Ars Nova Sets 2016 Lineup

2016 at Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Renee Blinkwolt, Managing Director) will include two Off-Broadway productions: the world premiere of The Wildness, Sky-Pony's Rock Fairy Tale directed by Tony-nominee Sam Buntrock, written by and featuring Brooklyn-based band Sky-Pony, fronted by Lauren Worsham (Drama Desk Award winner and Tony nominee) with songs penned by Kyle Jarrow (Obie Award winner) and presented in collaboration with The Play Company; and the New York premiere of Underground Railroad Game created and performed by Jennifer Kidwell and Scott Sheppard in association with Lightning Rod Special; SHOWGASM XXL, a one-night-only 'gasm so big it won't fit in the Ars Nova building, hosted by John Early and featuring Ars Nova All Stars as well as celebrity guests to be announced; and ANT Fest, a new adventure every night with the next wave of Ars Nova's breakthrough artists during four nonstop weeks of wild comedy, music and theater mash-ups.

Additionally, Ars Nova will continue its support of theater, comedy and music artists in the early stages of their professional careers through its wide array of unique development programs. Recognizing the critical need for performance as part of the development process, Ars Nova's programs bring smart, surprising new work to the stage all year long, with concerts, readings, variety shows, workshops and special events. Each year, Ars Nova provides audiences over a hundred opportunities to catch something extraordinary and remains committed to making art accessible to the next generation by offering regular price tickets from just $5-$35 all year long.

Ticket packages to 2016 at Ars Nova, as part of the Mighty Nova Membership program, are now on sale and start at $80. Mighty Novas get tickets to everything at Ars Nova, exclusive early booking, discounts at Bars Nova and more. More info: arsnovanyc.com.

Ars Nova Proudly Announces 2016:

The Wildness, Sky-Pony's Rock Fairy Tale: February 16 - March 19

A world premiere at Ars Nova

Presented in collaboration with The Play Company

Indie-pop band Sky-Pony's lush sound and cheeky style will surround and seduce you into a world of prophecies and forbidden temptations. Release your inner dragon on a raucous ride exploring faith, doubt and the wild space in between.

Directed by Tony-nominee Sam Buntrock.

Written by and featuring Brooklyn-based band Sky-Pony, fronted by Lauren Worsham (Drama Desk Award winner and Tony nominee) with songs penned by Kyle Jarrow (Obie Award winner),

SHOWGASM XXL: April 2016; venue to be announced

What is SHOWGASM XXL you ask? It's big Ars Nova Celebrity All Stars. It's big drinks. It's so big, it's breaking out of the Ars Nova building. It just might be everything you've ever wanted in a night out. Or more simply put, it's our monthly raucous variety show-meets-party on steroids. WARNING: Will lead to spontaneous singing, dancing and/or unexpected climax. Hosted by John Early, we're bringing you a 'Gasm like you've never had before.

ANT Fest 2016: June 6 - 30 at Ars Nova

Summer kicks off with Ars Nova's festival of All New Talent, ANT Fest. Featuring bold, hybrid performances from New York's next wave of adventurous emerging artists, ANT Fest is four non-stop weeks jam-packed with the wildest blend of theater, comedy, music, burlesque, magic, drag and everything in between.

ANT Fest 2016 is programmed through an open-submission process; applications will open January 5, 2016 and will be accepted through January 31, 2016. More info: arsnovanyc.com

Underground Railroad Game: Fall 2016

A New York premiere at Ars Nova

Created and Performed by Jennifer Kidwell and Scott Sheppard with Lighting Rod Special

Ars Nova discovered co-creators and performers Jennifer Kidwell and Scott Sheppard through an early incarnation of the taboo-smashing Underground Railroad Game in ANT Fest 2014. Ars Nova will present this fierce and fiercely funny new play about race in America in Fall 2016.

About Ars Nova:

Ars Nova is committed to developing and producing theater, comedy and music artists in the early stages of their professional careers. Our unique development programs are designed to support outside-the-box thinking and cross-pollination to encourage innovative work. Dubbed by The New York Times as a "fertile incubator of offbeat theater," Ars Nova blurs genres and subverts the status quo. With our feverish bounty of programming, we are the stomping ground and launching pad for visionary, adventurous artists of all stripes. By providing a safe environment where risk-taking and collaboration are paramount, Ars Nova gives voice to a new generation of artists and audiences, pushing the boundaries of live entertainment by nurturing creative ideas into smart, surprising new work.

Ars Nova was honored with a 2015 OBIE Award and a 2015 Special Citation from the New York Drama Critics' Circle for sustained quality and commitment to the development and production of new work. Notable past productions include: New York Times' Critics' Pick Futurity, by César Alvarez with The Lisps; the critically-acclaimed world premiere of Small Mouth Sounds by Bess Wohl; Time Out New York's "Best of 2014,"Jacuzzi by The Debate Society; Drama Desk nominated Charlatan by Vinny DePonto and Josh Koenigsberg; the award-winning smash-hit Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 by Dave Malloy (Lortel, Obie, and Richard Rodgers Awards; Off-Broadway transfer production); Jollyship the Whiz-Bang by Nick Jones and Raja Azar; the world premiere of the 2009 season's most-produced play boom by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb; Drama Desk and Outer Critic Circle nominated From Up Here by Liz Flahive; audience favorite Dixie's Tupperware Party by Kris Andersson; and star-makers At Least It's Pink by Bridget Everett and Kenny Mellman; and Freestyle Love Supreme by Anthony Veneziale and Lin-Manuel Miranda.