named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Buildings I & II
Two-part play following siblings navigating inheritance and identity in post-9/11 Lower Manhattan, with themes of memory and artificial intelligence. Premiered in 2024.
Field of Mars
Play set in an Applebee’s restaurant that uses the space to explore human evolution and social behavior. Commissioned in 2023 by NYU Skirball and Walker Art Center.
Good Samaritans
Story of a rehab counselor and her patient who fall in love, blending spoken dialogue with musical elements. Originally produced in 2004 and revived in 2017.
Isolde
Minimalist play exploring infidelity and architecture through the story of a woman building a lake house and her affair with the architect. Toured internationally from 2013–2016.
Neutral Hero
Play depicting the life of an anonymous boy growing up in a small town, examining identity and family. Performed from 2010–2013 in New York and Europe.
People Without History
Historical play set in 1403 on the England-Wales border, focusing on a woman who feeds prisoners and confronts violence and memory. In development.
The Evening
Theatrical production following a bartender and two fighters in a bar, culminating in a surreal, dreamlike journey. Premiered in 2015 and toured across the U.S. and Europe.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Professional Theatrical Production 2 activities
- Commissioning and staging collaborative theatrical worksCommissions and stages new theatrical works through artistic collaborations with other organizations, such as the production of "Buildings I & II" in partnership with SEE STOP RUN, presented at 101 Greenwich in New York City.
- Production and presentation of original theatrical worksDevelops, produces, and presents original theatrical productions written and directed by Richard Maxwell, including full-scale performances and workshop presentations, both in New York City and at venues across the United States and internationally. Notable works include "Isolde," "Paradiso," "Neutral Hero," "People Without History," "Good Samaritans," "Ode to the Man Who Kneels," "Queens Row," "Field of Mars," and "The End of Reality."
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Film Festival and Screening Programming 1 activity
- Creation and screening of video artworksProduces and screens video artworks as part of its artistic programming, including "The Darkness of This Reading" and a piece depicting two men in a snow-covered forest, presented at venues such as Anthology Film Archives, Greene Naftali, White Columns, and Martin E. Segal Theatre Center.
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Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Hosting annual educational theater workshopsHosts an annual Summer School workshop on theater based on Richard Maxwell's book "Theater for Beginners," led by Maxwell and choreographer Gillian Walsh, providing training and artistic development opportunities in experimental theater practice.
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Experimental Circus and Immersive Theater Production 1 activity
- Live performance with projected video elementsPresents performances that incorporate life-sized video projections of participants onto glass for live audiences, merging recorded media with theatrical presence.
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New Play Development Programs 1 activity
- Public rehearsal performances as artistic practiceEngages in experimental public rehearsal practices, such as rehearsing a play in public during the 2012 Whitney Biennial, integrating performance development with live audience exposure.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$274K
Contributions & grants$214K78%
Program service revenue$59K22%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$555
expenses
Total expenses$295K
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$152K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$93K
Cash$77K
Investments$0
Liabilities$7K
Net assets$86K
Liquid reserves3.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -7.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Maxwell | Artistic Dir. | 40 | $92K |
board members · 7
- Brian Mendes — President
- Christopher Wool — Director
- Michael Williams — Director
- Molly Grogan — Secretary/Treas
- Monica de la Torre — Director
- Regina Vorria — Director
- Rob Weiner — Director
relationships · 88
Who they work with
- Abrons Arts Center Partner — Presented "Isolde" in New York in 2014.
- Actoral Network — Presented the work "Ads" in Marseille in 2011.
- Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York Partner — Provided production design support through the Creative Space Grant and the Edith Lutyens and Norman Bel Geddes Design Enhancement Fund.
- Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Funder — Provided additional support through the New York Theater Program.
- Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Funder — Provided support through the New York Theater Program for the production of "Paradiso."
- Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Funder — Provided support through the New York Theater Program for the production of "The Evening."
- Anthology Film Archives Partner — Hosted screening of "The Darkness of This Reading" in New York in 2005.
- Arsenic Partner — Co-produced "Ode to the Man Who Kneels."
- Auawirleben Partner — Co-produced "Ode to the Man Who Kneels."
- BITE:06 at the Barbican Partner — Co-produced the play "The End of Reality" in 2006.
- Barbara Bell Cumming Foundation Funder — Provided additional financial support for productions.
- Biennale Bonn Partner — Co-produced the theatrical production "Good Samaritans."
- Buda Kunstencentrum Partner — Co-produced "Ode to the Man Who Kneels."
- COIL Festival Network — Presented the work "Ads" as part of its festival programming.
- Chapter Arts Centre Partner — Hosted screening of "The Darkness of This Reading" in Cardiff in 2005.
- De Internationale Keuze van de Rotterdamse Schouwburg Partner — Co-producing partner for the production of "Neutral Hero."
- Doris Duke Performing Artist Award Funder — Provided additional support for artistic production.
- FAB Festival Partner — Presented the production "Paradiso" in Bordeaux.
- Festival Belluard Bollwerk International Partner — Co-produced "Ode to the Man Who Kneels."
- Festival TransAmériques Partner — Co-producing partner for the production of "Neutral Hero."
- Festival der Regionen Network — Presented the work "Ads" in Eferding in 2013.
- Festival d’Automne à Paris Partner — Co-producing partner for the production of "Neutral Hero."
- Gillian Walsh Partner — Choreographer and co-leader of the Summer School workshop.
- Greene Naftali Partner — Hosted screening of video artwork
- Greene Naftali Partner — Presented the production "Paradiso" in New York.
- Greene Naftali Gallery Partner — Provided additional support for the production of "The Evening."
- Hebbel am Ufer (HAU) Partner — Co-producing partner for the production of "Neutral Hero."
- Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Provided financial support for the production of "Paradiso."
- Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Supported New York City Players through general funding.
- Institute of Contemporary Arts, London Partner — Commissioned and produced the theatrical performance "Queens Row" in collaboration with NEW YORK CITY PLAYERS INC.
+ 58 more
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.
- Auteur-Driven Theater Productionmethodology: auteur-driven art productionBy centering theatrical works around a singular artist's vision, the organization produces cohesive, experimental performances that prioritize emotional depth and artistic innovation because unified creative control enables deeper exploration of complex themes.
- Emotion-Centered Narrative Explorationmethodology: emotion-centered theaterBy grounding theater in human emotions, relationships, and personal dynamics, the organization produces resonant storytelling that prioritizes psychological authenticity because emotional truth serves as the primary vehicle for examining memory, identity, and healing.
- Immersive Media Integration in Live Performancemethodology: immersive_theaterBy blending life-sized video projections of personal narratives with live performance, the organization creates immersive theatrical experiences that deepen audience connection and blur the boundary between observer and participant because mediated intimacy fosters empathetic engagement with complex human beliefs and experiences.
- Minimalist Theatrical Form as Emotional Explorationmethodology: minimalist_theaterBy using minimalist staging, sparse dialogue, and non-naturalistic performance, the organization produces intimate audience engagement with psychological and emotional subtext because stripping away spectacle intensifies focus on personal and intergenerational trauma, identity, and alienation.
- Public Rehearsal as Participatory Engagementmethodology: public rehearsalBy opening rehearsals to public observation, the organization integrates audience presence into the creative process, fostering transparency and deeper engagement because early exposure builds investment and demystifies theatrical production.