A Public Fit

August 23, 2017

Innovative and Provocative Theater

By Debbie Hall

Beginning its fourth professional season, A Public Fit Theater brings thought-provoking plays and readings to Southern Nevada. The professional theater’s name was created to challenge the perception and expectations of the audience.

Will the play cause someone to throw a “fit?” Is its message a good “fit?” What about creating healthy debates to keep the mind and spirit “fit?” Is what playwright trying to convey a “fit” with society?

Founder and artistic director Ann Marie Pereth was motivated to create a professional theater company based in Las Vegas. “I had just graduated with my Masters of Fine Arts in directing from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and all my actor and director friends were moving back to New York,” she explained. “In Las Vegas, people can’t make a living as a professional actor except in Las Vegas Strip productions.”

Pereth has been involved with theater and dance since she was 10 years old, beginning her training with the award-winning Rainbow Company Youth Theatre. She reached out to Joseph Kucan, another Rainbow Company alumni, and together they started to develop A Public Fit.

Starting as a series of play readings with friends, A Public Fit moved to The Usual Place in its second season. The company has evolved into a professional theater group offering three full productions and four stage readings for the upcoming season. The Usual Place is the physical theater space downtown for A Public Fit although readings are held at the Las Vegas-Clark County Library. Immediately following all performances, The Buzzz is held to engage the audience members in a moderated and spirited discussion of the style, themes and impressions created.

2017-18 SEASON

STAGE PRODUCTIONS
Wit by Margaret Edison
Oct. 27-Nov. 19

The Glass Menagerie by
Tennessee Williams
Feb. 16-March 11, 2018

Other Desert Cities by Jon Robin Baitz
April 27-May 20, 2018

STAGED READINGS
Lobby Hero by Kenneth Lonegan
September 29

Red by John Logan
Jan. 26, 2018

After the Revolution by Amy Herzog
March 30, 2018

August Osage County by Tracy Letts
June 29, 2018

The company staff features a solid female team including Lisa Lynn Chapman (associate producing director), Brandi Blackman (production manager), Sophie Laidler (development director), Tina Rice (CFO), Michelle Tinker (social media director), Shannon Bradley (technical coordinator), Mariya Radeva-Nedyalkova (resident designer), Jamie Carvelli Pikrone (promotions), Thaisa Monteiro (volunteer coordinator), Amy Leigh (marketing strategist), Sarah Mendenhall (production assistant) and Brianna Ramthun (production assistant).

While not a founder, Blackman is one of the original staff members of A Public Fit. She got into theater through the route of mathematics. She wanted to become an engineer but took another career path. Then 10 years later, Blackman decided to pursue a degree and chose stage management with an emphasis on technical theater. Blackman is now employed as a free-lance stage manager with several productions.

One of the newest members is Chapman, who is thrilled to “come back to my first love” and was active in theater while attending Las Vegas High School. She received her bachelor’s degree in theater from UNLV to pursue her career goals in theater administration. While Chapman’s career took several different turns including public relations and law school, as she stated, “With A Public Fit, I can incorporate all of my skills and be a part of a growing theater group.”

In an effort to raise women’s voices and consciousness, the first production of the 2017-2018 season is “Wit” (also known as “W;t”). The Pulitzer Prize-winning one-act play dramatizes the final hours of Dr. Vivian Bearing, a university professor of English, dying of ovarian cancer.

As the theater group continues to grow and develop, strong voices will continue to be heard from the stage and in the audience.