CLASSES

 

SHOWS

 

ABOUT

 

Mission Statement

Lila Theatre is a company of artists who create and develop the art of long-form improvisation, along with sketch theatre, and cabaret. Through truthful artistic play, we create new artistic works by taking innovative risks, while providing our audiences with compelling, high quality, low cost, accessible theatre and entertainment.

We seek to combine the professionalism of Broadway, the innovation of Off-Broadway, the roots of Chicago Improv, and the rawness of the Fringe.

As a company, we are committed to:

 

- Developing the truth in every individual and exploring this truth on stage. We believe that the more honest and genuine we can be, the greater the chance for an empathic exchange in a theatrical community.

- Helping every individual find and develop their creative voice by giving people a safe place to play, explore themselves, and develop their skills.

- Creating a supportive, open, artistic culture where a community of artists and audience members can engage in truthful work and innovative ideas.

 

- Becoming one of the best improvisational theatre companies in the world.

 

 

 

San Francisco, CA

 

Lila Theatre History

Jill and Christopher Eickmann founded Lila Theatre early February 2003. Fusing classic improvisational theories with their own theories of truthful, artistic play, the Lila Theatre Training Center began offering its first Improvisational Theatre Class at Studio C in the Mission.  

 

Shortly after, Lila Theatre cast its founding Resident Company and began performing sold out shows around the city. With a new community forming, Lila Theatre needed a permanent home to grow. So in July 2005 Lila Theatre moved into Stage 250 at the Off-Market Theaters in downtown San Francisco. Shortly after Lila developed into a thriving company with a Resident Company, two Conservatory Programs, multiple classes, improv jams, and a ton of shows.

 

After a busy four years the founders decided to take a much needed break to recharge and refocus, ultimately leading to the decision to move the company out of the Off-Market Theaters. Now refreshed, Jill and Christopher have returned to the ideals that the company was founded upon. Lila Theatre is now poised to begin the next chapter. Get ready for a brand new adventure!

 

As always, our strong visions of truth, art, play, community, technique, support, trust, growth, and humanity continues to evolve as we deeply connect with the countless remarkable individuals that join the Lila Theatre community. We invite you to come play with us!

 

   

Lila Defined

 

= Lila (leela)

 

 

"There is an old Sanskrit word, lila [leeŽla], which means play.  Richer than our word, it means divine play, the play of creation, destruction, and recreation, the folding and un-folding of the cosmos.  Lila, free and deep, is both the delight and enjoyment of this moment... It also means love.

 

"Lila may be the simplest thing there is-spontaneous, childish, disarming.  But as we grow and experience the complexities of life, it may also be the most difficult and hard-won achievement imaginable, and its coming to fruition is a kind of homecoming to our true selves."

 

-Stephen Nachmanovitch, Free Play