Playwrights Horizons has announced that Musical Theatre Factory is the second company to join its Residency Company Program. MTF joins inaugural resident company Clubbed Thumb.
The residency provides office, rehearsal and performance space for theatre companies which, like Playwrights Horizons, are dedicated to creating new works. Musical Theatre Factory will be in residence through summer 2019 at Playwrights Horizons’ downtown location—440 Lafayette Street, which currently houses the Playwrights Theatre School.
Founded by Shakina Nayfack in January 2014, MTF is a collective for early-career musical theatre makers. Its mission is to help develop and present new works in a collaborative environment without the pressures of commercial success; it has already contributed to over 90 musicals.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Playwrights Horizons and deeply grateful for this incredible opportunity,” said Nayfack in a press statement. “In only two years, Musical Theatre Factory managed to become a creative home for so many remarkable writers, composers, performers and directors. When we lost our original space at the beginning of this year, we didn’t know if the Factory would survive. Now, thanks to this generous residency, MTF will have a home of its own at Playwrights Downtown. We couldn't be more delighted to share space with Clubbed Thumb and to collaborate with the students, faculty and staff of the Playwrights Horizons Theatre School. I’m excited to see what the next three years will yield, not only for the Factory, but for the future of American Musical Theatre.”
READ MORE: DIARY OF TRANS ACTRESS SHAKINA NAYFACK ON THE ROAD...IN NORTH CAROLINA
Clubbed Thumb, a resident company at Playwrights Horizons since 2014, is currently staging a return engagement of its Off-Broadway hit Men on Boats, which has been extended through August 21.
“As evidenced by our co-production of Men On Boats this summer, our collaboration with Clubbed Thumb as our inaugural resident company has been a productive and happy partnership,” added Adam Greenfield, associate artistic director at Playwrights. “Now, as we look to expand this program, the trailblazers at Musical Theatre Factory are a perfect match. Like Playwrights, they share a commitment to nurturing relevant voices who look to break new artistic ground. As we continue our mission to strengthen New York’s entire new-play landscape, we’re thrilled to find synergy with a company that values inspired and intelligent musical theater writers as much as we do.”
See photos from the opening of Men on Boats Off-Broadway:
Front row L – R: Tim Sanford (Playwrights Horizons Artistic Director), Will Davis, Maria Striar (Clubbed Thumb Producing Artistic Director), Kristen Sieh and Jaclyn Backhaus
