Ars Nova to Present ANT Fest 2012, 6/1-28

Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director) today announced the lineup for its 5th Annual ANT Fest. This year’s festival of All New Talent runs from June 1 – 28 and features four weeks of brand new one-night-only shows spanning theater, music, comedy, variety and a fusion of all four not seen anywhere else. From 80s pop sax bands to toy theater social commentary, Ars Nova heats up this summer with fresh new work from some of New York’s most exciting emerging artists. ANT Fest also provides the opportunity to catch three late night editions of Showgasm, Ars Nova’s rowdy variety show/party hybrid. Complete festival schedule and lineup follows.

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 200 applicants.

Now in its fifth year, the festival 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. Shows that have been developed through ANT Fest include: 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), Samuel and Alasdair (ANT Fest 2009, 2010 NY Independent Theater Award for Outstanding Production of a Play), 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. Shows and artists that have gone on to be developed further at Ars Nova include: The Harmonious Pimps of Harmony’s Last Show (extended run at Ars Nova in 2011), Dial ‘P’ for Pasties (creators Trixie and Monkey were commissioned to create Trixie and Monkey: All or Nothing, which had an extended run in 2011), Outre Island (extended run in 2010), The Gay Agenda (extended run in 2010), The Jersey Devil (creators The Berserker Residents were Ars Nova’s 2011 Company-in-Residence and created the 2011 mainstage production The Lapsburgh Layover), The Other Baldwins (extended run slated for fall 2012) and Travis and the Terpsichorean Factory (return engagements scheduled throughout 2012).

ANT Fest 2012 plays June 1 – June 28 as follows: Monday – Saturday at 8:00pm. Ars Nova is located at 511 West 54th Street. Tickets are $10 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).