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OPEN VARIATIONS THEATER INC
ASTORIA, NY · EIN 991812511 · Form 990EZ · FY2023 · NTEE A20 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Micro (<$100K) · openvariationstheater.com
revenue
$34K
expenses
$25K
net assets
$9K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

OUR MISSION AT OVT IS TO PROMOTE AND ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF NEW OR INTERDISCIPLINARY WORKS. WHETHER REIMAGINING AN EXISTING STAGE PLAY UTILIZING A DIFFERENT MEDIUM OR PROMOTING NEW WORKS ACROSS VARIOUS ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES, OUR GOAL IS TO FOSTER EMERGING VOICES IN THEATRE, FILM, DANCE, AND ART, CREATING A WHOLE THAT IS GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS! ADDITIONALLY, WE AIM TO ESTABLISH CONNECTIONS WITH NYC SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS INTERESTED IN THE ARTS. BY OFFERING DISCOUNTED TICKETS AND ORGANIZING WORKSHOPS WITH EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, WE HOPE TO ENGAGE AND NURTURE THE CURIOSITY OF STUDENTS AND YOUNG INDIVIDUALS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Open Variations Theater is a New York City-based nonprofit theater company dedicated to developing and producing new and interdisciplinary works in theater, film, and dance. The organization supports emerging artists by producing original plays and reimagining lesser-known works, while also offering fiscal sponsorship for independent storytellers. It engages with the community through student outreach, discounted tickets, and workshops.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

1518: The Dancing Plague
Satirical comedy by Hannah Ponturo inspired by the 1518 dancing plague, slated for performance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; explores modern crises through historical lens
Be a Good Little Widow
Multi-media reimagining of Bekah Brunstetter’s play, previously staged at The Chain Theatre with a nearly sold-out run
First and Last
World premiere production of Adam Elliott's full-length play exploring the beginning and end of a relationship over five years, set in Washington Heights; produced in partnership with artXnyc
Fiscal Sponsorship Program
Provides fiscal sponsorship to emerging storytellers across artistic mediums, such as supporting Ryan Sloan’s debut feature film "Gazer," which premiered at Cannes
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Arts Education Access Programs 1 activity
    • Arts education and student engagement programs
      Offers workshops with arts professionals and provides discounted tickets to students in NYC schools to promote access to and engagement with the arts.
  • Film Production Funding and Fiscal Sponsorship 1 activity
    • Fiscal sponsorship for independent arts projects
      Provides fiscal sponsorship to support the completion of independent arts projects, such as an independent feature film.
  • Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
    • Production and presentation of innovative theatrical works
      Produces and presents innovative, inclusive, and interdisciplinary theatrical works in New York City, including world premieres and multimedia productions in partnership with independent artists. Examples include productions at The Chain Theatre and preparations for staging "1518: The Dancing Plague" at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
  • Nonprofit Retail and Merchandise Sales 1 activity
    • Sale of branded merchandise to support productions
      Sells branded merchandise, including unisex T-shirts and themed hats or caps featuring original artwork and show logos, with items locally produced in Los Angeles to promote specific productions like "1518: The Dancing Plague."
financials · form 990EZ · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$34K
Contributions & grants$33K95%
Program service revenue——
Investment income$680%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$25K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$9K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$9K
1 years on record · 2023–2023
relationships · 5

Who they work with

  • Edinburgh Festival Fringe Partner — Planned venue for the performance of "1518: The Dancing Plague".
  • NYC SCHOOLS Partner — Partners with NYC schools to engage students through discounted tickets and arts workshops.
  • Ryan Sloan Partner — Provided fiscal sponsorship to filmmaker Ryan Sloan for the completion of his debut feature film.
  • The Chain Theatre Partner — Venue partner where Open Variations Theater presented a production.
  • artXnyc Partner — Production partner for the world premiere of "First and Last."
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Fiscal Sponsorship for Artist Support
    methodology: fiscal_sponsorship
    By offering fiscal sponsorship, we enable emerging artists to complete and share their creative projects, because access to funding infrastructure removes barriers to production and amplifies diverse artistic voices.
  • Interdisciplinary Artistic Collaboration
    methodology: interdisciplinary-collaboration
    By integrating theatre, film, dance, and visual art through collaborative creation, we produce innovative performances that amplify emerging voices and deepen artistic impact, because cross-disciplinary fusion fosters unique expressive forms and broadens audience resonance.
  • Merchandise as Awareness and Expression
    methodology: merchandise-as-awareness
    By creating wearable merchandise featuring original artwork tied to performances, we extend the reach and impact of theatrical concepts beyond the stage, because tangible, shareable items act as conversation starters and sustain cultural awareness.
  • Satirical Reimagining for Social Reflection
    methodology: satirical_comedy
    By using satirical comedy rooted in historical parallels to reframe modern crises, we provoke critical audience reflection and engagement, because humor and irony make complex social issues more accessible and emotionally resonant.
  • Youth Access as Artistic Engagement Strategy
    methodology: youth-outreach-and-access
    By providing low-cost access to theater and arts education for high school students, we inspire long-term engagement with the arts, because early, affordable exposure increases cultural participation and cultivates future audiences and artists.