Industry NewsMusical Theatre Factory Announces New Artistic Director Brisa Areli Muñoz; Shakina Nayfack to Become Board Chair
Muñoz is associate director for American Repertory Theater’s production of 1776, directed by Jeffrey Page and Diane Paulus.
By
Raven Brunner
March 08, 2022
Brisa Areli Muñoz will become Musical Theatre Factory's new artistic director, succeeding Mei Ann Teo. Founding Artistic Director Shakina Nayfack will now serve as board chair.
Muñoz cofounded the Applied Theatre Collective, and has directed and facilitated work with Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Center Theatre Group, The Kennedy Center, The Public Theater, and more. She is associate director for American Repertory Theater’s upcoming production of 1776, directed by Jeffrey Page and Diane Paulus.
"Brisa Areli embodies all things MTF in her creative and administrative work," says Nayfack. "She is a change maker, a community builder, a thought leader, and a visionary dreamer, and I couldn't be more enthusiastic about passing the torch of the Factory's leadership to her during this time of renaissance and reflection.
"I look forward to working with her alongside our Managing Director, Aaron Salley, and our board of directors, as we return to in-person programming and undertake a strategic planning process that will enable Musical Theatre Factory to continue growing in our industry and serving our community well into the future."
Nayfack starred in NBC's Connecting and made history as the first transgender person to be a series regular on a network sitcom. She wrote the Drama League-award winning play Chonburi International Hotel and Butterfly Club,which premiered on Audible.
Musical Theatre Factory's mission is rooted in radical inclusivity aimed at helping musical theatre artists create in a collaborative environment. The organization has aided in the development of numerous new works, including Michael R. Jackson’s Pulitzer-winning and Broadway-bound musical A Strange Loop.
Laks, the League's former executive vice president and general counsel, has been serving in the role on an interim basis since the departure of Charlotte St. Martin.
Consisting of four distinct programs dedicated to supporting early career playwrights, the festival has formalized Second Stage Theater’s artistic pipeline.
The program awards three early-career playwrights with professional mentorship, a $7,500 stipend, a public reading, and additional networking opportunities.