Current Projects and Events
Resistance: A Community Tour: March 8-April 5, 2025
The EcoTheatre Lab produces an Iowa tour of Taylor Sklenar's new play, Resistance. The tour includes performances and community conversations in Audubon, Ruthven, Milford, Grinnell, and Ames.
​
Literary Roundtable, Iowa Farmers Union State Convention: December 6, 2024​
Taylor Sklenar, playwright and producer with The EcoTheatre Lab, was featured at the 2024 Iowa Farmers Union State Convention during the Literary Roundtable. He discussed his new play, Resistance, and the play's community tour coming to Iowa this March, produced by The EcoTheatre Lab and supported by Iowa Arts Council and Discover Ames grants. ​
​
The Art of Climate Dialogue is recognized at the Iowa Podcast Awards: September 2024​
The Art of Climate Dialogue: Stories from Iowa won the Innovation Award and Best Cover Art (artist Moselle Nita Singh) at the 2024 Iowa Podcast Awards. The podcast was also an official nominee for Best Limited Series, Best Education Podcast, and Best Interview Podcast (Independent).
​​
Resistance, produced by Iowa Stage Theatre Company's Scriptease: August 19, 2024
A staged reading of Artistic Associate Taylor Sklenar's new play, Resistance, was featured at Iowa Stage Theatre Company's August 2024 Scriptease event.
​
Resistance, produced by Marshalltown Community Theatre: July 13, 2024
Artistic Associate Taylor Sklenar's new play, Resistance, won the Marshalltown Community Theatre's full-length play competition. MCT produces a reading of Resistance at the Orpheum Theatre in Marshalltown, Iowa.
​
AFHVS-ASFS Conference, Right to Food-Food as Commons: June 5-8, 2024
Vivian M. Cook shares The Art of Climate Dialogue: Stories from Iowa at the Agriculture, Food & Human Values Society (AFHVS) and the Association for the Study of Food and Society (ASFS) Conference in Syracuse, NY.
​
Baby I'll Turn the Sky Green For You, produced by Theatre du Mississippi: May 10-May 19, 2024
Artistic Associate Taylor Sklenar's new play, Baby I'll Turn the Sky Green For You, is produced at Theatre du Mississippi in Winona, Minnesota.
​
KHOI's "Climate Matters in Ames": April 27, 2024
Vivian M. Cook is interviewed by Ames Climate Action Team members, Mary Richards and Lee Anne Willson, who host "Climate Matters in Ames" on KHOI radio.
(To access past broadcasts: Go to khoifm.org, and hover over “Listen to us!” Select "Web Stream and Program Archive" from the drop-down menu. On the program page, select "All Shows" and select "Climate Matters" from the drop-down menu. Find the date for the program that you want to listen to.)
​
One Sustainable Iowa Conference: April 26, 2024
Vivian M. Cook shares The Art of Climate Dialogue: Stories from Iowa at the One Sustainable Iowa Conference at Iowa State University.
​
ISU Earth Day Celebration and Monday Monologues: April 22, 2024
The EcoTheatre Lab performs two short climate comedies, written for the international Climate Change Theatre Action initiative: The Polar Bears by Nicolas Billon and The Climes They Are A' Changin' by MFA in Creative Writing & Environment playwrights, Summer Awad, Jessi Brock, and A'Ja Lyons.
CALS Open Academy for Team Science: April 18, 2024
Vivian M. Cook shares The Art of Climate Dialogue: Stories from Iowa at Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' Open Academy for Team Science.
"Women and Gender in Art" Class Visit: April 17, 2024
Vivian M. Cook visits ISU's "Women and Gender in Art" class to discuss The EcoTheatre Lab's recent work.
​
Reiman Gardens' "Nature at Noon": April 11, 2024
Taylor Sklenar, in partnership with Linda Shenk and Bill Gutowski, joins Reiman Garden's "Nature at Noon" program to present, "Creative Strategies for Communicating Science."
​
Midwest Climate Summit: April 3-5, 2024
The EcoTheatre Lab facilitates a session on The Art of Climate Dialogue: Stories from Iowa at the Midwest Climate Summit 2024.
​
The Business of Art Conference: March 1-2, 2024
Vivian M. Cook facilitates a session, on behalf of The EcoTheatre Lab, at Ames' Business of Art Conference, hosted by the Octagon Center for the Arts and the Ames Community Arts Council.
​
ISU Sustainapalooza: February 27, 2024
The EcoTheatre Lab tables at ISU's Sustainapalooza event.
​
500/501, produced by Theatre du Mississippi: February 16-25, 2024
Taylor Sklenar's play is produced in Winona, Minnesota as part of Theatre du Mississippi's One-Act Festival.
​
Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference: February 7-10, 2024
Charissa Menefee shares The EcoTheatre Lab's recent work.
​
Iowa Conservation Education Coalition Winter Workshop: February 3, 2024
The EcoTheatre Lab facilitates a session on The Art of Climate Dialogue: Stories from Iowa at ICEC's
"Climate Smart Agriculture: Rethinking Iowa’s Land, Water, and Food Production" Winter Workshop.
​
Ames EcoFair: September 30, 2023
The EcoTheatre Lab participates in the Ames EcoFair and shares The Art of Climate Dialogue: Stories from Iowa.
​
CCTA at Monday Monologues: September 25, 2023
The EcoTheatre Lab presents a series of short climate change plays, Climate Change Theatre Action: All Good Things Must Begin, in partnership with ISU library's Monday Monologues and the international Climate Change Theatre Action initiative.
​
Iowa Water Conference: September 19-20, 2023
The EcoTheatre Lab shares The Art of Climate Dialogue: Stories from Iowa.
​
Superfun(d)! by Taylor Sklenar: August 29, 2023
Taylor Sklenar's play is read at the Missouri Playwrights Workshop.
​
Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference: August 3-6, 2023
Charissa Menefee represents The EcoTheatre Lab's work at ATHE 2023.
​
Embodied Playwriting: Improv and Acting Exercises for Writing and Devising: Published July 2023
Charissa Menefee publishes her newest book.
​
Ames Green Drinks: July 2023
The EcoTheatre Lab discusses The Art of Climate Dialogue with Ames' Green Drinks conversation group.
​
The Art of Climate Dialogue Podcast Released: April-June 2023
Podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio.
​
Resistance by Taylor Sklenar: April 29, 2023
As part of ISU Theatre's Fringe Festival, The EcoTheatre Lab is producing a staged reading of Taylor Sklenar's new play, Resistance. Free performance on Saturday, April 29th, 2:00 p.m., Ames Public Library Auditorium. See more information on ISU Theatre's website.
​
Mid-America Theatre Conference: March 9-12, 2023
The EcoTheatre Lab team shares their work in the MATC Practice/Production Symposium
(virtually due to snowstorms!).
​
ISU Sustainapalooza: February 21, 2023
The EcoTheatre Lab tables at ISU's Sustainapalooza event.
The Art of Climate Dialogue Interviews: November 2022-February 2023
Community Engagement Director, Vivian, conducts podcast interviews for The Art of Climate Dialogue.
​
William Inge Theatre Festival: April 21-23, 2022
The EcoTheatre Lab performs as a New Play Lab acting company.
"Arts, Environment, and Creating Connections": April 9th
The EcoTheatre Lab partners with Iowa 4-H to offer a workshop event for 7th-12th graders.
​
The Art of Climate Planning Update: March 21st - April 1st
The Art of Climate Planning's entire exhibit is showcasing in the ISU College of Design gallery.
​
The Art of Climate Planning Update: February 23rd - March 17th
Rob Sunderman's "Crib in Crisis Encounter" ' is showcasing at North Grand Mall.
The EcoTheatre Lab tables at Sustainapalooza: February 22nd
Featured Art of Climate Planning pieces include:
Holly Hazelton's "Coppice Regrowth"
Brittny Rebhuhn's "Disposed"
Brittny Rebhuhn's "The Moose" (NEW PIECE!)
Keygan Sands' "Field Guide to Climate Resilience"
Rob Sunderman's "Crib in Crisis Encounter"
​
The Art of Climate Planning Update: February 3rd - April 1st
Keygan Sands' "Field Guide to Climate Resilience" ("Resilient Life") is showcasing at Macubana.
The Art of Climate Planning Update: February 2nd - March 16th
Anna Bland's "Harvest Sky" is showcasing at Worldly Goods.
Natalie Deam's "Echos of Derecho" is showcasing at Z. W. Mercantile.
Kelsey Zimmerman's "Topographic Possibility" is showcasing at Skunk River Cycles.
​​
The Art of Climate Planning Update: January 8th-31st
The Art of Climate Planning's entire exhibit is showcasing in the Reliable Street gallery.
​
The Art of Climate Planning Update: December 27th - February 28th
Holly Hazelton's "Coppice Regrowth" is showcasing in Reiman Garden's Garden Room.
The Art of Climate Planning Update: December 21st
Natalie Deam's "Echos of Derecho" is showcasing at Cafe Diem.
The Art of Climate Planning Update: December 14th
Anna Bland's "Harvest Sky" is showcasing at Mark Doyle - State Farm Insurance Agent.
The Art of Climate Planning Update: November 23rd
Brittny Rebhuhn's "Disposed" is showcasing at Mayhem Comics and Games.
Keygan Sand's "Field Guide to Climate Resilience" is showcasing at Ames Public Library.
The Art of Climate Planning Update: November 19th
Kelsey Zimmerman's "Topographic Possibility" is showcasing at Ames Public Library.
​
The Art of Climate Planning Updates: November 8th
Anna Bland's "Harvest Sky" begins showcasing at Dog-Eared Books.
Natalie Deam's "Echos of Derecho" begins showcasing at the Ames Chamber of Commerce.
​
The Art of Climate Planning exhibits at the Octagon Center for the Arts, October 12th-November 6th
Reception, November 4th, 6:00-8:00 p.m.: Meet the artists!
The EcoTheatre Lab tables at the ISU Live Green! Campus Sustainability Month Celebration: November 3, 2021.
Climate Change Theatre Action 2021, produced in partnership with ISU Theatre and ISU's MFA Program in Creative Writing & Environment, tours Ames between September 23rd and October 16th. Most of The Art of Climate Planning artwork joins the tour!