THEMES & THREADS
Themes & Threads: New Plays + Real Life
Theatre Lab’s newest series seeks to engage theatre-goers, area professionals, and anyone interested in a deeper exploration into the new work being presented onstage. Helmed by Director of Education & Outreach, Jill Carr, the series offers lectures, workshops, discussions, and activities adjacent to the themes & topics explored in MainStage productions.
Bites & Insights: Playwright’s Edition
Saturday, 4/18, 11am-1:30pm
Tickets: $30 (includes catered lunch buffet)
Join us for a lunch and interactive discussion with the creators of the MainStage productions at the 2026 Owl New Play Festival! This moderated discussion with Joanna Castle Miller, Deborah Zoe Laufer, and Daniel Green will cover topics such as their creative process, the inspiration behind the plays, and process of moving new work from page to stage.
Two fascinating events with guest lecturer, David Armstrong, author of the new book, Broadway Nation — How Immigrant, Jewish, Queer and Black Artists Invented The Broadway Musical
David Armstrong is the writer, producer, and host of the popular podcast Broadway Nation. With over 180 episodes to date, this musical theater history podcast has been heard by nearly 300,000 people worldwide. During his 40-year career in the professional theater, Armstrong has worked as a director, producer, playwright, and choreographer at leading theatre companies across America as well as on and off-Broadway. He is best known for his work at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, where from 2000 to 2018 he served as the Artistic Director and during his tenure, produced 19 new musicals, nine of which subsequently moved to Broadway, including Disney’s Aladdin, A Christmas Story—The Musical, and the Tony Award-winning “Best Musicals” Hairspray and Memphis.
“No One Else’s Story; Story Structure & the Stage”
A lecture/workshop
Saturday, 4/25, 10am-12pm
Tickets: $25
This two-hour interactive seminar focuses on writing for Musical Theatre and is designed for playwrights, composers, lyricists, directors, dramaturgs, producers, choreographers, performers and anyone else who dreams of being involved in the creation of a new musical. Synthesizing the work of multiple experts in the field and drawing on his extensive experience in new work development, Armstrong provides participants with concepts and guidance that will help them assess and evaluate the structure of the story they are working on and practical tools to guide them in retooling and reshaping it for maximum impact.
“Why Musicals Matter”
Saturday, 4/25, 12:30pm-1:30pm
Tickets: $15
Since its emergence on Broadway more than 125 years ago, the Musical, America’s signature art form, has played an important role in reflecting, defining, and shaping America’s culture and view of itself. This hour-long lecture will explore how great American artists from George M. Cohan to Lin-Manuel Miranda have helped to forge our national identity through their work as well as the vital importance of the cultivation, development, and production of new musicals.