Last Spring, Music Theatre Philly (MTP) and Nest announced their merger, marking a new chapter for these two beloved Philadelphia family institutions after nearly 10 years of serving local families as neighboring businesses in a collaboration that MTP founder Mindy Baiada calls a “dream come true.”

The Nest Legacy: A Hub for Philadelphia Families

“My daughter was born in 2011 and shortly after, Nest opened their doors,” Baiada recalled. “It was a hub for Philly families and became my community. I learned how to be a mom at Nest, literally and figuratively.”

Their mission states that they opened with a “simple goal; to make life easier and better for parents of young children.” They’ve since grown to become a “premier resource” for families with children ages newborn to 6 years old. The services have included parent classes, a modern indoor playground, a cafe, a kid friendly hair salon, and more. 

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From Neighbors to Partners: The Birth of Music Theatre Philly

To this day, the Nest halls display the handprints of the founding members who marked the historical opening. Baiada’s daughter’s hands among those prints. So when founders Baiada and Dann Dunn set out to open MTP in 2013, the nonprofit’s first location choice was an obvious one. 

“When I started MTP I rented space at Nest to offer a triple threat dance class, and a ‘Frozen’ performance class,” Baiada said. “It was an incredibly successful trial which gave me the confidence to move into our own space.”

A Decade of Theatrical Excellence

In the years following, MTP has offered award winning performing arts programming year round for children ranging from 3 to 17. Their production company MTP Presents has put on shows such as” Mean Girls, High School Version”, “Disney’s The Aristocat Kids”, “Boundless The Musical” and more. 

Their production of “Rent, School Edition” is among MTP Executive Director Tim Popp’s favorites. Popp joined the MTP family post pandemic and has spent years nurturing the growth of their performance program. 

“[Rent] really established us as a serious place for kids to do quality theater, and to work with other kids who are passionate about musical theater as well,” Popp said in a recent interview. “It was a big moment for the company.” 

The Vision for a Combined Future

Both Popp and Baiada shared their enthusiasm as they envisioned future productions filling the modern Nest space. “This merger allows us to continue building our programs. We also plan to develop new curriculum and offerings for the Nest community,” Baiada said. 

Preserving Beloved Programs While Building New Connections

Popp echoed Baiada’s sentiments as he shared the ways in which families will benefit from the merger. 

“The programming that families have known and loved at Nest for all these years will remain essentially intact, as will the programming at Music Theater Philly,” Popp said. “It’s more about us sharing resources and living in the same space. Nest is a vital asset to the community, and so is Music Theater Philly. We’re not replacing either of them, we’re bringing them together to make them greater than the sum of their parts.” 

Building a Stronger Community Through the Arts

The merger has already shown promising results. Their Summer Camps marked a successful beginning to this new chapter, with Summer Camps for 2025 now available. Music Theatre Philly will present a full day summer camp for children in grades K – 6 and a half day preschool camp for children ages 2.5 to 5 years old.

“I’m hoping that this becomes a vital part of the cultural offerings of Philadelphia. That it’s a place where families know that their children are safe, they’re supported, and they’re respected,” Popp shared.

Looking Ahead: A Bright Future for Philadelphia Families

The fall season will conclude with two productions presented at the Tony-Award winning Wilma Theatre. Families can bring their young theater lovers to see The Wizard of Oz featuring performers in grades K – 6 and A Chorus Line with performers in grades 7 – 12. Winter and Spring classes and performances are now available on the Music Theatre Philly website. The Early Enrichment programs NEST families have loved for years will continue to be offered but with an emphasis on music, movement and dramatic play.

“Our goal is to provide a warm, loving, supportive, inclusive environment where everyone is welcome. Where everyone is celebrated and everyone is safe to explore their creativity and imagination,” Baiada concluded.

Written by Jennifer Warner. Photos courtesy of Music Theatre Philly and Nest Philly.