As pandemic restrictions ease, The Laboratory Theater of Florida has announced its 13th season.
In the Lab Theater tradition of bringing new and thought-provoking theater to our area, the coming season features a world premiere and six southwest Florida premieres, including one that is different every performance by design. In addition to half-price preview nights, the theater will now offer special Thursday night discounts and expanded season pass options. The theater will continue to present its popular 24-Hour Screenwriting Project, staged readings and more.
Summer Season
Sunset Schmoulevard, adapted by Annette Trossbach, opened June 11 and wraps up with performances July 1, 2 and 3 at 8 p.m.
Norma Desmond is back and ready for her close-up with Mr. DeMille! The original screenplay has been revamped into an over-the-top parody that will leave you laughing all the way home. In the style of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane: A Parody of the Horror and Hush Up Sweet Charlotte, this snarky take on the film noir classic, Sunset Boulevard, has all the fun and camp that audiences know and love from a June production at The Lab.
Failure: A Love Story by Philip Dawkins (SWFL premiere) is a limited engagement offering from July 29 through Aug. 8 only as part of the theater’s education program.
By the end of 1928, all three Fail sisters will be dead — expiring in reverse order, youngest to oldest, from a blunt object to the head, disappearance, and finally consumption. Tuneful songs and a whimsical chorus follow the story of Nelly, Jenny June, and Gerty as they live out their lives above the family clock repair shop near the Chicago River before their time unexpectedly runs out. A magical, musical fable where, in the end, the power of love is far greater than any individual’s successes or failures.
Regular Season
The Color Purple by Marsha Norman, Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray (SWFL premiere) opens Sept. 3 and runs through Oct. 3. The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker is the tale of African-American women finding their independence in the first half of the 20th century. With powerful songs, audiences will join their journey of heart-touching deliverance.
This year’s 24-Hour Screenwriting Project is set for Oct. 9. All the fun of our 24-Hour Playwriting project – with the added component of video! Selected screenwriters will be assigned a theme, a director, a videographer, and actors. Within just twenty-four hours, you will see the fruits of their labor when we present all of their 10-minute movies to be judged by a panel of area theater and arts professionals. There will be a limited number of in-person tickets to this event, accompanied by virtual passes. This is a hugely popular event.
White Rabbit Red Rabbit by Nassim Soleimanpour (SWFL premiere) opens on Oct. 14 and plays through Oct. 23.
With no rehearsal, no director, a different actor each night, and a script waiting in a sealed envelope on stage, this show is a theatrical experience that reminds us of the transformative power of theater.
The Tempest by William Shakespeare plays from Nov. 5 – Nov. 20.
Shakespeare’s classic comedy about betrayal and family will lead you on a magical journey. Trapped on an island by a jealous sibling and aided by various spirits, our heroes find revenge complicated. Co-Directed by Artistic Director Annette Trossbach and director Nykkie Rizley.
The Complete History of America (abridged) by Adam Long, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor (SWFL premiere) plays Dec. 3 through Dec. 19.
Six hundred years of history in 6,000 seconds … history will never be the same. This fast-paced comedy is American history on speed, giving us a 90-minute roller coaster ride to remind us that it’s not the length of your history that matters – it’s what you’ve done with it.
Killer Joe by Tracy Letts (SWFL premiere) plays Jan. 14 through Feb. 5, 2022.
This dark comedy follows a dysfunctional Texas family that hires a hitman to kill a relative with a sizable life insurance policy.
Avenue Q with music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx and book by Jeff Whitty, (SWFL premiere) runs Feb. 25 through March 27. It was a winner of the 2004 Tonys for Best Book, Best Score and Best Musical!
Featuring puppets and human actors, this is a laugh-out-loud musical that tells the story of recent college graduate Princeton as he struggles to find his purpose. Though inspired by Sesame Street, these are R-rated puppets with warnings for adult language and situations.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Christopher Hampton, will be performed on stage April 15 through May 7.
Using sex as a weapon, this is a tale of seduction set among aristocrats before the French Revolution. This classic drama explores decadent sexuality, morals, and manipulations played as the ultimate game with tragic results.
The performance subscription packages are:
Preview subscription $85 – (Sept. 2021 – May 2022) – includes main stage show preview nights on Wednesday and Thursday before opening; no special events included.
Thursday Night Pass $230 (June 2021 – Many 2022) – includes any Thursday night performances and all special events.
Year-Round Pass Weekend (June 2021 – May 2022) $280 – includes all shows and special events.
Flex Pass 5 seats (June 2021 – May 2022) $150 – 5 seats anytime/anywhere you want them!
Flex Pass 10 seats (June 2021 – May 2022) $300 – 10 seats anytime/anywhere you want them!
Individual ticket prices are $30 for adults and $10 for students for non-musical performances) and $37 for adults and $15 for students for musicals. Thursday night tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students. Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more, reserved in advance.
For more information, call 239-218-0481, visit online at www.LaboratoryTheaterFlorida.com or the physical location at 1634 Woodford Ave. in the Fort Myers River District.
