Musical Theatre Factory (MTF) equips artists to create musical stories as a collective force for justice, healing, and radical imagination. By fostering deep relationships, equitable production models, and iterative development pathways, MTF is reshaping musical theatre into an expansive, people-powered movement—one that is driven by artists, accessible to communities, and transformative in its reach.

Since its founding in 2014, Musical Theatre Factory has been an inclusive community wholly dedicated to the developmental process of innovative new musicals by early-career artists. MTF began in the back of a porn studio when Founding Artistic Director Shakina Nayfack was gifted 18 months of a lease. MTF’s current governance and operations are shaped by sociocracy, a collaborative framework that redistributes power, ensures transparency, and fosters collective leadership. Rather than reinforcing hierarchy and silos, sociocracy creates space for diverse perspectives, innovation, and inclusive participation. Likewise, MTF’s artistic programming is organized around three overlapping circles of impact: The Artist, The Work, and The World. This framework reflects MTF's vision for a thriving creative ecosystem where artists take ownership of their process and impact, musical stories flourish in surprising and unexpected ways, and the field itself is reshaped by values of justice, care, and interdependence. Since 2014, Musical Theatre Factory has been part of the development lifecycle for 500+ new works, served more than 3,500 interdisciplinary artists, and provided or facilitated direct support of art-making to the tune of $1.5M. MTF artists are leading the charge of radical transformation in every way, and envisioning and manifesting the future of the field.

Jerome Foundation supports Musical Theatre Factory’s MTF Makers program. MTF Makers is a transformative, 24-month residency program that cultivates visionary musical storytellers who are driving cultural, social, and artistic change. MTF Makers reflects the organization’s deep belief that artists are not just creators of content but leaders in shaping the conditions of our communities and broader society. Each cohort is selected through a community-driven, equity-focused process to identify artists whose work expands the definition of musical storytelling. Makers are supported to push artistic form, explore new mediums, and find inventive ways to impact communities across the country through musical stories. Participants receive a monthly financial wellness stipend, access to a dedicated rehearsal space at the Factory Floor, and bespoke development resources, including development resources from our R&D suite. At the heart of the program is a personalized creative roadmap co-designed with MTF’s artistic leadership, providing adaptive, evolving support as artists’ visions grow and shift. Regular cohort gatherings provide a space for deep exchange, accountability, and skill-sharing, ensuring that Makers remain connected to a network of revolutionary peers.