MST&DA wins NYSCA Award, the theatre arts nonprofit announced on Wednesday. Roosevelt Island’s Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance is a first time recipient of the State’s Council on the Arts grant.
“Our state’s creative industries generate a total of $120 billion to the state economy, account for 466,000 jobs, and play a significant role in revitalization, education and social justice,” said NYSCA executive director Mara Manus.
In fiscal 20220, the State agency will grant $41 million to arts groups. The money draws tourists, and the groups act as anchors at home.
The $4,000 grant goes toward “…a new, full length musical with the Children’s Theatre (ages 8-12) this Spring 2020,” MST&DA executive director Kristi Towey said.
But there’s more.
MST&DA Wins NYSCA Award, and…
“We were also awarded a NYC Cultural Development Fund award for the same project,” Towey told Roosevelt Island News.
“We are incredibly grateful and excited to be awarded this grant,” she added. “The creation of a new musical is a wonderful learning opportunity for both the children and staff involved.”
Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance staged The Monkey King: A Kung Fusical with the Children’s Theatre in the Spring of 2018. It was a hit that crossed the country and back with Broadway in mind.
MST&DA’s NYSCA award win brings a new spring show to Roosevelt Island.
More like this…
The Line That Didn’t Land
I stood in the back of Good Shepherd Chapel on the evening of April 15, 2026, at the Steam Plant Demolition Town Hall, watching people adjust scarves and jackets before the meeting began. Benjamin Jones, President and CEO of RIOC, thanked us for attending and, without a pause, said he was “pleased to host tonight’s town hall on the city’s demolition of its steam plant.” The demolition, in other words, was not up for discussion.
