into THE Young People’s Theatre at LAMB in 2010 where students of all ages plus adults, as needed, are cast in productions geared especially for younger, energetic audiences of all ages! 1989: In the summer of 1989, LAMB, in conjunction with the Sioux City Art Center, began offering a federally funded arts education project called, Imagination Celebration. 1992: In the summer of 1992, LAMB Ewe-niversity was born as a totally self-supporting theatre arts education program offering classes for kids from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The summer of 2010 finds over 4,200 children’s summers were filled with hands on performing arts experiences. 1999: In September 1999, The LAMB School of Theatre and Music was created to provide Arts education to individuals from babies to senior citizens. The School is an important ongoing facet of LAMB operations. 2002: THE BOX Theatre was created as a second performing space. Featuring a “black box” feel and seating between 40 – 60 dependent on the production, the performances in this space are often edgier or nontraditional theatre fare.

2006: LAMB Arts LTD was formed and has made a significant impact on the Siouxland community since its formation As the new organizing body for LAMB Theatre (since 1979) and The LAMB School of Theatre and Music (since 1999), LAMB Arts LTD (LAL) mission of "creating and sustaining arts opportunities for people of all ages" used the established LAMB name to jumpstart itself into the community creating partnerships with Mary Treglia/Camp Imagination, Siouxland Autistic Society/”Celebrate Autism”, Upward Bound, Girls, Inc., YMCA, area schools, both the Girl and Boy Scouts, and the families in the neighborhood in which the LAL building is located.

2009: The World Premiere of Stephen Dolginoff’s musical PANIC, the Story Behind The War of the Worlds Broadcast” was performed by the LAMB Cast of : Matt Rixner (Orson Welles), Wayne Blum (John Houseman), Donny E. Short III (Howard Koch), Allison Beumler(Vivian), Emily Dorsett (Penny), Michael Powell as Max), Reed Saunders (Jimmy) This world premiere production was directed by Russell James Wooley. Stephen Dolginoff’s original music was arranged by David Blackburn, instrumental tracks were created by Donald E. Short III. The set and lighting design was by Michael Rohlena with costumes by Karen Sowienski and props and set dressing by Debra Marqusee. 2009: The LAMB Caravan was created, traveling 2,137 miles through five states performing THE EMPEROR”S NEW CLOTHES. Contracted through West Lake Entertainment of Los Angeles, this group performs for service organizations and schools in the Midwest. The first LAMB Caravan cast included: John-Emmett Mahon, Alissa Walker, Emily Dorsett and Reed Saunders. Diana Wooley accompanied them on their journey. This will be an ongoing opportunity for older LAMB School students to experience touring a show. LAMB also sponsored POETRY OUT LOUD for the first time, which included Northwest Iowa students. 2010: The fundraising for paying for our new roof ($40,000) was completed in April. The LAMB Caravan has been contracted again to tour 2,500 miles in September. Since LAMB Arts Ltd's inception four years ago:

over 3500 Siouxland students have entered its doors for free theatre performances 75 students have received scholarships for arts training 46 inservices/workshops for students and teachers have been conducted weekly theatre arts classes were taught at Hunt School, workshops at Irving and Everett Elementary Schools 11 high school and college interns have received academic credit for work done at LAMB new outside lighting has been installed new theatre seating was purchased and a new roof has been purchased and installed.

The focus of LAMB Arts LTD is on supporting the excellence that is expected from LAMB Theatre and The LAMB School and driving those achievements into a more regional presence. Excellence in Production and Emphasis on Theatre Arts Education are the primary focuses in determining which projects to undertake.