Makers Lab

A BOUNDARY-DEFYING RESIDENCY FOR GENRE-DEFYING ARTISTS

Makers Lab provides a dynamic group of generative theater artists with individually tailored residencies designed to holistically support their careers and develop their new works. Working in a range of category-defying forms and disciplines, these artists, collaborators and companies use Ars Nova as a home base throughout their twelve-month creative residencies. With a wide range of bespoke development tools, institutional resources and hands-on artistic support, Makers Lab residents are encouraged to think big, take risks and push their creative potential as they make new work under our roof.

Current Makers Lab Residents

Wesley Olivier AKA Klondyke graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in May of 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music, Theatre, and Film. An experimental musical theatre composer and drag performer, Wes gives shows in their gender non conforming alien clown drag persona, Klondyke, in Brooklyn. They are currently re-working their first musical, Elsewhere, after the success of their second musical, Scarecrow, which was put up in 2023 at Ars Nova. Their art in all facets is created with the intention of furthering black trans liberation, the acknowledgment of our queer and trans ancestors that were erased or rewritten by white supremacy, and the freedom to have joy. Some of their previous credits include: Bark of Millions by Taylor Mac and Matt Ray at The Sydney Opera House, Oct 2023; Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil workshop by Taylor Mac and Jason Robert Brown, May 2023; Scarecrow by Klondyke at Ars Nova, Jan 2023; Takes the Cake Drag King and Thing Competition winner by The Cakeboys, at 3DB, Sept 2021.

Evan Ray Suzuki

evan ray suzuki is a NY-based performance and video artist of yonsei Japanese descent. evan creates multidisciplinary dance works in a butoh-ish choreographic style, often drawing on references from both internet culture and nature to capture alienation through abstraction and intimacy through fragmentation. evan’s work has been presented at Ars Nova, Abrons Arts Center, JACK, Center for Performance Research (CPR), Triskelion Arts, WestFest, CreateART, Amanda+James, 98 Art Collective, and in many galleries, parks, and basements. Recent projects have been supported by a grant from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, a 2022-23 LiftOff Residency with New Dance Alliance, and a 2023 Next Generation Residency with Centro Umbro di Residenze Artistiche. Recent credits as a performer include works by David Neumann, Mina Nishimura, Glenn Potter-Takata, for PRIVATE POLICY at New York Fashion Week, and with La MaMa’s Great Jones Repertory Company. evan holds a degree from Sarah Lawrence College in dance, theater, and cultural studies. evan is currently developing a new group dance work exploring liminal spaces and information overload on the internet.
www.evanraysuzuki.com
@evanxray

Gemma Soldati is an American performing and teaching artist. She won Best Comedy at the 2019 Melbourne Fringe with The Living Room. She has taught in Los Angeles, New England, Chicago, and Toronto for both adults and children.

Gemma’s focus is clown inspired work developed in front of live audiences. Her projects playfully dive deep into the heart of vital themes probing audiences with questions and meaning making – Grief, Ritual, Sleep, Dreams, Money, Power and beyond. Her current touring shows are The Poor Rich, an interactive 18+ clown show about the absurdity of money and The Adventures of Sleepyhead, a family show about the loss of one’s dreams.

She was the Artist in Residence at Kimball Jenkins 2022-2023 in Concord, New Hampshire and at Het Domijn in Weesp, Netherlands for the Fall of 2021

Past Makers

2022-2023
Guadalís Del Carmen, David Mendizábal, Joél Peréz & Emma Ramos, Laura Galindo, Michelle J. Rodriguez, Jilllian Walker

2019-2020
Manik Choksi & Zi Alikhan, Laura Galindo, Michelle J. Rodriguez, “Sabado Gigante” Project (Guadalis Del Carmen, David Mendizabal, Joel Perez, Emma Ramos)

2018-2019
Michael Breslin, Patrick Foley, Nightdrive, Jillian Walker, Deepali Gupta

2017-2018
Shayok Misha Chowdhury, Kameron Neal, Church of the Millenials, nicHi douglas, WinLitt, Whitney White

2016-2017
Haruna Lee, Sammy Miller and The Congregation, Kevin Armento, Jaki Bradley, Emily Oliveira

Future Makers Labs - Application Information

Applications are currently closed. Check back later for details on our 2023-24 cohort and for information on how to apply next season!

Upcoming Events

There are currently no Makers Lab events on-sale at this time. Check back later for a rundown of shows coming to a stage near you!

Partners

We’re always looking for partners to support our development programs! Learn more by reaching out to Dan Balkin,
Development Director, at dbalkin@arsnovanyc.com.