Looking to the past, the Lab explores how artists have banded together to create something new.

This year the Lab explored the ways that young theater artists make the theater change. We posed the question: is it possible that theater has evolved not by new artists fitting into existing structures, but by themselves creating new structures in which to make theater? As a Lab, we have always looked both to the present and the past. This year was no exception, as we combined a thoughtful look at where we are today, with time spent seeing how artists in our theater tradition have created something new.

This year's Lab was designed to address a contemporary topic by offering historical perspective. While the 98 participants (66 directors, 12 writers, 10 actors, 10 designers) eventually discussed their careers as emerging artists trying to gain a professional foothold in their early careers, the first two weeks were filled with explorations of the work and techniques of an array of theater visionaries. They included:
* Joan Littlewood's Theater Union and Theater Workshop
* Companie des Quinze - Michel Saint Denis
* Negro Ensemble Company
* Eva le Gallienne Civic Repertory Theater and The Apprentice Group
* Hedgerow Theater
* Jacques LeCoq's International Theater School
* Steppenwolf Theater
* Federal Theater Project
* Group Theater
* Yiddish Theater Companies
* MAT
* Joint Stock
* Peter Brook's International Center of Theatre Research
* Herbert Blau's SF Actor's Workshop

For the final week, the directors collaborated on pieces by creating their own work models rather than emulating a style of one of the historical theaters.