About Jolene

Jolene Adams

Jolene is the artistic director/founder of Actors Art Theatre (Developmental Lab & Showcase) and owner of Found Light Flicks (Film/TV Production), dedicated to the belief that we are not separate from each other and have the capacity to empathize with all people. AAT & FLF are committed to the actor’s art through which we can create works that entertain as well as inspire change.

Jolene produced her first Equity production, “The Runner Stumbles,” at the Collective Actors Theatre in NYC the minute she graduated from college. She hasn't stopped since then and has produced and directed over fifty Actors Art Theatre productions in Los Angeles. Her film career got started when she was wrangled into being First AD, line producer and craft services on the film, HELIUM HEAD, starring Dick Cavett for Lighter Than Air Productions. She decided to escape back to the theatre for a while in favor of 18 hour days instead of 23! She developed and co-starred in the long running, multi-award-winning “Adam and Eva Marie” at AAT for which she won a Drama- Logue Award for Best Actress and Best Production and produced, developed and directed the Ovation Award nominated hit, “Boiler Room” by Dan Fante at both AAT in LA & The Pantheon in NYC (selected as one of the most notable plays of the year by Don Shirley of the Los Angeles Times). Jolene starred as Dolores in the critically acclaimed, world premiere of Edward Allen Baker’s CRYING ROCKS at The Laurelgrove Theatre directed by Jack Heller and Gretty in GRETTY GOOD TIME at The Falcon Theatre, directed by Joe Regalbuto. She opened in the world premiere of Ingmar Bergman’s THE DEVIL'S EYE at the Egyptian Arena Theatre in April.

In addition to Emmy Award winning comic, Mike Dugan’s “Men Fake Foreplay,”(which is currently on tour in the US) Jolene has directed, co-written, developed numerous solo plays including award winning comic, Cathy Ladman’s “Scardeypants” (for HBO Independent Productions/The US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen). She co-wrote and directed Jenica Bergere’s (Drew Carey Show, Men Behaving Badly) “One Crazy Lady”, Phil Johnson’s (Miss Saigon and Le Miserable) critically acclaimed “Say Cheese,” Terry Everett Brown’s “Resignation” (featured in DailyCandy), Danielle Weeks’ “F Buddy” (critic’s pick) and Ariana Johns’ “Vampingo” (NY Fringe Festival). She has several more shows in development including Cathy Ladman’s “Does This Show Make Me Look Fat” (The Tonight Show, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, HBO One Night Stand).

She was Casting Director and First AD for the TV pilot, BAD EXAMPLE for The Kelly/Blumetti group, starring Jimmy Pardo and Brande Roderick. She has cast several TV and film projects over the years, including the European TV series, MYSTERY OF BLACK ROSE CASTLE and the feature films, THE BRIDGEMAN and METAMORPHOSIS starring Christopher Lambert for Jeno Hodi's CinePartners.

Jolene co-produced her first film, "2084" in 2009 with The Kelly/Blumetti Entertainment Group and her second in 2010, “The Shifting”, for Filigrana Films. And most recently co-produced, "The Boarder" with Jane E. Ryan Productions.

Among the several screenplays she has written, co-writing or has in pre-production are "Sight Unseen" (the Christina Kokubo story about a blind acting troupe), "F Buddy" (F Buddy therapy heals a broken heart co-written with Danielle Weeks)"Catching Hell" (Olympic gold medalist humanitarian, Tommie Smith’s Story) for Estrella Productions, "Vampingo" (a vampire flamingo fantasy co-written with Ariana Johns) and “Resignation” (a hysterical look at corporate hell, co-written with Terry Everett Brown). She is also developing a docu- reality show, "Grady's Road To Nirvana" about a burly handyman who, on his quest to overcome his fear of death, surrenders himself to outrageous spiritual practitioners from a Voo-Doo high priestess in New Orleans to The Goddess of Green in Santa Rosa.

Jolene developed and shot the TV pilot, “RolePlay” with Emmy Award Winning actor/writer/comic, Ed Crasnick and Dr. Michael Solomon, a hybrid of a show which incorporates comedic actors (Moon Zappa, Mo Collins), improv and psychodrama with a real therapist. She recently wrapped postproduction on “The Boarder” (a family adopts a child without a conscience, based on true stories) which she directed on location in Nebraska last October. Jolene is currently in pre-production for an indie TV pilot (Bloody Poofta, written with Aaron Cash) and feature film, “Adam & Eva Marie” which she adapted from Michael Solomon’s award winning play.

Jolene is a dedicated acting/directing/writing coach who has been developing and teaching her Meisner/Stanislavsky method for twenty years. She’s featured in Larry Silverberg’s book, GUIDE TO QUALIFIED ACTING COACHES, Daisy Nystul’s book INTERACTIVE THEATRE and taught for the NYU Theatre Program at the Harold Clurman Theatre.

About Actors Art Theatre...Little Space/Lotta Talent

One of the smallest Equity Waiver theaters in LA (32 seats), Actor’s Art Theatre, located in a converted apartment in the Mid Wilshire District is home and workspace to some of LA’s most talented stage and screen actors.

Each year AAT presents readings, labs and produces an original play, classic revival or West Coast Premiere. Some projects move to larger theaters and TV or screen development.

Central to our work is the Writing Out Loud Series where actors develop stories and once a week audiences can watch solo shows go from on-book brief monologues to ready for off-Broadway plays.

Theater at AAT has been an intimate family experience for 15 years. A passionate cook who lives in the same building, artistic director, Adams, has been known to invite entire audiences over for supper after a show!