DMV opens Aug. 9 at Laboratory Theater

The world premiere of D.M.V. opens Aug. 9 at The Laboratory Theater of Florida in Fort Myers.
After 30 years of working at the Fort Myers Department of Motor Vehicles, Bernice has one last day of work before retiring with a full pension. She’s already sold her home, packed her belongings, and celebrated, rather heavily, with her co-workers. Unfortunately, things go slightly awry. What follows is a laugh riot of what happens every day at virtually every D.M.V.
Lab Theater’s artistic director Annette Trossbach says, “It’s always a special treat to work directly with a playwright on a new play. It’s a wonder to see that play leap off the page and come to life before your eyes, and to be able to perfect moments and characters with the creator him- or herself. In this case, I am delighted to once again collaborate with my friend, playwright Zalman Velvel, with whom I’ve shared some of the most thoughtful conversations over the years on topics such as theater, religion, economics, world history, and storytelling. And I thank the talented Carmen Crussard for signing on to helm this comedy that was born of Mr. Velvel’s many visits to the DMV and his interviews with staff members at the Department of Motor Vehicles in Fort Myers and elsewhere.”
Director Carmen Crussard adds, “Working at the Lab is always a welcome adventure. I appreciate the opportunity to be creative and to collaborate with a great team to build characters whom the world has never met before (unless they happened to be at the DMV that day). It is really nice to work with an original script and have access to the playwright who is flexible so I can really bring my vision and this story to life.”
The theater has new seating. Rows A, B, and C are on the floor, and rows D and above are on risers.
D.M.V. plays Aug. 9 – 25 at the Laboratory Theater of Florida. It stars Gerrie Benzing, Sam Bostic, Stacy Stauffer, Todd Lyman, Mike Dinko, David Cooley, Art Keene and Margaret Cooley. It is directed by Carmen Crussard (Play On!, And the Winner Is…, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940).
Performance dates are Aug. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24 at 8 p.m., and Aug. 18 and 25 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are available to purchase online at Brownpapertickets.com or by calling the box office at 239-218-0481. For additional savings, guests may purchase a 2019-2020 season pass. For more info, visit LaboratoryTheaterFlorida.com or the physical location at 1634 Woodford Ave. in the Fort Myers River District.