Founding Partners

Unexpected Company’s full time staff is founding partners Lisa Norris and Brian R. Lynner. Together they have performed in, directed, written, composed for, or produced over a hundred plays for American audiences from New York to California. Des Moines is currently their home and base of operations.  Lisa and Brian began their creative partnership in 1992 as founding members of the Iowa Shakespeare Project.  When that endeavor ended, they took a hiatus, then came together again in 2000 to form Unexpected Company.

For more information about Lisa and Brian, visit our Company Bios page.

For a history of Unxpected Company's past productions, click here.

For a brief history of the Iowa Shakespeare Project, click here.

 
Company Philosphy

We are not a non-profit organization.  Unexpected Company was founded as a partnership corporation to provide professional services to non-profits and schools, copyright and publish our original work, and to create theatre productions (usually original works).  The shows we produce are either commissioned, contracted, or produced in cooperation/partnership with other organizations (usually non-profits).

Profit is never a goal for our artistic endeavors. The play is always the thing - if we come out at a break even (production expenses are met, everyone gets paid a little something), we consider that a successful end-result.  We believe in paying people for their talent. Occassionally, we will solicit volunteers for workshops, readings, or demo recordings where no tickets are sold and no fees are paid.  However, whenever there is a performance fee or box office sales, we share those profits with our company members.

Company Members

Unexpected Company engages artists from Central Iowa on a project by project basis.  We employ actors, singers, musicians, directors, designers, and technicians.   For most productions, all production staff members (including performers) are paid a stipend. 

Past company members include:

For current job opportunities with Unexpected Company, click here.

For information on volunteer opportunities, click here.

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