Ava Roy: 25 Years of Theater Without Walls

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In this episode, Lou and Kimi sit down with Ava Roy who is celebrating her 25 years at We Players, a theater company that brings productions to life in breathtaking outdoor locations. Ava has been transforming California’s parks, shorelines, and historic sites into epic stages for over two decades.

Known for crafting performances that merge place with play, Ava shares how physical space can ignite the imagination and shape the emotional arc of a show. She breaks down the deeply complex and alchemical process of creating a production that doesn’t just entertain but envelops, where the audience is not just watching but living the experience.

We talk about how imperfection fuels art, the demands of building something from nothing, and how growing up surrounded by history shaped Ava’s uniquely intuitive and imaginative approach to directing.

If you’ve ever wondered how a play comes together or how place can become a character of its own, this is a must listen.

Her next show, The Keeper, co-created with Britt Lauer, a celebration of the small and the vast — an absurd and joyful drama premiering September 5–7, 2025 at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center in Washington.

Stay tuned for more Chaos & Creativity on Instagram. And remember, always act a little cooler than you feel!