Decades of theatre

Just starting out

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 Sioux City Hotel and Conference Center). After sixteen "bus and truck" productions at the Hilton, LAMB took a nine month hiatus to seek out a permanent home.

A new home

In November of 1986, after incorporating with the help and support of Marvin & Francis 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, with meals a featured part of the evening.

Hot dog

The Hot Dog Theatre for Kids series began. This series featured adult performers and a few child actors in productions, with a tasty Hot Dog treat after the show! These summer shows ran until 2000, when it evolved into The LAMB School Children's Theatre (featuring a cast of LAMB Students) and finally morphed into THE Young People's Theare at LAMB in 2010. Now LAMB School students - plus adults, as needed - are cast in productions geared for younger audiences (but entertaining for all ages)!

Imagine that - a new member of the flock

In the summer of 1989, LAMB worked with the Sioux City Art Center to create Imagination Celebration, a federally funded arts education program; the birth of what eventually came to be called LAMB EWE-niversity. By 1992, the EWE was a totally self-supporting, theatre arts education program, offering classes for kids from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Packed with hands-on performing arts experiences, the EWE has filled thousands of children's summers!

All grown up

Our arts education program took the next step – offering year-round curriculum through The LAMB School of Theatre and Music. Still an important part of LAMB operations, the school has a class for any individual – from babies to senior citizens.

Good things come in small packages

THE BOX Theatre was created as a second performing space. Featuring a “black box” feel and seating between 40 – 60, depending on the production, the performances in this space are often edgier or more nontraditional theatre fare.

Betty, when you call me, you can call me LAL

As part of the theatre's transition to non-profit status, LAMB Arts LTD was formed and continues to have a significant impact on the Siouxland community. As the new organizing body for LAMB Arts Regional Theatre (since 1979) and The LAMB School of Theatre and Music (since 1999), LAMB Arts LTD  (LAL) went forth with a mission of "creating and sustaining arts opportunities for people of all ages". The established LAMB name helped to jumpstart the newly formed entity 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.

Now is a perfect time for a panic

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 (Max), Reed Saunders (Jimmy). This fabulous production was directed by Russell James Wooley. Stephen Dolginoff’s original music was arranged by David Blackburn, and 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.

lamb on the road

The LAMB Caravan was created. The first Caravan traveled 2,137 miles through five states performing THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES. Contracted through West Lake Entertainment of Los Angeles, the Caravan 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 unique program offers a chance for older LAMB School students to experience touring a show.

LAMB also sponsored POETRY OUT LOUD (POL) for the first time, which included Northwest Iowa students. That year, area high school winner and LAMB student, John-Emmett Mahon, won the state level POL championship and advanced to represent Iowa at the 2010 national event held in Washington, D.C., to be followed by another LAMB student, Grace Rants, who earned the same top honors the very next year.  LAMB had quite a run of winners for six years and in 2023 was granted the opportunity to send competitors to both Iowa and South Dakota state competitions. 

They name art COVID

While the world shutdown, LAMB kept active. After hunkering down for two months, we emerged to produce two streaming theatre productions:  a student production of The Show Must Go Online and Sean Grennan’s virtual play, Couples. A family Pandemic Fairy Tale Playlets video competition, a playwrighting contest, Monologue Madness, and LAMB Ewe-niversity became Zoom-niversity

In September 2020, actual staged at the theatre productions of Outside Mullingar, God’s Favorite, Hate Mail, Bakersfield Mist and Last Five Years to properly distanced, masked live audience in addition to streaming audiences. Our fundraiser in 2021 was a virtual FUN-draiser The Vault that featured on virtual murder mystery in addition to an online auction and video presentation with performances and interviews from former LAMB actors and students.