CO/LAB THEATER GROUP INC

CO_LAB (Creative Opportunities without Limits And Boundaries) Theater Group offers individuals with developmental disabilities a creative and social outlet through theater arts.

At CO_LAB, individuals with developmental disabilities don’t just participate in theater—they lead, create, and transform it. Our no-to-low-cost, judgment-free, neurodiverse, and accessible space allows artists with developmental and intellectual disabilities (I/DD) to form ensembles, hone performance skills, discover their unique voices, and shine as valued members of the New York City theater community.

CO_LAB is built on a simple but powerful belief: the arts should be accessible to everyone. As we embark on an exciting new chapter of growth and leadership, we invite you to invest in this vision and be part of the change.

Our History
Since our founding in 2011 by four graduates of Syracuse University's drama program, CO_LAB has grown from a single class of 13 actors into a thriving hub of theater classes, performances, workshops, leadership opportunities, and community events. Each year, we engage approximately 300 individuals with I/DD across the New York tri-state area. Over the past decade, CO_LAB has offered more than 100 free weekly classes, staged over 36 original productions, and employed teaching artists and administrators—many of whom also identify as Disabled. Most importantly, our actors drive our programming. Everything we do is shaped by their input, ensuring a truly inclusive, participant-driven experience.

What Makes CO_LAB Different?
Disability-centered spaces remain scarce in the theater industry. A 2019 NEA study revealed that only 4.32% of actors identify as Disabled, despite nearly 25% of Americans identifying with a disability. Traditional theater settings often exclude developmentally disabled individuals, discouraging them from pursuing the arts. We exist to change that.
CO_LAB is not just about access—it’s about leadership. Our actors are at the heart of everything we do, from performance creation to strategic decision-making. We don’t just offer a seat at the table; we build the table together. This philosophy—"Nothing about us, without us"—guides our work every day.

Our Work in Action
CO_LAB offers a dynamic range of programming designed to meet our actors where they are and support their artistic journeys:

CO_LAB Core provides free, accessible weekly theater classes, along with low-cost ($5-$10) one-off workshops and community events. Classes culminate in fully-produced, Off-Broadway performances of original work devised by our actors and produced in collaboration with a professional design team.

CO_LAB Connect brings our theater programming directly to schools, agencies, and community centers that serve individuals with I/DD. This eliminates travel barriers and ensures more people can participate. Programs are offered on a tiered pricing model for partner organizations and are free of charge to all participants.

CO_LAB Leaders provides experienced CO_LAB actors with paid opportunities to develop leadership, vocational, and mentorship skills. Leaders receive training from CO_LAB staff and external experts, mentor classes, represent CO_LAB at community events, network with other Disabled theater professionals, co-facilitate our professional development workshop Sharing the Stage, and help shape the future of our organization through participating in strategic planning and collaborative hiring processes. Recently, Leaders played an integral role in the hiring of our new Executive Director.

Through our Encore program, CO_LAB partners with Off-Broadway theaters to provide workshops and show outings for our participants. This year, we deepened our partnership with New York City Center, through which our Leaders collaborated on visual guides for productions like Ragtime; CO_LAB actors also enjoyed workshops and Q&As with NYCC Teaching Artists and cast members. We also organized community outings to productions of Pal Joey and Once Upon a Mattress, further expanding opportunities for our participants to engage with other professional theater companies.