Photo Coverage: A.N.T. Fest 2008 Kickoff Party

Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jon Steingart & Jenny Wiener Steingart, Executive Producers) is currently presenting its inaugural A.N.T. FEST (Ars Nova Theater Festival), dedicated to new work and emerging artists. Featuring over 175 artists performing in 30 nights of music, comedy, theater, dance and genre-defying acts, A.N.T. FEST is running Thursday through Monday evenings, October 16th through November 24th, at Ars Nova (511 West 54th Street). Performances begin at 8pm. The festival will kicked off Wednesday October 15th at 7pm with an invited press launch and industry presentation featuring performances from select A.N.T. FEST artists. BroadwayWorld.com made sure we were there to catch it for you!

In six weeks of mayhem featuring fresh material from today's most daring emerging artists, the festival will push the boundaries of live entertainment by bringing together talented performers from many disciplines under one roof. Ars Nova is dedicated to spotlighting New York's next wave of songwriters, bands, comedy artists, theater-makers, storytellers and genre-defying performers. A.N.T. FEST 2008 takes that mission to the next level.

Ars Nova received over 250 submissions consisting of scripts, CDs, DVDs, YouTube videos, Myspace pages and even one VHS tape. After reviewing material ranging from soul steppers, bands, pirates, ninjas, drag queens, plays, eggmobiles, monologists, Mormons, and everything in between, Ars Nova selected the top thirty submissions and offered each one night in the festival. For more information about each show and a full lineup, visit www.arsnovanyc.com.

Photos by Pablo Pimienta

Jason Eagan opens the show