THE CROSS & THE SABER World Premiere to Open at LAB Theater Project
Playwright Wendy Graf's darkly comic work runs at LAB Theater Project in Tampa, FL.
As America marks its 250th birthday, LAB Theater Project invites audiences to look beyond the fireworks and into a possible future with the world premiere of The Cross & The Saber, a bold new play by award-winning playwright Wendy Graf.
Opening July 2 and running through July 19, The Cross & The Saber presents a darkly comic and unsettling vision of a near-future America where security, conformity, and obedience have become the cornerstones of society. Through sharp satire, unexpected humor, and deeply human characters, Graf challenges audiences to consider what happens when freedom becomes something people remember rather than something they actively defend.
Timed to coincide with the nation's semiquincentennial celebration, the production asks a timely question: What does “We the People” mean in the America of tomorrow?
“One of the most powerful phrases in our nation is 'We the People,'” said LAB Theater Project Founder and Director Owen Robertson. “Theater is often called upon to hold a mirror up to society, and that's exactly what Wendy Graf's play does. The image audiences see may not be what they expect—or it may be far more familiar than they'd like to admit. Either way, it's a conversation worth having.”While the play explores serious themes, Robertson emphasizes that audiences should not expect a bleak dystopian drama.“What attracted me to this script is that it isn't filled with doom and gloom,” Robertson said. “It's filled with absurdities that make us laugh and then question why we're laughing instead of crying. That's Wendy Graf's brilliance.”
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