Theatre Lab at FAU announces inaugural year of ‘Owl’ New Play Festival

Theatre Lab, the professional resident company of Florida Atlantic University, is pleased to announce the inaugural year of the “Owl” New Play Festival, presented in partnership with the FAU Department of Theatre and Dance. All events will take place at FAU’s Boca Raton campus, 777 Glades Road. Individual tickets and packages are available at www.fauevents.com or 561-297-6124.

“After 10 successful festivals since 2015, Theatre Lab is partnering with the Department of Theatre & Dance to take the annual New Play Festival to the next level,” shared Matt Stabile, producing artistic director of Theatre Lab. “What began as a weekend-long series of readings of new plays, will now become a three-week festival incorporating two full productions, “The Happiness Gym,” a non-traditional theatrical experience focused on improving well-being, and readings of even more new plays.”

The official start of the 2025 “Owl” New Play Festival will begin on Saturday, April 5, when Theatre Lab opens their world premiere production of “The Impossible Task of Today” by Jeff Bower, directed by Stabile. The Department of Theatre & Dance will open a fully realized workshop production of “The Frankenstein Project” by E.M. Lewis, directed by Margaret M. Ledford, artistic director of City Theatre Miami, on Friday, April 11.

The opening of the third “main event” of the festival, “The Happiness Gym,” a collaborative project produced in conjunction with Theatre Lab, the FAU Department of Theatre & Dance, and New Neighborhood Theater, will open on Saturday, April 12. Created by playwright Ken Weitzman in collaboration with New Neighborhood Theatre, “The Happiness Gym” is a non-traditional theater experience which combines scientific principles and theatrical imagination to introduce participants to elegantly simple exercises and experiences that are proven to boost happiness.

“This year’s inaugural festival features two very different plays which deal with remarkably similar themes and issues,” Stabile said. “Both plays focus on the difficulties of processing and moving through grief and how some of the new tools available, including social media and AI, can both assist and potentially destroy us. Ultimately, both remarkable stories remind us of the paramount importance of real human relationships and the power of hope, love and resilience. With two plays centered on technology and well-being, it was only natural to include an event conceived from scientifically proven methods to boost happiness and authentic human connection.”

In addition to these three main events, during the final two weekends of the festival (April 12-20), selected readings of new works will be offered, including the first public reading of the winner of the 2025 Fair Play Initiative, a commission and development program for LGBTQ+ plays and stories made possible with support from Our Fund Foundation. Readings are presented free-of-charge (donations encouraged) and will take place in The Marleen Forkas Studio One Theatre.

“With our 10th anniversary season, we wanted to make a splash and this was the natural next step in our growth as a new play center,” said Stabile. “Folks can come to Boca for a weekend in April and be fully immersed in the world of new plays. The goal is to continue to expand this annual event, establishing Theatre Lab and FAU as a premier national destination for new play development and production.”

Individual tickets range from $25 to $60 depending on date, event and seat selection, and are now on sale. A discounted “Main Events” Package, allowing purchasers to choose their dates and times for all three ticketed events, is available for $90.

For tickets or more information, visit www.fauevents.com or call 561-297-6124.