The Theater Lab

The Theater Lab is a community theater program that involves live theater and performing arts through cast, crew, production staff, marketing, front-of-house staff, and audience participation. Members take part in community theater productions and receive hands-on behind-the-scenes learning in areas such as crew work, production support, and front-of-house roles. The Theater Lab produces two theatrical events per year, with past productions including “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Macbeth,” “All in the Timing,” “Lysistrata,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Steel Magnolias,” “The Really Most Sincerely Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “The Machine Stops,” “Our Town,” “You Can’t Take it With You,” “A Christmas Carol II: The Present Strikes Back,” “Warden of the Mint,” “Inherit the Wind,” “The Crucible,” “Fools,” “Leaving Iowa,” and scheduled future productions of “Romeo & Juliet” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The Theater Lab is always seeking new members to join and build a community of people involved in the creative process of live theater and performing arts.

• Ages: 13–18 years old
• Schedule: All performances, rehearsals and meetings are held at the Forest View Educational Center; The Theater Lab produces two theatrical events per year.
• Price: Membership dues are $40 a year.

The Theater Lab is D214 Community Education’s own community theater and is open to anyone age 13 and up regardless of experience, including novices, amateurs, professionals, high school students, college students, seniors, retirees, singles, moms and dads. Members set their own level of time commitment and are encouraged to be involved as much as they are able in whatever way is most comfortable, including cast participation, crew participation, production staff participation, marketing, front-of-house staff, and audience participation. Membership includes invitations to special members-only events, access to industry professionals, special members-only discounts from D214 Community Education, a member comp ticket for performances, and hands-on behind-the-scenes learning. The Theater Lab’s mission statement is: “The Theater Lab is a hub around which the community can collaborate to bring passionate theater to life.”

District 214 Community Education started in 1947 and has had over 75 years of experience, and it is one of the longest running public high school community education programs in the state of Illinois. District 214 Community Education offers youth and adult enrichment programs and continuing education classes and brings these programs to residents of Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Wheeling, and beyond. District 214 Community Education partners with other organizations and businesses throughout the area to provide programming, including Vintages Wine Shop and Tuscan Market and Wine Shop. District 214 Community Education’s mission is to provide residents of all ages with meaningful experiences, exceptional enrichment programming and personal enjoyment to create memorable and impactful opportunities for lifelong learning.

Last updated May 24, 2026.