Ars Nova Presents ANT Fest 2013 in June

Ars Nova has announced the lineup for its 6th Annual ANT Fest. This year's festival of All New Talent runs from June 3 - 29, featuring fresh new work from some of New York's most exciting emerging artists. From trapeze thrillers to hip-hop basketball musicals, 2013's ANT Fest heats up Ars Nova this summer with four weeks of comedy, music, theater and a fusion of all three you won't see anywhere else. For ANT Fest 2013, Ars Nova welcomes NBC as a sponsor. The network joins longtime sponsors Two Boots Pizza and Brooklyn Brewery and will be sponsoring this year's Fest as part of its ongoing commitment to inclusion in the arts.

"NBC is proud to support Ars Nova ANT Fest to recognize and encourage emerging writers, directors and performers," said Kendra Carter, Director of Talent Diversity Initiatives, NBC Entertainment, "We look forward to discovering new voices and unique talent of diverse backgrounds."
Ars Nova Artistic Director Jason Eagan added, "We're thrilled by this new sponsorship! NBC's commitment to discovering diverse talent is remarkable and terrifically in line with Ars Nova's efforts to create more opportunities for our artist community."

Bringing the widest and wildest variety of talented artists under one roof, this year's ANT Fest is the biggest one yet. In addition to more than two dozen one-night-only performances of new works (all at 7pm), this year's Fest includes late night programming three nights a week as well as the brand new ANT Fest Lounge. On Wednesdays & Fridays at 9pm, the 54/10 Concert Series, brings dynamic sounds from bands on the brink to Ars Nova. On Thursdays at 9pm, ANT Fest editions of New York's favorite variety show Showgasm takes the stage, showcasing more of this year's Fest participants alongside Ars Nova's consistent lineup of fresh comedy, music and variety acts. This year, the all-new ANT Fest Lounge invites audiences and artists to hang out together and keep the party going late every night while enjoying a full bar featuring Brooklyn Brewery beer and Two Boots Pizza. Complete festival schedule & lineup follows below.

Now in its sixth year, Ars Nova's celebration of All New Talent is a prime destination for an eclectic mix of brand new shows across disciplines and has proven to be an important first step in the lifecycle and development of new works. Through its open submission process, ANT Fest offers a wide range of early career artists a point of entry onto the Ars Nova stage as well as into the greater New York City arts community. This year's call for submissions drew nearly 250 applicants.

Shows that have been developed through ANT Fest include: Folk Wandering (ANT Fest 2012, sold out Joe's Pub concerts in 2012 and 2013), Samuel and Alasdair (ANT Fest 2009, 2010 NY Independent Theater Award for Outstanding Production of a Play), Seven Minutes in Heaven (ANT Fest 2009; HERE Arts Center Spring 2010), Songs of a Night Owl (ANT Fest 2009, Berkshire Theater Festival Summer 2010 as Pool Boy) and Ithaca (ANT Fest 2008, sold out Joe's Pub run in 2009).

ANT Fest also serves as a crucial first step towards an extended artistic relationship with Ars Nova, often through its Project Residency program. Ars Nova's upcoming fall 2013 production, Eager to Lose (created by Matthew-Lee Erlbach, Wes Grantom, Portia Krieger and Tansy) first took the stage in ANT Fest 2011 before going on to further development in the Project Residency program.

Other ANT Fest artists who have continued developing work at Ars Nova include: Vinny DePonto (Mysterious Delights, 2012), The Other Baldwins (The Other Barrymores, 2011), Zackary Grady (Travis and the Terpsichorean Factory, 2011), Trixie and Monkey (Dial 'P' for Pasties, 2011), The Harmonious Pimps of Harmony (The Harmonious Pimps of Harmony's Last Show, 2010), The Gay Agenda (The Gay Agenda's Big Broadway Show!, 2009), Christopher Rozzi (Outre Island, 2008), The Berserker Residents (The Jersey Devil, 2009), who went on to become Ars Nova's 2011 Company-in-Residence and were commissioned to create The Lapsburgh Layover which received its World Premiere on the Ars Nova stage in 2011.

ANT Fest 2013 plays June 3 - June 29 from Monday - Saturday at 7:00pm. Ars Nova is located at 511 West 54th Street. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at www.arsnovanyc.com, (212) 352-3101, or at the Ars Nova Box Office (30 minutes before showtime, subject to availability).

The 54/10 Concert Series takes place on Wednesdays & Fridays at 9:00pm: June 5, June 7, June 12, June 14, June 19, June 21,June 26, June 28 (immediately following ANT Fest shows on those evenings). Tickets are $5 in advance and may be purchased at www.arsnovanyc.com or by calling (212) 352-3101. $10 tickets are available at the Ars Nova Box Office (30 minutes before showtime, subject to availability).

Showgasm begins at 9:00pm on four consecutive Thursdays: June 6, June 13, June 20, June 27 (immediately following ANT Fest shows on those evenings). Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at www.arsnovanyc.com, (212) 352-3101, or at the Ars Nova Box Office (30 minutes before showtime, subject to availability).

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