Investigating solo performance, new musical theater, and plays written for specific communities.

The 1997 Lab featured solo performance, musical pieces, and scripts in development, collaborating with PS 122, New Dramatists and the National Black Theater. In a tri-part Lab, the directors chose to investigate new developments happening among young artists in the field - the growing influence of solo performance, new forms in musical theater, and plays written for specific communities. In addition to seven plays explored in reading format during the Lab, four new works including one musical were rehearsed for a month, and given a week of performances in spaces near to Lincoln Center Theater. Julie Taymor and her two Lab Director assistants brought a scene from her new musical THE LION KING, coming into New York from out-of-town previews into the Lab for discussion and presentation. The Lab began to explore establishing outposts in other cities. Twelve directors presented plays at the American Living Room Festival at HERE.