LAFPI

A love letter to those who shape our lives, hold us together and break our hearts. IAMA Theatre Company presents the world premiere of Mama Metal, a joyfully irreverent black comedy by 2017 Humanitas Play LA award-winner Sigrid Gilmer that entwines issues of identity with pop culture icons to tell a truly unique mother-daughter story. Deena Selenow directs for a May 23 opening at Atwater Village Theatre, where performances will continue through June 23. Low-priced previews begin May 17.

Sterling Milburn’s mother is dying, and Sterling is falling apart. She tries to control her mounting panic by rewriting the past, which she does with the help of Demonic Afterbirth, “the world’s greatest heavy metal band.” Also there to mentor Sterling are two titans of the American Theatre, Eugene O’Neill and Tennessee Williams, whose Long Days Journey into Night and The Glass Menagerie may be two of the world’s most iconic “mama dramas.” But when Mom refuses to follow the script and begins her own revision of their history, Sterling must learn to drop the stories and let Mom go.

According to Gilmer, Mama Metal unfolds like a dream — a loosely autobiographical, heightened and exaggerated reflection of her relationship with own her mother, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease five years ago. “The play is about three things that framed who I am today, the ‘pillars of me’: my mom, heavy metal music and the American theater,” she explains.

Mama Metal takes place in a concert venue setting, backed by a heavy metal soundtrack — all created by an award-winning team of scenic, lighting and sound designers.

Mama Metal opens on Thursday, May 23 at 8 p.m., with performances thereafter taking place on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. through June 23. Three preview performances take place May 17 through May 19 on the same schedule. All tickets are $35, except May 23 (opening night) for which tickets are $40 and include a post performance reception, and previews, which are $20. Atwater Village Theatre is located at 3269 Casitas Ave in Los Angeles, CA 90039. Parking is free in the Atwater Xing lot one block south of the theater. For reservations and information, call 323-380-8843 or go to www.iamatheatre.com.