News Summary
The LAB Theater Project marks its 10th anniversary by launching LAB Laughs 2025, a comedy shorts festival from July 17 to August 3. The event includes nine original comedic short plays by various playwrights and a benefit bash on opening night. With a mission to showcase diverse voices in the performing arts, the festival promises an exciting range of performances that explore humorous themes. Proceeds will support the theater while additionally promoting community artistic initiatives.
Tampa, FL – The LAB Theater Project is celebrating a significant milestone as it marks its 10th anniversary by hosting LAB Laughs 2025, a comedy shorts festival set to take place from July 17 through August 3, 2025. This event aims to honor the contributors who have played a key role in the theater’s success over the past decade, including writers, actors, designers, and donors.
The festival will kick off on July 17 at 6:30 p.m. with an inaugural event titled “Lab Laughs & Libations: A Benefit Bash.” This festive gathering will take place at LAB’s black box theater, located at 812 E. Henderson Ave., Tampa. The evening will feature not just the performance, but will also include food, a drink ticket, and access to a silent auction.
Within the festival, audiences can anticipate nine original comedic short plays created by 10 playwrights from diverse locations, including Dunedin, Seattle, New York, Australia, and Singapore. The comedic themes of the performances range widely, exploring topics such as spy mishaps, yard sale blunders, Thanksgiving misadventures, and unexpected roleplay situations.
Performances of the short plays will be held from Thursdays to Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are available for regular prices at $31, while tickets for the opening night benefit are priced at $100. Proceeds from the event are dedicated to supporting the theater’s mission to highlight original works from new and diverse voices in the performing arts.
This festival is a continuation of the LAB Theater Project’s commitment to showcasing world-premiere productions, as the theater has consistently presented only original works since its establishment.
In addition to the LAB Laughs 2025 festival, the community can look forward to several other artistic events in the area. SAGES Theater is set to present a free performance of “Deal Maker.” This show will be staged at three different locations throughout Pinellas County. Furthermore, the “Graphic Worlds: The Art of Anime” event at the Imagine Museum will celebrate anime and comic art from July 19-20.
In a related arts announcement, Sharon Reid-Kane has been appointed as an Arts Administration Mentor for the 2025 Mentorship Cohort by the Association of Arts Administration Educators, marking a significant moment for local arts mentorship and administration.
Finally, the Central Park Performing Arts Center in Largo will be hosting “The Evolution of Drag: Drag Through the Decades” show on July 27, showcasing the rich history and transformative journey of drag performance over the years.
For those interested in attending the LAB Laughs 2025 festival, tickets and additional information can be found on the LAB Theater Project’s official website.
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Additional Resources
- TBN Weekly: LAB Laughs 2025
- Wikipedia: Theater
- TBN Weekly: Arts Events
- Google Search: Theater Festivals
- TBN Weekly: Tampa Arts Scene
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Theater
- TBN Weekly: Cultural Events
- Google News: Local Theater News
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