Musical Theatre Factory is a non-profit artist service organization dedicated to developing new work that dismantles oppressive ideologies towards collective liberation through powerful and joyful story and song in a collaborative atmosphere free from the pressures of critical or financial success.
Serving the Community
We center musical theatre makers of excellence who exist in the intersections of underrepresented groups while providing all access programming and support for musical theatre makers to collaborate and grow together.
In 5 years, MTF has been part of the development lifecycle for 130+ new musical theatre works with more than 900 volunteers amassing over 15,000 combined service hours.
Our Herstory
Founding Artistic Director Shakina Nayfack launched Musical Theatre Factory Inc (MTF) in January 2014 as a collective for early-career musical theatre makers interested in changing the way new musicals are developed in New York City. Through a series of community brainstorms, MTF developed a series of unique programs known today as the Assembly Line; a process that includes readings, concerts, workshops, and public performances – all at no cost to the artists. With an 18-month gift of subsidized space, founding MTF artists built a 780 square-foot black box theater in the heart of midtown Manhattan., opening its doors to the public on May 31, 2014.
Today, the organization has outgrown that 60- seat blackbox and has partnered with a number of host organizations throughout NYC, including Joe’s Pub, The People’s Improv Theatre, Funkadelic Studios, Theatre MU and Playwrights Horizons. As a member of Playwrights Horizons’ Company Residency Program, MTF has access to office, rehearsal, and performance space for theatre companies dedicated to creating new works. Now under the new leadership of Mei Ann Teo, MTF will continue shaping an inclusive canon of new musicals that reflect and celebrate the diversity in today’s world while pushing the form of musical theatre and taking musicals into multimedia and digital spaces.