News: May 13th Gala Celebrates 5 Years of Musical Theatre Factory

Photo provided by Michelle Tabnick PR
Musical Theatre Factory will be hosting a gala at Town Stages (221 West Broadway, Manhattan, NYC) on May 13, 2019 at 7:30pm to celebrate five years of growth while creating spaces to collaborate outside the pressures of critical and commercial success and dismantling oppressive ideologies in order to move towards collective liberation. As Robin Sokoloff, executive director of Town Stages, puts it, "MTF's wholehearted commitment to reimagining story-telling by creating avenues for equitable representation both onstage and offstage has transformed the face of musical theatre in New York City and beyond." 

The gala will feature a night of dance and song honoring Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop) and introducing the inaugural MTF Makers Cohort with work and performances by Troy Anthony (The River is Me), Jacob Jarrett (Wonder Boy), Melissa Li and Kit Yan (Interstate), Jillian Walker (SkinFolk: An American Show), AriDy Nox (Flawless Feminism) and Brandon Webster (Medicine for Melancholy), and Jonathan Larson Award winners Tidtaya Sinutoke and Straight White Men alum Ty Defoe (Clouds Are Pillows for the Moon).

Additionally, there will be performances and work by MTF Artists including Natalie Walker (Alice by Heart), Heath Saunders (Alice by Heart, Great Comet, NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar Live), Jessie Shelton (Hadestown, Waitress, Futurity), Nikko Benson (Jonathan Larson Winner), Douglas Lyons (Beau, Polkadots), and Preston Max Allen (Agent 355, We Are The Tigers) with a dance party by Nessa Norich, aka DJ nessoono (Infinite Love Party).

In order to keep the celebration accessible, a sliding scale is being offered, with special experiences and perks at different levels. Tickets start at $25, and all proceeds benefit programs that develop artists. Tickets can be purchased at https://mtf.nyc/event/high-five-celebrating-5-years-of-being-down-to-fac/#get-tickets. All attendees must be 21 or older and are encouraged to "Sparkle! SHINE! GLAM IT UP (dancing shoes a must)."

For those who cannot attend but would like to still donate, they can do so at: mtf.nyc/donate.

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