THEATRE LAB Launches at Firehouse Theatre Project, Richmond

Firehouse Theatre Project, voted Richmond's Best Theatre by Richmond Magazine in 2011, is now the home of a new project: THE THEATRE LAB.

The Theatre Lab at Firehouse Theatre Project has created a diverse ensemble of young theatre artists who will function as part of the creative team for the theatre with additional focuses in performance, production, education and community outreach. This is an effort to get dynamic theatre professionals together to bring something fresh and exciting to the entire theatre community of Richmond, Virginia.

"I am thrilled to have this infusion of young talent for the Firehouse Theatre, creating a buzz and excitement reminiscent of our early days. This group of dedicated theatre artists will ensure that all we have accomplished during the past 20 years will continue forward in a new and vigorous light. The Firehouse's reputation for producing relevant and thought-provoking theatre in Richmond, Va., continues to define the company's legacy as the Hottest Ticket in Town!" said Carol Piersol, the Firehouse Theatre Project Artistic Director.

"The Theatre Lab was created in an act of frustration… at the age of 23, after years of schooling and internships and working for free for a resume-boost, and thousands of dollars into my education, I realized that there were absolutely no jobs for someone like me: a passionate, young professional, dying to work in the world of theatre" said Deejay Gray, Creator of THE THEATRE LAB. "This is a solution. Not just for me, but for other young theatre artists in Richmond, VA. Richmond, VA is a really exciting place to be working in theatre right now. To me, it seems like we have an arts community that is growing and finding itself in the year 2012, ready for something exciting to come along. Creating an innovative, ensemble-based company that is half production assistance for the theatre and half performance opportunities for our members is exactly what is needed. For the needs of our theatre, we have chosen to form a troupe of 1 5 theatre artists of varying talents, aged 15 to 30, who will provide Firehouse with solutions to problems that plague theatres everywhere. I really believe in the The Theatre Lab and I think it fits the Firehouse Theatre Project mission statement perfectly. New American Work in the theatre is very important, but there is a new generation of theatre artists who have vision, passion and talent and are ready to work hard for what they love. We are New American Theatre Artists and we need a place to play, too."

Website: http://www.firehousetheatre.org/?page_id=1311