The Lacheys conceived Label•less while teaching at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, Ohio. As part of a class exercise, students anonymously shared their struggles with racism, homophobia, depression, bullying, and more, and the couple was inspired to use theatre to provide hope and awareness. Some current cast members, like Micah Day, were students of the Lacheys in Cincinnati, helping Label•less evolve since its earliest days.

As a nod to the show's origins, handwritten notes are projected onto the floor of the stage as audiences arrive, offering a peek at the stories they'll expect to hear. It feels almost intrusive, like reading someone's diary — but that's part of what makes the show so open and vulnerable. The show changes as its cast does, incorporating the actors' own experiences and stories, so this iteration of Label•less is unique from every other.

If you want to see a show full of fresh, young talent, Label•less is the place to do it, as the entire cast is under 30. Nearly half the performers are making their Off-Broadway debuts with the show's 2026 run, while 10 others return from Label•less's first Off-Broadway run.

Some of the performers — like Diana Hutchinson and Iz Lachey, Drew and Lea's daughter — are still in college! How awesome is it to say you made your professional theatre debut before you even graduated?

You won't hear any 98 Degrees hits in Label•less, but some of the tunes will have you feeling early-aughts nostalgia. The Black Eyed Peas' Where Is the Love, Andra Day's Rise Up, and Lady Gaga's Born This Way are among the instantly recognizable needle-drops, incorporated to further the show's message of acceptance as you groove along.

The rest of the songs are original and have a similar '00s and '10s pop flair. If you love listening to Glee covers of pop hits, you'll likely enjoy the music of Label•less, which has a similar sound and vibe as performed by the young cast. The whole cast sings, and Micah Day also plays live guitar.

In 1974, Michael Bennett co-hosted a group interview session with Broadway dancers to share their personal and professional experiences. A year later, their testimonies became the basis for the book and score of a seminal 20th-century musical: the Tony- and Pulitzer-winning A Chorus Line. Some participants even performed in the original production.

Does that sound familiar? The genesis of the A Chorus Line isn't all that unlike that of Label•less, which similarly allows the cast to be an active part of the creative process. Dressed in all black on a mostly bare stage, the Label•less cast have a similar vibe as A Chorus Line's auditioners — but instead of competing with each other, the Label•less performers are uplifting each other.

"Some might see this chair as a limitation, but this chair is my freedom. An extension of my body," says Kaylee Bays, a Label•less performer who uses a wheelchair. "It opens the world to me. It allows me to dance, go on adventures, find love, live my life."

She goes on to prove that in a thrilling dance sequence, performed with the able-bodied Kendall Maley. Bays spins on one wheel, lifts Maley atop her chair, and moves perfectly in sync alongside her throughout the routine, performed to the original song "You Are Seen."

The routine is a highlight of Label•less. The kid gloves come off with Lea Lachey's choreography, which doesn't feel simple or safe. It pushes the boundaries of what we might think Bays and the company are capable of, challenging us even as we marvel at the performers. Words aren't necessary to show that strength, athleticism, and joy aren't one-label-fits-all.

Get Label•less tickets now.

Photo credit: Label•less off Broadway. (Photos by Angie Lipscomb)