irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $93KTHE SOHO REPERTORY WRITER DIRECTOR LAB FOSTERS MEANINGFUL COLLABORATION BETWEEN EARLY CAREER WRITERS AND DIRECTORS. FOUR WRITER DIRECTOR PAIRS GENERATE A NEW PLAY FROM SCRATCH UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF ESTABLISHED CO-CHAIRS. THE PLAYS ARE THEN PRESENTED IN A FREE PUBLIC READING SERIES.
- #2 $394KTHROUGH PROJECT NUMBER ONE (PN1), SOHO REP PROVIDES PRODUCTION FEES AND SALARIES FOR ALL WRITERS, DIRECTORS, DESIGNERS, ACTORS, AND STAGE MANAGERS THAT ARE EQUIVALENT TO ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF SALARIES AND ACCURATELY REFLECT THE TIME THAT PEOPLE SPEND CREATING WORK FOR THE THEATER. THE THEATER ALSO INVITES ARTISTS TO BE IN RESIDENCE AS PROJECT NUMBER ONE ARTISTS ON STAFF.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Project Number One (PN1)
Ensures equitable compensation for all artists involved in productions; offers full-time salaries and health insurance to resident artists creating new work
Studio Program
Provides individualized workshops for new plays, bringing them closer to production-readiness, with each culminating in a free public performance
Writer/Director Lab
Fosters collaboration between early-career writers and directors; four to five pairs develop new plays from scratch, culminating in free public reading series
activities · 4 groups
What they do
-
New Play Development Programs 2 activities
- Advancing new plays toward production-readiness via Studio ProgramRuns an annual Studio Program offering up to four individualized workshops that develop new plays to production level, each concluding in a free public performance.
- Supporting early-career theater artists through development labsHosts the Writer/Director Lab annually, supporting four early-career writer-director pairs in creating new plays from scratch, culminating in free public work-in-progress presentations. The 2024 cohort’s final presentations were held September 16–25.
-
-
Professional Theatrical Production 2 activities
- Commissioning and producing new theatrical worksCommissions new plays with an upfront commitment to production and produces ambitious, innovative works by radical theater makers, including world premieres such as "The Potluck" and "Is God Is." Over 80% of recent productions were developed or commissioned directly by the organization.
- Presenting theatrical performances with affordable access initiativesOffers ticketed performances of original works at its New York City venue, including specific runs such as "The Potluck" from June 30 to August 9. Maintains low-cost access through programs like 99¢ Sunday tickets and inclusive outreach to broaden audience engagement.
-
-
Arts and Cultural Workforce Training 1 activity
- Providing equitable employment and residencies for artists through Project Number OneLaunched Project Number One in 2020 to create jobs for artists during the pandemic; provides two artists annually with full-time staff positions at $1,250 per week, health insurance, bi-weekly engagement, and support to create and share new art publicly. Ensures all creative artists receive production fees and salaries equivalent to administrative staff.
-
-
Uncategorized 2 activities
- Co-presenting special events and screenings for community benefitCo-presents public events such as the screening of "Red November, Black November" on August 3, 2026, with proceeds benefiting the Beloved Community Center in Greensboro, NC.
- Hosting fundraising and celebratory public eventsHosts major public events such as the Spring Gala on June 8, 2026, to honor contributors and celebrate artists, including playwright Aleshea Harris and the release of her film *Is God Is*, based on her Soho Rep-premiered play.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.69M
Contributions & grants$2.49M93%
Program service revenue$233K9%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$-37K
expenses
Total expenses$2.82M
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead2%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$1.37M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$662K
Cash$60K
Investments$0
Liabilities$434K
Net assets$228K
Liquid reserves0.3 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +19.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CYNTHIA FLOWERS | TRUSTEE/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $161K |
| CALEB HAMMONS | TRUSTEE/PRODUCER | 40 | $136K |
| ERIC TING | TRUSTEE/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | 40 | $112K |
board members · 16
- AMBER TAMBLYN — TRUSTEE
- ARETHA MARSHALL — TRUSTEE
- BRANDEN JACOBS-JENKINS — TRUSTEE
- CARMELITA TROPICANA — TRUSTEE
- DARREL FROST — TRUSTEE
- FRANK HOLOZUBIEC — TRUSTEE
- JACKIE SIBBLIES DRURY — TRUSTEE
- JAMES GLEICK — TRUSTEE
- KENNETH EBIE — TRUSTEE
- MADELEINE FOSTER BERSIN — TRUSTEE
- PAIGE BLANSFIELD — TREASURER
- ROXANE GAY — TRUSTEE
- SUSAN DUNN — SECRETARY
- TEI BLOW — TRUSTEE
- VICTORIA MEAKIN — CHAIR
- ZACH MILLER — TRUSTEE
relationships · 53
Who they work with
- Advance NYC Partner — Development consultants for Soho Rep
- Arison Arts Foundation Funder — Funder at the $50,000 - $99,999 level
- Beloved Community Center Partner — Beneficiary of proceeds from the screening of "Red November, Black November."
- Blake Zidell & Associates Partner — Public relations partner for Soho Rep
- BrickFlix Partner — Co-presented the screening of "Red November, Black November."
- Civis Foundation Partner — Provided Signal Producing Support for "The Potluck" as part of a three-season initiative called "The Hunger Cycle."
- Doris Duke Foundation Funder — Funder at the $1,000 - $1,999 level
- Dorothy Berwin Funder — Funder at the $5,000 - $9,999 level
- Farber Law LLC, Andrew Farber, Esq. Partner — Legal counsel for Soho Rep
- Finance Friend Partner — Business manager for Soho Rep
- First Manhattan Company Funder — Funder at the $1,000 - $1,999 level
- Fred Basch, AIA Partner — Architect for Soho Rep
- Hachette Book Group Funder — Funder at the $500 - $999 level
- INTAR Partner — Co-presented "The Potluck" and the screening of "Red November, Black November."
- INTAR Theatre Partner — Co-produced the world premiere of The Potluck with INTAR Theatre.
- James Gleick & Cynthia Crossen Funder — Supports play commissions through funding.
- Lawrence Sutton & Rick Titone Funder — Support the Writer Director Lab
- Lucille Lortel Foundation Funder — Funder at the $5,000 - $9,999 level
- M&T Bank Funder — Funds Project Number One fees and artist on staff positions.
- Mellon Foundation Funder — Funder at the $100,000+ level
- Mimi Lien Partner — Board member and set designer affiliated with Soho Rep, recognized for outstanding set design work on productions such as "Fairview".
- Naomi Usher, Studio Usher Partner — Creative director and graphic designer for Soho Rep
- New York City Partner — Builds two-way coalitions and partnerships across the city to expand access and engagement with theater.
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council Funder — Funder at the $100,000+ level
- New York State Council on the Arts and the New York State Legislature Government — Funder at the $50,000 - $99,999 level
- Paul Leibowitz Partner — Plot Real Estate Advisory for Soho Rep
- Paul Sahre Partner — Logo designer for Soho Rep
- Playwrights Horizons Partner — Co-presented the production "The Potluck" at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater.
- Project Number One Artists Partner — Artists in residence supported through equitable compensation and integration into staff activities to develop and present new work.
- Roy Cockrum Foundation Funder — Funder at the $50,000 - $99,999 level
+ 23 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.
- Artist-Driven Development with Artistic Autonomymethodology: artist_driven_developmentBy allowing artists to generate and design their own workshops based on their creative needs, the theater fosters artistic autonomy, which in turn produces innovative and authentic new works because it centers the artist as the primary agent of creation.
- Civic Theater Model with Narrative Recenteringmethodology: civic_theater_modelBy operating as a civic theater that critically examines theatrical form and history, the organization re-centers underrepresented voices and challenges assumptions about who theater serves, producing personal and civic transformation because it positions theater as a site of democratic and cultural interrogation.
- Equitable Labor Practices as Artistic Infrastructuremethodology: equitable_artist_compensationBy paying artists living wages and ensuring equitable compensation equivalent to administrative staff, the theater sustains high-caliber, formally inventive theater production because fair labor practices enable long-term artist engagement and counteract systemic inequities in nonprofit theater.
- Long-Term Collaborative Incubation for Radical New Worksmethodology: long_term_collaborative_developmentBy supporting sustained collaboration between writer-director teams over a 12-month period, the theater enables the development of formally inventive and radical new works that are more likely to achieve global future productions because extended time and stability foster artistic risk-taking and refinement.
- Open Access via Affordability and Community Reciprocitymethodology: open_access_through_affordabilityBy maintaining affordable ticket pricing and building reciprocal community partnerships, the theater increases access and broadens audience participation because reducing financial barriers and fostering mutual relationships democratize who can engage with theater.