named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Brace Up!
Experimental theater piece based on Anton Chekhov’s "Three Sisters," adapted by Paul Schmidt and directed by Elizabeth LeCompte, developed in the 1990s.
Early Shaker Spirituals
Record album interpretation directed by Kate Valk, exploring Shaker spirituals through theatrical and sonic experimentation.
La Didone
Space-set opera production of Cavalli’s "La Didone," blending baroque music with contemporary theatrical technology and staging.
Symphony of Rats
Collaborative work with Richard Foreman, originally developed in the 1980s and revived in 2020s, combining surreal narrative and performance art.
The Town Hall Affair
Performance piece based on the 1971 feminist debate documentary "Town Bloody Hall," reimagining the event with live actors and media elements.
To You, The Birdie! (Phèdre)
Avant-garde adaptation of Racine’s "Phèdre," set on a badminton court, blending live performance with video and sound technology.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Film Distribution and Screening Programs 1 activity
- Develops and streams archival and experimental film-video worksProduces and distributes experimental film and video works, including "Dailies," a compilation created between 2010 and 2019 that is available for streaming, and 360-degree interactive video installations such as "There Is Still Time... Brother" that have been toured internationally.
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Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Offers youth performance training through Summer Institute programRuns an annual free, three-week intensive performance workshop for 16 to 20 New York City public middle and high school students, providing hands-on training in acting, movement, writing, voice, microphone technique, and technical theater design led by professional teaching artists. The program culminates in three public performances and offers paid internships to alumni after high school graduation.
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Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
- Produces experimental theater and multimedia performancesCreates and presents original, experimental theater works that integrate performing, media, and visual arts, primarily at The Performing Garage in Soho, Manhattan. The organization has produced over fifty original works since the mid-1970s under the direction of Elizabeth LeCompte, including new stagings of Richard Foreman's "Symphony of Rats," adaptations of Bertolt Brecht's "The Mother," and performances based on Black American oral traditions such as Toasts.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.52M
Contributions & grants$1.06M69%
Program service revenue$342K22%
Investment income$66K4%
Other revenue$58K
expenses
Total expenses$1.73M
Program expenses76%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$1.23M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.71M
Cash$1.56M
Investments$0
Liabilities$42K
Net assets$1.67M
Liquid reserves10.8 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +5.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATE VALK | PRESIDENT | 40 | $70K |
| CYNTHIA HEDSTROM | SECRETARY | 40 | $63K |
| ELIZABETH LECOMPTE | VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $53K |
board members · 3
- JIM CLAYBURGH — BOARD MEMBER
- PAUL BERMAN — TREASURER
- PEYTON SMITH — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 54
Who they work with
- AJT Fund Funder — Supported performances at Joe’s Pub.
- AJT Fund Funder — Supported performances at the Biennale Teatro di Venezia.
- Actors Equity Association Government — Union through which performer Eric Berryman appears.
- Amir ElSaffar Partner — Commissioned to compose new music for the 2023 production of "The Mother."
- Baryshnikov Art Center Partner — Invited the Group to collaborate on theater design and open the venue with a remount of North Atlantic in 2010.
- Bertolt Brecht Partner — Adapts and stages his 1932 play "The Mother" with updated language and original music.
- Biennale Teatro di Venezia Partner — Hosted performances of "Symphony of Rats".
- Bloomberg Philanthropies Funder — Foundation funder
- Festival d’Automne Partner — Will host performances of "Symphony of Rats" in 2026.
- Festival d’Automne/La Commune Partner — Hosted performances by The Wooster Group.
- Goethe Institut Partner
- Grand Street Artists Co-op Partner — Shareholder in the co-op that owns and operates The Performing Garage.
- Hauser & Wirth Funder — Corporate funder
- Hauser & Wirth Partner
- Instytut Adama Mickiewicz Partner — Commissioned A Pink Chair (In Place of a Fake Antique) in 2017 to honor Tadeusz Kantor’s centennial.
- Jeff Weiss Partner — Collaborated on the theatrical work "And That’s How The Rent Gets Paid," which he wrote and directed
- JoJi Inc. Partner — Collaborated on the dance work "Erase-E(X)"
- Joe’s Pub Partner — Hosted performances by The Wooster Group.
- Jonathan Hull Partner — Contact person for volunteer inquiries
- La Commune Partner — Will host performances of "Symphony of Rats" in 2026.
- Mickery Theater, Amsterdam Partner — Provided partial 1978 video footage of Spalding Gray’s monologue for use in "Nayatt School Redux."
- Microsoft Funder — Corporate funder
- Mid Atlantic Arts Funder — Provided partial support for 2026 performances through the USArtists International program.
- Mid Atlantic Arts Funder — Provided support for international performances through USArtists International.
- Museum of Modern Art Partner — Commissioned the site-specific performance Who’s Your Dada?! in 2005.
- National Endowment for the Arts Funder
- National Endowment for the Arts Funder — Provided support for the development of "Nayatt School Redux."
- National Endowment for the Arts Funder — Supported the development of a performance piece and international touring.
- National Endowment for the Arts Government — Partner in the USArtists International program that supported 2026 performances.
- New Music USA Funder
+ 24 more
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.
- Art as Social and Political Learningmethodology: theater_for_social_changeBy producing "learning plays" that combine entertainment with political and educational content, the organization uses theater to advance social change, because narrative engagement makes complex social issues more accessible and motivates audience reflection or action.
- Contemporary Reinterpretation Through Multimedia and Adaptationmethodology: contemporary_adaptationBy reimagining classic or archival works using contemporary vernacular, newly composed music, and multilayered sound and video scores, the organization revitalizes theater for modern audiences, because updating form and context makes historical or canonical works more accessible and relevant to current social and cultural discourse.
- Ensemble-Based, Long-Form Collaborative Developmentmethodology: ensemble_based_developmentBy developing theatrical works over extended periods through a self-producing, peer-collaborative ensemble model, the organization fosters deep artistic experimentation and collective ownership, because sustained collaboration outside commercial systems enables risk-taking and innovation that short-term or hierarchical models cannot support.
- Interdisciplinary Experimental Theatermethodology: interdisciplinary_experimental_theaterBy integrating performing, media, and visual arts through experimental methods, the organization creates innovative performance forms that challenge and expand the boundaries of theater, because interdisciplinary fusion drives artistic innovation and audience engagement with contemporary issues.