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Before Bowen Yang was a Saturday Night Live breakout and Maddie's Secret star John Early was one of the most recognizable faces in alternative comedy, they were doing the kind of weird, scrappy theater that could only really happen in New York. Now the festival that helped launch them is back, and it's ready to introduce audiences to the next batch of future stars.
ANT Fest, Ars Nova’s annual All New Talent festival, returns to NYC from September 8 through 25, bringing 15 new works to the non-profit theater at 511 West 54th Street. The festival has built its reputation around giving emerging theater makers, comedians, musicians and genre-bending performers a place to try out their strangest ideas.
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Past ANT Fest alumni include Matt Rogers, Jeremy O. Harris and Ryan J. Haddad, artists who went from New York's indie-performance ecosystem to Saturday Night Live, Netflix specials and the general upper reaches of the cultural firmament. Ars Nova's entire mission is essentially to find the people who are about to become famous before everybody else catches on.
This year's festival is particularly eclectic. The 15 new works include a fictional pop duo dealing with an impending scandal, a rapping nun and priest, South Asian high school students performing Grease, a bat trapped in a hospital and a cloud that desperately wants to become human. There is also an entire musical about Madonna, titled I AM MADONNA. I’VE ALWAYS BEEN MADONNA. FUCK YOU IF YOU THINK OTHERWISE, I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU THINK, I AM MADONNA., which is a pretty good indicator of ANT's whole vibe.
The festival kicks off September 8 with PDA Live!, a multimedia pop spectacle about a lesbian pop duo on the verge of superstardom whose secret is threatened by a mysterious blackmailer. The following night brings The Castle of Ghoul Hammond, a low-budget-sounding epic involving queer cannibalism, werewolves, folk religion, cinema and confetti cake. Honestly, if that isn't enough to get you to Midtown...
And ANT Fest isn't content to simply put on a bunch of shows and send everyone home. The festival is designed to feel more like nightlife, with post-show parties where audiences can drink and mingle with the performers and other theater obsessives. There are also special events, including Stacked: ANT Fest Edition on September 10, featuring emerging musical talent hosted by drag artist Aimee Amour, and the festival closer Showgasm, Ars Nova's variety-show-meets-party hosted by performance legend Erin Markey.
And here's maybe the best reason to go: Tickets are only $20 at the artist-suggested price. Some ANT Fest shows also participate in Ars Nova's “Name Your Price” initiative, which is specifically designed to make new work accessible. And maybe a little less intimidating to take a chance on a performer you've never heard of. Or a logline that seems to make no sense.
ANT Fest 2026 runs September 8–25 at Ars Nova, 511 W. 54th St. Tickets start at $20. For more information and to see a full line-up, click here.