No Shame Theatre is a forum for original stage performance work. It is often presented as a weekly talent show. Format A board of approximately five members generally manages No Shame Theatre. These members are responsible for the operation of No Shame Theatre- they reserve space, advertise, accept pieces from performers, decide the order of the pieces, and serve as emcees for the program. Usually, the program contains approximately fifteen pieces. It is stated at the beginning of the program that the pieces must be original, must be under five minutes, and must not damage the space or its occupants. However, these rules are occasionally bent and in some cases, broken. The pieces are not censored in any way, which leads to a strange mix of silly comedy, "unique" performance art, and emotional drama that is rarely seen in more conventional theatre. History No Shame Theatre was founded by Todd Ristau and Stan Ruth at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. It began on October 3, 1986, in the back of a green 1976 Dodge pick-up truck belonging to Todd Ristau, and parked in the E. C. Mabie Theater parking lot. A sign up sheet was posted in fall of 1986 to generate interest in No Shame. The sheet read: "The No Shame Theatre is looking for a few good three to 5 minute scripts that would be suitable for performing in the bed of a pick-up truck in some parking lot someplace. If you have such material and are proud enough of it to want to see it done someplace we've got the perfect vehicle for your expression--a big green '76 Dodge with a slant six engine. To submit scripts for consideration, contact us or leave them along with your name and phone number in the cardboard box on top of the locker just outside and to the left (as you stand looking at) the door to the playwright's office downstairs. Please waste no time, we want to get this truck started. No Shame is at least as serious as you are." The present Since its creation, No Shame Theatres have been started throughout the United States. Branches of No Shame exist in the following locations: Iowa City, Iowa; Cedar Falls, Iowa; Eugene, Oregon; Austin, Texas; Fort Myers, Florida; Miami Beach, Florida; Los Angeles, California; Columbus, Georgia; Las Vegas, Nevada; Chicago, Illinois; Saint Louis, Missouri; La Crosse,