About Ars Nova

Our history

Take a look back! Founded in 2002, Ars Nova fosters a creative environment that welcomes emerging artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines and serves as a creative home and laboratory — a place to meet collaborators, test ideas, develop new work, earn industry recognition and launch their unique voices and careers.

Dubbed by The New York Times as one of New York’s “most adventurous Off-Broadway companies,” Ars Nova was honored with a 2015 OBIE Award and a 2015 Special Citation from the New York Drama Critics’ Circle for our sustained quality and commitment to the development and production of new work.

Notable past productions include: The New York Times’ “Best of 2018” Rags Parkland Sings The Songs of The Future created by Andrew R. Butler, directed by Jordan Fein; the extended, sold-out The 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, The New York Times’ “Best of 2016” and “one of the best 25 plays of the last 25 years” Underground Railroad Game by Jennifer Kidwell and Scott R. Sheppard with Lightning Rod Special, directed by Taibi Magar (now on international tour: Edinburgh Fringe First, “Best of 2018” Washington Post); “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,” J@CUZZ1 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.

LOOK BACK AT OUR OFF-BROADWAY PRODUCTIONS

2022

(pray)

September 23 – October 28, 2022

a sacred offering created by nicHi douglas
with music by S T A R R Busby & JJJJJerome Ellis
directed & choreographed by nicHi douglas
A co-production with National Black Theatre

TO LEARN MORE CLICK HERE.

We joyously welcome you to nicHi douglas’ (pray)! Channeling the energy and vitality of a Sunday Baptist Church service, this kinetic and vibrant choreopoem celebrates and confronts the complexity of spiritual inheritance. Join this multigenerational congregation of Black womxn and femmes for an evening of song, dance, fellowship and the opportunity to reflect on your own beliefs.