HMRC Receives Theater LaB Houston’s Archives
By Abra Schnur, Processing Archivist
Theater LaB Houston opened its doors in 1993 in the historical First Ward district. Founder Gerald LaBita envisioned the theater as a space that would produce and stage national and international contemporary plays, both dramas and comedies, as well as musicals. It specialized in “off-Broadway” theater and operated until 2018.
During the 1980s, while Gerald LaBita was the Director for Human Resources at Finger Furniture and an adjunct instructor at Houston Community College, he was also active in local theater, participating in acting, stage managing, directing, lighting, and set design. He enjoyed working in the theater so much that he decided to create this own theater space.
The building, located at 1706 Alamo Street, was originally a small neighborhood grocery own by LaBita’s parents. It was reimagined to be a modular space, allowing for the flexibility in stage design and interaction with the audience. During the theater’s development, LaBita established a board and business plan for the theater. Thus, “the LaB” was born. He traveled to other major cities searching for productions and guest artists he could bring to the LaB.
The LaB produced over 150 works and hosted three fringe festivals, a first of its kind in the city. The LaB also raised funds to create Thespian Park, which was located on the corner of Alamo and Colorado. This park featured murals depicting theater history designed by artist Rodolphe Zarka. In 2012 LaBita sold the building on Alamo and the LaB partnered with Obsidian Art Space, the MATCH, and the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center to finish out its 25-year run.
Archivist Abra Schnur and volunteer Claudia Cardenas processed the new collection in the fall of 2019. The collection includes material such as programs, mailers, reviews, and production photos from some of the 150+ productions. Included are original set design renderings and photos of stages created by Boris Kaplun, and a wonderful collection of needlepoint ornaments created for many of the productions by patron Kathleen Gay Peeples. The collection also contains promo video clips of their later productions and a series of video montages from their building closing celebration in 2012.
Additionally, there are several playbills and programs from performances that inspired local productions at the LaB. There are architectural drawings and photographs of the building and renovation of 1706 Alamo Street and information on the creation of Thespian Park. Also donated was the original signage for the theater.
Our finding aid for this collection is available online. We have plenty of information about how to plan your visit to HMRC. If you'd like more information, you can contact us via email at: [email protected].
Citations:
Pictures feature archival materials from the Theater LaB Houston collection (RG E 0100), and appear courtesy of HMRC.
By Abra Schnur, Processing Archivist
Theater LaB Houston opened its doors in 1993 in the historical First Ward district. Founder Gerald LaBita envisioned the theater as a space that would produce and stage national and international contemporary plays, both dramas and comedies, as well as musicals. It specialized in “off-Broadway” theater and operated until 2018.
During the 1980s, while Gerald LaBita was the Director for Human Resources at Finger Furniture and an adjunct instructor at Houston Community College, he was also active in local theater, participating in acting, stage managing, directing, lighting, and set design. He enjoyed working in the theater so much that he decided to create this own theater space.
The building, located at 1706 Alamo Street, was originally a small neighborhood grocery own by LaBita’s parents. It was reimagined to be a modular space, allowing for the flexibility in stage design and interaction with the audience. During the theater’s development, LaBita established a board and business plan for the theater. Thus, “the LaB” was born. He traveled to other major cities searching for productions and guest artists he could bring to the LaB.
The LaB produced over 150 works and hosted three fringe festivals, a first of its kind in the city. The LaB also raised funds to create Thespian Park, which was located on the corner of Alamo and Colorado. This park featured murals depicting theater history designed by artist Rodolphe Zarka. In 2012 LaBita sold the building on Alamo and the LaB partnered with Obsidian Art Space, the MATCH, and the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center to finish out its 25-year run.
Archivist Abra Schnur and volunteer Claudia Cardenas processed the new collection in the fall of 2019. The collection includes material such as programs, mailers, reviews, and production photos from some of the 150+ productions. Included are original set design renderings and photos of stages created by Boris Kaplun, and a wonderful collection of needlepoint ornaments created for many of the productions by patron Kathleen Gay Peeples. The collection also contains promo video clips of their later productions and a series of video montages from their building closing celebration in 2012.
Additionally, there are several playbills and programs from performances that inspired local productions at the LaB. There are architectural drawings and photographs of the building and renovation of 1706 Alamo Street and information on the creation of Thespian Park. Also donated was the original signage for the theater.
Our finding aid for this collection is available online. We have plenty of information about how to plan your visit to HMRC. If you'd like more information, you can contact us via email at: [email protected].
Citations:
Pictures feature archival materials from the Theater LaB Houston collection (RG E 0100), and appear courtesy of HMRC.
The Houston Press reviews Nashville Hurricane and raves…
“If this isn’t worth 75 minutes of your time than I don't know what is.”
read more at http://goo.gl/5DmaiH
“If this isn’t worth 75 minutes of your time than I don't know what is.”
read more at http://goo.gl/5DmaiH
Chase Padgett comes to Houston
NEW VIDEOS
NEW INTERVIEWS
Watch the new video as fans react to Nashville Hurricane
______________________
www.broadwayworld.com talks with Chase
about the show and his upcoming appearance in Houston...
...http://goo.gl/fLvJrk
about the show and his upcoming appearance in Houston...
...http://goo.gl/fLvJrk
______________________
Randall Jobe of the The Montrose Star chatted with Chase while he was on the Fringe circuit
earlier this month, Chase talks about how the show came to be...
earlier this month, Chase talks about how the show came to be...
R: What was the inspiration for “Nashville Hurricane?”
C: The inspiration came from reading Joseph Campbell’s “Hero of a 1000 Faces” about the idea of a hero’s journey. I hadn’t really seen a story about a guitar hero’s journey though so I thought I’d give it a shot with the music of Tommy Emmanuel to guide me.
R: Is the piece autobiographical?
C: There are some fragments of my life in the piece but it if largely fictional. I was not a guitar prodigy nor have I tried to make it in the music industry as a whole. However, certain aspects of the characters are definitely parts of my personality. Smokey Jones the manager in the story has a ruthless eye for perfection which I have in my most vulnerable times. Also, there is a theme of science and electricity throughout the show which culminates in a revelation monologue that sprang from an experience I had watching a sunrise.
R: In the video clip I saw it seems as if you were embodying multiple characters. Can you tell us something abut that process?
C: I’ve been doing multiple characters for years now. For me I try to capture elements I see in other people and blend them all together. That goes for viewpoints as well as vocal and physical mannerisms. For instance the trailer park mother character in the show is based of the women from a documentary called “The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia.” The old blues player I play is influenced by when I saw Buddy Guy and BB King in concert. I just sit back and try to recall that essence until it’s effortless.
R: Is your background more in music or acting?
C: It’s kind of equally both. I got a BA in Music from the University of Central Florida but while I was doing that I was taking improv classes and performing at Disney World and Universal Studios out of school. Eventually I became full time at the parks and that the Sak Comedy Lab in Orlando where I blended the acting and music into what I do today.
R: You’ve performed nationally and internationally. Is there anywhere where the audience doesn’t quite get the show?
C: Not really. As long as they speak English they will get it just fine. The show is designed for everyone to love from the avid theater attendee to the artistically uninvolved. Everybody walks away loving the music, characters and story.
R: Have you performed other solo pieces and are there more in the works?
C: Nashville Hurricane is my 2nd solo piece. My first one, 6 Guitars, I started doing in 2010 and I’ve performed that show about 3 times more than Nashville. It’s one of the most successful shows across the Canadian Fringe Festival Circuit in recent years. In 2013 it sold over 2900 tickets in the Winnipeg Fringe. The only other show that sold more was Nashville in 2014 with 3200 tickets. Most other shows are lucky to break 1000.
R: Do you enjoy touring?
C: I actually really do. I’ve loved traveling since I was a kid doing road trips with my family. I’ve gotten to see and do things all over North America that a stationary job wouldn’t have allowed for. It’s pretty awesome to hit up things like Niagara Falls in between gigs.
R: What is your LEAST favorite part of touring?
C: Being out on the road longer than 6-8 weeks becomes really tiring. You loose a sense of regularity and trying to eat well is kind of a nightmare.
R: Have you performed in Houston before?
C: I actually haven’t. I’m looking forward to it though.
R: It’s Texas, I have to ask. Are you a real cowboy?
C: Hahaha. No. Not even a little bit.
R: My readers are going to want to know, are you married?
C: I am not married but I do have a girlfriend named Stacey and she is just the best of the best.
C: The inspiration came from reading Joseph Campbell’s “Hero of a 1000 Faces” about the idea of a hero’s journey. I hadn’t really seen a story about a guitar hero’s journey though so I thought I’d give it a shot with the music of Tommy Emmanuel to guide me.
R: Is the piece autobiographical?
C: There are some fragments of my life in the piece but it if largely fictional. I was not a guitar prodigy nor have I tried to make it in the music industry as a whole. However, certain aspects of the characters are definitely parts of my personality. Smokey Jones the manager in the story has a ruthless eye for perfection which I have in my most vulnerable times. Also, there is a theme of science and electricity throughout the show which culminates in a revelation monologue that sprang from an experience I had watching a sunrise.
R: In the video clip I saw it seems as if you were embodying multiple characters. Can you tell us something abut that process?
C: I’ve been doing multiple characters for years now. For me I try to capture elements I see in other people and blend them all together. That goes for viewpoints as well as vocal and physical mannerisms. For instance the trailer park mother character in the show is based of the women from a documentary called “The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia.” The old blues player I play is influenced by when I saw Buddy Guy and BB King in concert. I just sit back and try to recall that essence until it’s effortless.
R: Is your background more in music or acting?
C: It’s kind of equally both. I got a BA in Music from the University of Central Florida but while I was doing that I was taking improv classes and performing at Disney World and Universal Studios out of school. Eventually I became full time at the parks and that the Sak Comedy Lab in Orlando where I blended the acting and music into what I do today.
R: You’ve performed nationally and internationally. Is there anywhere where the audience doesn’t quite get the show?
C: Not really. As long as they speak English they will get it just fine. The show is designed for everyone to love from the avid theater attendee to the artistically uninvolved. Everybody walks away loving the music, characters and story.
R: Have you performed other solo pieces and are there more in the works?
C: Nashville Hurricane is my 2nd solo piece. My first one, 6 Guitars, I started doing in 2010 and I’ve performed that show about 3 times more than Nashville. It’s one of the most successful shows across the Canadian Fringe Festival Circuit in recent years. In 2013 it sold over 2900 tickets in the Winnipeg Fringe. The only other show that sold more was Nashville in 2014 with 3200 tickets. Most other shows are lucky to break 1000.
R: Do you enjoy touring?
C: I actually really do. I’ve loved traveling since I was a kid doing road trips with my family. I’ve gotten to see and do things all over North America that a stationary job wouldn’t have allowed for. It’s pretty awesome to hit up things like Niagara Falls in between gigs.
R: What is your LEAST favorite part of touring?
C: Being out on the road longer than 6-8 weeks becomes really tiring. You loose a sense of regularity and trying to eat well is kind of a nightmare.
R: Have you performed in Houston before?
C: I actually haven’t. I’m looking forward to it though.
R: It’s Texas, I have to ask. Are you a real cowboy?
C: Hahaha. No. Not even a little bit.
R: My readers are going to want to know, are you married?
C: I am not married but I do have a girlfriend named Stacey and she is just the best of the best.