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FORT MYERS, FL (March 1, 2023) – The Laboratory Theater of Florida is thrilled to announce its 15th season.

This year marks 100 years that our campus has served the community as a theater and a church. The Laboratory Theater of Florida is proud to continue the tradition of community service while adding its own tradition of bringing new and thought-provoking theater to our area. Season 15 features another world premiere and a lineup that includes a national premiere, two regional premieres, a Florida premiere, and one southwest Florida premiere. In a continued effort to keep theater affordable for everyone, Lab Theater offers two half-price preview nights, Thrifty Thursday discounts, deeply discounted student tickets, and expanded season-pass options. Returning for Season 15 is the perennial favorite 24-Hour Playwriting Project, the Louise Wigglesworth Excellence in Playwriting New Play Contest, staged readings, post-performance talkbacks, special events, and more.

New this year: evening mainstage productions starting in September 2023 will begin at 7:30 PM. Matinee times will not change, staying at 2 PM.

The 15th Season of The Laboratory Theater of Florida is sponsored by The City of Fort Myers, Bruce and Janet Bunch, The Allegretti Foundation, The LGBTQ Fund, The Visitor and Convention Bureau, The Fort Myers Rotary Club, The Bireley Family Foundation, Art Zupko, Arlene Foreman, Hulett Environmental Services, The School District of Lee County, Marlene and Darrell Smith, Stacy Lee-Williams, Ella Nayor and Jeffrey Cull, and thousands of loyal patrons.

There remain opportunities to sponsor shows, advertise businesses, help refurbish a nearly 100-year-old building, and to help rebuild the Actor’s Fund.

Summer Season

Season 15

Save Hamlet

WORLD Premiere
Save Hamlet by Mark Harvey Levine opens Friday, June 2nd.

In this joke-packed spoof of Shakespeare’s most famous play, Hamlet’s friends fight against evil kings, the narrative, and giant pool noodles to Save Hamlet!* *Less murder not guaranteed

In addition to the prestige of being a world premiere, this show was a runner-up for the 2022 Louise Wigglesworth Excellence in Playwriting Award.

Performance dates:
June 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23 24 at 8 pm
June 4, 11, 18 at 2 pm

Special Events:
May 31, June 1 at 8 pm Half-price preview night.
June 3 at 8 pm Teens get a free ticket to the performance (reservations required.)

She Kills Monsters

She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition by Qui Nguyen is a limited engagement offering from July 13-16 as part of the theater’s education program.

When Agnes’s younger sister Tilly dies in a sudden accident, she thinks she’s lost her forever–until she rediscovers her through a carefully hidden campaign for Dungeons and Dragons. As Agnes tries to slash her way through orcs, dragons, and cheerleaders, she starts to learn maybe the real fantasy was who Agnes thought Tilly was before she died…

“A deceptively breezy and rather ingenious comedy…” – The New York Times

Performance dates:
July 13, 14, 15 at 8 pm
July 16 at 2 pm.

Special thanks to the Lee County School District for generously providing scholarships for students involved in this production.

POTUS

Florida Premiere
POTUS Or Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive, by Selena Fillinger, opens on August 4.

When one four-letter word creates a public relations nightmare during international nuclear talks, the seven women orbiting the president will risk everything to keep the Commander in Chief out of trouble. Zany and hilarious, POTUS will have you rolling in the aisles only because it isn’t true… yet.

“…amid the lunacy and laughter [it] also has some important things to say about women, power, and the lack of proper rewards for hard work and even harder-won achievement.” – The Daily Beast

Performance dates:
August 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 at 8 pm
August 6, 13, 20 at 2 pm

Special Events:
August 2, 3 at 8 pm Half-Price Preview
August 5 at 8 pm Teens get a free ticket to the performance (reservations required).

POTUS is sponsored by Arlene Foreman.

Regular Season:

Noises Off by Michael Frayn opens on September 8.

An ineffective director, actor love triangles, and alcoholism are only the beginning of the problems with getting a British sex comedy in front of an audience. Noises Off is a slapstick farce with outrageous onstage and behind-the-scenes shenanigans that’ll leave you gasping for air.

“It’s funny almost beyond belief…Complaints? I’ve got none. This show is flawless.” – Wall Street Journal

Performance dates:
September 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 at 7:30 PM
September 10, 17, 24 at 2 PM
October 1 at 2 PM

Special Events:
September 6, 7 at 7:30 PM Half-price preview nights
September 9 at 7:30 PM Teens get a free ticket to the performance (reservations required)

Noises Off is currently available for sponsorship.

Misery

SWFL Premiere
Misery by Stephen King opens on October 20th.

From the creator of The Shining and It comes a twisted story about meeting your heroes. Paul Sheldon, famous author of the Misery series, gets into a terrible accident in the middle of nowhere. He wakes up being nursed to health by his “number one fan,” Annie. However, when she reads his new manuscript, she’ll do anything to get him to rewrite it… even if it means keeping him there forever.

“It’s a carnival ride that piles on the twists and thrills…The show is shameless, and that’s what makes it so fun.” – NY Post

Performance Dates:
October 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 at 7:30 PM
October 22, 29 at 2 PM.
November 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11 at 7:30 PM
November 5, 12 at 2 PM

Special Events:
October 18, 19 at 7:30 PM Half-price previews
October 21 at 7:30 pm Teens get a free ticket to the performance

Misery is currently available for sponsorship

24 Hour Playwriting Project

The 24-Hour Playwriting Project — December 2nd
That perennial favorite bucket list event known as The 24-Hour Playwriting project is back for Season 15! The theme for this season is once-again a well-guarded secret, as are the handicaps, props, and other requirements given to the playwrights at the absolute last minute. Playwrights will be assigned a theme, a director, and actors. Within just 24 hours, you will see the fruits of their labor when we present all of their short plays to be judged by a panel of area theater and arts professionals. A hugely popular event! Included in your season pass upon request.

One-performance only – December 2nd.

The 24-Hour Playwriting Project is sponsored by Stacy Lee-Williams.

Regional Premiere
Yippee Ki-Yay Merry Christmas! A Die Hard Musical Parody opens December 8.
Book and lyrics by: Michael Shepherd Jordan and Alex Garday. Music and lyrics by: Stephanie McCullough.

The Die Hard you know and love: actions, explosions… dance numbers? In this nostalgic homage to one of the greatest action movies of the 80’s, grizzled cop John McClane fights terrorists and tries to understand his business-driven wife. Jokes galore in this parody of a Christmas classic… and yes, it is a Christmas movie.

“Screw the Nutcracker. The real holiday musical… is this Christmas-themed Die Hard parody.” – Thrillist Chicago

Performance dates:
December 8, 9, 14 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23 at 7:30 PM
December 10, 17, at 2 pm

Special Events:
December 6, 7 at 7:30 pm Half-price preview nights
November 9 at 7:30 pm Teens get a free ticket to the performance (reservations required)

Yippee Ki-Yay Merry Christmas! A Die Hard Musical Parody is sponsored by Arthur Zupko

Stew

Stew by Zora Howard opens on January 12

This fast-paced family dramedy bubbles and simmers like the titular meal that Mama, her daughter, and grandchildren work to make one important Saturday morning. Unease and tension grow with the heat of the kitchen with a twist at the end so clever you’ll want to watch the show twice.

“…a captivating story that’s intimate, funny, and heartbreaking in equal measure.” – The New Yorker

Performance dates:
January 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 at 7:30 pm
January 14, 21, 28 at 2 pm
Feb 1, 2, 3 at 7:30 pm

Special Events:
January 10, 11 at 7:30 pm Half-price preview nights
January 13 at 7:30 pm Teens get a free ticket to the performance (reservations required)

Stew is currently available for sponsorship.

Ride the Cyclone

Ride the Cyclone, lyrics and book by Brooke Maxwell and Jacob Richmond, opens on Feb. 23.

The lives of six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir are cut short in a freak accident aboard a rollercoaster. They awake in a surreal carnival purgatory in which they compete to win a prize like no other: the chance to return to life. This modern cult classic and outlandish viral hit will have you asking the big questions while having amusement-park fun.

“…this quirky, smart, and darkly hilarious show reveals the resilience of the human spirit… – TheaterMania

Performance dates:
February 23, 24, 29 at 7:30 pm
February 25 at 2 pm
March 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14. 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 at 7:30 pm
March 2, 10, 17 at 2 pm.

Special Events:
February 21, 22 at 7: 30 pm Half-price preview nights
February 26 at 7:30 pm Teens get a free ticket to the performance (reservations required)

Ride the Cyclone is currently available for sponsorship.

Crocodile Fever

National Premiere
Crocodile Fever by Meghan Tyler opens on April 12 and closes the season.

Alannah’s quiet life in 1989 Northern Ireland is disrupted when her rebellious IRA sister Fiannah comes home. The combative sisters are forced to confront their tyrannical father’s hideous legacy, and all hell breaks loose. A bloody dark comedy fueled by gin, 80s tunes, and a chainsaw, Crocodile Fever can’t end happily, but it can end gloriously.

“This play is a bloody masterpiece in every sense…” – BritishTheatre.com

Performance dates:
April 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 at 7:30 pm
April 14, 21, 28 at 2 pm
May 2, 3, 4 at 7:30 pm
May 5 at 2 pm.

Special Events:
April 10, 11 at 7: 30 pm Half-price preview nights
April 13 at 7:30 pm Teens get a free ticket to the performance (reservations required)

Crocodile Fever is currently available for sponsorship.

Also included are the Lab’s special events. A Holocaust remembrance on January 29th, 2024 at 7 pm, and the New Play Winner Readings on May 16-18 at 7:30 pm.

Passes and individual tickets will be on sale, starting on April 1st.
Performance Subscription Packages:

Preview subscription $120.00 – (Sept. 2022 – May 2023) – includes mainstage show preview nights on Wednesday and Thursday before opening; no special events included.
Snowbird Pass (Dec. – May) $195 – includes all productions with dates in Dec – May.
Thrifty Thursday Pass $190.00 (June 2022 – May 2023) – Thursday night performances only.
Year-Round Pass Weekend $320 (June 2021 – May 2022) – includes all shows and special events.
Flex Pass 5 seats (June 2022 – May 2023) $180 – 5 seats anytime/anywhere you want them!
Flex Pass 10 seats (June 2022 – May 2023) $360 – 10 seats anytime/anywhere you want them!

Individual Tickets:

Individual ticket prices are $35 for adults and $10 for students for non-musical performances, $40 for adults and $15 for students for musicals.
Thrifty Thursday tickets are $27 for adults (non-musicals), $32 for adults (musicals), and $10 – $15 for students.
Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more, reserved in advance.

ALL DATES AND SHOWS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

TICKET POLICY: Tickets are nonrefundable; tickets may be exchanged for another date or for a Laboratory Theater of Florida credit. Cancellations must be made by 10 am on the date of the performance. There will be no credit for missed performances. The theater may, but is not obligated to, make reasonable accommodations for performances missed due to illness, traffic, or other unforeseen circumstances. Refunds are only available if the theater cancels the performance for which the patron holds tickets; tickets to postponed performances may be exchanged for another date or for a credit. For holders of our Flex passes, no credit is given for lower-priced performances. Internet service fees are non-refundable. Please note that with ANY ticket purchase (subscription or individual sale), check-in must occur prior to 5 minutes to curtain, or seats will become available for sale to others.

PREVIEW PERFORMANCES: Please note that previews are considered final dress rehearsals. Thus, it is at the director’s discretion if the show experiences any “holds” for the actors, director, or crew to make adjustments or give/receive notes, as needed.

ABOUT THE LABORATORY THEATER OF FLORIDA
The Laboratory Theater of Florida, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is dedicated to the promotion of the performing arts, through live performance, education, community outreach, experimentation, and the development of ensemble work. The company features ensemble productions, produces classic works, takes artistic risks, which both feature and challenge local performers. For more information visit www.LaboratoryTheaterFlorida.com or the physical location at 1634 Woodford Avenue, in the Fort Myers River District.

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