Ars Nova Announces 2018-2019 Season Including Opening of Ars Nova at Greenwich House

Ars Nova, "one of the most adventurous Off-Broadway companies" (New York Times), under the leadership of Founding Artistic Director Jason Eagan and Managing Director Renee Blinkwolt, is pleased to announce programming for its 2018-2019 season, which marks a rich expansion of the non-profit's unique role as both an exciting hub for new talent and a hands-on producer of genre-bending Off-Broadway productions.

The 2018-2019 season begins at Ars Nova's original home at 511 West 54th Street with the world premiere of Rags Parkland Sings The Songs Of The Future, a sci-fi folk concert created by Andrew R. Butler, a former Ars Nova resident artist and 2018 Jonathan Larson Grant recipient. Directed by Jordan Fein (Erin Markey's The Singlet and A Ride on The Irish Cream), Rags Parkland Sings The Songs Of The Future will feature a six-member ensemble and strengthens Ars Nova's reputation as an innovator in stretching the bounds of music-driven theater. The creative team includes Madeline Smith (music director), Laura Jellinek (scenic design) Andy Jean (costume design), Barbara Samuels (lighting design), Mikaal Sulaiman (sound design), John C. Moore (assistant stage manager), Jhanaë Bonnick (production stage manager).

On October 29, at Capitale, Ars Nova will celebrate its new partnership with Greenwich House at NOVA BALL 2018, a star-studded event benefiting the non-profit and helping to make its Ars Nova at Greenwich House expansion possible. Honorees and programming to be announced at a later date.

In February 2019, Ars Nova will throw open the doors to its new, second home - the historic 199-seat Greenwich House Theater, which opened in 1917 and is located at 27 Barrow Street. Ars Nova All-Stars will welcome the public with a series of festive events, performances, and a few surprises. More details will be announced soon.

Ars Nova's Off-Broadway debut at Greenwich House will be a world premiere commission by The Mad Ones, Ars Nova's Company-in-Residence since 2015. Running March - April 2019, this will be the ensemble's first production since their critically acclaimed play Miles For Mary.

Dubbed by The New York Times as a "fertile incubator of offbeat theater," Ars Nova is known for blurring genres and subverting the status quo. Since its founding in 2002, Ars Nova has been dedicated to discovering and developing the most promising emerging theater, comedy and music artists by offering them a home on its 54th Street stage. Following the opening of Ars Nova at Greenwich House, its theater on 54th Street will be rededicated to concerts, readings, variety shows, workshops, and a host of discovery and development programming, including Showgasm, One Night Stands, Makers Lab and Company-in-Residence presentations. In fact, over 70 events are planned for the intimate stage including the 12th annual ANT Fest in June 2019. This popular celebration of new talent is a prime destination for an eclectic mix of new work from some of the most intrepid, adventurous artists in New York City.

"It's an electrifying time to be around Ars Nova as we continue the discovery and development work happening on 54thStreet, while taking on Greenwich House for our Off-Broadway productions," said Jason Eagan, Founding Artistic Director of Ars Nova. "Andrew Butler has been a beacon in our community, and we're delighted to shine the spotlight on him as brightly as possible this fall. The Mad Ones have been our resident company for three and a half years now, so it thrills me that their commission will be the first production in our second home."

Mighty Nova Flex Passes for this 2018-2019 programming are now on sale. Mighty Nova Flex Passes are $125 and include 4 flexible-use tickets to any Ars Nova show plus two half-price tickets to all discovery and developmental programming, one half-priced drink at every show, early booking and free tix exchanges. Super Nova memberships are $500 and include two tickets to every Ars Nova show, reserved VIP seating, two complimentary drinks at every show, half-priced buddy tickets and access to sold-out shows. Super Nova memberships are also partially tax-deductible and help Ars Nova pay artists a living wage while keeping ticket prices affordable.

More information at ARSNOVANYC.COM.

About the Rags Parkland Sings The Songs Of The Future creative team

ANDREW R. BUTLER (Book, Music, Lyrics & Performer) is a composer, writer and performer based in Brooklyn, NY and hailing from the Florida Panhandle. He is a recipient of the 2018 Jonathan Larson Grant for emerging musical theater writers. As a member of Ars Nova's Uncharted music/theater writers group, he wrote music and lyrics for Floridian folk-musical, Finn the Fearless, with playwright Andrew Farmer. Finn has received development at the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, Theatre Aspen and The Polyphone Festival at University of the Arts. Also with Farmer: BLESSING, a new musical commissioned by Playwrights Horizons Downtown and developed at Yale Institute for Music Theatre and JDT Lab at Guild Hall; a musical adaptation of Kate DiCamillo's children's novel The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, commissioned by TheaterWorksUSA; and the upcoming episodic musical travelogue American Cryptids, developed in The Civilians' R&D Group. Other work: music/lyrics for Anna Kerrigan's The Dixon Family Album (Williamstown Theatre Festival Segal Fellowship), co-music/lyrics for Jaclyn Backhaus' Folk Wandering (Pipeline Theatre Co.), sci-fi folk-musical (Parkland/Weathers) (Ars Nova's ANT FEST '10 & '17), musical-sketch comedy group Political Subversities (Joe's Pub, Ars Nova) and co-founder/performer in experimental theater company harunalee (Ars Nova's Makers Lab, The Public Theatre's Under The Radar Festival, BAX Artist Residency, Bushwick Starr's Propeller Series, Target Margin Theatre Lab, The Club at LaMama, Dixon Place Mondo Cane! Commission & Residency). Andrew holds a BFA in Drama from NYU's Experimental Theatre Wing. andrewrbutler.com.

JORDAN FEIN (Director) is a Brooklyn-based opera and theater director. His work has been produced and developed at numerous companies including Williamstown Theatre Festival (2014 Boris Sagal Fellow), Opera Philadelphia, Santa Fe Opera, Ars Nova, Dixon Place, HERE Arts Center, Baryshnikov Art Center, Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, American Repertory Theater, Philly Fringe Arts, Bard College and Incubator Arts Project. Last season he directed a new production of Benjamin Britten's The Rape Of Lucretia at Curtis Opera Theater, a reworking of Thronton Wilder's The Skin of our Teeth at Bard College and a national tour of the acclaimed musical A Ride on The Irish Cream. Other favorite credits include War Lesbian (harunalee/Dixon Place), Dialogues of the Carmelites (Opera Philadelphia), The Dixon Family Album (Williamstown Theatre Festival). This spring he will direct the world premiere of Erin Markey's Singlet at The Bushwick Starr.

Madeline Smith (Music Director) Favorite recent endeavors include conducting Waitress and Ragtime on Ellis Island, developing the EDM musical Nikola Tesla Drops The Beat and adapting and orchestrating Disney's FROZEN JR. Other Broadway: War Paint (Key 1 sub). Off-Broadway: 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). B.A. from Harvard University.

LAURA JELLINEK (Scenic Designer) Ars Nova: Small Mouth Sounds (Signature Center & National Tour), JACUZZI. Broadway: Marvin's Room. Off-Broadway: Mary Page Marlowe (2ST); Mary Jane (NYTW, Lortel nomination); The Wolves, Queens (Lincoln Center); A Life (Playwrights Horizons, Lortel Award, Hewes Design Award, Drama Desk Nomination), The Antipodes, Everybody (Signature). Regional: Williamstown, Yale Rep, Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Opera: Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Atlanta Opera. OBIE for Sustained Excellence in Design. Education: MFA, NYU.

ANDY JEAN (Costume Designer) is a NY- based Costume Designer and is thrilled to be working at Ars Nova. Recently he's worked at Trinity Repertory Company, Santa Fe Opera, The Public Theater and PlayMakers Repertory. Latest works include: Othello, Wig Out!, Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike, Playboy of the West Indies, A Doll's House andA Raisin in the Sun. Andy has an MFA in Stage Costume Design from Tisch/NYU. More at andyjean.com.

Barbara Samuels (Lighting Designer) Select New York: Dance Nation (Playwrights Horizons), Singlet (Bushwick Starr), Acquanetta (Prototype), The Rape of The Sabine Women (Playwrights Realm), Orange Julius (Rattlestick/P73, Hewes Design Nom.), Don't Look Back (Coil), Caught (PlayCo), O, Earth (Foundry Theatre, Hewes Design Nom.), Great Lakes (New Georges/ WP Theater), A Ride on the Irish Cream (Erin Markey). Regional: Cincinnati Playhouse, Trinity Rep. Dance: Vim Vigor Dance, LA Dance Project. BA, Fordham; MFA, NYU. Member USA829. barbarasamuels.com.

Mikaal Sulaiman (Sound Designer) Ars Nova (Underground Railroad Game). Soho Rep (Fairview), Play Co. (Time's Journey Through a Room), New York Theatre Workshop (Light Shinning in Buckinghamshire), Trinity Rep (Othello), Arden Theatre (The Bluest Eye; Two Trains Running), Playwrights Realm (Rape of the Sabine Women), Early Morning Opera (TIMe; Holoscenes), CalShakes (Fences), Pig Iron (Zero Cost House), among others. Upcoming project: Playwrights Horizons (Thanksgiving Play). mikaal.com.

About The Mad Ones

The Mad Ones are a New York City-based company that creates ensemble-driven new work. The Mad Ones consist of Artistic Directors Marc Bovino (writer/performer), Joe Curnutte (writer/performer), Stephanie Wright Thompson (writer/performer), Lila Neugebauer (writer/director); Associate Director Michael Dalto (writer/performer) and company members Laura Jellinek (sets), Ásta Bennie Hostetter (costumes), Mike Inwood (lights), Sarah Lunnie (dramaturgy) and Stowe Nelson (sound). The Mad Ones' plays include Samuel & Alasdair: A Personal History of the Robot War, The Tremendous Tremendous, The Essential Straight & Narrow and Miles for Mary. The Mad Ones have received significant accolades and critical praise, including multiple New York Times Critics' Picks, Five Star Time Out New York reviews, Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Nominations and multiple New York Innovative Theatre Awards. The Mad Ones are a Company-In-Residence at Ars Nova.

Marc Bovino (Writer/co-Artistic Director) The Mad Ones: Miles for Mary, The Essential Straight & Narrow, Samuel & Alasdair: A Personal History of the Robot War, The Tremendous Tremendous and Inspector Pennywhistle and the Nefarious Case of the Sweet Shop Murder. New York: Be The Death of Me (The Civilians, Irondale Center) Trade Practices, Lush Valley, Rus(h) (HERE). Regional: A Christmas Carol, Dracula (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Uncle Sam's Satiric Spectacular (Humana Festival), A Christmas Carol (Hartford Stage).

Joe Curnutte (Writer/co-Artistic Director) The Mad Ones: Miles for Mary, The Essential Straight & Narrow, Samuel & Alasdair: A Personal History of the Robot War, The Tremendous Tremendous and Inspector Pennywhistle and the Nefarious Case of the Sweet Shop Murder. Also a writer/actor of Unnatural Acts: Harvard's Secret Court of 1920 (CSC, multiple Drama Desk nominee). Regional: Two Men of Florence (Huntington), Dracula (Actors Theatre of Louisville). TV: The Get Down (Netflix), American Odyssey(NBC), Person of Interest (CBS), As the World Turns (CBS), All My Children (ABC). Featured in Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto V.

Michael Dalto (Writer/Associate Director) The Mad Ones: Miles for Mary, The Essential Straight & Narrow, Samuel & Alasdair: A Personal History of the Robot War, The Tremendous Tremendous. Regional: Pride and Prejudice, Shipwrecked! The Amazing Adventures of Louis De Rougemont (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Brink! (Humana Festival), Man of La Mancha, A Christmas Carol, Romeo & Juliet (Virginia Stage Co.), Lemony Snickett's The Composer is Dead (Virginia Symphony Orchestra), Pericles, Robin Hood (Georgia Shakespeare Festival).

Lila Neugebauer (Director/Writer/co-Artistic Director) Recent Off-Broadway: Albee's At Home at the Zoo, Annie Baker's The Antipodes, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Everybody, Albee's The Sandbox, Fornes' Drowning and Kennedy's Funnyhouse of a Negro, Gurney's The Wayside Motor Inn (Signature Theatre); Sarah DeLappe's The Wolves (Lincoln Center, Playwrights Realm); Zoe Kazan's After the Blast, Abe Koogler's Kill Floor (LCT3). With The Mad Ones: Samuel & Alasdair: A Personal History of the Robot War, The Essential Straight and Narrow and Miles for Mary (Playwrights Horizons). Upcoming: Tracy Letts' Mary Page Marlowe (Second Stage), Peace for Mary Frances (The New Group), Carson McCullers' The Member of the Wedding (Williamstown). OBIE, Drama Desk and Princess Grace Award winner.

Stephanie Wright Thompson (Writer/co-Artistic Director) The Mad Ones: Miles for Mary, The Essential Straight & Narrow, Samuel & Alasdair: A Personal History of the Robot War, The Tremendous Tremendous. Other credits: The Messenger (Clubbed Thumb), The Subtle Body (59E59), The Hatmaker's Wife (Playwrights Realm), Mission Drift (The TEAM), Habit (PS122), The Bird and the Two-Ton Weight (EST), 1Rove (The Bushwick Starr), Tigers Be Still (Partly Cloudy People), Have You Seen Steve Steven? (13P). Regional: Six Years and Neon Mirage (Humana Festival), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Actors Theatre of Louisville), tempOdyssey (New Jersey Repertory Theater).

About Ars Nova

Ars Nova exists to discover, develop and launch singular theater, music and comedy artists in the early stages of their professional careers. Our dynamic slate of programs supports outside-the-box thinking and encourages innovative, genre-bending work. Dubbed by The New York Times as a "fertile incubator of offbeat theater," Ars Nova blurs genres and subverts the status quo. With our feverish bounty of programming, we are the stomping ground and launching pad for visionary, adventurous artists of all stripes. By providing a protective environment where risk-taking and collaboration are paramount, Ars Nova gives voice to a new generation of diverse artists and audiences, pushing the boundaries of live entertainment by nurturing creative ideas into smart, surprising new work.

Ars Nova has been honored with an OBIE Award and a Special Citation from the New York Drama Critics' Circle for sustained quality and commitment to the development and production of new work. Notable past productions include: the extended, sold-outThe Lucky Ones, created by The Bengsons and Sarah Gancher, directed by Anne Kauffman; "Outstanding Musical" Lortel Award-winner KPOP, created by Jason Kim, Max Vernon, Helen Park and Woodshed Collective, directed by Teddy Bergman; "Best New American Theatre Work" OBIE Award-winner and The New York Times' "Best of 2016" Underground Railroad Game by Jennifer Kidwell and Scott R. Sheppard with Lightning Rod Special, directed by Taibi Magar (now on international tour); "Outstanding Musical" Lortel Award-winner FUTURITY, by César Alvarez with The Lisps, directed by Sarah Benson; The New York Times' and New York Post's "Best of 2015," Small Mouth Sounds by Bess Wohl, directed by Rachel Chavkin; Time Out New York's "Best of 2014," JACUZZI by The Debate Society, directed by Oliver Butler; the Tony Award-winning smash-hit Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 by Dave Malloy, directed by Rachel Chavkin; Jollyship the Whiz-Bang by Nick Jones and Raja Azar, directed by Sam Gold; the world premiere of the 2009 season's most-produced play boom by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, directed by Alex Timbers; the show that put Bridget Everett on the map, At Least It's Pink by Everett, Michael Patrick King, and Kenny Mellman, directed by King; and Lin-Manuel Miranda and Thomas Kail's first New York production, Freestyle Love Supreme by Anthony Veneziale and Miranda, directed by Thomas Kail.

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