irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $182KSIG SPACE:SIGSPACE BRINGS ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING TO THE CENTER'S PUBLIC SPACES AND SUSTAINS OUR LOBBY AS A FREE PUBLIC WORKSPACE AND SOCIAL HUB FOR NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS. WORKING WITH A RANGE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, SIGSPACE IS A HOME FOR FREE LIVE PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS SUCH AS CONCERTS, WORKS-IN-PROGRESS, STORYTELLING, PANELS, AND CONVERSATIONS. IN THE 2022/23 SEASON, WE HOSTED 44 SIGSPACE EVENTS - RANGING FROM COMEDY NIGHTS TO POETRY READINGS TO SOCIAL HAPPY HOURS - THAT WERE ATTENDED BY A TOTAL OF 1,149 PEOPLE.
- #2 $96KEDUCATION:DURING THE 2022/23 SEASON, OUR FREE STUDENT MATINEES OFFERED OVER 900 NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE FREE PERFORMANCES OF SELECT SEASON PRODUCTIONS AND ENGAGE WITH THE ARTISTS BEHIND THOSE PRODUCTIONS. WE ALSO CONDUCTED DAY OF PLAY, A FREE FESTIVAL OF WORKSHOPS, MASTERCLASSES, AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS INTERESTED IN PURSUING CAREERS IN THEATER; NEARLY 200 STUDENTS FROM OVER 30 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ATTENDED.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Education Program
Free student matinees and workshops for high school and college students, including Day of Play festival, to engage young audiences and support theater education and career development.
Resident Artist Program
Multi-year residency for playwrights and theater artists, guaranteeing at least three productions and holistic creative support to foster artistic growth and deepen audience connections.
SigSpace
Free public programming in the theater’s lobby, including live performances, storytelling, comedy, panel discussions, and social events that serve as a cultural hub for NYC artists and residents.
Signature Access
Robust ticket subsidy and community outreach program offering affordable tickets starting at $20 for students, $30 for audiences under 30, and $40 for other demographics to ensure theater access for all New Yorkers.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Performing Arts Ticket Access Programs 2 activities
- Offer membership and subscription benefitsOffers subscription packages and membership programs including discounted tickets, concierge booking, waived fees, pre-sale access, complimentary drinks, and special event access for members such as Groundbreakers, Sig30, and students.
- Provide accessible and subsidized theater accessOffers multiple access programs including Signature Access with tiered pricing, free-to-join accessible ticket programs, free matinees for NYC public high school students, student memberships, discounted subscriptions, and special student nights with talkbacks and parties. Also provides free study guides and classroom materials to support student engagement.
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Arts Professional Advocacy & Equity Initiatives 1 activity
- Advance equity, inclusion, and Indigenous engagementCommits to creating an equitable and inclusive environment for artists and audiences from historically underrepresented communities and conducts Indigenous-specific programming, including land acknowledgment and community outreach, to address colonialism and systemic racism.
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
- Host Signature Jazz music seriesHosts Signature Jazz, a curated music series featuring innovative musicians in an intimate setting at The Pershing Square Signature Center, led by curator Solomon Gottfried.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Host public events and artist engagement programsHosts free public events including concerts, storytelling, panels, and social gatherings, with 44 such events held in the 2022/23 season attended by 1,149 people. Also hosts SigSpace events featuring resident playwrights and the Day of Play festival for college students with workshops and masterclasses.
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Subsidized Rehearsal and Performance Space 1 activity
- Operate The Pershing Square Signature CenterOperates a permanent three-theater facility on West 42nd Street designed by Frank Gehry Architects, which serves as the primary venue for productions, events, and public programming, including a café and bookstore.
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New Play Development Programs 1 activity
- Operate residency programs for playwrightsRuns the Premiere Residency, an intensive program for established playwrights featuring productions of three or more works, and the Launchpad Residency, a multi-year incubator for early-career playwrights from historically underrepresented communities, providing developmental support and production opportunities.
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Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
- Produce and present theatrical seasons and individual playsProduces six to eight theatrical productions annually, including world premieres, co-productions, and works by Resident Artists, presented at The Pershing Square Signature Center. Recent and upcoming productions include "Oratorio for Living Things" (2025), "FISH," "King of the Yeas," "Miles for Mary," and "Angela’s Mixtape" as part of the 2026–2027 season.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$9.16M
Contributions & grants$3.86M42%
Program service revenue$2.59M28%
Investment income$4K0%
Other revenue$2.70M
expenses
Total expenses$12.81M
Program expenses75%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$5.48M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$48.62M
Cash$1.36M
Investments$0
Liabilities$23.07M
Net assets$25.55M
Liquid reserves1.3 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +3.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 10
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARBARA PAIGE EVANS | ARTISTIC DIRECTOR (TO JUNE 2024) | 40 | $484K |
| TIMOTHY J MCCLIMON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $335K |
| ELIZABETH WHITAKER | ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | 40 | $186K |
| MACKENZIE INGRAM | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $186K |
| KENNETH NAANEP | GENERAL MANAGER | 40 | $136K |
| PAUL ZIEMER | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS | 40 | $136K |
| FRANKLIN DAVID | IT MANANGER | 40 | $135K |
| LASHUNDA CAMPBELL | DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES | 40 | $120K |
| EMILY SHOOLTZ | ARTISTIC DIRECTOR (AS OF NOV 2024) | 40 | $39K |
| MARIO CAMERON | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE (AS OF NOV 2024) | 40 | $17K |
board members · 15
- ADRIANNE KIRSZNER — TRUSTEE
- BERNARD L DIKMAN — TRUSTEE
- BRENDA AIKEN — TRUSTEE
- BRUCE H GOLDFARB — SECRETARY
- CHERYL ROSARIO — TRUSTEE
- CHRISTEN JAMES — TRUSTEE
- CHRISTINA CUTLIP — TRUSTEE
- DAVID KLAFTER — TRUSTEE
- DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU — TRUSTEE
- DONNA WALKER-KUHNE — TRUSTEE
- DOUGLAS E CHITTENDEN — PRESIDENT
- DREW SUSSMAN — TRUSTEE
- EDWARD NORTON — CHAIRMAN
- HOWARD L ELLIN — TRUSTEE
- LILA NEUGEBAUER — TRUSTEE
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- Artistic Directors Circle Partner — Group of donors supporting Signature Theatre's artistic leadership.
- Arts FMS | Financial Management Services Partner — Financial management services provider for Signature Theatre Company Inc
- Blake Zidell & Associates Partner — Publicity services consultant for Signature Theatre Company Inc
- Eastern Tsalagi (Cherokee) Community Partner — Co-signed by Oleana Whispering Dove, an Eastern Tsalagi/Algonquian descendant, indicating collaboration with Indigenous individuals and communities.
- FiveOHM Partner — Production management services provider for Signature Theatre Company Inc
- Gehry and Partners Partner — Architectural firm that designed the Pershing Square Signature Center.
- Julián Mesri Partner — Launchpad Resident playwright at Signature Theatre
- LaGuardia Community College Partner — Began partnership to support education programs during the 2021-22 season.
- Melis Aker Partner — Launchpad Resident playwright at Signature Theatre
- New Light Theater Project Partner — Co-presents the play FISH in association with Signature Theatre and WP Theater.
- New York City’s Department of Education Partner — Long-standing partnership to provide free Student Matinees for public high school students.
- Noor Theatre Partner — Serves as consulting producer for the co-production of FISH with Signature Theatre and WP Theater.
- Pershing Square Philanthropies Partner — Lead Partner supporting the Signature Access ticket subsidy and community outreach program.
- Ramapough-Lunaape Nation Partner — Co-signs land acknowledgment with Chief Dewaine Perry of the Ramapough-Lunaape; Munsee.
- Situation Interactive Partner — Digital marketing consultant for Signature Theatre Company Inc
- The Mad Ones Partner — Collaborates with the theater collective The Mad Ones to produce and present their play "Miles for Mary".
- The Mad Ones Partner — Resident Artist collective producing their first work at Signature Theatre.
- WP Theater Partner — Co-produces the play FISH with Signature Theatre, with performances held at WP Theater.
strategies · 3
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.
- Barrier-Free Access to Theatermethodology: barrier-removalBy removing financial and logistical barriers through affordable ticketing and free membership programs, the organization increases public participation in theater because accessibility directly enables broader and more diverse audience engagement.
- Equity-Driven Artist Developmentmethodology: anti-racist-anti-oppressive-organization-developmentBy intentionally supporting early-career playwrights from historically underrepresented communities and committing to anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices, the organization corrects systemic inequities in theater, leading to richer, more authentic storytelling and broader cultural participation because inclusion produces more representative and impactful art.
- Playwright-Centric Residency Modelmethodology: playwright-centric immersionBy centering the playwright through multi-year residencies and a commitment to multiple productions, the organization enables deep artistic exploration and risk-taking, which in turn strengthens thematic resonance and audience engagement because sustained investment fosters artistic innovation and personal growth.