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PLAYING ON AIR INC
BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 474064875 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · NTEE A65 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Micro (<$100K) · playingonair.org
revenue
$5K
expenses
$75K
net assets
$36K
employees
—
program ratio
71%
mission · from form 990

TO PRODUCE AND DISTRIBUTE ORIGINAL THEATER WORKS FOR NOMINAL FEES OR GRATIS

profile · synthesized from sources

Playing on Air produces and distributes original audio theater works featuring prominent actors. The organization makes its content available for nominal fees or free, aiming to increase access to high-quality theater. Based in Brooklyn, New York, it focuses on creating culturally enriching experiences through recorded performances.

named programs · 1 · from sources

What they call their work

Original Audio Theater Productions
Creates and distributes original theater works in audio format performed by professional actors
activities · 2 groups

What they do

  • Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
    • Commissioning and producing original short audio plays
      Commissions new theatrical works from American playwrights and produces them as audio dramas, releasing over 150 episodes through a podcast launched in 2015. These are distributed at no cost via major podcast platforms and public radio stations.
  • Storytelling and Literacy Resource Development 1 activity
    • Distributing free audio plays and educational resources
      Makes over 150 audio recordings of short plays available for free to the public and provides customized curriculums for educators and students. Recordings have been distributed to 13 public radio stations and are licensed through PRX.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$5K
Contributions & grants$5K100%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$75K
Program expenses71%
Admin / overhead30%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$35K
Grants paid out—
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$36K
Cash$105K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$36K
Liquid reserves16.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -92.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
CLAUDIA CATANIA FOUNDER AND 0 $32K
relationships · 27

Who they work with

  • Axe-Houghton Foundation Funder — Private foundation providing financial support
  • Bill Pearson & Jane Wallace Foundation Funder — Private foundation providing financial support
  • Christopher Nolan Partner — Performed in the film Interstellar directed by Christopher Nolan.
  • Claudia Catania Partner — Director who has directed multiple audio plays for Playing on Air, including "A Little Part of All of Us" and "Getting In".
  • David Auburn Partner — Playwright and director who has contributed multiple audio plays to Playing on Air, including "Amateurs" and "Fifth Planet".
  • David Ives Partner — Playwright whose works have been produced by Playing on Air, including "Dummy Dialogue" and "Locked and Loaded. Can I Help You?".
  • Dramatists Guild Partner — Hosted Blackboard Plays readings in the Mary Rodgers Room at the Dramatists Guild.
  • Headspace Partner — Collaborated on a guided meditation piece titled 'A Headspace Meditation'
  • Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation Funder — Private foundation providing financial support
  • Hyde and Watson Foundation Funder — Private foundation providing financial support
  • Jacquin Fink Foundation Funder — Private foundation providing financial support
  • Jason Reitman Partner — Performed in the film Men, Women & Children directed by Jason Reitman.
  • John Patrick Shanley Partner — Writer and director who has created multiple audio plays for Playing on Air, including "Banshee" and "Last Night in the Garden I Saw You".
  • John Shapiro & Shonni Silverberg Foundation Funder — Private foundation providing financial support
  • MTC Partner — Performed in a production produced by MTC.
  • National Endowment for the Arts Government — Federal agency providing arts support
  • New York State Council on the Arts Government — Government arts council providing support
  • New York Times Partner — Cited in coverage by Maya Phillips
  • PRX Partner — Partners with PRX to license radio shows.
  • Parent Artist Advocacy League Partner — Co-founded the Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival in partnership with PAAL.
  • Scott Rudin Partner — Performed in a production produced by Scott Rudin.
  • Showtime Partner — Performed in the television series Homeland on Showtime.
  • Stephen Lang Partner — Writer and director who has created multiple audio plays for Playing on Air, including "Clarence Sasser" and "Hector Cafferata".
  • The Lily Auchincloss Foundation Funder — Private foundation providing financial support
  • The Noël Coward Foundation Funder — Private foundation providing financial support
  • The Richenthal Foundation Funder — Private foundation providing financial support
  • the cell Partner — Partnered with the cell theatre for Blackboard Plays readings.
strategies · 2

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.

  • Accessibility Through Cost and Format Removal
    methodology: accessibility-through-cost-removal
    By distributing original theater works at low or no cost via digital and audio formats, we increase access to the arts for broader audiences because removing financial, geographic, and scheduling barriers enables on-demand engagement with high-quality performances.
  • Artist-Driven Content Creation
    methodology: commissioned-plays
    By commissioning original audio plays from renowned and emerging playwrights and performers, we sustain vibrant contemporary theater because supporting artists directly generates innovative, high-quality narrative work that attracts and engages diverse audiences.