Ars Nova Announces Lineup for ANT Fest 2015

Ars Nova is thrilled to announce the lineup for its 8th Annual ANT Fest, running June 1-26. This year's festival of all new talent features four nonstop weeks of comedy, music & theater mash-ups, and invites audiences on a nightly adventure with the next wave of breakthrough artists at Ars Nova. A complete lineup is listed below.

"This next wave of early career artists caught our eye and we're psyched about all they have to show," said Ars Nova Artistic Director Jason Eagan. "ANT Fest continues to be a wild adventure for Ars Nova audiences and a platform for next-gen talent to take huge risks and inspire the greater NYC live arts community."

Additionally, Ars Nova Alums James Harrison Monaco and Vinny DePonto will debut brand new super-intimate pieces in the ANT Fest Lounge. On June 25 at 7 p.m., cozy up with a cocktail as captivating storyteller James Harrison Monaco spins a yarn (or two) in "Tales for Telling." On June 26 at 7 p.m., join Vinny DePonto for "Vinny DePonto: Mind Reader," a salon-style evening of lies and illusion that gets up close and personal.

Audiences can also catch two very special editions of "Showgasm" during this year's ANT Fest, with host John Early and sidekick DJ Hamm Samwich, on Thursday, June 4 and Thursday, June 18 at 9 p.m., with pre-show happy hour, Foreplay, starting at 8 p.m.

As part of ANT Fest, Ars Nova invites audiences to come early and stay late. Doors open 30 minutes before every show so audiences can visit Bars Nova which has a fully-stocked bar and seriously tasty snacks. Post-show, the ANT Fest Lounge keeps the fun going in Ars Nova's sweet loft space, where artists and audiences alike can kick back on the couch with a cold beer from Brooklyn Brewery and a hot slice of Two Boots Pizza.

Now in its eighth year, Ars Nova's annual celebration of All New Talent, a prime destination for an eclectic mix of brand new shows featuring some of the most ingenious artists in New York City, has proven to be an important first step in the lifecycle and development of new works. Through its open submission process, ANT Fest offers a wide range of early career artists a point of entry onto the Ars Nova stage as well as into the greater New York City arts community. This year's call for submissions drew nearly 300 applicants.

Complete Festival Schedule:

Monday, June 1 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artist: Andrew Bancroft
Orpheus and Eurydice are F*cking in Love
Andrew Bancroft and indie-trio Moondrunk's music veers from irreverent freestyle Fresh from the Underworld, Greek lovers Orpheus and Eurydice are braving the wilds of New York City to share their musical story of love and loss. With the help of indie trio Moondrunk, they're singing, dancing and freestyle rapping their way towards the meaning of modern love.

Tuesday, June 2 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artist: Lisa Clair
What's YOUR Problem? A Deep Space Lounge Act
Medical trauma gets the ol' glitter-and-glam, smokey lounge, old-time treatment in this neo-cabaret with original music. A lounge singer determined to transform personal disaster blends medical experiences, bodily invasion and pop-culture depictions of our universe into a deep space musical extravaganza.

Wednesday, June 3 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artist: Kim Katzberg
Terry: Recovering Pet Detective
A zoned-out-suicide-prevention-hotline operator and an exotic-dancer-turned-pet-detective embark on a ridiculous caper in this campy, noir mash-up of Law & Order and Charles Busch, featuring a cast of two outrageous actors and plenty of pets.

Thursday, June 4 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artist: Julio Torres
Myth & Beauty
This evening of magical, mythological sketches follows the likes of Odysseus on a truly arduous shuttle-bus journey and the daughters of Zeus as they apply to Sarah Lawrence.

Thursday, June 4 at 9 p.m.
Showgasm -- ANT Fest Edition
Everyone's favorite variety-show-meets-party gets Festified with your host: John Early and sidekick DJ Hamm Samwich.

Friday, June 5 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artists: Kate Hopkins & Jeanna Phillips
What's this called, this spirit? In this concert-play from art-rock band, Scouts, Oklahoma!-obsessed Ruthie uses her one-girl radio show to tell the tale of her family's exodus from Oklahoma towards an uncertain California. Infectious rhythms and dustbowl harmonies underscore this epic journey west.

Saturday, June 6 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artists: Loren Beri & Molly Murphy/ Molly Murphy & Neil deGrasse Tyson on our Last Day on Earth
Part indie lecture series and part musical cabaret, this story follows famous astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and his biggest fan girl through the Hayden Planetarium. The catch? In 24 hours the Earth will be swallowed by a supermassive black hole.

Monday, June 8 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artist: Richard Thieriot
The Beginning of Winter
A pair of street buskers tries its hand at an ancient Dionysian rite. The story of Persephone -- featuring heroic battles, freezing winters and burning summers -- is told using vocals, guitar, and a looper.

Tuesday, June 9 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artists: Jaki Bradley, Amanda Culp, Zoe Sophia Garcia, Rachel Karp, Marianna McClellan, Lillian Meredith, Maggie Raymond, Gabby Sherba
#liberated. Every week, six feminists gather to Zumba, drink wine and vent about the patriarchy. When the discussion turns to internet porn, they decide to tackle the issue head on. This dark comedy follows friendship and sexuality into the troll-controlled web, and explores the thin line between empowerment and exploitation.

Wednesday, June 10 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artist: Charlotte Thun-Hohenstein
Checkpoint Charlie's State of Affairs. Soviet spy Checkpoint Charlie narrates the glorious history of Marxism with help from her troupe of Stealth Bombshells, in this burlesque variety show that's both highbrow and debaucherous; cerebral and kitschy.

Thursday, June 11 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artists: Lilla Goettler & Kathryn Hathaway
Stacking the Brooms
Where do a nutritionist, cannabis critic, ski patroller and musician come together to create an Olympic team? In a Gay Adventure in Curling! With music inspired by Icelandic folklore and the Colorado landscape, this interdisciplinary, swirly, Bj�rkian piece depicts players caught up in a roaring game.

Friday, June 12 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artists: Joshua Williams Gelb, Katie Rose McLaughlin, Dan O'Neil Bear Slayer!
In this action-adventure tragi-comic bromance, two men decide they must go to Alaska and kill a bear despite their complete lack of preparation, gun training or survival skills. Bear suits and Walmart gun-buying excursions drive you to ask: how far is too far?

Saturday, June 13 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artists: Whitney Mosery & Joshua Williams
The Bonapartes. An old-fashioned family drama that stars Napoleon, his wife Josephine and her pet orangutan, Rose. Follow the Bonapartes as they bicker and bite their way through this darkly comic, experimental tragedy. After all, what would an ape from Southeast Asia make of bewigged imperial France?

Monday, June 15 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artist: Ilana Becker
Argument Sessions
This immersive bar event features arguments taken directly from US Supreme Court transcripts. Developed with The Arguers and performed within the audience, the show emerges as a full-on SCOTUS spectacular. It's time to have it out about our rights -- over drinks.

Tuesday, June 16 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artists: Matt Bradley & Laura Gragtmans
ASTRONAUT. To prove he's got enough potential to continue to exist, a loser artist must travel to the center of the Milky Way galaxy and present a meta-theatrical concert play to the creator of the universe.

Wednesday, June 17 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artists: Tim Platt & Peter Mills Weiss
MAKE PEOPLE (part 1)
Weiss and Platt lay their hypnotic, insidious performance style on dark, deadpan personal stories. Laugh. Be haunted for days.

Thursday, June 18 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artists: Jaclyn Backhaus, Joe Drymala, Andrew Scoville, David Tennant
People Doing Math LIVE!
A group of artists slash math-enthusiasts are here to prove that math doesn't suck Their main proselytizing tool? A live podcast that explores mathematical concepts through interviews, contests, and radio dramas. The result? Math might in fact illuminate the beauty all around us.

Thursday, June 18 at 9 p.m.
Showgasm -- ANT Fest Edition
Everyone's favorite variety-show-meets-party gets Festified with your host: John Early and sidekick DJ Hamm Samwich.

Friday, June 19 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artists: Red 40 & the Last Groovement
Red 40 & The Last Groovement
This funk band is on a mission to arouse celebration by blending virtuosic musicianship, sublime transformation and fierce femininity. A high-energy, guiltily-pleasurable, sparkly show that not only encourages dancing, freedom and celebration, but demands it.

Saturday, June 20 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artists: Skylar Fox & Simon Henriques
The Retardedly Boring Misadventures of Apathy Boy
In a world that cares too much, Apathy Boy is really good at saving himself. Meanwhile in an alternate world, a kid with high-functioning autism tells Apathy Boy's story as he draws it into life. When these worlds collide, a hero meets his maker and everything changes.

Monday, June 22 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artist: Emilyn Kowaleski
Eversion (or that time my heart flew out of my mouth)
This concert-style docudrama pairs original folk/blues songs with true stories of that crush you had in middle school, that f*cker that broke your heart, that person you stayed with too long, or: the uncomfortably human experience of love.

Tuesday, June 23 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artist: Amanda Szeglowski
Harold, I Hate You.
Florida, 1985. Chris isn't eating his broccoli. Someone's at the door. Grams says it's a little boy named Harold from upstairs; he's come for our dinner. We're suspicious... This darkly humorous dance-theater work investigates our omnipresent insecurities that are, just maybe, only imaginary.

Wednesday, June 24 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artists: Joe Castle Baker & Tessa Skara
THE FAMILY REUNION
A family reunion means one thing: UNLIMITED FUN! Your long-lost siblings wanna make some memories and they have a photocake, mid-shelf liquor, and a number from West Side Story to prove it. Live out the awkward family gathering of your dreams in this interactive comedy.

Thursday, June 25 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artists: James Bewley & Leslie Goshko
Wunnerful, Wunnerful! A Tribute to Lawrence Welk
Dale Seever's eager to lead an evening of popular song, but there's trouble beneath the gee-whiz enthusiasm and glossy smiles of his cast. This musical salute to summer channels the bubbles, matching suits, and lame set pieces of Lawrence Welk's long-running TV show.

Thursday, June 25 at 7 p.m. - Lounge Show
Lead Artist: James Harrison Monaco. Tales for Telling
Cozy up with a cocktail as this captivating storyteller spins a yarn (or two).

Friday, June 26 at 7 p.m.
Lead Artists: Andrew Farmer, Andrew Neisler, Nate Weida
Boats And Humans have been wiped out and all our crap's been left behind. A sweeping combination of music, comedy, and wild physicality tells an epic tale of all the big and small stuff we make, and trash, and store, and use, and surround ourselves with everyday. Will the boats miss us? Will the spoons?

Friday, June 26 at 7 p.m. - Lounge Show. Lead Artist: Vinny DePonto
Vinny DePonto: Mind Reader
A salon-style evening of lies and illusions gets up close and personal.