John Early, SHOWGASM, LONELY CHRISTMAS and More Set for Ars Nova, Dec 2013

Ars Nova announces its December lineup which will feature new work from 2013 Artists-in-Residence and a climactic New Year's Eve fundraiser event to close out its 10th Anniversary Season. All shows are at 8pm unless otherwise noted. Details below!

John Early: Literally Me (Tuesday, 12/3; $15)

Help Ars Nova Artist-in-Residence, infamous Showgasm host and industry darling John Early pick his headshots LIVE in Literally Me, a searingly intimate evening of stand up, character, music, and body rolls.

This show comes to you as part of Ars Nova's Showgasm Spotlight series, designed to give artists working in the same adventurous vein as Ars Nova's monthly variety show, Showgasm. a chance to try out a full-length evening of work in front of a live audience.

Showgasm (Wednesday, 12/4; $5)

What is Showgasm you ask? It's a character actress fever dream, inherently knowing the choreography to Rhythm Nation, the anti-messy bun. Or more simply put, a raucous variety show with performances ranging from hilarious to titillating to utterly inappropriate, and the final Showgasm you'll have this year! Come. You've never looked better!

Hosted by John Early. Featuring DJ Hamm Samwich and performances by Bridget Everett, Kate Berlant, Cocoon Central Dance Team, Isaac Oliver, Cody Owen Stine, Mimi Fischer, Ruby Roo, Nicole Spiezio and additional performers to be announced.

Uncharted Concert Series (Thursday, 12/5 - Sunday, 12/8; $15)

Ars Nova invites you to join us for the Uncharted Concert Series, showcasing work by the rising stars in our musical theater writers group: Julia Meinwald & Gordon Leary, Anna K. Jacobs & Michael R. Jackson, Charles Vincent Burwell & James D. Sasser, and Shaina Taub & Jen Silverman. The concerts will feature original work from the new musicals being created by the writers during their residencies, alongside favorites from their songbooks.

Thursday, 12/5: Julia Meinwald and Gordon Leary. Featuring Ally Bonino, Max Chernin, Sam Heldt, Andrew Kober, Amy Linden, Michael Marcotte and Emily Walton.

Friday, 12/6: Anna K. Jacobs and Michael R. Jackson. Directed by Stephen Santa. Musical direction by Lynne Shankel. Featuring Amelia Cormack, Jillian Gottlieb, Benjamin Howes, Christiana Little, Melody Madarasz, Eric William Morris, Aaron Riesebeck and Kaye Tuckerman.

Saturday, 12/7: James D Sasser and Charles Vincent Burwell. Featuring John Gardiner, Sydney James Harcourt, TJ Mannix, Javier Munoz, John Rose and Andre Ward.

Sunday, 12/8: Shaina Taub and Jen Silverman. Featuring Brittain Ashford, Nick Blaemire, Andrew Butler, Kate Ferber, Caleb Hawley, Jo Lampert, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Grace McLean, Lauren Pritchard, Benjamin Scheuer, Phillipa Soo, Liana Stampur and Ali Stroker.

These concerts come to you as part of Ars Nova's Uncharted program, which provides four writing teams with peer and artistic support as they create first drafts of new musicals over the course of two- year residencies, including ongoing meetings, concerts and public readings providing opportunities to debut their work in front of a live audience.

Isaac Oliver's Lonely Christmas (Wednesday 12/11 - Saturday 12/14; $15)

Written & Performed by Isaac Oliver Directed by Jason Eagan
Scenic Design by Jacqueline Marolt Lighting Design by Richard Chamblin Sound Design by Josh Millican

Trim the tiny tree, hang the single stocking, and mull the homewine - it's time for Isaac Oliver's Lonely Christmas! Join gay humorist, pale neurotic and Ars Nova Artist-in-Residence Isaac Oliver for a little holly-jolly-melancholy with his very own classic holiday special. The holiday season, with its great music, crisp weather, and countless opportunities for passed cheese, is best enjoyed with a lover, yes, but a little cheer can still be salvaged for the single. Count down to Santa's arrival with Isaac as he tells brand-new stories in addition to old favorites, with the help of live music, games, special guests, and high falsetto.

Featuring John Behlmann, The Gay Agenda, Roe Hartrampf, Roger Lirtsman, Dan Loeser and surprise guests.

This performance comes to you as part of Ars Nova's Project Residency initiative to help artists get unique projects off the ground.

Ars Nova 54: A New Year's Eve Spectacular (Tuesday, 12/31; **9pm - 1am**)

Come blow it out in style at Ars Nova 54: A New Year's Eve Spectacular, a Studio 54-inspired party featuring two floors of disco beats new and old, scantily clad go-go dancers and titillating live performances. There 's nothing you can do at 54 that you can't walk away from in the morning.

Tickets are available at two levels: the $150 In-Crowd Ticket includes admission to both floors, open bar all night and a champagne toast at midnight. The $300 V.I.P. Ticket offers all of the above plus VIP skip-the-line check in and complimentary coat check, top shelf cocktail service, delicious appetizers and desserts as well as access to exclusive V.I.P.-only areas. Early bird ticket prices of $100 (The In- Crowd) and $250 (The V.I.P.) are available if you purchase before November 27. All proceeds benefit Ars Nova's ongoing programs to support emerging artists.

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: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 by Dave Malloy, directed by Rachel Chavkin (now in an Off-Broadway transfer production at Kazino); Eager to Lose, created by Matthew-Lee Erlbach, Wes Grantom, Portia Krieger and Tansy; ANT Fest; Core Values by Steven Levenson, directed by Carolyn Cantor; The Netflix Plays; The Urban Dictionary Plays; The Lapsburgh Layover by The Berserker Residents, directed by Oliver Butler; Be a Good Little Widow by Bekah Brunstetter, directed by Stephen Brackett; The Wii Plays; Now Circa Then by Carly Mensch, directed by Jason Eagan; Bloodsong of Love by Joe Iconis, directed by John Simpkins; Missed Connections NYC; Sax & Dixon: We Thee Wed by John Dixon, Peter McNerney and Matt Sax, directed by Peter McNerney; Mel & El: Show & Tell by Melanie Adelman and Ellie Dvorkin, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel; Two Girls for Five Bucks and the Ten Dollar Heartbreakers by Cathleen Carr and Daiva Deupree, directed by Andy Donald; Playlist; Jollyship the Whiz-Bang by Nick Jones and Raja Azar, directed by Sam Gold; boom by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, directed by Alex Timbers; From Up Here by Liz Flahive, directed by Leigh Silverman; The Wikipedia Plays; Dixie's Tupperware Party by Kris Andersson, directed by Alex Timbers; At Least It's Pink by Bridget Everett and Kenny Mellman, directed by Michael Patrick King; 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother by Kate Moira Ryan with Judy Gold, directed by Karen Kohlhaas; Holy Cross Sucks! by Rob Nash, directed by Jeff Calhoun; Freestyle Love Supreme by Anthony Veneziale and Lin-Manuel Miranda, directed by Thomas Kail; and The Wau Wau Sisters, by Tanya Gagne? and Adrienne Truscott, directed by Trip Cullman.

Tickets are on sale at www.arsnovanyc.com, 212-352-3101, or the Ars Nova box office starting 30 minutes prior to each show. Ars Nova is located at 511 West 54th Street New York, NY.