Theatre Lab at Florida Atlantic University is starting its second decade of new work programming with the world premiere of “Heebie Jeebies: Tales from the Midnight Campfire.” The play, written by local playwright and educator Gina Montét, was commissioned specifically for Theatre Lab and adapts classic spooky stories for contemporary audiences.
The production is part of the Heckscher Theatre for Families series. Tickets are $25 for adults, which includes up to two free student tickets; additional student tickets are $5 each. Tickets and season subscriptions can be purchased at fauevents.com or by phone.
“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 activities begin one hour before performances. On Saturdays at 2 p.m., there are free creative writing workshops for students in grades 4–12. At 6 p.m., “S’mores Saturdays” offers free s’mores on the patio, while Sundays at 2 p.m. feature arts and crafts during “Crafty Sundays.”
“Heebie Jeebies: Tales from the Midnight Campfire” also serves as the main event for The Future PAGES Project, which provides free in-school creative writing workshops and field trips for students in grades 4–12 throughout Palm Beach and Broward counties. Since its start in 2015, this initiative has reached more than 12,000 students without charge.
“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.”
The play follows Charlie, who dislikes summer camp but finds herself among campers telling spooky stories after sneaking out one night.
Performances run from September 20 through October 12 on Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m., with field trip performances available Wednesdays through Fridays at 10:30 a.m. All shows take place at Heckscher Stage in Parliament Hall on FAU’s Boca Raton campus.
More information about Theatre Lab can be found at https://www.fau.edu/theatrelab/.
