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.

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 1,000+ individuals in 40 US 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.

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 .

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.

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.

Leadership Team

Volunteers

Board of Directors

Our Story

Founders Andrea Prestinario (she/her) and Royer Bockus (she/her) founded Ring of Keys in January 2018, after bonding over 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. 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. In 2025, Delaney shifted to a new role on the Board and Jess Ducey (they/them) and Liz Neitge (she/they) came on board as co-directors.

Partners