For Burton Quinn, the opening night of an extremely “out-of-town” production of The
Delightfully Dead Kinsman in Binghamton, New York, is an ambitious return to the Broadway
musical that nearly made him famous four decades earlier. Certainly, the material still holds
magic for Burton, even though he has graduated from the romantic lead to the patriarchal role
and now has to share a dressing room with the very green Billy Caulfield, Kinsman's new
leading man. Technical difficulties delay the curtain, though, prolonging Billy's nervous agony
and bringing hope to Burton that Tovah—his wife and good luck charm—might still arrive on
time.
When Burton’s estranged son, John, arrives instead, with news that Tovah is leaving the
marriage, the earth stands still, then shatters at Burton’s feet. John tries to convince his father to
give chase, yet Burton is convinced the only happy return to Brooklyn is as an unmitigated
success. Finally, the gloves come off. John demands his father, for once, choose people who care
for him, over a mistress—the theatre—that has always taken and never given back.

LAB Theater Project is a non-profit 501(c)3 production company focused on producing new works in the Tampa Bay Community. Our belief in a "playwright first" focus is resolute and a core value of the company. Along with a focus on developing new works, we also focus on training new theater artists to join our growing community. 

​We only produce works from emerging playwrights and develop, through education, new artists (Actors, Directors, Stage Managers, and Designers) for the continued growth of live theater artistry. 

We currently produce four new plays per year, often utilizing students in aspects of the production; thereby, giving students the opportunity to put into practice what they have learned while working side by side with established professionals in the community as well as enriching the collaborative creative process of the playwright.

Our Mandate: 

• Bring the Playwright's vision to life.
• Grow as artists.
• Develop new theater artist: Actors, Directors, Designers, & Stage Managers.
• Build a core of artists who desire a life-long practice of theatrical artistry.