Meet April Littlejohn: Writer, director, theater producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with April Littlejohn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi April, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Coming from a career as a stuntwoman, there is always a measure of risk. Obviously. You can’t feel safe looking down from a 600ft building. There’s risk. For me, it’s about managing those risks and how I react to them that has made it possible for me to start my own business and create a new career as a writer and director. When I got a job doing stunts, it was very straightforward. Can you do the job or not? Are you going to be safe and not get hurt, or are you going to cost the production time and money? It’s a lot of pressure and in the case of my stunt career, often a gamble. Things went wrong all the time. Sometimes I got hurt and sometimes I was a superstar. When I started my theater company, the risks were different. They were emotional and financial. I had to take a risk in order to get my work seen. As a writer, it can be hard to even get someone to see a few pages of a script let alone produce it. I found I was waiting around for someone to choose me, and although I was terrified to put my work on stage, I felt like it was a greater risk not to. I had gone to school, I had written many scripts, but I knew I needed to learn more. I needed to see my stories produced and get others to see it too. My first show, I saved up all my tips from my waitressing job to pay for the theater, made all the costumes, the set, lights, everything. By opening night, I didn’t have a choice but put every cent into that production. I was sure people would leave at intermission, but they didn’t. The audience got me. They loved it. It was hard, no doubt. I failed at a lot of things. Lost friendships. Made terrible mistakes. But I was stubborn. I had to go back and try again. By the time the Pandemic hit, I had to shut down three shows. Lost everything. I did fundraisers and virtual shows, but I knew I was going to have to figure something out. So I took the biggest risk so far and produced a horror television series. It was so risky because I had to figure out how to comply with Covid restrictions and keep everyone safe. I had to learn how to reduce my crew to one or two people and get equipment so that I could light, shoot sound, and direct all on my own. It’s cost me a bunch of money and all my time and energy, but I figured the risk was worth it. Because I learned so much. As long as I’m improving, as long as I’m reaching an audience, the risk is more like a blessing.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I run a theater company, all original work. We have an annual horror show plus a spring show of varying content. I produced my first web series that will be coming out in the Spring. We have received many awards and before the Pandemic hit, we nominated for five awards for our horror show, LA Horror Stories including Best Director. I am super proud that my company raised a fair amount of money to help other theater companies during the Pandemic. We produced three virtual shows and made masks day and night before there were any to buy. We have managed to stick together and learn new things during this time. No one lets anyone give up, which is what our company motto is “I’ve got your back”. We strive to create an inclusive community and a no “cliques” policy that makes everyone feel like they are a part of something so no matter where they go in their career, my hope is they will remember their time with Fuzzy Bottoms Theater Company. It was incredibly hard. I always feel humbled and sometimes at the mercy of the cast and crew of a project instead of being an all-powerful director and producer. You have to really see people. Know how to manage emotions with respect and dignity. It’s so much more than sitting in a chair and telling people what to do. I’ve had to do everything, from sewing costumes until three in the morning and trying over and over again to make a special effect work. The hardest part is stepping back and allowing others to learn how to do what I do so I don’t have to do so much. I became a perfectionist and when someone is learning, being patient and letting them learn is hard to do but necessary. I learned how to encourage people and lift them up even when I hate them because if they win, I win. I have to remind myself that time changes everything. There are so many people that I have had the pleasure of seeing make mistakes and then get up and learn and grow. So I try to keep doing that myself. My biggest fear is living a life without getting my voice heard. Fuzzy Bottoms Theater Company is always learning and growing. If you don’t know how to do something, fine. We’ll teach you. Even if you are afraid. I’ve had so many people overcome things on stage like singing or dancing, even fight choreography. Then they learn and become great at it and go off to do it in their careers. This allows me to take risks.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love the beach and hikes. There is a great view of the city on O’Melveny trail and then outdoor happy hour at the Odyssey. I would take someone to Escondido falls in Malibu and then to the beach for a picnic and a rinse in the ocean. I love Toi on Sunset for some rock and roll Tai food. Chiconis in West Hollywood for sure for a great Italian meal and drinks afterwards. Sunset at Gladstones in Malibu for some oysters and wine by the beach. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Stefan Adkins was about to open a kung fu business when the Pandemic hit. Instead of giving up, he started doing live feed teaching lessons, social distanced outdoor Tai Chi, and set up a virtual kung fu studio at home and teaches six days a week now online. He also create diy content for social media.

Website: Www.fuzzybottomstheater.com

Instagram: @fuzzybottomstheater

Facebook: @fuzzybottomstheater

Other: TikTok. @aprilkl