In Hollywood, small-time anything has an uphill battle. Like indie rockers, independent theater struggles for existence and recognition in Los Angeles. But that hasn't stopped IAMA Theatre Company from completing one helluva mission: to meld mediums of visual art, television and theater into one non-traditional on-stage melange.

"You could say we're the punk rock of theater," IAMA's Literary Manager Stefanie Black tells me. Indeed, this is quite the rebellious group. The most recent display of this sentiment came in last week's performance of Se7en Deadly Plays.

Here's the idea: take a razor-sharp writer, one Leslye Headland, have her write about lust, envy, wrath, and sloth, and let the audience watch as they wickedly, and sometimes humorously, self-destruct.

"Leslye is supremely talented," says Wes Whitehead, IAMA's Artistic Director. "Tangible and real" adds Black.

The Se7en Deadly Plays, which starts up again with Reverb in January, hits on themes universal and intensely intimate, turning human frailty inside out. The match-up of muse and mentor is divine. The actors in this young company are all 20-somethings and most are east coast transplants. The fit is like a Latex glove.

"There is something fascinating and seedy about LA. I think that's where Noir Fiction comes from," says Whitehead.

"And while the first three plays are set in NYC, the setting moves west to culminate in LA," says Black. "Leslye is drawn to the dark side."

Here's just a dash of what we witnessed at Se7en Deadly Plays:

Cinephilia (Lust) is two lovers, Amy Rosoff and Graham Sibley, on a couch talking about love, movies and lying about the ones you've seen. The dialogue is fast, funny and cuts to the quick. Wicked cool.

Bachelorette (Gluttony) presents three drunken bridesmaids, Laila Ayad, Louise Minson and Melissa Stephens, trashing the bride, marriage, love and life, while snorting coke and slurping champagne. Think Sex and the City on a 3-Day run.

Surfer Girl (Sloth) is a one-woman monologue by Sarah Utterback, living life on the road "couch surfing." Talking trash about life on the road, the heroes we worship and the thin line between a bum and a rock star.

Reverb (Wrath) tells the tale of two lovers, Melissa Stephens and Wes Whitehead, having coffee at an Echo Park café. Manipulation and the truth take turns and manipulation picks up the check. More wicked fun.

Assistance (Greed) is most definitely our favorite. Three actors, Stefanie Black, Amy Rosoff and Brandon Scott, engage in soliloquies at the other end of a phone conversation. Slick and heartbreaking, they tell of their jobs as assistants to a major Hollywood mogul and the lengths they must go to. The scene ends with all three tap dancing. Think Swimming With Sharks meets A Chorus Line.

No kidding about Leslye Headland being an amazing writer. Her sparkling voice is clear like crystal and hard like diamonds. Girlish, womanly and lady-like. And this teaser format worked well.

Yes, the IAMA Group is definitely making a staunch mark on the LA Theater world. Their passionate players performing in tricked out garage-like spaces off of dark dirty streets can be found all over Hollywood.

Look out for Reverb, the play about wrath, in January 2009, and if you love them as much as we do, donate to their theatrical cause on www.iamatheatre.com

Story by Victoria Joyce.