Iguana Productions

So, there I was, a college graduate.  I had a degree in theater in one grubby little hand and a list of plays I wanted to direct in the other.  The problem was, how do you convince a theater to produce the plays you want to direct and then convince said theater to let you direct said plays?

I didn’t have an answer to that one, so I came up with a different question.

Rather than waiting for someone to produce a play I wanted to direct, why don’t I produce a play I wanted to direct?

With the help of Ron Dye and the newly constructed Waldron Arts Center in Bloomington, Indiana, I did just that.  I walked into Ron’s office one fine day, said “I want to direct Baby with the Bathwater by Christopher Durang,” Ron said “Okay” and Iguana Productions was born.

Over the years, Iguana Productions has changed.  It’s no longer an outlet for me as a director, now it’s an outlet for me as a playwright.  I learn a lot by putting a play on its feet.  The rehearsal process shows me what works and what needs to be re-written.  Iguana Productions allows me to put a script I’m working on through that development.  It’s a tool I couldn’t get by without.

Read an article I wrote for the Horror Writer’s Association Newsletter about Iguana Productions participation in the Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins Festival. 

Iguana Productions Production History:

(All plays were directed by me, unless otherwise noted.)

Bags of Bones

By John Weagly
Abbie Hoffman Died For our Sins Festival # 15
Mary-Arrchie Theater Chicago, IL  2003 

Foul Play with Waterfowl

By John Weagly
Directed by Katie Klemme
Abbie Hoffman Died For our Sins Festival # 13
Mary-Arrchie Theater Chicago, IL  2001 

The Progression of Moving Pictures

By John Weagly
Abbie Hoffman Died For our Sins Festival #12
Mary-Arrchie Theater   Chicago, IL  2000

Milk Milk Lemonade                        

By Karen Keenan
Abbie Hoffman Died For our Sins Festival # 11
Mary-Arrchie Theater   Chicago, IL 1999

Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night

By John Weagly
Abbie Hoffman Died For our Sins Festival #10
Mary-Arrchie Theater   Chicago, IL 1998

Curse of the Alligator Woman

By John Weagly    
Abbie Hoffman Died For our Sins Festival #9
Mary-Arrchie Theater   Chicago, IL 1997

Invisible Lightning

By John Weagly
Bailiwick Director’s Festival
Bailiwick Arts Center    Chicago, IL
and
Abbie Hoffman Died For our Sins Festival #8
Mary-Arrchie Theater   Chicago, IL 1996

Bananaland  

By Kevin Holladay
Bailiwick Director’s Festival
Bailiwick Arts Center    Chicago, IL 1995

Small Floods

By John Weagly, Mark
Mendelsohn & Erin Noel Grennan
Chicago Actor’s Ensemble Chicago, IL  1994

Dr. Goat: Goat Doctor
Four Short Plays

By John Weagly
Directed by Heather Currie
and John Weagly
Café Voltaire Chicago, IL  1994

Baby with the Bathwater

By Christopher Durang
Co-produced by Bloomington Area Arts Council
John Waldron Arts Center Rose Fire Bay Theater Bloomington, IN  1993