By Jeff Britton | SDUN Arts Reporter

In a cozy black box theater in a small Hillcrest strip mall at 6th and Pennsylvania, theatrical magic is ever brewing. The chief prestidigitators of the ion theatre are the unassuming—but dynamic—duo: Glenn Paris and Claudio Raygoza.

Since taking over the space formerly called the Compass Theatre in early 2010, Paris and Raygoza, both Normal Heights residents, have transformed the neglected venue into a comfy home for the cutting edge, experimental plays that connoisseurs cotton to with great passion. Among San Diego’s small theaters, it stands out for its audacious programming and an excellent track record in pleasing audiences and critics alike.

For Raygoza, the venue completes a full circle of sorts. He founded ion in August 2004, relocated to an industrial area of Mission Valley when Paris became his partner and moved back to the space when Compass folded.

Enamored with theater as a youngster in his hometown of Tucson, Ariz., Raygoza majored in astrophysics at the University of Arizona to please his mom. She soon recognized his passion for theater and urged him to instead pursue a degree at University of California, Los Angeles in theater. A regular visitor to ion, Raygoza’s mother offers steady encouragement and even cleans up after performances.

Paris came to San Diego six years ago as development director for San Diego Repertory Theatre, a dual career along with directing he developed during 20 years in New York. A three-year hiatus at Carnegie Mellon University earned him an M.F.A. in theater. Chief among his mentors was the late Uta Hagen, whose husband Herbert Berghoff started the venerable HB Studio to train actors.

“She was an enormous influence on me,” Paris said. “She gave me great gifts.”

Raygoza, who doubles as a playwright and director, admits that he founded ion with the idea of a place where he could stage his own plays. Indeed, ion’s past productions, such as “Gaviota,” based on Chekhov’s “The Seagull,” was re-imagined and set during the Mexican Revolution on the coast of Veracruz amid a time of social upheaval and class struggle. “Punks,” inspired by Genet’s “The Maids,” changed the two sisters into two Latino hustlers in a relationship with a disgraced lounge singer.

“I didn’t think I’d be successful with other theaters in town,” Raygoza said. “We like work that is visceral, very raw. I’ve always been interested in this type of work.”

Paris explained that one of the things that distinguishes ion from other small companies in San Diego is that they develop out its own work.

“It’s very risky. The larger theaters can buffer an occasional challenging play with more mainstream fare to boost the box office,” Raygoza pointed out. “We’re very much a non-profit and those are born in the spirit of taking risks. We want to challenge audiences.”

Nevertheless, ion has enjoyed sold-out shows. Last season’s “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” broke box office records, while David Ives’ “All in the Timing” and Terence McNally’s “Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune” also helped fill the coffers.

But sometimes it’s simply about doing good, such as last month’s weeklong Human Action Festival of readings, which benefited various charities by shining the spotlight on injustice. Coincidentally, it began on Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day, and assisted Amnesty International, the Alpha Project for the homeless, The Center for the LGBT community and Enough, an organization trying to end violence against women in Africa. They plan to reprise it next December.

Next up for ion is “Wonder Wounded Heroes,” a world premiere by New York playwright Gordon MacDonald Wachsman. Paris, who will direct, describes it as a very strong piece for actors. Wachsman has worked on the play for nearly four years, will come to San Diego for a week and may do some rewrites.

“It’s an original style that combines absurdist, illogical elements and other realities and even incorporates Hamlet,” Paris said enthusiastically. “It’s about three brothers; one is the prodigal son returning to a trailer in the Yukon. It’s Sam Shepherd-like.”

“Part of our mission is to evolve new work,” Raygoza added.

That certainly describes their environmental production of “Marat Sade” at the Mission Valley industrial park, where Matt Scott, dressed as a mummy, was carried by the audience down hallways through various buildings and onto the stage. The show began in the parking lot and it was a sell-out.

Scott, a former master carpenter at La Jolla Playhouse is now the chief set designer at ion and part of a group of local actors who relish the chance to work there.

“Wonder Wounded Heroes” performances begin Jan. 29. For information and ticket sales, call 600-5020 or visit iontheatre.com.