Theater Lab Houston Organizational History And Philosophy:
Over 75,000 Houstonians and visitors to our city have attended our productions. They would agree that TLH is Houston arts at its very best.
Theater LaB Houston was founded in November 1990, as a new professional, non-profit theater in Houston. Our mission and goal is to produce and stage the very best in contemporary plays by nationally and internationally accomplished playwrights. Our founding purpose was --and still is-- to mount comedies, dramas and musicals that take our audiences on an adventure as they explore the human condition and the major issues of our lives. In new works by known --and soon-to-be-known-- authors, we present subjects and ideas that, while they may amuse or confuse, are to be experienced... works that in almost all cases have never been seen in Houston.
As a result of our successful programming, Theater LaB Houston has achieved professional artistic merit from national theatrical publications, local theater critics. There continues to be a massive response from receptive and enthusiastic audiences evidenced by our sold-out and extended runs.
Theater LaB Houston's physical space was envisioned and realized as an intimate, flexible performance arena, in which directors can utilize the entire interior as a playing area. Audience seating, risers and our tech booth are all totally movable and are reconfigured for every unique production. There is no raised stage. This use of our space demands innovative approaches, yet it allows us the free use of proscenium, in the round, thrust or environmental presentation.
Our purpose was, and is, to create an atmosphere of immediacy and participation for the actors and audience alike. In an audience of 75 people, no playgoer is more than 3 rows from the stage, and those on the front rows are often literally face-to-face with the actors.
Our location is at 1706 Alamo Street, off Houston Avenue in the historic First Ward...in what many would describe as a "dangerous", "unkempt", and even "poor" neighborhood. We, however, love our community and our neighbors. This is our home. We have been proactive in the redevelopment and revitalization of this historic neighborhood as is evident with the installation of Thespian Park across from our venue.
Theater LaB has also created a special children's theater project that brings new and original children's programming into our neighborhood elementary schools FREE -- allowing hundreds of children to experience the magic and thrill of live theater, in some cases for the very first time in their lives!
It is our long-range goal to complete a new theater complex directly across from our present venue on the 19,000 square feet of property which has been reserved for our development.
