Mark Stuart Dance Theatre Launches New Kickstarter to Support STANDARD TIME

Mark Stuart Dance Theatre (MSDT), has announced the launch of it's third fundraising campaign on Kickstarter - and it started with a bang on Monday, with matching pledges that immediately guarantees the company at least $20,000 of the $37,000 they have set as their goal. The funds will go toward MSDT's new staging of its masterwork, STANDARD TIME, presented in conjunction with Millersville University and the National Historic Landmark Fulton Theatre. Two performances will take place on August 16 and 17 at the Winter Center, 60 W. Cottage Avenue, Millersville, PA.

Mark Stuart, the award-winning choreographer and founder of MSDT, created STANDARD TIME as an artistic vehicle to demonstrate through dance, how bias, racism and bigotry have played a role in the country's internal history of conflict. "I believe that art should serve a higher purpose, not merely entertain," says Stuart. "Artistic works should also move you and should inspire change."

After the events of the past weeks in South Carolina, and the recent Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality, this work of art has assumed new relevance and importance. Leaps ahead of its time when MSDT first introduced it in 2012, and when it was performed at the Fulton Theatre in September 2013, STANDARD TIME, hailed by NPR as "a real - and rare - power," and by other news outlets as "Riveting!", "A smashing new musical with a heartfelt message," "Astounding!" and "Electrifying!", is closer than ever to finding a home in New York's Broadway community, where a wider audience will be able to experience it.

Anyone can help support the fundraising campaign by visiting http://kck.st/1T87LOQ and for more on STANDARD TIME and Mark Stuart Dance Theatre, visit http://www.msdt-standardtime.org

Mark Stuart Dance Theatre (MSDT) is a New York based dance theatre company that bridges the gap between dance and theatrical performance, while moving seamlessly between Broadway, Film, Commercials, and Concert Dance. Under the Artistic Direction of award winning Choreographer Mark Stuart, MSDT brings together gravity-defying movement with dramatic storytelling and a stunning array of dance styles and performance backgrounds. Featured is an all-star cast of Broadway gypsies from Movin' Out, Memphis, Wicked, Come Fly Away, Lion King, In The Heights, Spiderman, Billy Elliott, Promises Promises, and former members of Parsons Dance, Momix, Hubbard Street, and Pilobolus. Mark Stuart Dance Theatre also works extensively with other charity organizations, including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, Career Transition for Dancers, Dancers Responding to Aids, and The Lauri Strauss Leukemia Foundation.

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