Park Square Lab Series

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2025 - 2026 Application Now Live! (Due September 15, 2025)

The Park Square LAB Series provides Minnesota-based theater artists, companies, and early to mid-career creators the opportunity to stage their work at Park Square Theatre — without the barrier of rental fees. The LAB series program offers theatre makers of all backgrounds the opportunity to take artistic risks. Whether artists choose to develop ambitious new work, restage and/or reimagine a previous production, or perhaps a bit of both, Park Square aims to provide the space and encouragement for artists to flourish. This initiative reflects Park Square Theatre’s ongoing commitment to cultivating a vibrant, dynamic arts ecosystem in the heart of Downtown St. Paul.

Information about the LAB Series Program

What is the LAB Series?

There are FOUR LAB Artist slots available for the 25/26 season. Artists will create a 45-50 minute piece, selected through an application process. Artists will create and rehearse their piece off-site until the week of their performance, where rehearsal space will be provided at Park Square at no cost. LAB artists will perform as part of a double-featured performance for a 3-show run.

Performance structure:

LAB Series will feature TWO artists each weekend:

  • Week 1: Artist/Company 1 - Intermission - Artist/Company 2

  • Week 2: Artist/Company 3 - Intermission - Artist/Company 4

Theater Location: Andy Boss Theater

All performances will be held in the Andy Boss Theater. This theater has a thrust stage with a 200-seat house. If selected for the LAB Series, tours of the space may be granted upon request.

When will performances take place?

  • Performance Week 1: March 20-22, 2026

  • Performance Week 2: March 27-29, 2026

Who should apply to this program?

Come one, come all! We will consider applications from theatre makers of all experience levels. With that in mind, the applicant must be able to demonstrate an ability to produce a 45-50-minute performance that is structured and appropriate for public presentation.

Program Process and Support

What support will LAB Artists receive from Park Square?

  • Free rehearsal and performance space for 1 week.
  • All Front-of-House staffing and event tickets will be sold and monitored through Park Square Theatre.
  • Ticket sales will be split 3-ways each weekend between the two LAB artists and Park Square Theatre, minus the cost of technician labor and FOH support.
  • Performances will be included in all Park Square Theatre weekly marketing emails and posted to the PST website.
  • A contract to be signed, ensuring both Park Square Theatre and the LAB artists meet the terms and guidelines of the LAB Series program.

Park Square will provide:

  • Black stage
  • Basic black softgoods (Legs, backdrop)
  • Access to QLAB (Artists should bring a USB Drive with MP3 files of desired sound effects/cues
  • Basic light looks programmed from standard lighting plot (No hanging, No re-focusing)
  • Furniture from our props storage available for an additional fee.
  • A technician to program and run lights & sound (The LAB artist provides a call script/script for the technician.)
  • 3-4 hour Tech/Dress rehearsal to establish needs for each act.

Technical Guidelines:

  • No projections
  • No glitter, flame/fire, or smoke/fog
  • No painting of any theatre floors or surfaces
  • Your set needs to be able to be set up/struck within 10 minutes.
  • The LAB artist is responsible for the setup/teardown of scenic elements.

*Projects with minimal lighting needs are encouraged. The focus of this LAB Series is artistic development, not technical spectacle. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Artistic Support

It is our expectation LAB Series artists will develop a complete, audience-ready 45-50 minute show. To that end, the Director of the Park Square LAB Series will attend 1 or more rehearsals prior to public performances to provide feedback. It is not our intention to steer your work, but to offer a collaborative eye and support your efforts.

Park Square Theatre reserves the right to review content or language deemed unsafe, hateful, or inappropriate if there is not proper artistic merit backing its use in the performance.

What does Park Square expect of the artist?

  • $300 refundable deposit upon acceptance into the program. (Please reach out if this is a barrier to your application.) (The deposit will be held in the case of a cancellation from the artist or artistic team.)
  • Artists will produce a cohesive 45-50 minute performance piece that is audience-ready.
  • Artists must meet all deadlines and answer all communication in a timely manner (24-48 hours). (Artists will attend monthly check-ins (In-person or Virtually) with the Director of the Park Square LAB Series, Greta Erickson, erickson@parksquaretheatre.org)
  • Flexibility with Park Square staff as we pilot this program!
  • Artists will support all marketing efforts through their own audience development.
  • Treat the space with respect: keep it clean and safe for others.
  • Artists must purchase a Certificate of Liability for the weekend of performances (PST staff can help in this process)

Application

Artist Experience

Tell us about yourself! Provide details about your artistic experience, previous shows and productions, and self-producing history. If available, please provide a resume.

Proposal

  • What is your idea/dream/project/show? What is the size and scope of the project (i.e., cast size)?

  • Why do you want to produce this project now?

  • If this is something you’ve previously worked on, how do you want to expand or develop your work through the Lab Series?
  • How do you want to grow as an artist from this experience?
  • If you seek to create a new work, we do not expect completed scripts or fully fleshed plans, but provide some proof of concept.

Tell Us About Your Team

  • Who will collaborate with you on this project? The Lab Series requires 2 contacts: Artistic Lead and a Stage Manager (these roles could be 1-person).
  • Do you have an administrative team? Do you have an artistic team?

Work Samples

  • Please provide any photos, videos, websites, social media, written work, etc.

Please send your application responses to Greta Erickson, Director of the Park Square Theatre Lab Series.

erickson@parksquaretheatre.org with subject “Application: PST LAB Series”

Reach out if you have any questions about the application process, performance schedule, etc..

Deadline to apply is September 15, 2025, at 4:00 PM

Applicants will be notified by September 19, 2025, at 4:00 PM

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