named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
ACT 1
Free 90-minute interactive seminar for NYC high school students introducing behind-the-scenes careers in entertainment through panels led by industry professionals.
ACT 2
Free nine-month afterschool program for female-identifying and non-binary NYC high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, including mentoring, workshops, field trips, and Broadway show attendance.
ACT 3
Paid summer fellowship for Act 2 graduates offering hands-on experience, professional coaching, and stipends in film, TV, and theater production roles.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Free after-school program for young women in theatrical artsOperates a free 9-month after-school program for NYC high school students, including field trips to production facilities, monthly skill-building workshops, one-on-one mentoring with industry professionals, attendance at Broadway shows with Q&As, and a capstone design presentation. The program specifically targets girls and non-binary students to introduce them to behind-the-scenes careers in theater, film, and live entertainment.
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Youth & Emerging Filmmaker Training 1 activity
- Interactive career panels with entertainment professionalsHosts interactive panels led by entertainment industry professionals to expose young people to career opportunities in backstage and production roles in theater, film, and television.
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Mentorship and Professional Development Programs 1 activity
- Mentorship and professional development for entertainment fellowsProvides mentorship, professional development coaching, and real-world training opportunities to selected fellows pursuing careers in stage management, design, technical roles, producing, and filmmaking, with six fellows selected for the 2026 cohort.
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Emerging Filmmaker Support Programs 1 activity
- Paid summer fellowship for emerging entertainment professionalsOffers a paid 4-week summer fellowship program with salary, food and transportation stipend, and weekly professional development coaching for graduates of the Act 2 program pursuing behind-the-scenes careers in entertainment. The fellowship includes real-world training and paid placements to support entry into the industry.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Research on gender representation in entertainmentConducted three studies analyzing gender representation in the top 100 highest-grossing films of 2025, popular TV series from 2025, and backstage and production leadership roles during the 2024–2025 Broadway season to assess equity and inclusion in the entertainment industry.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$171K
Contributions & grants$169K99%
Program service revenue——
Investment income$2K1%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$177K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$132K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$115K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$109K
5 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +10.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELSA WARD | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 20 | $52K |
board members · 6
- ARABELL POWELL — DIRECTOR
- KENDRA MOORE — BOARD CHAIR & PRESIDENT
- PATRICIA MEADOW — DIRECTOR
- STEPHANIE VARDAVAS — DIRECTOR
- SUSAN HILFERTY — DIRECTOR
- YAQI HAN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 9
Who they work with
- Actors Fund Creative Entrepreneur Program Partner — Mentorship partner that supported the founding of Open Stage Project.
- Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS Partner — Supports Open Stage Project through foundation funding.
- Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Partner — Donor and supporter of Open Stage Project.
- CreateHER Partner — Collaborates on a capstone design presentation for a new play with CreateHER playwrights.
- Disney Voluntears Partner — Supports Open Stage Project through foundation funding.
- EGF Accelerator Partner — Supports Open Stage Project through foundation funding.
- NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Funds Open Stage Project through the Cultural Development Fund Grant.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Supports Open Stage Project’s programs with funding from the New York State Council on the Arts.
- Westchester Community Foundation Partner — Supports Open Stage Project through foundation funding.
strategies · 4
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.
- Arts Education for Empowermentmethodology: arts-education-for-empowermentBy introducing young women to backstage theatrical arts through education led by industry professionals, the organization empowers their voices in storytelling, because early exposure to technical and creative roles builds identity, agency, and career aspiration in fields where they are historically underrepresented.
- Paid Fellowships for Equitable Accessmethodology: paid-fellowship-modelBy offering paid, hands-on fellowships in film, TV, and theater, the organization removes financial barriers to entry and provides real-world experience, because compensating trainees ensures equitable participation across socioeconomic backgrounds and increases the likelihood of career persistence in a high-cost industry.
- Structural Barrier-Informed Programmingmethodology: structural-barrier-analysisBy analyzing structural barriers in hiring, leadership, and career advancement, the organization designs interventions that directly address systemic gender disparities in the entertainment industry, because evidence-based program design increases the effectiveness of talent development initiatives and promotes long-term field transformation.
- Targeted Pathways with Integrated Mentorshipmethodology: integrated_mentorship_and_accessBy creating targeted talent pathways that combine skill-building, mentorship, and direct industry access, the organization enables sustainable entry for underrepresented young women and gender-expansive individuals into behind-the-scenes entertainment careers, because integrated support systems increase retention, build professional confidence, and overcome structural barriers to entry.