Hecht excelled at The Lab and was accepted into its Auxiliary Acting Group, granting him the privilege of appearing in the school's produced plays, while remaining under Boleslavsky's teachings beyond the two years required to graduate. While attending The Lab, Hecht appeared in "The Straw Hat" (October–November 1926), "Big Lake" (April 1927, from a story by Rollie Lynn Riggs), "Much Ado About Nothing" (November–December 1927), "Dr. Knock" (February–March 1928), "Grand Street Follies" (May–October 1928, with dances staged by James Cagney) and "The Wild Duck" (November 1928 – January 1929).