Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Woolner. They and their team shared their story with us below:
In the summer of 2022, two frenemies (Claire Woolner and Kevin Krieger) were offered a rare opportunity–they were given first rites to rental of a sh*tty teeny storefront in a small stripmall in the foothills of Altadena. Claire’s cousin owns a pizza shop in the strip mall (Pizza Of Venice–absolutely delicious gourmet grubs), and Claire had done a show (WOM) in one of the empty storefronts a few years before. Since then, no one had thought about Altadena at all. The two best friends, however, wanted a theater to build and put up their and their friend’s alternative comedy and, after a few phone calls and dog walks, sounded out a resounding YES! Thus Public Displays of Altadena, or PDA; was born.
With the space partially painted, partially built out and partially feeling like a theater, the two ‘opened their doors’ in January 2023 for all sorts of weirdos and the space literally couldn’t be cooler or shittier/nicer. We have development nights, show premieres, variety shows, livestreamed shows, classes, screenings and are going to have our very own stand-up local, Maria Bamford, shoot her live comedy special at PDA next weekend.
Wow! Oh, and we just put in two nice silent fans!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has actually been surprisingly smooth. It’s not easy to run a space without any employees, but we had a guardian angel named Budd Diaz come on early in the birthing process and he has been an incredibly third wheel (in a good way). Budd brought on Kayla Bates (a genius on the computer who doesn’t even live in LA and manages our booking), and Andrea Barello sends out a fortnightly newsletter (subscribe on our website publicdisplaysofaltadena.com). It’s actually really hard now that I think about it. We are figuring out how the f ck a person runs a business, and there’s certainly a learning curve there, but we expect to make a small financial fortune by the end of the year.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an absurdist comedian and actor who smooshes together clown, performance art, and theater art to create tragicomedy. This year, I have been using PDA to devise my solo show which I will be performing at The Hollywood Fringe Festival in June and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in July.
As for PDA……nestled in the foothills of Altadena and delicately sandwiched between a liquor store and a gourmet pizza shop you’ll find a 35-seat, strip-mall micro-theater known to those in the know as “PDA.” It was built by artists for artists to explore, swing big, and have a completely free license of our (we’ll say it) genius. We pack momentous moments into our teeny tiny town hall-in-the-wall for all the world to see. It’s a space for the Revolution– where stupidity and poetry collide at 120 mph and explode into true once-in-a-lifetime sh*t; a safe space to be publicly shamed, a place to witness absolute bravery, success, and failure.
In short, everything a performer and audience could want.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
For me, it has always been about making my own work and now, making my own places in which to do that work. I say if you aren’t getting what you want or don’t see it somewhere else, MAKE IT! Do I wish people would give me everything? Sure! Sometimes! Does that actually happen for anyone? I don’t know!
For me, I gotta just make the thing, and in doing that, I’ve had the luck of meeting amazing people and finding amazing spaces.
Contact Info:
- Website: publicdisplaysofaltadena.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/pda_space
Image Credits
Sarah Barenberg
