Neurodivergent Night of Laughs at Laugh Factory

In spring 2026, Spec Labs anticipates an exhilarating, live benefit comedy show to take place at the Hollywood Laugh Factory. This spectacle, which unfolds on the last Saturday of Autism Acceptance Month (April 25, 4:30 pm), perfectly encapsulates the organization's trajectory and the notable accomplishments of the past, super-charged 12 months. The upcoming benefit is not only the flag bearer for ten years of Spec Labs excellence, but also a chance for the public to support the ongoing mission of autistic representation.

More about Spectrum Laboratory in 2025

Spectrum Laboratory, the innovative performing and visual arts non-profit for early career artists on the autism spectrum, heads confidently into its 11th year! During its decade-long evolution, Spec Labs Studios has worked with many noteworthy autistic creatives, such as actor Domonique Brown (ATYPICAL), musical performer Abbey Romeo (Netflix’s LOVE ON THE SPECTRUM), and even hired Dani Bowman (LOVE ON THE SPECTRUM) for her first animation teaching job and employed her for six years. In 2025, Spec Labs opened a dedicated professional studio in Burbank, CA, facilitated multiple paid acting jobs for its Sandstone Artists-repped alums, maintained a large 2025 production slate, and earned entertainment industry accolades. While Spec Labs continues to celebrate its decennial anniversary, it simultaneously cues its annual fundraising campaign. The goal is to extend education and employment opportunities to larger numbers of neurodivergent artists in Hollywood and beyond.

Since its inception, Spectrum Laboratory has served as a haven for imaginative neurodiverse individuals to explore their passions and dreams in the arts. The past year was sprinkled with achievements, including these:

- In summer 2025, the for-hire production studio/instructional program moved into a singular, dedicated Burbank brick-and-mortar space. The building is outfitted with high-tech recording capability, ample rehearsal space, and musical instruments aplenty.

- Spec Bands staged SPEC*CELLA, a three-day, Coachella-style music festival that electrified audiences at Kulak’s Woodshed in Hollywood and spotlighted an impressively tuneful lineup.

- SPEC-O-WEEN, a live, pre-Halloween variety show, boasted standing room only at the Barnsdall Theatre in Hollywood. The cast was comprised of fan favorite AMERICAN IDOL Season 21 contestant Adin Boyer and nearly 50 students who presented various musical and comedic acts.

- HOUSE OF MASKS, an original Spec Labs-produced, live-action horror short, made the film festival rounds. It garnered multiple honors, such as acceptance into the prestigious Museum of the Moving Image Marvels of Media event in New York City.

- FIGHTING WITH AUTISM: JORGE GUTIERREZ VISITS SPEC LABS, a mini-documentary created in conjunction with Autism in Entertainment, drew attention during San Diego Comic-Con Film Fest. Its exploration of parallels between famous director/animator Gutierrez and experiences of the Spectrum Laboratory community inspired many attendees.

In May, Spectrum Laboratory was elated to announce its strategic partnership with Sandstone Artists Management, a joint venture which manifested multiple actor bookings thus far, and thereby underscored affinities nurtured at Spec Labs. A cross section of Spec Labs standout students appear(ed) in the following projects:

- Domonique Brown (ATYPICAL) plays a sizable role in the movie musical that is to be Dakota Johnson’s feature directorial debut.

- Atticus Jackson (HOUSE OF MASKS) stars in THE PERFECT PALM, which took the Best Dark Comedy prize at the recent Culver City Film Festival.

- Atticus Baldwin (GOD’S GANG) and Chelsea Darnell (HOUSE OF MASKS) are new, on-camera brand ambassadors for FLUORA sensory friendly lamps.

- Tyler Berman (INHERITING WONDERLAND) is the official promotional voice of hit YouTube cartoon GOD’S GANG.

Co-founders and executive directors Garth Herberg and Jason Weissbrod reflect on a productive year. "As we immerse ourselves into our new physical space for the pro studio and commemorate our 10-year anniversary, we remember that this pursuit is about more than just milestones. It's about encouraging each student to shine and share his/her/their unique voices with the world. Here's to more laughter, more opportunities, and an even brighter future for all of our talented artistes!" 

The new 2026 instructional offerings - including the debut professional development (i.e., entertainment industry career readiness) courses and mentorship, plus several new live performance classes across four disciplines: acting, music, voiceover, and filmmaking - are accessible on the renovated website: https://www.speclabs.org/ The 2025 Spec Labs video highlights reel is viewable there, as well.

Please donate to the Spectrum Laboratory fundraiser on GiveLively.com: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/spec-labs/celebrating-10-years-of-neurodivergent-artists-at-spectrum-laboratory