Fast Forward

About Fast Forward

Fast Forward is a podcast about the futures artists are already building. MTF equips artists to create musical stories as a collective force for justice, healing, and radical imagination. Produced by MTF, Fast Forward brings artists, thinkers, and cross-sector collaborators into conversation to explore how creative practice moves beyond traditional development pipelines and into the world at large. Each episode asks us to fast forward to a future where artists are seen as essential contributors to society, not just culture makers, but collaborators in fields like health, technology, education, and civic life. Through candid dialogue, lived experience, and real-world examples, the podcast examines what becomes possible when storytelling is invited into new spaces. Fast Forward is for artists, producers, and partners who believe that creative work can shape systems, expand belonging, and build more humane futures. It’s a space for curiosity, experimentation, and bold thinking about how artists live, work, and collaborate. Because the future of art isn’t coming later. It’s already in motion. Learn more about MTF at www.mtf.nyc (http://www.mtf.nyc).

Publisher

MTF

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

13 Feb 2026

Latest episode

18 May 2026

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 May 2026

   014: "Always" ft. Christina D. Eskridge

   In the last episode of Season 1, Christina D. Eskridge sits down with Brisa Areli Muñoz to talk about how her public health background has elevated her artistry. Pun intended, because Christina is the founder and executive director of Elevate Theatre Company LLC in New York City. "Christina D. Eskridge, MPH grew up in Oakland, California. She performed all over the state in regional and community theater productions while studying for her Master’s in Public Health. After a few years of working full-time in Public Health, Christina moved to New York City to pursue performing arts full-time.  She attended the CAP21 2-Year Professional Musical Theatre Training Program and began performing around the country in plays, musicals, readings for new shows, and in New York venues like Lincoln Center, 54 Below, Rockwood Musical Hall, and Don't Tell Mama NYC.Christina played Lisa in the North American Tour of the smash hit musical, Mamma Mia!, Lily Livingston in On Strivers Row and Joan in Fun Home. In 2018, Christina was seen performing in her own one-woman show, A Night at Sheridan Square in the New Ohio Theatre’s Up Close Festival. Christina is also the founder and executive director of Elevate Theatre Company LLC in New York City. Elevate creates space for audiences and artists to explore health and well-being through the art of storytelling." ------------ About MTFMTF equips artists to create musical stories as a collective force for justice, healing, and radical imagination. Stay in Orbit:Website: www.mtf.nycInstagram: @mtfmusicalsYouTubeGive Back ---------- CREDITS Produced by | MTF Musicals Hosted by | Brisa Areli Muñoz Featuring | Christina D. EskridgeElevate Theatre CompanyArts for Everybody Production Creative Director | Andrea Negrete DP | Andrew Young Editing | Andrew Young Sound Mixing | Falan Nuhring MTF Team Abigail Grubb | Director of Interdependence & Collective Care Andrea Negrete | Director of Access & Advocacy AriDy Nox | Director of Decolonization & Sustainability Brisa Areli Muñoz | Director of Artistic Innovation & Emergent Magic Brandon Powers | Artistic Innovation Lead Falan Nuhring | Coordinator of Connectivity & Systems Sidney Erik Wright | Artistic Programs Lead MTF Board of Directors Amy Goldwasser Ariel Estrada Catherine Pulley-Dennison Cheyenne Myrie Isabel Quinzaños Alonso M Von Nida Special Thanks To The MTF Community & MTF Makers Past and Present Kelindah Bee | Producer of Fast Forward Live Tapings Sol & Yue Productions Shakina Nayfack | Founding Artistic Director Mei Ann Teo | Former Artistic Director Walter MTF’s Institutional Support The Mellon Foundation Joseph F. Savage Jr. Charitable Foundation Howard Gilman Foundation The Jerome Foundation Fast Forward is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

2. 

   9 May 2026

   013: MTF x Cheeyang Ng & Legendary

   Cheeyang Ng and Brisa Areli Muñoz sit down to talk taking more risk, the creation journey of Legendary, celebrating the moment, & their relationship with MTF over 12 years. "Legendary: The Myth of Creation is a solo musical that reimagines the act of myth-making through a queer, diasporic lens. It follows the journey of the Narrator, a queer Asian immigrant living in the U.S., as they navigate the question: Should I have a child? Along the way, they confront what it means to belong: across borders, between binaries, and within family. This is not some imagined realm. It is our world, where ancient legends and dominant narratives have long failed to make space for queer bodies. The Narrator asks: Why have our stories excluded us? Why is the world so obsessed with either/or? Through personal memories, Chinese mythology, and a fractured relationship with their father, they begin to deconstruct what legacy, lineage, and love truly mean. This is not a passive performance. Through circle singing, call and response, and shared storytelling, the audience becomes a vital part of the experience, co-authors of a new myth. By the end of the evening, together, we create a new story: one where queer people don’t just exist in the margins of myth, but are central to its creation. Legendary is not just a retelling; it’s a reimagining. A communal ceremony. A collective act of reclamation." ------------ About MTFMTF equips artists to create musical stories as a collective force for justice, healing, and radical imagination. Stay in Orbit:Website: www.mtf.nycInstagram: @mtfmusicalsYouTubeGive Back ---------- CREDITS Produced by | MTF Musicals Hosted by | Brisa Areli Muñoz Featuring | Cheeyang Ng, Legendary Production Creative Director | Andrea Negrete DP | Andrew Young Editing | Andrew Young Sound Mixing | Falan Nuhring MTF Team Abigail Grubb | Director of Interdependence & Collective Care Andrea Negrete | Director of Access & Advocacy AriDy Nox | Director of Decolonization & Sustainability Brisa Areli Muñoz | Director of Artistic Innovation & Emergent Magic Brandon Powers | Artistic Innovation Lead Falan Nuhring | Coordinator of Connectivity & Systems Sidney Erik Wright | Artistic Programs Lead MTF Board of Directors Amy Goldwasser Ariel Estrada Catherine Pulley-Dennison Cheyenne Myrie Isabel Quinzaños Alonso M Von Nida Special Thanks To The MTF Community & MTF Makers Past and Present Kelindah Bee | Producer of Fast Forward Live Tapings Sol & Yue Productions Shakina Nayfack | Founding Artistic Director Mei Ann Teo | Former Artistic Director Walter MTF’s Institutional Support The Mellon Foundation Joseph F. Savage Jr. Charitable Foundation Howard Gilman Foundation The Jerome Foundation Fast Forward is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

3. 

   1 May 2026

   012: MTF x Melliot

   In this episode, Brisa Areli sits down with writing duo Melliot (Mel Hornyak & Elliot Valentine) of Makers Cohort IV! We get into the joy & importance of Queer/Trans art, speculative fiction as a genre, and how they're writing their communities directly into their art. Listen in and learn more about the various project Melliot has been cookin' up! ------------ About MTFMTF equips artists to create musical stories as a collective force for justice, healing, and radical imagination. Stay in Orbit:Website: www.mtf.nycInstagram: @mtfmusicalsYouTubeGive Back ---------- CREDITS Produced by | MTF Musicals Hosted by | Brisa Areli Muñoz Featuring | Melliot Production Creative Director | Andrea Negrete DP | Andrew Young Editing | Andrew Young Sound Mixing | Falan Nuhring MTF Team Abigail Grubb | Director of Interdependence & Collective Care Andrea Negrete | Director of Access & Advocacy AriDy Nox | Director of Decolonization & Sustainability Brisa Areli Muñoz | Director of Artistic Innovation & Emergent Magic Brandon Powers | Artistic Innovation Lead Falan Nuhring | Coordinator of Connectivity & Systems Sidney Erik Wright | Artistic Programs Lead MTF Board of Directors Amy Goldwasser Ariel Estrada Catherine Pulley-Dennison Cheyenne Myrie Isabel Quinzaños Alonso M Von Nida Special Thanks To The MTF Community & MTF Makers Past and Present Kelindah Bee | Producer of Fast Forward Live Tapings Sol & Yue Productions Shakina Nayfack | Founding Artistic Director Mei Ann Teo | Former Artistic Director Walter MTF’s Institutional Support The Mellon Foundation Joseph F. Savage Jr. Charitable Foundation Howard Gilman Foundation The Jerome Foundation Fast Forward is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

4. 

   26 Apr 2026

   011: MTF x Come See Your Future

   Brisa Areli and Brandon sit down with EmmaLee Kidwell & Maria Andreoli to talk about how technology intersects dramaturgically with their process and new piece in development Come See Your Future. Come See Your Future is a hybrid musical theatre and virtual reality piece that unfolds in a sci-fi, dystopian world ravaged by climate change. The project explores capitalism’s impact on the environment and how political division inhibits humanity’s ability to live sustainably and find solutions to the climate crisis. Every audience member steps inside the world of the show in VR as the experience weaves live performance and interactive virtual reality sequences, propelling the story forward. With VR, the audience embodies each character's perspective, creating a form-bending immersive experience. Learn more about Maria & EmmaLee and Come See Your Future Below! ------------ About MTFMTF equips artists to create musical stories as a collective force for justice, healing, and radical imagination. Stay in Orbit:Website: www.mtf.nycInstagram: @mtfmusicalsYouTubeGive Back ---------- CREDITS Produced by | MTF Musicals Hosted by | Brisa Areli Muñoz Featuring | EmmaLee Kidwell & Maria Isabella Andreoli & Brandon Powers Come See Your Future Production Creative Director | Andrea Negrete DP | Andrew Young Editing | Andrew Young Sound Mixing | Falan Nuhring MTF Team Abigail Grubb | Director of Interdependence & Collective Care Andrea Negrete | Director of Access & Advocacy AriDy Nox | Director of Decolonization & Sustainability Brisa Areli Muñoz | Director of Artistic Innovation & Emergent Magic Brandon Powers | Artistic Innovation Lead Falan Nuhring | Coordinator of Connectivity & Systems Sidney Erik Wright | Artistic Programs Lead MTF Board of Directors Amy Goldwasser Ariel Estrada Catherine Pulley-Dennison Cheyenne Myrie Isabel Quinzaños Alonso M Von Nida Special Thanks To The MTF Community & MTF Makers Past and Present Kelindah Bee | Producer of Fast Forward Live Tapings Sol & Yue Productions Shakina Nayfack | Founding Artistic Director Mei Ann Teo | Former Artistic Director Walter MTF’s Institutional Support The Mellon Foundation Joseph F. Savage Jr. Charitable Foundation Howard Gilman Foundation The Jerome Foundation Fast Forward is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

5. 

   20 Apr 2026

   010: Technology as a Liberatory Tool

   This interactive live Fast Forward event invited audiences to explore how musical storytelling extends beyond the stage to influence other sectors. At our Fast Forward: Technology as a Liberatory Tool, we began to investigate how technology can serve artists and creators. To ground the discussion in lived artistic practice, we’ve engaged two artist case studies. EmmaLee Kidwell and Maria Isabella Andreoli are developing Come See Your Future, a mixed-reality musical that reimagines how audiences experience narrative across physical and digital space. Inyosi Sebenzekhaya is creating Priestess Portals, an evolving work exploring how spiritual technologies and extended reality can merge to generate new forms of ritual, embodiment, and collective transformation. Technologists Aaron Santiago and Dr. Courtney D. Cogburnwill joined the conversation to help audiences better understand how awareness can create agency as we imagine together how technology can be used to fuel the change we want to see in the world. ------------ About MTFMTF equips artists to create musical stories as a collective force for justice, healing, and radical imagination. Stay in Orbit:Website: www.mtf.nycInstagram: @mtfmusicalsYouTubeGive Back ---------- CREDITS Produced by | MTF Musicals Hosted by | Brisa Areli Muñoz Featuring | EmmaLee Kidwell & Maria Isabella Andreoli, INYOSI Sebenzekhaya (b. Nia O. Witherspoon) PhD, Aaron Santiago, & Dr. Courtney D. Cogburn Production Creative Director | Andrea Negrete DP | Andrew Young Editing | Andrew Young Sound Mixing | Falan Nuhring MTF Team Abigail Grubb | Director of Interdependence & Collective Care Andrea Negrete | Director of Access & Advocacy AriDy Nox | Director of Decolonization & Sustainability Brisa Areli Muñoz | Director of Artistic Innovation & Emergent Magic Brandon Powers | Artistic Innovation Lead Falan Nuhring | Coordinator of Connectivity & Systems Sidney Erik Wright | Artistic Programs Lead MTF Board of Directors Amy Goldwasser Ariel Estrada Catherine Pulley-Dennison Cheyenne Myrie Isabel Quinzaños Alonso M Von Nida Special Thanks To The MTF Community & MTF Makers Past and Present Kelindah Bee | Producer of Fast Forward Live Tapings Sol & Yue Productions Shakina Nayfack | Founding Artistic Director Mei Ann Teo | Former Artistic Director Walter MTF’s Institutional Support The Mellon Foundation Joseph F. Savage Jr. Charitable Foundation Howard Gilman Foundation The Jerome Foundation Fast Forward is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

6. 

   10 Apr 2026

   09: The Last Gatekeeper x MTFxR

   To ground us in practical application, MTF dives into the process of developing Germono Toussaint's The Last Gatekeeper as a case study for the use of Technology as a dramaturgical and liberatory tool. "The Last Gatekeeper is an immersive, multi-media, musical theater piece inspired by the writings of West African shaman Malidoma Patrice Somé. The term gatekeeper refers to the indigenous belief that those who express themselves as same-gender-loving maintain the portals between the physical and spiritual world and are connected to both. They are guardians who restore balance and harmony when there is crisis." We get into technologies, both practical & spiritual, and how they can serve the story, the artist, & the development process. ------------ About MTFMTF equips artists to create musical stories as a collective force for justice, healing, and radical imagination. Stay in Orbit:Website: www.mtf.nycInstagram: @mtfmusicalsYouTubeGive Back ---------- CREDITS Produced by | MTF Musicals Hosted by | Brisa Areli Muñoz Featuring | Brandon Powers & Germono Toussaint Production Creative Director | Andrea Negrete DP | Andrew Young Editing | Andrew Young Sound Mixing | Falan Nuhring MTF Team Abigail Grubb | Director of Interdependence & Collective Care Andrea Negrete | Director of Access & Advocacy AriDy Nox | Director of Decolonization & Sustainability Brisa Areli Muñoz | Director of Artistic Innovation & Emergent Magic Brandon Powers | Artistic Innovation Lead Falan Nuhring | Coordinator of Connectivity & Systems Sidney Erik Wright | Artistic Programs Lead MTF Board of Directors Amy Goldwasser Ariel Estrada Catherine Pulley-Dennison Cheyenne Myrie Isabel Quinzaños Alonso M Von Nida Special Thanks To The MTF Community & MTF Makers Past and Present Kelindah Bee | Producer of Fast Forward Live Tapings Sol & Yue Productions Shakina Nayfack | Founding Artistic Director Mei Ann Teo | Former Artistic Director Walter MTF’s Institutional Support The Mellon Foundation Joseph F. Savage Jr. Charitable Foundation Howard Gilman Foundation The Jerome Foundation Fast Forward is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

7. 

   4 Apr 2026

   08: What You Need to Know About MTFxR

   Brandon Powers joins us to talk all things MTFxR. We get into technology as a dramaturgical & liberatory tool, definitions, practical examples, fears, & more! ------------ About MTFMTF equips artists to create musical stories as a collective force for justice, healing, and radical imagination. Stay in Orbit:Website: www.mtf.nycInstagram: @mtfmusicalsYouTubeGive Back ---------- CREDITS Produced by | MTF Musicals Hosted by | Brisa Areli Muñoz Featuring | Brandon Powers Shout Out | Kelindah Bee& Melliot Production Creative Director | Andrea Negrete DP | Andrew Young Editing | Andrew Young Sound Mixing | Falan Nuhring MTF Team Abigail Grubb | Director of Interdependence & Collective Care Andrea Negrete | Director of Access & Advocacy AriDy Nox | Director of Decolonization & Sustainability Brisa Areli Muñoz | Director of Artistic Innovation & Emergent Magic Brandon Powers | Artistic Innovation Lead Falan Nuhring | Coordinator of Connectivity & Systems Sidney Erik Wright | Artistic Programs Lead MTF Board of Directors Amy Goldwasser Ariel Estrada Catherine Pulley-Dennison Cheyenne Myrie Isabel Quinzaños Alonso M Von Nida Special Thanks To The MTF Community & MTF Makers Past and Present Kelindah Bee | Producer of Fast Forward Live Tapings Sol & Yue Productions Shakina Nayfack | Founding Artistic Director Mei Ann Teo | Former Artistic Director Walter MTF’s Institutional Support The Mellon Foundation Joseph F. Savage Jr. Charitable Foundation Howard Gilman Foundation The Jerome Foundation Fast Forward is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

8. 

   27 Mar 2026

   07: The Potential to Shift Timelines

   On the other side of our live event/taping, ELC gathers to reflect on launching this new program, what curiosities we still have, and how we can imagine deepening this work. If you have a family member or friend at a senior center who can benefit from this type of work, please let us know at info@mtf.nyc! If you work in insurance and have valuable knowledge to add, we invite you to join the conversation. If you are asking yourself how you can apply this model to your own work, you're in the right place! We are so happy you're here. Thank you for listening. ------------ About MTFMTF equips artists to create musical stories as a collective force for justice, healing, and radical imagination. Stay in Orbit:Website: www.mtf.nycInstagram: @mtfmusicalsYouTubeGive Back ---------- CREDITS Produced by | MTF Musicals Hosted by | Brisa Areli Muñoz Featuring | Andrea Negrete, Abigial Grubb, & Brisa Areli Muñoz Production Creative Director | Andrea Negrete DP | Andrew Young Editing | Andrew Young Sound Mixing | Falan Nuhring MTF Team Abigail Grubb | Director of Interdependence & Collective Care Andrea Negrete | Director of Access & Advocacy AriDy Nox | Director of Decolonization & Sustainability Brisa Areli Muñoz | Director of Artistic Innovation & Emergent Magic Brandon Powers | Artistic Innovation Lead Falan Nuhring | Coordinator of Connectivity & Systems Sidney Erik Wright | Artistic Programs Lead MTF Board of Directors Amy Goldwasser Ariel Estrada Catherine Pulley-Dennison Cheyenne Myrie Isabel Quinzaños Alonso M Von Nida Special Thanks To The MTF Community & MTF Makers Past and Present Kelindah Bee | Producer of Fast Forward Live Tapings Sol & Yue Productions Shakina Nayfack | Founding Artistic Director Mei Ann Teo | Former Artistic Director Walter MTF’s Institutional Support The Mellon Foundation Joseph F. Savage Jr. Charitable Foundation Howard Gilman Foundation The Jerome Foundation Fast Forward is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

9. 

   22 Mar 2026

   06: What MERCEDES Continues to Give

   In episode 6, we circle back to Flako on the other side of our live event to check in on what that experience was like, what's in store for MERCEDES, and more! This conversation wraps up our time at the intersection of Health & Wellness (for now) and we look forward to diving into Technology as a Liberatory Tool! Stay tuned. ------------ About MTFMTF equips artists to create musical stories as a collective force for justice, healing, and radical imagination. Stay in Orbit:Website: www.mtf.nycInstagram: @mtfmusicalsYouTubeGive Back ---------- CREDITS Produced by | MTF Musicals Hosted by | Brisa Areli Muñoz Featuring | Modesto 'Flako' Jimenez Shout Outs | ¡Oye! Group, MERCEDES Production Creative Director | Andrea Negrete DP | Andrew Young Editing | Andrew Young Sound Mixing | Falan Nuhring MTF Team Abigail Grubb | Director of Interdependence & Collective Care Andrea Negrete | Director of Access & Advocacy AriDy Nox | Director of Decolonization & Sustainability Brisa Areli Muñoz | Director of Artistic Innovation & Emergent Magic Brandon Powers | Artistic Innovation Lead Falan Nuhring | Coordinator of Connectivity & Systems Sidney Erik Wright | Artistic Programs Lead MTF Board of Directors Amy Goldwasser Ariel Estrada Catherine Pulley-Dennison Cheyenne Myrie Isabel Quinzaños Alonso M Von Nida Special Thanks To The MTF Community & MTF Makers Past and Present Kelindah Bee | Producer of Fast Forward Live Tapings Sol & Yue Productions Shakina Nayfack | Founding Artistic Director Mei Ann Teo | Former Artistic Director Walter MTF’s Institutional Support The Mellon Foundation Joseph F. Savage Jr. Charitable Foundation Howard Gilman Foundation The Jerome Foundation Fast Forward is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

10. 

    13 Mar 2026

    05: The Ripple Effect

    In this episode of Fast Forward, artists Emmanuelle Zagoria and Ben Bonnema reflect on the conversation from MTF’s first Fast Forward: Health & Wellness gathering. Together, they explore what it might look like to build healthier creative ecosystems, imagining how care, sustainability, and collective responsibility could shape the future of artistic work. ------------ About MTFMTF equips artists to create musical stories as a collective force for justice, healing, and radical imagination. Stay in Orbit:Website: www.mtf.nycInstagram: @mtfmusicalsYouTubeGive Back ---------- CREDITS Produced by | MTF Musicals Hosted by | Brisa Areli Muñoz Featuring | Emmanuelle Zagoria and Ben Bonnema Learn more about PACBI Production Creative Director | Andrea Negrete DP | Andrew Young Editing | Andrew Young Sound Mixing | Falan Nuhring MTF Team Abigail Grubb | Director of Interdependence & Collective Care Andrea Negrete | Director of Access & Advocacy AriDy Nox | Director of Decolonization & Sustainability Brisa Areli Muñoz | Director of Artistic Innovation & Emergent Magic Brandon Powers | Artistic Innovation Lead Falan Nuhring | Coordinator of Connectivity & Systems Sidney Erik Wright | Artistic Programs Lead MTF Board of Directors Amy Goldwasser Ariel Estrada Catherine Pulley-Dennison Cheyenne Myrie Isabel Quinzaños Alonso M Von Nida Special Thanks To The MTF Community & MTF Makers Past and Present Kelindah Bee | Producer of Fast Forward Live Tapings Sol & Yue Productions Shakina Nayfack | Founding Artistic Director Mei Ann Teo | Former Artistic Director Walter MTF’s Institutional Support The Mellon Foundation Joseph F. Savage Jr. Charitable Foundation Howard Gilman Foundation The Jerome Foundation Fast Forward is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

11. 

    6 Mar 2026

    04: Health & Wellness

    What happens when musical theater intersects with health, healing, and wellness? Recorded live at our Fast Forward event this past October (2025), this episode explores how artists are using musical storytelling to engage with some of the most pressing questions around care, mental health, and collective well-being. Featuring expert voices Lis Chirinos, Sarah Serrano-Esquilin, and Dr. Marc Rothman, plus a live performance by Pedro Fortunato, this episode centers a case study on Mercedes by Modesto Flako Jimenez of Oye Group for collective imagining and dialogue. Make sure you listen to Episode 03 for more context! Dive into the ways creative practice can open new pathways for empathy, dialogue, and healing. From rethinking how stories about health are told, to exploring how artistic spaces can support personal and community wellness, the discussion invites us to consider what role musical storytelling might play in a healthier, more connected future. ------------ About MTFMTF equips artists to create musical stories as a collective force for justice, healing, and radical imagination. Stay in Orbit:Website: www.mtf.nycInstagram: @mtfmusicalsYouTubeGive Back ---------- CREDITS Produced by | MTF Musicals Hosted by | Brisa Areli Muñoz Featuring | Lis Chirinos, Sarah Serrano-Esquilin, and Dr. Marc Rothman, plus a live performance by Pedro Fortunato Production Creative Director | Andrea Negrete DP | Andrew Young Editing | Andrew Young Sound Mixing | Falan Nuhring MTF Team Abigail Grubb | Director of Interdependence & Collective Care Andrea Negrete | Director of Access & Advocacy AriDy Nox | Director of Decolonization & Sustainability Brisa Areli Muñoz | Director of Artistic Innovation & Emergent Magic Brandon Powers | Artistic Innovation Lead Falan Nuhring | Coordinator of Connectivity & Systems Sidney Erik Wright | Artistic Programs Lead MTF Board of Directors Amy Goldwasser Ariel Estrada Catherine Pulley-Dennison Cheyenne Myrie Isabel Quinzaños Alonso M Von Nida Special Thanks To The MTF Community & MTF Makers Past and Present Kelindah Bee | Producer of Fast Forward Live Tapings Sol & Yue Productions Shakina Nayfack | Founding Artistic Director Mei Ann Teo | Former Artistic Director Walter MTF’s Institutional Support The Mellon Foundation Joseph F. Savage Jr. Charitable Foundat

12. 

    27 Feb 2026

    03: In the Name of Mercedes

    In Episode 3 of Fast Forward, Brisa sits down with Modesto 'Flako' Jimenez for an intimate and expansive conversation about identity, memory, and wellness through artistic practice. Together, they explore who Flako is as an artist, who Mercedes was, and what MERCEDES the project has become. This is a case study in how creative work can function as healing, reclamation, and emotional processing. As this season examines Health and Wellness, MERCEDES offers a powerful lens into how art holds grief, legacy, transformation, and care. It is also paving the way for what cross-sectoral partnership can look like! Brisa and Flako unpack the relationship between storytelling and selfhood, and how creative practice can become a site of restoration. ------------ About MTFMTF equips artists to create musical stories as a collective force for justice, healing, and radical imagination. Stay in Orbit:Website: www.mtf.nycInstagram: @mtfmusicalsYouTubeGive Back ---------- CREDITS Produced by | MTF Musicals Hosted by | Brisa Areli Muñoz Featuring | Modesto 'Flako' Jimenez, MERCEDES, & ¡Oye Group! Production Creative Director | Andrea Negrete DP | Andrew Young Editing | Andrew Young Sound Mixing | Falan Nuhring MTF Team Abigail Grubb | Director of Interdependence & Collective Care Andrea Negrete | Director of Access & Advocacy AriDy Nox | Director of Decolonization & Sustainability Brisa Areli Muñoz | Director of Artistic Innovation & Emergent Magic Brandon Powers | Artistic Innovation Lead Falan Nuhring | Coordinator of Connectivity & Systems Sidney Erik Wright | Artistic Programs Lead MTF Board of Directors Amy Goldwasser Ariel Estrada Catherine Pulley-Dennison Cheyenne Myrie Isabel Quinzaños Alonso M Von Nida Special Thanks To The MTF Community & MTF Makers Past and Present Kelindah Bee | Producer of Fast Forward Live Tapings Sol & Yue Productions Shakina Nayfack | Founding Artistic Director Mei Ann Teo | Former Artistic Director Walter MTF’s Institutional Support The Mellon Foundation Joseph F. Savage Jr. Charitable Foundation Howard Gilman Foundation The Jerome Foundation Fast Forward is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

13. 

    21 Feb 2026

    02: If Artists Were Essential

    In Episode 2 of Fast Forward, members of MTF’s Artistic Circle (Brandon Powers, Sidney Erik Wright, and Brisa Areli Muñoz) break down what Fast Forward is and why it matters now. This conversation explores cross-sector collaboration, the future of the arts, and how artists can drive impact beyond traditional entertainment and new work development. Together, they examine how creative leaders can influence other sectors in society and the impact on the broader creative economy. What would change if artists were treated as essential contributors across industries? What does sustainable artistic impact actually look like? If you’re interested in arts leadership, cultural strategy, innovation in musical storytelling, and building a more equitable arts ecosystem, this episode lays the foundation. ------------ About MTFMTF equips artists to create musical stories as a collective force for justice, healing, and radical imagination. Stay in Orbit:Website: www.mtf.nycInstagram: @mtfmusicalsYouTubeGive Back ---------- CREDITS Produced by | MTF Musicals Hosted by | Brisa Areli Muñoz Featuring | Brandon Powers & Sidney Erik Wright Production Creative Director | Andrea Negrete DP | Andrew Young Editing | Andrew Young Sound Mixing | Falan Nuhring MTF Team Abigail Grubb | Director of Interdependence & Collective Care Andrea Negrete | Director of Access & Advocacy AriDy Nox | Director of Decolonization & Sustainability Brisa Areli Muñoz | Director of Artistic Innovation & Emergent Magic Brandon Powers | Artistic Innovation Lead Falan Nuhring | Coordinator of Connectivity & Systems Sidney Erik Wright | Artistic Programs Lead MTF Board of Directors Amy Goldwasser Ariel Estrada Catherine Pulley-Dennison Cheyenne Myrie Isabel Quinzaños Alonso M Von Nida Special Thanks To The MTF Community & MTF Makers Past and Present Kelindah Bee | Producer of Fast Forward Live Tapings Sol & Yue Productions Shakina Nayfack | Founding Artistic Director Mei Ann Teo | Former Artistic Director Walter MTF’s Institutional Support The Mellon Foundation Joseph F. Savage Jr. Charitable Foundation Howard Gilman Foundation The Jerome Foundation Fast Forward is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

14. 

    13 Feb 2026

    01: Before We Fast Forward

    Before we fully Fast Forward, we want to take the time to ground ourselves in where we are and why this work matters now. In this debut episode, MTF's Extended Leadership Circle introduces the org and sets the stage for what Fast Forward is here to do: imagine bold futures for storytelling, center artists as essential contributors to society, and explore how creative practice moves across sectors and communities. You’ll hear the origin story behind MTF, the values shaping this next era, and the questions that will guide the conversations to come. Whether you’re an artist, collaborator, or curious listener, this episode invites you into the vision and the journey ahead. About MTFMTF equips artists to create musical stories as a collective force for justice, healing, and radical imagination. Stay in Orbit:Website: www.mtf.nycInstagram: @mtfmusicalsYouTubeGive Back ---------- CREDITS Produced by | MTF Musicals Hosted by | Brisa Areli Muñoz Featuring | Abigail Grubb & Andrea Negrete Production Creative Director | Andrea Negrete DP | Andrew Young Editing | Andrew Young Sound Mixing | Falan Nuhring MTF Team Abigail Grubb | Director of Interdependence & Collective Care Andrea Negrete | Director of Access & Advocacy AriDy Nox | Director of Decolonization & Sustainability Brisa Areli Muñoz | Director of Artistic Innovation & Emergent Magic Brandon Powers | Artistic Innovation Lead Falan Nuhring | Coordinator of Connectivity & Systems Sidney Erik Wright | Artistic Programs Lead MTF Board of Directors Amy Goldwasser Ariel Estrada Catherine Pulley-Dennison Cheyenne Myrie Isabel Quinzaños Alonso M Von Nida Special Thanks To The MTF Community & MTF Makers Past and Present Kelindah Bee | Producer of Fast Forward Live Tapings Sol & Yue Productions Shakina Nayfack | Founding Artistic Director Mei Ann Teo | Former Artistic Director Walter MTF’s Institutional Support The Mellon Foundation Joseph F. Savage Jr. Charitable Foundation Howard Gilman Foundation The Jerome Foundation Fast Forward is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

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