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AUBURN PUBLIC THEATER INC
AUBURN, NY · EIN 203577149 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A61 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · auburnpublictheater.org
revenue
$1.5M
expenses
$876K
net assets
$3.7M
employees
49
volunteers
25
program ratio
66%
mission · from form 990

AUBURN PUBLIC THEATER, INC. IS A NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION LOCATED IN AUBURN, NEW YORK, WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO ENRICH THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH OF OUR REGION BY BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO LIVE PERFORMANCES, CINEMA, ARTS, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Auburn Public Theater enriches the social, cultural, and economic growth of the Finger Lakes region by providing affordable access to live performances, cinema, arts education, and community events. Located in downtown Auburn, New York, it operates a multi-venue performing arts center that includes a 199-seat mainstage, a 65-seat art-house cinema, and event spaces. The organization serves the public through direct programming, educational outreach, and regranting state arts funds to support local artists and organizations.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $132K
    AUBURN PUBLIC THEATER, INC. PARTNERS WITH AUBURN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS TO PROVIDE FREE PERFORMING ARTS CLASSES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HAS AFFORDABLE CLASSES AND SUMMER CAMPS RIGHT AT THE THEATER IN FILM, THEATER AND MUSIC. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS ONSITE CLASSES IN ITS STUDIO.
  2. #2 $95K
    AUBURN PUBLIC THEATER, INC. ENGAGES THE COMMUNITY WITH THEIR INDEPENDENT, 65 SEAT ART-HOUSE CINEMA BY PROVIDING AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE CINEMA PROGRAMMING TO A DIVERSE RANGE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO INCREASE FILM LITERACY AND CINEMA APPRECIATION THROUGH THE SCREENING OF INDEPENDENT, DOCUMENTARY, FOREIGN, CLASSIC, AND FAMILY FILMS IN A COMFORTABLE, CONVENIENT DOWNTOWN THEATER WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY DIGITAL PROJECTION AND HD SOUND.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Arts Education
Offers year-round classes and summer camps in film, theater, and music for children and adults; includes free programs in partnership with Auburn Public Schools and community centers, with scholarships available for underserved families
Cinema
Operates a 65-seat art-house cinema screening independent, documentary, foreign, classic, and family films to promote film literacy and appreciation
Community Events
Hosts Open Mic Nights and provides rental spaces for meetings, classes, film screenings, weddings, and other community gatherings in multiple venues
Finger Lakes Community Arts Grants (FLCAG)
Administers NYSCA regrants to support individual artists and nonprofit arts organizations in Cayuga, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates Counties through the Statewide Community Regrants (SCR) program
Performing Arts
Presents live performances including national touring acts, plays, musical theater, live music, comedy, and spoken word in a 199-seat mainstage theater
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Puppetry and Improv Theater Programs 1 activity
    • Facilitate adult and youth performance programs
      Organizes and hosts performance programs such as adult improv classes and the Big Steppas youth program, culminating in public showcases where participants present routines developed during the season under professional instruction.
  • Artist Support Grants 1 activity
    • Fund community arts and individual artists through regranting programs
      Administers regranting programs including the NYSCA Statewide Community Regrants (SCR) and Finger Lakes Community Arts Grants (FLCAG), distributing approximately $75,000–$89,000 annually in state funding to support community arts, arts education, emerging artists, and nonprofit arts organizations across a five-county region (Cayuga, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates).
  • Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
    • Host public performances and events
      Hosts a year-round schedule of public performances and events including stage productions (e.g., “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” “All About Eve”), film screenings (e.g., “Some Like It Hot,” “The Misfits”), Open Mic Nights, poetry nights, and themed events such as Hamilton karaoke and sing-alongs, regularly attracting diverse local and regional artists and over 60 attendees per event.
  • Nonprofit-Operated Cafés and Social Enterprises 1 activity
    • Operate Café 108 social enterprise
      Runs Café 108, a social enterprise that channels 100% of its profits toward supporting Auburn Public Theater's mission and programs.
  • Film Festival and Screening Programming 1 activity
    • Operate a 65-seat art-house cinema
      Manages a 65-seat art-house cinema that screens independent, documentary, foreign, classic, and family films to promote film literacy and cinema appreciation in downtown Auburn.
  • Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
    • Provide free and affordable performing arts education
      Offers free and affordable classes and summer camps in film, theater, music, and other creative arts for children and adults, including full and partial scholarships for underserved families, through partnerships with Auburn Public Schools, community centers, and onsite at the theater studio.
  • Community Space Provision 1 activity
    • Support community arts through venue access
      Provides venue space for local organizations, schools, and community groups to host meetings, presentations, performances, classes, film screenings, and private events.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.55M
Contributions & grants$1.35M87%
Program service revenue$178K12%
Investment income$3K0%
Other revenue$15K
expenses
Total expenses$876K
Program expenses66%
Admin / overhead24%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$523K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.85M
Cash$175K
Investments$0
Liabilities$192K
Net assets$3.66M
Liquid reserves2.4 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +1.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
JANIE ANDERSON MANAGING DIRECTOR 40 $117K
board members · 14
  • CARMELA BARBAGALLO — DIRECTOR
  • CHARLIE MILLS — DIRECTOR
  • DR SHEREASA BRAXTON — DIRECTOR
  • GERALDINE GERMANO-YAW — DIRECTOR
  • JOANNE O'CONNOR — SECRETARY
  • JOHN WILCOX — DIRECTOR
  • KATHY MCLANE — DIRECTOR
  • MARIETTA BOLSTER — DIRECTOR
  • MELODY SMITH JOHNSON — VICE PRESIDENT
  • MIKE HEARN — DIRECTOR
  • STEVE KEELER — DIRECTOR
  • TED WILLIAMS — DIRECTOR
  • TOM SEELY — PRESIDENT
  • TRACY VERRIER — TREASURER
relationships · 16

Who they work with

  • Auburn Public Schools Partner — Collaborates to provide free performing arts classes to students and community members.
  • Auburn Public Schools Partner — Partner organization collaborating on free performing arts classes and educational programs.
  • Auburn Public Theater Partner — Organizes and hosts public film screenings as part of its cultural programming.
  • Bobbie Panek Partner — Co-hosts an open poetry night event with Auburn Public Theater.
  • Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce Network — Auburn Public Theater is a member of the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce.
  • Jim Ellis Partner — Co-hosts an open poetry night event with Auburn Public Theater.
  • NYSCA Government — State agency whose Statewide Community Regrants (SCR) program is administered by Auburn Public Theater to fund local arts projects.
  • New York State Council of the Arts Government — Serves as a decentralization site to regrant NYSCA funding through the Finger Lakes Community Arts Grants program.
  • NonStop Broadway Partner — Collaborates with Auburn Public Theater to host Hamilton karaoke and sing-along events.
  • Phoenix Players Theatre Group Partner — Collaborates with the Phoenix Players Theatre Group at Auburn Correctional Facility on theatrical programming and public performances.
  • ReEntry Theatre Program Partner — Partners with the ReEntry Theatre Program to support theater-based reintegration and public dialogue on incarceration.
  • Shawnna Williams Partner — Instructor collaborating with Auburn Public Theater to lead the Big Steppas program.
  • Sheila Applegate Partner — Facilitates monthly conscious conversation and meditation events at Auburn Public Theater.
  • Sheila Murphy Partner — Conducted a feng shui consultation that contributed to the founding of Auburn Public Theater.
  • Skaneateles Chamber of Commerce Network — Auburn Public Theater is a member of the Skaneateles Chamber of Commerce.
  • Some Like it Hot Partner — Film screened as part of a matinee event hosted by the theater.
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.

  • Community-Led Programming Model
    methodology: community-led_programming
    By providing infrastructure for community partners to host their own events, classes, and screenings, Auburn Public Theater expands access to arts and culture because local ownership increases relevance, participation, and sustainability of programming.
  • Decentralized Grantmaking for Regional Arts Development
    methodology: decentralized_arts_funding_model
    By acting as a funding hub that channels state resources to emerging artists and local organizations, the theater strengthens the regional arts ecosystem because localized distribution increases equity and capacity-building in underserved communities.
  • Performance-Based Learning in Youth Development
    methodology: performance-based_learning
    By culminating training programs like Big Steppas in public performances, participants demonstrate growth and build confidence because public recognition reinforces personal achievement and accountability.
  • Rehabilitative Theater for Incarcerated Individuals
    methodology: rehabilitative-theater
    By using theater and storytelling as a tool for creative expression, the theater supports incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals to reclaim their humanity because narrative reclamation fosters identity repair and social reintegration.
  • Social Enterprise Funding for Arts Access
    methodology: social_enterprise_funding
    By operating Café 108 as a self-sustaining revenue stream, the theater funds arts access and education programs because earned income reduces dependency on grants and broadens community engagement through shared space.