Ars Nova's ANT Fest to Feature James Harrison Monaco, Vinny DePonto, and More

Ars Nova has announced the lineup for its eighth annual ANT Fest, running from June 1-26. The festival's programming, which features a lineup of All New Talent, is described as "comedy, music, and theater mashups" by "the next wave of breakthrough artists at Ars Nova." ANT Fest offers a wide range of early-career artists, a point of entry into the greater New York City arts community.

This year's ANT Fest lineup will include Ars Nova alums James Harrison Monaco and Vinny DePonto, who will debut new pieces in the ANT Fest Lounge. On June 25, storyteller James Harrison Monaco will present Tales for Telling. On June 26, Vinny DePonto's Vinny DePonto: Mind Reader will be a salon-style evening of lies and illusion that gets up close and personal.

There will also be two special editions of Showgasm, which offers a consistent lineup of fresh comedy, music, and variety acts, during this year’s ANT Fest. Host John Early and sidekick DJ Hamm Samwich will emcee the evenings on June 4 and June 18, with pre-show happy hour Foreplay.

"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 in a statement. "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."

Before their shows, audiences can visit Bars Nova, and post-show, the ANT Fest Lounge offers a loft space boasting drinks from Brooklyn Brewery and pizza from Two Boots.

For tickets to the 2015 ANT Fest and for more information about it, click here.