Current Projects and Events
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
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
"Women and Gender in Art" Class Visit: April 2024
Vivian M. Cook visits ISU's "Women and Gender in Art" class to discuss The EcoTheatre Lab's recent work
KHOI's "Climate Matters in Ames": April 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
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
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!