The Laboratory Theater of Florida Announces 17th Season

The Laboratory Theater of Florida is thrilled to announce its 17th season.
The Laboratory Theater of Florida is proud to continue the tradition of community service while adding its tradition of bringing new and thought-provoking theater to our area with another season packed with premieres. Season 17 features a lineup with time-honored fan favorites and premieres fresh off Broadway. In a continuing 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 17 are the perennial favorite 24-Hour Playwriting Project, the New Play Contest, plus staged readings, post-performance talkbacks, and even more special events.
In the spirit of artistic collaboration, The Laboratory Theater is partnering with Theatre Conspiracy for two productions – Clown Bar Christmas and August Wilson’s Two Trains Running.
The 17th Season of The Laboratory Theater of Florida is supported 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, The North Law Firm, Fort Myers School of Music and thousands of loyal patrons.
There remain opportunities to sponsor shows, advertise businesses, help repair and refurbish the beautiful 102-year-old building, and help rebuild the Actor’s Fund.
Season 17
24-Hour Playwriting Project
The 24-Hour Playwriting Project — June 28
The perennial favorite bucket list event, The 24-Hour Playwriting Project, is back for Season 17! 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 – June 28.
The 24-Hour Playwriting Project is available for sponsorship.
Hair
Hair Book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado. Music by Galt MacDermot
Aug. 8 – Sept. 7
In essence, “Hair” is a vibrant and powerful portrayal of a generation’s rebellion against the establishment and its pursuit of a more enlightened and liberated society. Featuring the iconic songs Aquarius, Let the Sun Shine In, Hair, and Good Morning Sunshine, this iconic tribal love rock musical celebrates the counterculture sixties in all its glory.
“Rife with sensuality, song, and message, Signature’s ‘Hair’ is performed by an ensemble nothing short of glorious.” Metro Weekly
Performance dates:
• Aug. 8, 9, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 at 7:30 p.m.
• Aug. 10, 16, 17, 24, 31 at 2 p.m.
• Sept. 4, 5, 6 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sept. 7 at 2 p.m.
Special Events:
• Aug. 6, 7 at 7:30 p.m. Half-Price Preview
• Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Teens get a free ticket to the performance (reservations required).
• Aug. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Sensory-friendly performance
Regular Season:
Grey House
Southwest Florida Premiere
Grey House is a theatrical thriller penned by Levi Holloway. Oct. 3 – Nov. 2.
Stranded in the wilderness after a car accident, a young couple seeks shelter in a remote cabin–but something isn’t right. The strange inhabitants seem to know more than they should, and as the night unfolds, reality twists into a nightmare of eerie whispers and unexplainable events. “Grey House” is a chilling, mind-bending thriller that will keep you on edge, blending supernatural horror with psychological suspense. With spine-tingling performances and an atmosphere thick with dread, this Broadway sensation is a must-see for fans of the unsettling and the unexpected. Enter if you dare–because every refuge has its secrets.
“A haunting play full of heart.” — Entertainment Weekly
Performance dates:
• Oct. 3, 4, 9, 10, 16. 17. 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 at 7:30 p.m.
• Oct. 5, 11, 12, 19, 26 at 7:30 p.m.
• Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
• Nov. 2 at 2 p.m.
Special Events:
• Oct. 1, 2 at 7:30 p.m. Half-Price Preview
• Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m .Teens get a free ticket to the performance (reservations required).
• Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Sensory-friendly performance
Grey House is sponsored by The Bireley Family Foundation.
Clown Bar Christmas
Clown Bar Christmas by Adam Szymkowicz! Dec. 4 – 21.
The clowns have all come home for the holidays! Set before the events of Clown Bar, Clown Bar Christmas tells the story of clowns. . . in a bar. . . at Christmas. There’s more to it, but you’ll have to venture into the seedy underbelly of clown crime to see for yourself. (This play is not appropriate for children.)
This play is produced in collaboration with Theatre Conspiracy.
Performance dates:
• Dec. 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19 at 7:30 p.m.
• Dec. 7, 13, 14, 21 at 2 p.m.
Special Events:
• Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Half-price preview
Clown Bar Christmas is available for sponsorship!
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
Jan. 9 – Feb. 1
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a rollicking musical farce that transports audiences to ancient Rome, where the clever slave Pseudolus concocts a daring plan to secure his freedom by uniting his young master, Hero, with the beautiful courtesan Philia. This uproarious tale weaves together cases of mistaken identity, witty wordplay, and high-energy antics, ensuring an evening filled with laughter and delight. With a brilliant score by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, this timeless classic promises “something for everyone, a comedy tonight!”
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way To The Forum is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI).
A fresh revival of Sondheim’s zaniest musical farce… nothing short of a spectacle.” – D.C. Arts
Performance dates:
• Jan. 9, 10, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 at 7:30 p.m.
• Jan. 11, 17, 18, 25 at 2 p.m.
• Feb. 1 at 2 p.m.
Special Events:
• Jan. 7, 8 at 7:30 p.m. Half-price preview nights
• Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Teens get a free ticket to the performance (reservations required)
• Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. Sensory-friendly performance
Sponsorship is available.
Two Trains Running
Two Trains Running, by August Wilson
Feb. 20 – March 8.
This is the eighth of the ten plays in the Century Cycle.
Set in 1969, Two Trains Running is about racial tensions in the Civil Rights era, as argued over by regulars at a soon-to-be-demolished diner, including a waitress, an ex-convict, and a 322-year-old sage.
In a decade that held so much promise, the Civil Rights movement does not hold center stage in Wilson’s play, but rather simply a cameo: a rights rally offstage, a short exchange about Malcolm X. Two Trains Running almost solely revolves around one subject: money. The weekly numbers game, the price that Memphis can acquire for his building as the neighborhood gentrifies, and West’s financial success are all topics of conversation. This juxtaposition between the lofty ideals of the Sixties and the reality of Black hardship demonstrates Wilson’s genius. His characters anxiously grapple with value: of money, of culture, of rights, of freedom. In Memphis’ own words: “Freedom is heavy. You got to put your shoulder to freedom. Put your shoulder to it and hope your back hold up. And if you around here looking for justice, you got a long wait.
This play is produced in collaboration with Theatre Conspiracy.
Performance Dates:
• Feb. 20, 21, 26, 27 at 7:30 p.m.
• Feb. 22, 28 at 2 p.m.
• March 5, 6, 7 at 7:30 p.m.
• March 1, 8 at 2 p.m.
Special Events:
• Feb. 18, 19 at 7:30 Pp.m.M Half-price previews
• Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Teens get a free ticket to the performance
• March 5 at 7:30 p.m. Sensory-friendly performance
Available for sponsorship.
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, March 27 – May 3.
Political ambition, loyalty, and betrayal collide in this gripping tale of power and consequence. As Rome stands on the brink of chaos, a group of senators, led by the conflicted Brutus, plots to overthrow the rising dictator. But in the wake of their fateful decision, they soon realize that seizing power is far easier than holding onto it. Packed with thrilling drama, stirring speeches, and one of Shakespeare’s most famous betrayals, this timeless classic asks: how far would you go for the good of your country?
Performance Dates:
• March 27, 28 at 7:30 p.m.
• March 29 at 2 p.m.
• April 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30 at 7:30 p.m.
• April 4, 5, 12, 19, 26 at 2 p.m.
Special Events:
• March 25, 26 at 7:30 p.m. Half-price previews
• March 28 at 7:30 p.m. Teens get a free ticket to the performance
• April 23 at 7:30 p.m. Sensory-friendly performance
Available for Sponsorship
The Lab’s special events are also included. A Holocaust remembrance on April 14, 2026, at 7 p.m., and the New Play Winner Readings on May 1-3 at 7:30 p.m.
Passes and individual tickets are on sale now.
Performance Subscription Packages:
Preview subscription $110 – (June 2025 – May 2026) – includes mainstage show preview nights on Wednesday and Thursday before opening; no special events included.
Thrifty Thursday Pass $185.00 (June 2025 – May 2026) – Thursday night performances only.
Year-Round Pass Weekend $260 (June 2025 – May 2026) – includes all shows and special events.
Individual Ticket prices are not increasing for Season 17.
Individual ticket prices are $37 for adults and $10 for students for non-musical performances, $42 for adults, and $15 for students for musicals.
Thrifty Thursday tickets are $32 for adults (non-musicals), $ 37 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 a Laboratory Theater 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 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.