Collaborative Arts Project 21, known more commonly as CAP21, is a

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

professional

musical theatre Musical theatre is a form of theatre, theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, ...

training conservatory and

off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...

theatre company Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...

. It has a core faculty with many associate faculty who are also working professionals. The conservatory has produced many

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

performers, as well as actors in off-Broadway, regional, and international theatre,

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film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

, and other performance media. Until 2012, it was in partnership with the

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...

’s

Tisch School of the Arts The New York University Tisch School of the Arts (commonly referred to as Tisch) is the performing, cinematic, and media arts school of New York University. Founded on August 17, 1965, as the School of the Arts at New York University, Tisch ...

. In 2014, CAP21 joined forces with Molloy University.

History

As a producing organization, CAP21 began in 1994. Its productions take place at CAP21 or at venues in New York City and around the United States. Each season, three new works are produced for a two-week “work in progress” run. In addition, CAP21 works in development with 20 new musicals and plays providing public and in-house readings. CAP21's season features diverse productions of new and classic plays and

musicals Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...

, drawing audiences from the greater New York metropolitan area. Nearly 200 theatre artists are engaged each year to create and present new and classic works. In 2012, the CAP21 Theatre Company won a

GLAAD GLAAD () is an American non-governmental media monitoring organization. Originally founded as a protest against defamatory coverage of gay and lesbian demographics and their portrayals in the media and entertainment industries, it has since ...

award for Outstanding New York Theatre: Off and off-off Broadway, for its production of the new musical ''Southern Comfort''. The production starred Jeffrey Kuhn and Natalie Joy Johnson. Some faculty include: Lori Leshner, Lawrence Arancio, Sean Dougherty, Jillian Carucci, and Chris O'Connor, the chair of the program (https://www.molloy.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/molloy-cap21-theatre-arts-program/faculty-profiles).

Alumni

Well-known performers who have been part of the CAP21 theatre group include

Lady Gaga Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for her image reinventions and versatility across the entertainment industry, she is an influ ...

, Alex Brightman, Adam Jacobs, Javier Muñoz, Jason Tam, Ali Stroker,

Matthew Morrison Matthew James Morrison (born October 30, 1978) is an American actor, dancer, and singer, best known for his role as Will Schuester on the Fox television show ''Glee'' (2009–2015). He has starred in multiple Broadway and off-Broadway produ ...

Kristen Bell Kristen Anne Bell (born July 18, 1980) is an American actress, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. List of Kristen Bell performances, Her work includes both film and television, and List of awards and nominations received by Kristen Bell, h ...

, Julie Benko,

Shaina Taub Shaina Taub is an American actress, singer, musician, and Tony Award-winning composer. Early life Taub was born in Waitsfield, Vermont and attended the theater camp Stagedoor Manor. Taub's interest in social justice started at a young age. At 16 ...

, Sosie Bacon, Nichelle Lewis (The Wiz, Hairspray), Jenna Rose Husli (

Teeth (musical) ''Teeth'' is a musical by Michael R. Jackson and Anna K. Jacobs, adapted from the 2007 horror film of the same name. It premiered off-Broadway in 2024 at Playwrights Horizons. The musical follows Dawn O'Keefe, an evangelical teenager, who is ...

), Diego Enrico (The Book of Mormon), and Jack Roden (Parade).

References

{{reflist

External links

Official CAP21 WebsiteOfficial Molloy College WebsiteBackstage Article September 2010BroadwayWorld Article October 2013Molloy College Opens New Manhattan Center May 2018On Stage Blog Top 30 College Musical Theatre Programs 2019-2020
Musical theatre organizations in the United States Off-Broadway theaters Arts organizations established in 1994 1994 establishments in New York City Performing arts education in New York (state)