named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
A Perfect Party for Trees
Inclusive, sensory-friendly theater performance combining participatory puppetry, live music, and multi-sensory activities, designed for neurodivergent audiences and families.
Groundlings Programs
Arts education initiatives providing theater classes and workshops to K-12 students in schools, focusing on performance and creative development.
Theater for All of Us
Two-day hands-on workshop offering tools for creating sensory theater tailored to autistic and neurodivergent audiences, featuring training in producing, writing, performing, and design.
Voices UnCaged
Theater program implemented in prisons that supports returning citizens in exploring self-expression and personal growth through performance and storytelling.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Organizational DEI Capacity Building 2 activities
- Expand organizational diversity and inclusion capacityExpands organizational leadership by increasing BIPOC and LGBTQ+ representation on its board and conducts annual anti-racism trainings for staff and company members. Also collaborates with local Indigenous peoples to acknowledge and learn from the Haudenosaunee, the original stewards of the land.
- Facilitate anti-racism education and audience engagementHosts audience conversations focused on recognizing personal racism and practicing anti-racist behaviors, and actively engages Black, Indigenous, and People of Color audiences in its programming as part of its equity commitment.
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Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Deliver K–12 theater education programs through Groundlings ProgramProvides theater education workshops and classes for K–12 students through the Groundlings Program, offering single-day to multi-week formats in puppetry, improvisation, playwriting, Shakespeare, and theater arts. Programs are delivered in schools and other educational settings across its service regions.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Host community engagement and public programming at Theatre@37Hosts a range of public events at its home venue, Theatre@37 in Perry, NY, including monthly First Friday events, the community Shakespeare Reading Club, the storytelling program The Nameless Club, holiday classic productions, and public performances such as 'A Perfect Party for Trees'.
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New Play Development Programs 1 activity
- Present original and contemporary theatrical works by BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artistsProduces, presents, and programs original theatrical works created by BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artists, with a commitment to promoting these artists into leadership roles within the organization. Includes productions such as The Dairy Farmer Project and other original works.
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Puppetry and Improv Theater Programs 1 activity
- Present puppetry-based performances and eventsPresents puppetry-focused programming including the international short film program on puppetry, "KAYFABE" (a puppet wrestling spectacle), a Puppet Slam featuring original short works, and large-scale installations like "THE WHALE," a 65-foot inflatable puppet-sculpture-music installation.
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Free Outdoor & Community Theater Productions 1 activity
- Produce and tour outdoor Shakespeare performancesProduces and tours abridged, 90-minute outdoor performances of Shakespeare plays with live music and physical expressiveness across rural communities in Western New York, the Finger Lakes, and Central Arkansas. Performances require only electricity from host sites and include pre-show music and post-performance talkbacks at selected venues.
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Theater and Performing Arts in Corrections 1 activity
- Provide theater arts programming in correctional facilities via Voices UnCagedPartners with Voices UnCaged to deliver theater arts programming in correctional facilities, where participants develop and perform original works for peers within one week. The organization has increased investment in this program to support returning citizens.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$238K
Contributions & grants$164K69%
Program service revenue$73K31%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$222K
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$123K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$74K
Cash$73K
Investments$0
Liabilities$7
Net assets$74K
Liquid reserves4.0 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +4.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Rice | Director | 1 | $8K |
| Pilar Mckay | Treasurer | 3 | $7K |
board members · 6
- Courtney Bennet Baker — Director
- Daryl McLaughlin — Director
- Larry Francer — Director
- Michelle Nelson — Director
- Norm Gayford — Director
- Radha Ganesan — Director
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre Partner — Co-produced The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) in 2023 and Twelfth Night in 2016 as part of summer tours in New York and Arkansas.
- Arts Council for Wyoming County Partner — Hosts the "Puppets on Film" program and supports the "Empire in Review" project through a community arts grant.
- Billie Grace Lynn Partner — Co-creator of "THE WHALE," a large-scale inflatable puppet and kinetic sculpture presented at the festival.
- Esther Baker Partner — Co-creator of "THE WHALE," a large-scale inflatable puppet and kinetic sculpture presented at the festival.
- Haudenosaunee Partner — Works with local Indigenous peoples, specifically the Haudenosaunee, to acknowledge, celebrate, and learn about the land and its original stewards.
- Linda Franke Partner — Executive Director responsible for booking performances and educational programming.
- New York State Puppet Festival Partner — Collaborates on programming, as indicated by shared promotional space and branding.
- Palma Foundation Funder — Provided generous support for the 'Theater for All of Us' workshop and the 'A Perfect Party for Trees' performance.
- Perry Central School Partner — Partnership for educational programming including the Groundlings Company, drama club collaborations on Pippin, Into the Woods, and Mean Girls, and workshops such as Shakespeare in Space and Shakesmania!
- Pilar McKay Partner — Curator of the "Puppets on Film" short film program and performer in "Empire in Review."
- SUNY Geneseo Partner — Collaborates on the presentation of "THE WHALE," a large-scale inflatable puppet and kinetic sculpture.
- Sarah Keeler Partner — Writer of essays for "Empire in Review," a shadow puppetry project exploring New York State.
- Trusty Sidekick Partner — Collaborated with Shake on the Lake to present the 'Theater for All of Us' workshop and the 'A Perfect Party for Trees' performance, co-led by Trusty Sidekick creators.
- Vinny Mraz Partner — Collaborates with playwright Vinny Mraz on the development and production of The Dairy Farmer Project.
- Voices UnCaged Partner — Collaborates to bring theatre arts programming into correctional facilities.
- Voices UnCaged Partner — Implements Voices UnCaged Programming in prisons to support returning citizens through theater.
- local businesses Partner — Collaborates with local businesses as artistic partners in productions and community programming.
- local individuals Partner — Engages local individuals as artistic partners in productions and community programming.
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.
- Accessible Interpretation of Classical Textsmethodology: accessible_shakespeareBy performing Shakespeare in a fast, physical, and musically enhanced style without simplifying language, we broaden audience access because dynamic, embodied storytelling lowers barriers to comprehension while preserving artistic integrity.
- Anti-Racism as Foundational Practicemethodology: anti-racism_frameworkBy embedding anti-racism and anti-oppression principles across operations, art-making, and personal conduct, we drive systemic change because sustained accountability and historical continuity transform organizational culture and artistic output into active justice work.
- Creative Placemaking through Theatremethodology: creative_placemakingBy integrating theatre and performing arts into community life, especially in rural and underserved areas, we foster engagement and local revitalization because shared artistic experiences strengthen communal identity and activate underutilized spaces.
- Inclusive Theatre for Neurodivergent Audiencesmethodology: sensory_theater_for_neurodivergent_audiencesBy designing sensory-friendly, participatory performances using puppetry, music, and multi-sensory storytelling, we increase engagement among neurodivergent audiences because accessibility built into artistic form fosters comfort, inclusion, and deeper connection.
- Innovative Puppetry as Immersive Storytellingmethodology: hybrid_performance_puppetryBy blending emerging and traditional puppetry techniques with hybrid performance genres, we create immersive, boundary-pushing narratives because unconventional forms challenge audience expectations and expand the possibilities of theatrical storytelling.