Ty Defoe News

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) has announced that in recognition of his 2019 Tony Award nomination and his history as a NYMF Alum, Joe Iconis (Be More Chill, Broadway Bounty Hunter) will be the 2019 NYMF Honorary Chair.

Join Musical Theatre Factory (MTF) for a collective High Five celebration of the first five years of the magic that is the MTF with a gala hosted by Larry Owens at Town Stages, 221 West Broadway, NYC on May 13, 2019 at 7:30pm.

Join Musical Theatre Factory (MTF) for a collective High Five celebration of the first five years of the magic that is the MTF with a gala hosted by Larry Owens at Town Stages, 221 West Broadway, NYC on May 13, 2019 at 7:30pm. 

Victory Dance at The New Victory Theater, which provides free performances and arts education for NYC kids over the summer, returns July 10 - 26, 2019. Presented on the stage of a historic jewel box theater, every dance is introduced by New Victory Teaching Artists and Education staff, and followed by guided activities to help kids think creatively and try a little choreography from their seats. At the end of the program, audience members will have the opportunity to ask the choreographers and dancers questions about their work.

Playwrights Ty Defoe (Musical Theatre Factory Makers Cohort, Clouds Are Pillows for the Moon), Monet Hurst-Mendoza (Veil'd, The Kilroys), Mona Mansour (Urge for Going, The Way West), and Sanaz Toossi (Page 73 Playwriting Fellow, EST's Youngblood), and directors Misha Chowdhury (The Wolves, An Ordinary Muslim), Estefania Fadul (Scissoring, O'Neill/NNPN National Directors Fellowship), Seonjae Kim (Riot Antigone), Taylor Reynolds (Plano), and Megan Sandberg-Zakian (Nat Turner in Jerusalem) join Noor Theatre's 5th Annual 48 Hour Forum, a 48-hour play festival inspired by news events of the day.

The acclaimed Steppenwolf ensemble and Board of Trustees host Gala 2019, an extraordinary evening celebrating over four decades of powerful and thought-provoking storytelling. Emceed by one of Hollywood's most in-demand actors, Armie Hammer (Sorry to Bother You, Call Me By Your Name), the party takes place on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at 6:30pm at a new location not far from the theater, Rockwell on the River (3057 N. Rockwell Ave). Golden Globe Winner James Franco (The Disaster Artist, 127 Hours) will be the guest auctioneer. Proceeds from the night generate essential resources to support the innovative new work on Steppenwolf's spaces and expansive education and community programs.

Theatre Forward and Chairman John Thomopoulos last night held its celebration to support American theatre at the annual Chairman's Awards Gala at The Pierre (2 East 61st Street). The Chairman's Awards Gala supports the work of Theatre Forward, which recently celebrated its 40th Anniversary season, and is dedicated to advancing American theatres and its communities through its Educating Through Theatre and Advancing Strong Theatre initiatives.

Theatre Forward and Chairman John Thomopoulous will lead a celebration to support American theatre at the annual Chairman's Awards Gala on Monday, April 8th at The Pierre New York (2 East 61st Street at Fifth Avenue).

The University of the Arts' Ira Brind School of Theater Arts announces the lineup for its fifth annual Polyphone Festival, a 'festival of the emerging musical.' The five-day event will take place in the Arts Bank and Wilma Theaters on South Broad Street in Philadelphia February 26-March 2, 2019. The four musicals comprising the festival will take audiences on a journey through a haunted burial ground for forgotten souls, a radioactive amusement park full of Marie Curies, an afro-futuristic groove-centered alternate reality, and the final anxious moments of life on earth. All of the works in this year's Polyphone focus on the intersection of alternative futures and reimagined histories. The works all ask questions about co-existence, global anxiety and crafting hope in troubled times.

The Tony Award winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) will launch its 84th year and Bill Rauch's final season as artistic director with preview performances beginning on March 1. The 2019 season officially kicks off Friday night, March 8, in the Angus Bowmer Theatre with Shakespeare's As You Like It (director, Rosa Joshi). On Saturday afternoon, Cambodian Rock Band (director, Chay Yew) opens in the Thomas Theatre, and Hairspray The Broadway Musical (director, Christopher Liam Moore) opens that evening in the Angus Bowmer Theatre. On Sunday afternoon, the drama by Southern Oregon based playwright Octavio Solis, Mother Road (director, Bill Rauch), will see its world premiere in the Angus Bowmer Theatre.

The University of the Arts' Ira Brind School of Theater Arts announces the lineup for its fifth annual Polyphone Festival, a 'festival of the emerging musical.' The five-day event will take place in the Arts Bank and Wilma Theaters on South Broad Street in Philadelphia February 26-March 2, 2019. The four musicals comprising the festival will take audiences on a journey through a haunted burial ground for forgotten souls, a radioactive amusement park full of Marie Curies, an afro-futuristic groove-centered alternate reality, and the final anxious moments of life on earth. All of the works in this year's Polyphone focus on the intersection of alternative futures and reimagined histories. The works all ask questions about co-existence, global anxiety and crafting hope in troubled times.

Musical Theatre Factory announces the inaugural MTF MAKERS cohort: Troy Anthony, Jacob Jarrett, Kit Yan and Melissa Li, Tidtaya Sinotoke and Ty Defoe, AriDy Nox and Brandon Webster, and Jillian Walker (MTF/STARR MAKER).

The University of the Arts' Ira Brind School of Theater Arts announces the lineup for its fifth annual Polyphone Festival, a 'festival of the emerging musical.' The five-day event will take place in the Arts Bank and Wilma Theaters on South Broad Street in Philadelphia February 26-March 2, 2019. The four musicals comprising the festival will take audiences on a journey through a haunted burial ground for forgotten souls, a radioactive amusement park full of Marie Curies, an afro-futuristic groove-centered alternate reality, and the final anxious moments of life on earth. All of the works in this year's Polyphone focus on the intersection of alternative futures and reimagined histories. The works all ask questions about co-existence, global anxiety and crafting hope in troubled times.

It's clear Ajijaak on Turtle Island will go on to win hearts and fans for years to come.

FirstWorks, a Rhode Island non-profit dedicated to building community through world-class arts announces a residency with renowned contemporary puppet artist Heather Henson and her production company IBEX Puppetry. The residency will culminate in performances of the visually stunning puppet-based production, 'Ajijaak on Turtle Island,' making its premiere with FirstWorks as part of a four-city national tour. 'Ajijaak on Turtle Island' is co-directed by Henson, daughter of puppet legend Jim Henson, and Ty Defoe, a Grammy Award winner from the Oneida and Ojibwe Nations.FirstWorks' public performances of 'Ajijaak on Turtle Island' will take place at the state-of-the-art Moses Brown School Woodman Center at 250 Lloyd Avenue, Providence onThursday, January 31 and Today, February 1, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.Tickets start at $22.50 and are available online at first-works.org or by phone at 401-421-4281. This first performance in the 2019 FirstWorks Frontier Series offers an immersive spectacle for the whole family.

FirstWorks, a Rhode Island non-profit dedicated to building community through world-class arts announces a residency with renowned contemporary puppet artist Heather Henson and her production company IBEX Puppetry. The residency will culminate in performances of the visually stunning puppet-based production, 'Ajijaak on Turtle Island,' making its premiere with FirstWorks as part of a four-city national tour. 'Ajijaak on Turtle Island' is co-directed by Henson, daughter of puppet legend Jim Henson, and Ty Defoe, a Grammy Award winner from the Oneida and Ojibwe Nations.FirstWorks' public performances of 'Ajijaak on Turtle Island' will take place at the state-of-the-art Moses Brown School Woodman Center at 250 Lloyd Avenue, Providence onToday, January 31 and Friday, February 1, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.Tickets start at $22.50 and are available online at first-works.org or by phone at 401-421-4281. This first performance in the 2019 FirstWorks Frontier Series offers an immersive spectacle for the whole family.

Visionary puppet artist Heather Henson and Grammy-Award winner Ty Defoe (Come to Me Great Mystery) bring together an ensemble of North American First Nations Peoples in this compelling production produced by IBEX Puppetry, written by Defoe (Straight White Men) with music by Kevin Tarrant (SilverCloud Singers), Grammy-nominated Dawn Avery, Grammy winner Larry Mitchell (Totemic Flute Chants) and Defoe. Ajijaak on Turtle Island, currently on tour throughout the U.S., performs at The New Victory from March 1 - 10, 2019.

Trans Lab is proud to announce the six recipients of the 2019 fellowship: Ashley Lauren Rogers, Eamon Boylan, Noemi Charlotte Thieves, Mariam Bazeed, Corinne Donly, and Ty Defoe.

Sure, Broadway is traditionally known for its glitz and glamour, but New York audiences have never shied away from socially relevant theatre, either. And while controversial issues are more frequently discussed Off-Broadway, 2018 saw a great many political and social themes brought up throughout Manhattan's stages. So here are ten times New York theatre tackled political and social issues in 2018

Visionary puppet artist Heather Henson announced today IBEX Puppetry's upcoming four-city national tour of Ajijaak on Turtle Island. Co-directed by Grammy Award winner Ty Defoe and Henson, the daughter of legendary puppeteer Jim Henson, the tour launches by opening the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival with performances January 17 through January 20, and follows with performances in Baraboo, WI at the Al. Ringling Theatre (January 24-25); FirstWorks Frontier Series in Providence, RI (January 31-February 1); and New York, NY at The New Victory Theater (March 1-10). Tickets are on sale now for all shows with more information available here: https://www.ajijaak.com/2019-tour/.