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ROGUE LAB

A space for artists to learn to create impossible plays during impossible times.



NEW PLAY INCUBATOR


Program Founders: Lisa Sanaye Dring & Chelsea Sutton

The Rogue Lab is an incubator for new work that stretches the boundary of what is currently being done onstage, including immersive experiences, interactive design, puppet plays, and genre-bending pieces that fit within the Rogues’ Hyper-theater aesthetic. 

UPCOMING

Season 5 - Far Worse Things + Cowboy Elektra Concert

PREVIOUS

Season 1 - 2019
Season 2 - 2020
Season 3 - 2022
Season 4 - 2023

PRESS

Press Release


ROUGH DRAFT SERIES


Rogue Lab Rough Draft Series presents THREE opportunities to experience new plays-in-progress.

The Rogue Lab Rough Draft Series spotlights bite-sized readings and music from current plays-in-progress and pairs them with curated conversations and connections with artists and experts inspired by the work.

Join us for...



Rogue’s newest work in development, Far Worse Things, is a modern gothic horror story that follows two urban explorers (those who explore man-made ruins) on their last excursion documenting a forgotten, crumbling building in the middle of Hollywood -- a building which begins to come to life around them.
We heard an excerpt from the play followed by the playwright Chelsea Sutton in conversation with experts in historical preservation and the importance of the modern horror story.

The Friday Conversation featured:FOCUS: The Sound of Story - Historical Preservation & Storytelling through Sound & Horror

Dr. Catherine Gudis, Associate Professor
Teresa and Byron Pollitt Endowed Term Chair for Interdisciplinary Research and Learning in the Humanities & Social Sciences History Dept, University of California, Riverside

Jeff Heimbuch
Horror Writer / Podcaster

The Saturday Conversation featured:
FOCUS: The Story Objects Tell - Historical Preservation & Storytelling through ObjectsObjects hold deep memory, history, and meaning in our lives. But how can we take care of them, preserve them, or bring them to life? How can objects become living, breathing characters that tell their, and our, stories?

Beth Werling, Senior Collections Manager History Department Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Sarah KraininAssociate Professor, Theatre and New DanceCal Poly Pomona


Rogue Artists Ensemble’s play-with-music Cowboy Elektra written by Ramona Pilar and Meghan Brown with Rogue, reimagines Greek tragedy through an early Californian lens, exploring revenge, cycles of trauma, and women’s experience in the “old west.” Set against the backdrop of 1869 Los Angeles, when the railroad was on the verge of reaching the west, Cowboy Elektrabrings the Elektra story into the Palace Saloon as Nessie, Elektra, and the Hurdies grapple with the changing landscape of Los Angeles.
We heard a concert of new music from the play followed by a conversation with the artists, including songwriter Zachary Lupetin of The Dustbowl Revival. Concert followed by a short talkback with the artists.

Cowboy Elektra in Concert features singers Ariella Irula, Amir Levi, Sarah Kay Peters, Kalean Ung, and musicians Melinda West and more, directed by Sean Cawelti. Music and lyrics by Zachary Lupetin.



THE DETAILS


The Rogue Lab Rough Draft Series took place at The Valley Relics Museum in Lake Balboa!

Friday March 29: FAR WORSE THINGS
Doors 7:30pm - come see the exhibits and get a drink
Event begins at 8:30pm

Saturday March 30 for 6pm event: FAR WORSE THINGS
Doors at 5pm - come see the exhibits and get a drink
Event begins at 6:00pm

Saturday March 30 for 8:30pm event: COWBOY ELEKTRA CONCERT
Doors 7:30pm - come see the exhibits and get a drink
Event begins at 8:30pm
Saturday drink offerings by The Bambi Bar, a retro pop up bar.

Tickets are $5 suggested donation
RSVP online or walk-up tickets available; community tickets available for free - no one will be turned away!

Location - The Valley Rellics Museum
7900 Balboa Blvd.
Lake Balboa, CA 91406
Hangar C 3 & 4
(Entrance on Stagg St.)


Special thanks to the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Valley Relics Museum for supporting this season of Rogue Lab.




PHOTOS




VIDEOS


In 2020 with the world on its head, we shifted our second Rogue Lab season online, creating short media based pieces inspired by the plays. Head to our YouTube channel to view more.












Season One 2019


Playwrights
Lisa Sanaye Dring, John Guerra, Eric Fagundes, Mildred Inez Lewis
, Chelsea Sutton, Jennie Webb

Directors
Estela Garcia, Jessica Hanna, Scarlett Kim, Ricky Pak, Claudia de Vasco, Rebecca Wear

Designers
Caitin Eby, Rhonda Kohl, Lor Meeker, Morgan Rebane, Emory Royston, Anthony Storniolo, 

Season TWO 2020


Playwrights
Carissa Atallah, Mercedes Floresislas, Amy Judd Lieberman, Mady Schutzman, Bernardo Solano, Chelsea Sutton

Directors
BJ Dodge, Andy Lowe, Sonia Norris, Keiana Richard, Dylan Southard, Hannah Wolf 

Designers
Corwin Evans, Jesse Mandapat, Jack Pullman, Morgan Rebane, Joshua Rivas, Emory Royston

Season 3 2022


Directors
Shen Heckel, Stephanie O’Neill, Keiana Richard, Carly D. Weckstein

Playwrights
Carissa Atallah, Amy Judd Lieberman

Season 4 2023


Hyper-Puppet 101 - Puppetry Workshop 

Two weeks. Three puppet Forms. Unforgettable. 

Season 5 2024


Far Worse Things
Playwright
Chelsea Sutton

Speakers  Jeff Heimbuch, Catherine Gudis, Beth Werling, Sarah Krainin

Cowboy Elektra in Concert
Playwrights
Ramona Pilar and Meghan Brown

Composer
Zachary Lupetin

Stage Manager
Ashley Weaver

Band
Korey Simeone, Melinda West  

Cast
Ariella Amar, Amir Levi, Sarah Kay Peters, Kalean Ung


QUESTIONS


Rogue Lab Co-Directors
literary(at)rogueartists.org

GET INVOLVED


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SPONSORS


Rogue Lab is supported in part by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles, by an arts grant from the City of West Hollywood and made possible in part by the City of Culver City and its Cultural Affairs Commission, with support from Sony Pictures Entertainment and the Culver City Arts Foundation.






Rogue Artists Ensemble
7111 Santa Monica Blvd.
Suite B-260
West Hollywood, CA 90046
©2022 Rogue Artists Ensemble.  All Rights Reserved.
Rogue Artists Ensemble is a public charity as outlined in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Federal Business ID 11-3706211.