Musical Theatre Factory has named Mei Ann Teo the company's new producing artistic director. A director, creator, educator, and dramaturg, Teo succeeds Founding Artistic Director Shakina Nayfack, who will remain involved with MTF and will continue to advise as a member of the board.
“I’m absolutely thrilled and honored to serve this incredible community that Shakina has brought together,” said Teo. “MTF, by nurturing groundbreaking musical theatre makers, plays a unique and necessary role in the cultural infrastructure of our society. We get to gather and make work that seeks to dismantle oppressive ideologies, shift the culture towards collective liberation, and do it through powerful and joyful story in song.”
Teo is a theatre and filmmaker who works at the intersection of artistic, civic, and contemplative practices. Her work spans genres and mediums, including music theatre, inter-medial participatory work, re-imagining classics, and documentary theatre.
In the theatre, Teo has directed and/or developed new work at OSF, where she was the Phil Killian Fellow in 2015; Chicago's Goodman Theatre; the Public Theater; Crowded Fire; History Theatre; BRT (Ground Floor); and was the first Asian American to direct at the National Black Theatre. She was the featured director at MIT’s Symposium Next Wave: The Future of Asian American Theatre, and presents regularly at national conferences like CAATA, NET Symposiums, and LMDA.
Teo has worked as a dramaturg on a wide range of projects, from Erik Ehn’s The Cycle Plays with Theatre of Yugen to titles with Disney. She is a creative collaborator of Diana Oh and was dramaturg for Oh's acclaimed show {my lingerie play} at Rattlestick Theatre.
Among a number of international credits, she recently helmed the world-premiere adaptation of the comic book Dim Sum Warriors, which toured 25 cities in China this summer.
“After much anticipation, it is with great joy that I introduce you to new Producing Artistic Director, Mei Ann Teo,” said Nayfack. “She is a visionary interdisciplinary theatre maker and community organizer who brings with her to the job a wealth of experience in new works development, education, and fundraising. We are in great hands, and I have full confidence that MTF will achieve new levels of artistic excellence and organizational sustainability with her expertise and leadership.”
Teo is currently helping oversee the roll-out of MTF Makers, a new initiative which will provide six teams of theatremakers 18 months of development resources and platforms to share their work. Applications will be accepted beginning September 21. Click here for more information.
