La MaMa Umbria International — La MaMa Program

The International Symposium for Directors, and Playwright Retreat provide opportunities for artists from around the world to come together online and learn new or unfamiliar approaches to creating theatre in a virtual setting.

La MaMa Umbria International provides artists from around the world with residency programs and intensive workshops. For nearly 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.

La MaMa Umbria International is a non-profit cultural center and artist residence founded in 1990 by legendary theatre pioneer, Ellen Stewart. Dedicated to artistic experimentation, research, and learning, La MaMa Umbria is a place where artists from around the world meet to create, and to share work and ideas. Housed in a former monastery just outside Spoleto, Italy, the center is less than two hours from Rome.

Next Generation: New Performance Incubator allows international artists under age 35 to create new projects with collaborators.

La MaMa Spoleto Open, the official fringe 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.

CLICK HERE for a list of financial resources, awards, grants and funding opportunities for artists and applicants

Quotes about La MaMa Umbria International

Thank so much for inviting me to join you in this beautiful, magical kingdom! The entire realm is blessed with creative fairies and elves. And not only do you create rooms for us to dream in, but you feed us exquisitely and excessively.”
— Moisés Kaufman

“I had such a fantastic and inspiring time with you all. It really exceeded all my expatiations. Never have I felt like family so quickly and their care and support while there is deeply generous. The fact that they are all gifted artists makes it even more special.”
— Caden Manson

“I could not and do not want to explain why the week meant so much to me. I am not exaggerating when I say that I felt whole for the first time in my life. A bodily and spirit feeling.”
— Estelle Parsons

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

“Open your heart and come and you will have many open hearts in return.”
— Joan Allen

“Every time I come here, it’s magic of some kind. I think it’s the particular confluence of the setting and the people. The experience is utterly transformative.”
— Tina Landau

“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

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

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