Rachael Carnes: Hi, Aaron! Last time we saw each other was at the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Festival in 2019. That feels like two million years ago. So, what inspires your creativity?
Aaron Leventman: Human behavior and personality, strong identification with a certain person or place, and stories of every day heroism.
RC: Tell me about your work with Almost Adults. I so enjoyed the production of my play WABI SABI last year. Where did the idea come from?
AL: In 2015, I wanted to produce an evening of my own short plays that were LGBTQ+ themed. I created a production company so that I could accept funds and other kinds of support for this project. I came up with the name Almost Adults since I realized that the plays had a running theme of the conflicts of young people on the brink of adulthood, along with older people having trouble coping the traumas of everyday life. After this first production I used the company to produce staged readings of famous plays I wanted to act in and produce since I didn’t have the time or further resources to produce another full production. When the pandemic hit I started acting in other companies virtual performances and after participating in a number of festivals I realized that I could produce my own series. I therefore decided to turn Almost Adults into an inclusive virtual company that focused on LGBTQ+ themes to give the series an identity where anyone could participate.
Directed by Aaron Leventman, Almost Adults LGBTQ+ Virtual Short Play Festival, 2020
With Alix Hudson, Zoe Margolis, and Zoe Burke
Are there any surprises — or setbacks — That have fueled you to continue to build it?
I was surprised that people from all over the world of various gender identities, sexual orientations, races, levels of experience, and geographic locations would be generous enough to lend their time to participate. I was also surprised at how many audience members were interested in watching virtual queer theatre on Facebook, YouTube, and Zoom when there is so much content happening online at the present time. This continued interest in creating an online community for those wanting to think outside the box to find ways to keep theatre alive during this current time of the pandemic has what’s fueled me to continue.
What do you do for a living, and does that play into your artistic life?
I teach acting, playwriting, screenwriting, film appreciation, and memoir. My students teach and inspire me on how to best keep my creative work alive through their own examples. The research and preparation that I put in to my classes gives me ideas for my own creative projects.
Directed by Bradd Howard, Almost Adults LGBTQ+ Virtual Short Play Festival, 2020
With Niko’a Salas and Dustin Uher
What’s the earliest memory you have of the arts? Music, dance, theatre, visual art — Whatever!
My parents took me to see Ingmar Bergman’s film of The Magic Flute on New Year’s Eve when I was 8-years-old. I was terrified at first that the film was in subtitles. But it led to a life-long love of Ingmar Bergman, Mozart, and art film in general.
Looking to 2021, what do you feel most excited about creatively?
In the hope that we’ll be able to return to live theatre at some point in 2021, I am looking forward to seeing what the community has learned creatively from this most recent time of the pandemic. I think that we will see a morphing of creative life as we once knew it with how we’ve had to adapt during the quarantine. I’m excited to see how this hybrid way of creating performance will look.
How do you balance creative life and all of the rest of it?
I’m someone whose everyday life is what fuels my creativity. Other aspects of my life (domestic, family, friends) are just as important to me as the creative work I do and therefore they go hand in hand. I wouldn’t be able to be creative if I didn’t have a full life outside of the work I do. This is why I look to stay in touch with what’s happening in the world as the plays I write I prefer to link connect to the big picture in some way. My interest in producing and acting has helped me realize how I can contribute to the community in artistic ways other than just my writing.
What’s it like making art in your community? Tell us about Santa Fe!
Santa Fe is unique in that there is a large amount of exceptional talent with many professionals in the industry that choose to live in a smaller community rather than a big city like L.A. Its small size as a county makes it is easy to produce your own work. However, it frequently seems at times like there is more talent than audience for which the challenge to find can be daunting. But the level of support here is astonishing and I feel lucky to live in a community of like-minded people who are wanting to be creative for the sheer joy of doing it.
Who’s in your inner circle, and how do they support your work?
My inner circle consists of other actors, writers, directors, and producers who I have worked with before on various theatre and film projects. Some friendships are contained to the specific project we’re working on while others have entered my life more in a personal way. We frequently show up for each other’s performances and give constructive feedback when asked. We even have formed writing groups for this purpose. We share opportunities with each other and with the closest friends without the notion of envy but merely for support.
Directed by Tristan Pullen, Almost Adults Productions, Santa Fe/NM, 2015
With Cristina Vigil and Mark Westberg
What art knocked your socks off recently? Could be a play — Or an album, a movie, an exhibit, a novel, anything! — What made you connect with the art and the artist’s work?
The film Hotel Sorrento which I saw when it first came out over 25 years ago I had the opportunity to revisit through a streaming service available at my local library. I was as emotionally impacted by it as when I first saw it. The film is a successful adaptation of a play in that it retains its literary merits while find visual ways to demonstrate the story’s overall theme. It deals with major issues that are relevant to me and my writing such as the personal vs. political, and how deep set family dynamics influences your life in ways that you don’t even realize.
What’s next on the horizon for your creative world?
I’m excited to continue the LGBTQ+ online play reading series I’ve created so I can connect with more artists that I haven’t worked with before and had the opportunity to showcase more great talent. I was asked to participate in the South by Southwest 2021 mentoring program. Their annual festival/conference will be happening virtually this year so I am honored to be able to participate in such an exciting platform. I hope to have more of my plays performed either virtually or in person and would like to continue my acting work as well in whatever medium produces opportunity for my quirky talents.
Any advice for someone just starting out in this art form?
Do the kind of projects you love to do, that give you the most pleasure, not the ones you think you SHOULD be doing.
Directed by Steve Mazzaccone, Secret Theatre’s One Act Play Festival, LIC, NY, 2019, Finalist for Best Play
With Kyle Merker, and Gary Dooley
How do you relax and unwind?
I find cooking very therapeutic as well as walking when the weather deems itself warm enough to do so. I enjoy spending time with friends, family, and my partner streaming engaging content online or finding a compelling novel. Naps and meditation are always welcome into my life. Streaming quality television shows and films of the past and present are an active part of my leisure life as well.
Where can we find your work? Onstage, and to read?
You can go to my website at or imdb page. My plays are easy to find on Amazon.com and New Play Exchange. If you want to watch videos from my company Almost Adults on YouTube.
Favorite dessert? Flower? Time of day? What makes you happy?
Favorite Dessert is a hot fudge brownie sundae. Flower is a tulip. Time of day is at dusk. An overall sense of peace of mind, contentment, and serenity makes me happy.