La MaMa Umbria International

Summer 2025

La MaMa Umbria International Symposium for Directors
Session One: July 16 – July 25
Session Two: July 27 – August 6
APPLY HERE
La MaMa Umbria International Playwright Retreat
August 9-19
APPLY HERE
Next Generation: New Performance Incubator
Coming Soon

‍Every Summer, La MaMa Umbria hosts artist residencies, and organizes workshops led by internationally renowned theatre professionals whose work is impacting the contemporary landscape of performative arts. Immersed in the creative, natural and regenerative environment of Umbria, culturally diverse artists live together at La MaMa’s historic villa, while working on productions or participating in workshops to develop their artistic skills.

ABOUT

La MaMa Umbria International’s Symposium for Directors, and Playwright
Retreat provide opportunities for artists from around the world to come together
and learn new or unfamiliar approaches to creating theatre in an idyllic
inspirational setting.

La MaMa Umbria International is a non-profit cultural center and artist residence founded in 1990 by legendary theatre pioneer, Ellen Stewart. At La MaMa
Umbria International, we believe in the transformative power of theatre to bring
people together, spark creativity, and build a global community. Nestled in a
lovingly restored 700-year-old convent in the heart of the Umbrian hills, this
special program has become a home-away-from-home for theatre artists from
every corner of the world.
Each summer, directors, playwrights, and performers come here to learn, create,
and connect through hands-on workshops led by some of the most celebrated
theatre-makers of our time. But it’s more than just a workshop—it’s a place where
lifelong friendships are formed, where voices are discovered, and where dreams
take shape.
For over 25 years, La MaMa Umbria has fostered cross-cultural and international
exchanges and creative collaborations. Hundreds of artists have found Umbria to
be a space that is beautiful, spiritually enriching, welcoming, and open to bold
artistic experiments.

Next Generation: New Performance Incubator allows emerging international
artists to create new projects with collaborators.

La MaMa Spoleto Open, an official sibling of Spoleto’s Festival dei Due Mondi is
produced by La MaMa Umbria International in association with Città di Spoleto
and Regione Spoleto and features the work of emerging and established
international and local artists.

Information Coming Soon!

Because of this experience at La MaMa Umbria playwright retreat, I was able to start thinking more deeply and philosophically about playwriting with love. This was tremendous for me as I just came from Japan pursuing dreams for experimental art without financial support. I want to make sure this experience becomes the core for my work in future. Thank you so much.” — Tomomi Suzuki

Being surrounded by such a diverse and talented group of artists, in an environment that
fostered creativity and collaboration, was truly transformative. The guidance from the mentors,
the inspiration drawn from the beautiful surroundings, and the connections made with fellow
playwrights have enriched my life and my craft in ways I never could have imagined.” — Tyler
(T) Lang

La MaMa Symposiums are where you go to let your soul soar and sing.” — Chris Woodworth

I find that the very idea of being allowed to spend time at the symposium with all the great minds of global theatre has deepened my knowledge of theatre in the whole world.” — Rhodessa Jones

You have all made a truly unique and special place for theatre artists to collaborate, share ideas, and develop strong connections across the world.” — Sam Trubridge

I have a hard time articulating how truly magical and transformative the month was.” — Adam Parker

My love for the practice of theatre was rekindled by the vitality and inclusiveness of the
presenters and younger participants.”

It was a challenging, intense, transformational immersion into collaborative performance making in an historic and beautiful setting.”

One of the hardest things for me to do is share my experience in Umbria with others. It’S so deep, and singular, and unexplainable. For me, I felt completely seen, both as an artist and as a person. I made deep connections with other artists. I got to be an artist, living amongst other fantastic artists, and that felt like the most amazing gift. My vision has changed.”

My creative energy was refreshed and refocused during the LaMaMa Umbria Playwright Retreat residency.”

It is the visionary leadership at La Mama that provided support for continued growth, not just early career development.”

Attending the symposium reignited the dramaturgy of my existence! It helped me open up and remember parts of my humanity.”

Your generosity has provided me with an experience that will stay with me throughout my
creative journey. The connections, mentorship, and creative spark I gained are invaluable.”

2024 Master artists included Anne Bogart (USA), Sergio Blanco (France/Uruguay), Stacy Klein with Amrit Ramanan (USA), Motus (Italy), Ivicia Buljan (Slovenia), Derek Goldman (USA), Dijana Milošević (Serbia), Jakub Skryzwanek (Poland/Estonia), Martyna Majok with Kenneth Prestininzi (USA)

2023 Master artists included Iman Aoun (Palestine), Dmitry Krymov (Russia), Shahid Nadeem (Pakistan), Ong Keng Sen (Singapore), Thomas Ostermeier (Germany), Hana Sharif (USA), Virlana Tkacz (USA), Torange Yeghiazarian (USA), Chay Yew (USA)

2022 Master artists included Emily Mann (USA), Hope Azeda (Rwanda), Murielle Borst-Tarrant (Kuna/Rappahannocik Nations), Stefan Kaegi (Rmini Protokoll – Germany), Anotnio Fava (Italy), Todd London (USA)

2021 Master artists included Rhodessa Jones (USA), Hope Azeda (Rwanda), Renae Morriseau (Treaty 1 Territory / Canada), Jose Luis Valenzuela (USA), Sharon Bridgforth (USA)

2020 Master artists included Emily Mann, Iman Aoun, Michael Mayer, Nicole Brewer, Jessica Litwak, Derek Goldman, Richard Jones, Martha Clarke, Nambi E. Kelley

2019 Master artists included Annie-B Parson (USA), Maya Zbib (Lebanon), Anne Bogart (USA), Akiko Aizawa (Japan), Basil Twist (USA), Dijana Milõsevic (Serbia), Andrei Serban (Romania), Jean-Guy Lecat (France), Lisa Kron (USA)

2018 Master artists included Semion Aleksanderovskiy (Russia), Stefanie Batten Bland (USA), Krzysztof Garbaczewski (Poland), Ellen Maddow and Paul Zimet – The Talking Band (USA) and Migdalia Cruz (USA)

2017 Master artists included Tamar Rogoff (USA), Andrea Adriatico (Italy), Chiara Guidi (Italy), Caden Manson (USA), Motus (Daniela Nicolò and Enrico Casagrande) (Italy), Moisés Kaufman (Venezuela/USA), Lee Brock (USA), Sam Trubridge (New Zealand) and Erik Ehn (USA)

2016 Master artists included Lee Breuer and Maude Mitchell (USA), Basil Twist (USA), Sanjoy Ganguly (India), Nube Sandoval/Bernardo Rey (Colombia), Marianne Weems (USA), Yoshiko Chuma (Japan), Tian Mansha (China), Martha Clarke (USA), Mac Wellman (USA)

2015 Master artists included Stephan Koplowitz (USA), Claudia Castellucci (Italy), Oh Tae-Suk (Korea), Tina Landau (USA), Kok Heng Leun (Singapore), Sergei Tcherkasski (Russia), Brett Bailey (South Africa), Mohammad B. Ghaffari (Iran), Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (USA)

2014 Master artists included Natalia Kaliada, Nikolai Khalezin and Vladimir Shcherban – Belarus Free Theatre (Belarus), Hjalmar Jorge Joffre-Eichhorn (Bolivia/Germany), Dijana Miloševic / Dah Teater (Serbia), Roberto Varea (Argentina), Jessica Litwak (USA), Motus / Enrico Casagrande And Daniela Nicolò (Italy), Chen Alon (Israel), Catherine Filloux (France/USA)

2013 Master artists included Estelle Parsons (USA), Vít Hořejš (Czechoslovakia), Dan Safer (USA), Ping Chong (USA), Kristin Linklater (USA), Paul Binnerts (USA), Nancy Gabor (USA), Erik Ehn (USA)

2012 Master artists included Stephan Koplowitz (USA), Marco Calvani (Italy)/ Neil LaBute (USA), Elizabeth Swados (USA), Karin Coonrod (USA), John Moran (USA), Melanie Joseph (USA), Yoji Sakate (Japan) and Dr. Fadil Jaf (Iraq), Mac Wellman (USA), Kwesi Johnson (USA)

2011 Master artists included Ping Chong (USA), Hjalmar-Jorge Joffre Eichorn (Bolivia/Germany), Ruth Maleczech (USA), Luca Ronconi (Italy), Marco Martinelli (Italy), Dijana Miloševic (Serbia), Baba Israel (USA), JoAnne Akalaitis (USA), Dorcy Rugamba (Rwanda), Tina Landau (USA), André de Shields (USA), Erik Ehn (USA)

2010 Master artists included Peggy Shaw and Lois Weaver (USA), Leigh Fondakowski (USA), Jean-Guy Lecat (France), Marc Bamuthi Joseph (USA), Ong Keng Sen (Singapore), Ivica Buljian (Slovenia), Andrea Paciotto (USA) Lynn Nottage (USA) and Jan Klug (Germany)

2009 Master artists included Meredith Monk (USA), Liz Diamond (USA), Kama Ginkas (Russia), Michael Marmarinos (Greece), Daniel Banks (USA), Takeshi Kawamura (Japan), Romeo Castellucci (Italy), Leigh Fondakowski (USA), Charles Mee (USA)

2008 Master artists included Patrick Acogny (Senegal/France), Naum Panovski (Macedonia), Federico Restrepo (Colombia), Leigh Fondakowski (USA), Mary Overlie (USA), Meng Jinghui (China), Lois Weaver/Peggy Shaw (USA), Joel Zwick (USA), Naomi Iizuka (USA)

2007 Master artists included Petar Todorov (Bulgaria), Andrei Serban (Roumania), Annie-B Parson (USA), Putu Wijaya (Indonesia), Yoshi Oida (Japan), Enrique Pardo (Peru), Lisa Kron (USA)

2006 Master artists included Rina Yerushalmi (Israel), Arben Kumbaro (Albania), Tina Landau (USA), Ping Chong (USA), John Jesurun (USA), Jean-Guy Lecat (France)

2005 Master artists included Alida Neslo (Suriname) and Nilo Berrocal (?), Jun Tanaka (Japan), Anne Bogart (USA), Ivica Buljan (Slovenia/Croatia), Andrea Paciotto (Italy), JoAnne Akalaitis (USA)

2004 Master artists included Bernardo Rey (Colombia), Liangtee Tue (China), Rhodessa Jones (USA), Vito Taufer (Slovenia), Richard Schechner (USA), Maxine Klein (USA)

2003 Master artists included Wlodzimierz Staniewski (Poland), Tina Landau (USA), Jean-Guy Lecat (France), Anton Juan (Philippines), Jean-Claude van Italie (USA), Jonas Jurasas (Lithuania)

2002 Master artists included Françoise Gründ (France), Jean-Guy Lecat (France), Yuri Lyubimov (Russia), Ola Mafalaani (Syria/The Netherlands), Vladia Smocek (Czech Republic), Vito Taufer (Slovenia), and Seth Barrish (U.S.)

2001 Master artists included Anne Bogart (U.S.), Ayla Algan (Turkey), Giancarlo Nanni (Italy), Malick Bowens (France), Theodora Skipitares (U.S.), Ong Keng Sen (Singapore), Jean-Guy Lecat (France), Ellen Stewart (U.S.), Sevi Algan (Netherlands)

2000 Master artists included Mary Overlie (USA), Laurence Sacharow (USA), Min Soo Ahn (Korea), Kavalam Narayana Panikkar (India), Jean-Guy Lecat (France)