A laboratory for research and development, the Live Arts Brewery (LAB) supports artistic research, experimentation, and exploration of contemporary theater, dance, and cross-genre live performance work. The LAB provides artists with a state-of-the-art theater facility at the Live Arts Studio, a 2,400-square-foot space housed in a former brewery adjacent to the Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe administrative offices in Northern Liberties. The studio includes a black box theater equipped with professional sound equipment and a lighting grid.

With generous support from the Independence Foundation, Live Arts will soon convert another portion of our building into studio space. A 4,000 square-foot space will be renovated in October 2010 to house an additional studio dedicated to research and development activity. Our theater space will continue to be used for various LAB activities such as research + development, rehearsals, showings and live performances as well as for a new initiative meant to support artists with Production Residencies.

The LAB further expands and enhances the Festival's mission to support the development of new work by selected artists and provides the organization with a year-round presence in the cultural landscape of Philadelphia.

The LAB operates under the leadership of Craig T. Peterson, who was appointed as the program's inaugural Director. As such, Craig manages the daily administration of the LAB as well as overseeing the planning and production of the Second Thursdays Series.

Craig comes to the Festival after a decade of success at New York City's Dance Theater Workshop, where he managed the Artist-in-Residence program for several years before joining the Production staff as Senior Producer and Artistic Director. He has served on numerous panels for international arts funding institutions, consulted with various arts and social service organizations as a program site assessor and lecturer, and traveled extensively to identify emerging talent and connect with artists and arts organizations worldwide.

As the inaugural Director of the LAB, Craig leverages his experience, vision, and passion for artistic cultivation as he continues to develop innovative programs to further expand the LAB.

Workshops, lectures, master classes, and work-in-progress showings are central to the ongoing programming at the LAB. Guest artists as well as many of the 2009/2010 LAB Fellows have already presented works-in-progress to the public through the LAB's Second Thursdays Series, which offers free, casual, intimate monthly events. For more information, including dates and upcoming featured artists, visit the Second Thursdays Series page here. The Second Thursdays Series runs from October through July.

The inaugural 2009-10 LAB Fellows

• Nichole Canuso (TAKES, 2010; The A.W.A.R.D. Show!, 2009; Wandering Alice, 2008
• Geoff Sobelle and Charlotte Ford (CHICKEN, 2010; Flesh and Blood and Fish and Fowl, 2008)
• The Lucidity Suitcase Intercontinental/Thaddeus Phillips (¡EL CONQUISTADOR!, 2010; THE MeLTING BRiDgE, 2008)
• Subcircle (Still Unknown, 2007)
• Kathryn Tebordo/Workshop for Potential Movement (The A.W.A.R.D. Show!, 2009)

The 2010-11 LAB Fellows

• Greg Holt
• Adrienne Mackey
• Megan Mazarick
• Mary McCool
• Jumatatu Poe
• Alex Torra

Up to five artists are selected annually to engage in a nine-month residency Fellowship (October 1 - June 30), during which the artists may develop new works, interact and collaborate with fellow artists, and engage in critical dialogue and thought about new ideas in contemporary live performance. Each LAB Fellow is given use of the studio space for a minimum of six weeks time during their Fellowship year. In addition, a curriculum designed to underscore artistic creative processes is explored, including organized peer meetings/discussions (with other Fellows), work-in-progress showings, critiques by visiting artists, at least one presentation in the Live Arts Second Thursday Series, and other programming TBD. LAB Fellows engage in ongoing activities that encourage them to share in their process of creation. An open mind and a willingness to share with others is essential.

In addition to free studio time and the ongoing curriculum, LAB Fellows receive a stipend of $5000.

A LAB Fellowship is entirely dedicated to research, process, and development. There is no expectation of a final performance or production outside of informal showings as part of the Fellowship curriculum. Artists are expected to partake in all of the curriculum activities which will generally include a meeting or workshop once a month.

The current schedule is as follows:
10/15/2010 10am-2pm: Orientation Meeting
11/12/2010 10am-2pm: Meeting/Workshop
12/10/2010 10am-5pm: Work-in-Progress Showing and Critique
1/14/2011 10am-2pm: Meeting/Workshop
2/11/2011 10am-2pm: Meeting/Workshop
3/11/2011 10am-5pm: Work-in-Progress Showing and Critique
4/15/2011 10am-2pm: Meeting/Workshop
5/13/2011 10am-2pm: Meeting/Workshop
6/10/2011 10am-5pm: Final Showing/Critique

The LAB will launch this new initiative in the 2010-11 season. Two artists will be selected to use the Live Arts Theater for several weeks of production rehearsals during which they can fully explore the nuances of the later stages of the development of work such as lighting, sound, projection and staging. Often, live performance is still being staged and made until the curtain goes up. Usually lighting and technical issues are sorted out in a few short days during a tech week. Production Residencies are meant to allow an artist to work out the technical issues of a piece - and to fully explore and expand upon them - prior to the week of their show's opening.

Production Residencies are by invitation only.