Musical Theatre Factory Presents Agent 355

Musical Theatre Factory will present the Developmental Residency presentation of Agent 355, a new punk-rock musical with Music, Lyrics, and Book by Preston Max Allen and Book and Dramaturgy by Jessica Kahkoska. Agent 355 is directed by Estefanía Fadul and features music direction and orchestrations by Madeline Smith ,with General Management by Simpson & Longthorne Theatricals and MTF Creative Producing by Maggie Snyder. Stage Management by Joanna Pisano. 

The cast features a lineup of all actor-musicians including Laura Dadap (VOCA PEOPLE), Jessie Linden (Come From Away), Sydney Shepherd (First Date), Madeline Smith (Waitress, Ragtime on Ellis Island), Kristin Stokes (The Lightning Thief) , Debbie Christine Tjong (Rags Parkland), Cameron Anika Hill (Dear Evan Hansen) and Pearl Rhein (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812).

The Culper Spy Ring famously helped George Washington win the American Revolution, but there's one secret they never revealed; the identity of their female member. Now, an all-female/TGNC punk band is infiltrating a museum exhibit on the Revolution to find the truth about the unknown woman that helped America's first spy ring "outwit them all." Challenging a history written by men, Agent 355 explores the loyalty, heritage, and courage of six real Revolutionary women whose stories, sacrifices, and secrets shaped the nation.

Agent 355 will be presented at Ripley Grier (520 8th Avenue) in Room 16L on Friday, November 9th at 12pm & 4pm and Saturday, November 10th at 12pm.

Tickets can be found HERE for a suggested donation of $20. MTF is committed to providing affordable art for all. Any donation amount is welcomed, with all donations going to pay MTF artists.  

About the creative team:

Estefanía Fadul (Director) Recent projects include the world premiere of Scissoring by Christina Quintana (INTAR), & Pranayama by James Anthony Tyler (Juilliard). She has also developed new plays and musicals at The Drama League, LPAC, Hi-Arts, Barton Booth, Fresh Ground Pepper, and Rising Circle Theater Collective, among others. Estefanía is a 2017-18 National Directing Fellow at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center/NNPN, and an alumna of the Drama League Directors Project, the Foeller Fellowship at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Van Lier Fellowship at Repertorio Español, and The Civilians' R&D Group. She is a member of the New Georges JAM, the Latinx Theatre Commons Steering Committee, and the Lincoln Center Theatre Directors Lab. SDC Associate. BA: Vassar College.

Preston Max Allen (Music, Book & Lyrics) is a writer and composer whose work has been featured at Lincoln Center, the New Amsterdam Theatre, Signature Theatre, Musical Theatre Factory, New York Musical Festival, Feinstein's/54 Below, and Joe's Pub. Preston conceived, wrote, and composed WE ARE THE TIGERS (Hudson Backstage, L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation winner, Best Lyrics/Composition), NEVER BETTER (NYMF Developmental Reading Series), and CARRIE 2: THE RAGE, AN UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL PARODY (Underscore Theatre, Jeff Nominee Best New Musical). Upcoming projects include music/lyrics/book for AGENT 355 (collaborator Jessica Kahkoska) and music/lyrics for BRADICAL AND THE PINK SOCKS. Above all, he is the proud father of his cat, Hero.

Jessica Kahkoska (Book & Dramaturgy) is a NYC/Colorado-based writer, performer, and dramaturg. Her writing has been developed and presented by Village Theatre, Local Theater Company, Joe's Pub, Ars Nova, the North Fork Valley Creative Coalition, American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) at Northwestern University, Barn Arts Collective, Chautauqua Institution, Drama League, and UCROSS Foundation. Dramaturgical work includes new play development at Local Theater Company, Creede Repertory Theatre, and research for Bungalow Media and Entertainment and AMC/Sundance. Currently: Regional Vice President of the Rocky Mountain/Butte Region for Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of America (LMDA) and Artistic Associate at Local Theater Company in Boulder. Graduate of Northwestern University.

Madeline Smith (Music Director) Favorite recent endeavors include conducting WAITRESS on Broadway, MDing/conducting RAGTIME ON ELLIS ISLAND, and adapting/orchestrating Disney's FROZEN JR. Other Broadway: WAR PAINT (Key 1 sub). Off-Broadway: RAGS PARKLAND (Ars Nova), SKIN OF OUR TEETH (Theatre for a New Audience), 1001 NIGHTS (Atlantic Theater Company), THE LIGHT PRINCESS (ART/New Victory Theater), FUTURITY (Soho Rep/Ars Nova), and AN OCTOROON (Theatre for a New Audience). Regional: WE LIVE IN CAIRO (ART, upcoming), LOCH NESS (ATF), NIKOLA TESLA DROPS THE BEAT (ATF). B.A. from Harvard University.

Musical Theatre Factory is a nonprofit artist service organization dedicated to helping musical theatre makers develop and present new work in a collaborative environment free from the pressures of critical or commercial success. For more information, visit mtf.nyc.

Agent 355 is presented as part of the Developmental Residency series, giving artists a week long residency at 440 Studios with full support from the MTF Team. The work presented can be in any various stage of process, and artists are encouraged to use the presentations to receive feedback from industry and audience responses. This presentation of Agent 355 is in an early state and the team hopes to cultivate an understanding of what needs work as they head onto the next stage of their development.