Who We Are

Mission

Ring of Keys is a 501(c)3 nonprofit artist service organization that fosters community and visibility for musical theatre artists - onstage and off - who self-identify as queer women, transgender, and gender non-conforming artists.

The only organization of its kind, our community is made up of actors, directors, dancers, singers, stage managers, lighting designers, dramaturgs, artistic directors, producers, casting directors, librettists, lyricists, composers, props designers, scenic designers, sound designers, choreographers, costume designers, and production managers who self-identify as lesbian, bisexual, trans, queer, femme, masc, non-binary, and the diversity of genders that queerness contains. We represent 850+ individuals in 40 U.S. cities, Toronto, and London. We strive to kick (ball-change) the closet door open to create a vibrant, diverse musical theatre landscape for the future.

What We Do

Vision

We amplify and support artists through learning programs, community and network building, reciprocal partnerships across the field, and the development of new work, widening the public’s engagement with and education about queer stories. Ring of Keys queers the stage to create a more inclusive musical theatre landscape for all. We elevate the work of our “Keys” through showcases, our social media platforms, and our monthly newsletter. We provide a visible, supportive community through our initiatives, with a focus on concerts, workshop programming, networking events, job-sharing, and monthly meet-ups. Believing that our diversity is an asset that we bring to the industry, we collaborate with arts organizations and community partners to advance the musical theatre landscape and queer the stage.

Our Story

Founders Andrea Prestinario (she/her) and Royer Bockus (she/her) founded Ring of Keys in January 2018, after becoming friends bonded by their queer identities during a musical theatre production . They realized that while they inhabited a professional space that is gay-friendly, queer women and TGNC artists are underrepresented within that space, despite being a huge and vital part of the industry.

In short, our founders saw that musical theatre is gay but not queer, and that is the change we aim for to this day. Andrea became our first Executive Director, shepherding the organization from a living room collective to its 501(c)3 status, and establishing many of the resources that remain integral to the working of Ring of Keys to this day. In addition to the grassroots community building to grow the organization to 500+ Keys in three years, Andrea conceived our Queering the Canon Concert Series and Workshop Programming. In December 2021, Aislinn Frantz (she/her) took the reins, stepping down at the end of 2023. At the start of 2024, Delaney Piggins (she/they) became the new Executive Director and leads the organization today, with the support of our Board of Directors and dedicated volunteers.

As Ring of Keys continues to help usher queer musical theatre into its long overdue spotlight, the organization keeps growing, with new Keys added to the directory every week, the ongoing success of the Queering the Canon series, and valuable workshops across a variety of subjects for Keys and non-Keys alike. If you’re interested in becoming involved in Ring of Keys, you can Apply to be a Key here , Donate to Ring of Keys here , or reach out to us directly here .

Statement of Inclusion

What queerness means to Ring of Keys:

We support the exploration of the ever-expanding definitions of queerness. Queerness speaks to both gender identity and sexuality without conflating these two identities and can only be determined by an act of self-identification.

What diversity means to Ring of Keys:

We cannot begin to define the ever-changing human experience at all of its intersections; we support and believe in every emerging expression of human identity and welcome your collaboration toward equity for our community.

Executive Director

Founding Executive Director

Board of Directors

Advisory Council

Community Partners