Promotional photo by Manny Zaldivar. Actors pictured (center, then clockwise from bottom left): Pryscila Cassiano Salinas, Randall Swinton, Heather Simsay, Dayana Morales, Casey Sacco and Brendan Feingold.

Theatre Lab, the professional resident company of Florida Atlantic University’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, announced its 2025–26 season, marking the start of its second decade of programming. The season includes the continuation of the company’s educational outreach initiative, The Future PAGES Project.

The season opens with a Heckscher Theatre for Families production – the world premiere of “Heebie Jeebies: Tales from the Midnight Campfire” by local playwright and educator Gina Montét. Commissioned specifically for Theatre Lab, the play reimagines spooky stories from classic literature for modern audiences. Tickets are $25 for adults, and each adult ticket includes up to two free student tickets. Additional student tickets are $5 each. Tickets and season subscriptions are available at fauevents.com or by calling 561-297-6124.

“These family productions are meant to entertain and engage the imaginations of audience members of all ages, and they’re some of my favorites of our past productions,” said Matt Stabile, producing artistic director at Theatre Lab. “Heebie Jeebies is a hilarious evening of thrills and mild chills — the perfect family outing for fans of “Goosebumps” and “The Twilight Zone.” It will also inspire thousands of students across South Florida to create and share original stories of their own.”

Pre-show events will be held one hour before the performances. Activities include free creative writing workshops for students in grades 4–12 on Saturdays at 2 p.m.; “S’mores Saturdays” with free s’mores on the patio at 6 p.m.; and “Crafty Sundays” at 2 p.m. with arts and crafts on the patio.

The production also serves as the centerpiece of The Future PAGES Project, which offers free in-school creative writing workshops and field trips for students in grades 4–12 across Palm Beach and Broward counties. Since its launch in 2015, the program has served more than 12,000 students at no cost.

“Our program starts with a visit to partner schools, where we provide a writing workshop to help students identify and utilize the parts of a story,” said Jill Carr, Theatre Lab’s director of education and community outreach. “This year’s theme is ‘Nothing to Fear,’ and we’re excited to read the dynamic and surprising stories the show and program will inspire.”

Heckscher Theatre for Families Production

Heebie Jeebies: Tales from the Midnight Campfire
By Gina Montét
World premiere and Heckscher Theatre for Families commission
Directed by Matt Stabile

Charlie hates summer camp. After plotting her escape and sneaking out of her cabin one night, she stumbles upon a group of campers deep in the woods. They promise to help her get home, but only if she agrees to spend the night listening to their spooky campfire stories. Will Charlie survive the night — and their haunting tales?

Local playwright and educator Gina Montét returns to Theatre Lab with her newest show, commissioned specifically for the annual Heckscher Theatre for Families production. Inspired by classic spooky stories updated for modern times, “Heebie Jeebies” is billed as “a hilarious evening of thrills and mild chills” and is recommended for fans of “Goosebumps” and “The Twilight Zone.”

Dates: Sept. 20–Oct. 12

Performances: Saturdays at 3 and 7 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m.
Field trip performances: Wednesdays through Fridays at 10:30 a.m. (for partner schools and organizations)

Pre-show events:

• Saturdays at 2 p.m.: Free creative writing workshops for students in grades 4–12
• Saturdays at 6 p.m.: “S’mores Saturdays” with free s’mores on the patio
• Sundays at 2 p.m.: “Crafty Sundays” with arts and crafts on the patio

All performances take place at the Heckscher Stage in Parliament Hall, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus.

For more information about Theatre Lab, visit fau.edu/theatrelab .

-FAU-