Musical Theater Works, New York's only not-for-profit theater dedicated exclusively to developing new musicals, has suspended operations due to lack of funds, according to The New York Times.
Established in 1983, Musical Theater Works has nurtured hundreds of shows. Anthony Stimac, who served as artistic director until 1995, founded the organization. Lonny Price took over as the artistic director until 2002. MTW is now under the leadership of Thomas Cott. Titles developed at the company include Ruthless!, Starmites, Anna Karenina, A Class Act, The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, Harold and Maude which will premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse this season and Michael John La Chiusa's R Shomon which is part of the current season at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
Musical Theatre Works was supported, in part, by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Empire State Development Corporation and the City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs. Additional funding came from corporate and private donors.
The company's Lafayette Street office will reportedly be vacated by June 30.