Ars Nova Announces December Programming

Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director) announces a jam-packed December lineup featuring exciting new comedy, music and theater programming.

Coming up in December:

The Monday to Friday Plays (Tuesday, November 29 @ 8pm; $15)
It'll be TGI Tuesday at Ars Nova with this night of short plays from alt-theater collective At Play. Writers Bekah Brunstetter, Laura Jacqmin, Josh Koenigsberg, Mike Lew and Harrison Rivers lead you from Monday to Friday in this night of hilarious and heartbreaking short plays about getting through the week.

Shida (Friday, December 2 @ 8pm, Saturday, December 3 @ 8pm, and Tuesday, December 6 @ 8pm; $15)
In her new solo show, musical theater powerhouse Jeannette Bayardelle (The Color Purple) tells the tale of a girl from the Bronx beating the odds and making moves. Singing a score that fuses rock, jazz, blues and gospel, Bayardelle's tour-de-force performance is not to be missed. Created and performed by Jeannette Bayardelle, directed by Andy Sandberg.
Part of Ars Nova's Project Residency initiative to help artists get unique projects off the ground.

Pool Boy: The True Story (Sunday, December 4 @ 8pm)
In this night of music from his show Pool Boy, singer-songwriter Niko Tsakalakos and his indie rock band embark on an epic musical trek from his New Jersey childhood to his stint as a pool boy at the exotic Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles. Through songs and stories Niko tries to navigate the tricky star-studded world of the hotel while simultaneously coming to terms with the loss of his brother and a family breaking apart.
Part of Ars Nova's Uncharted initiative to develop and present new work from emerging musical theater artists.

Fight/Flight: Songs from the Musicals of Rob Rokicki & Michael Ruby (Monday, December 5 @ 8pm; $15)
Love. Family. Parrot-napping shoe-fetishists. They're just a taste of the songs and stories from the American Harmony Prize-winning team of Robert Rokicki and Michael Ruby. Join Rob, Mike and some of their very talented Broadway friends for an evening of selections from their musicals, including their cult-hit, award-winning short, Polly, Want a Mortgage?, presented in its entirety. Directed by Paul Stancato.
Part of Ars Nova's Uncharted initiative to develop and present new work from emerging musical theater artists.

The Song Arcade (Friday, December 9 @ 8pm; $15)
Come experience NYC's hottest meeting ground for new music talent! This rotating collection of musicians will share their songs, pair off in first time collaborations and accept musical challenges from the audience - songs will be made on the spot and presented at the end of the night. This jam session/game night mash-up is hands down the coolest way to experience the best up-and-coming singer/songwriters in the city. This edition features Matt Roi Berger, Damon Daunno, Miko de Leon, Emma Koenig, Melissa Lusk, Grace Mclean, Liana Stampur, and Shaina Taub. Directed by Tim Drucker.

When Thoughts Attack (Saturday, December 10 @ 8pm; $20)
A woman walks into a restaurant to order lunch and suddenly finds herself caught in a whirlpool of anxiety. In her uproariously tragic new show, Kelly Kinsella goes to battle with her mind, arming herself for... When Thoughts Attack. Directed by Padraic Lillis.

Revelation (Monday, December 12 @ 7pm)

My Dad Was Nearly James Bond (Tuesday, December 13 @ 8pm and Wednesday, December 14 @ 8pm; $25)
Internationally celebrated comedian Des Bishop returns to Ars Nova to hold up the real heroics of fatherhood against the ridiculous macho ideals everyday guys try to live up to. As passionate as it is edgy and hilarious, Bishop offers a touching, snappy-but never sappy-experience that is unforgettable.

The Joe Iconis Christmas Spectacular (Friday, December 16 @ 8pm, Saturday, December 17 @ 7pm and 10pm, and Sunday, December 18 @ 8pm; $20)
Joe Iconis and his merry band of musical theater punks are back by popular demand in this fourth annual insane celebration of all things red and green. Featuring brand new holiday songs, old favorites, tiny elves, enormous reindeer, an inebriated Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and an ungodly number of candy canes, it promises to be the happiest holiday hoedown you've ever seen. Produced by Jen Tepper, directed by John Simpkins.

About Ars Nova:

Ars Nova is committed to developing and producing theater, comedy and music artists in the Early Stages of their professional careers. Its unique development programs are designed to support outside-the-box thinking and encourage innovative, genre-bending work. By providing a safe environment where risk-taking and collaboration are paramount, Ars Nova gives voice to a new generation of artists and audiences, pushing the boundaries of live entertainment by nurturing creative ideas into smart, surprising new work. For more information on Ars Nova's programs, visit www.arsnovanyc.com. Ars Nova was founded in memory of Gabe Wiener.

Producing credits include: The Lapsburgh Layover, Be A Good Little Widow, The Wii Plays, ANT Fest, Now Circa Then, Bloodsong of Love, Missed Connections NYC, Sax & Dixon: We Thee Wed, Mel & El: Show & Tell, Two Girls for Five Bucks and the Ten Dollar Heartbreakers, Playlist, Jollyship the Whiz-Bang, boom, From Up Here, Dixie?s Tupperware Party, At Least It?s Pink, 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother, Holy Cross Sucks!, Freestyle Love Supreme and The Wau Wau Sisters.

Tickets are on sale at www.arsnovanyc.com, 212-352-3101, or the Ars Nova box office starting 30 minutes prior to each show.