COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

THE SHAKESPEARE FORUM INC
New York, NY · EIN 463507226 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · NTEE A61 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Micro (<$100K) · theshakespeareforum.org
revenue
$47K
expenses
$38K
net assets
$38K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

Build community through education and performance.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Shakespeare Forum is a New York-based nonprofit that builds community through Shakespearean education and performance. It offers classes in text, verse, and acting for adults and youth, emphasizing personal growth and artistic development. The organization also produces affordable, text-driven productions of Shakespeare's plays, primarily in New York City, with a focus on ensemble work and accessibility.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

PS108 Middle School Shakespeare Program
In-school program teaching Shakespeare to middle school students, led by faculty member Grace Rao.
Professional Productions
Full-scale performances of Shakespeare plays such as The Merchant of Venice, Love's Labour's Lost, and Hamlet, emphasizing text-driven, ensemble-based theater.
Shakespeare for Actors
Core class series focusing on monologues, scene work, and personal expression through Shakespearean text, designed for all experience levels.
Virtual Verse and Text Class
Online course exploring iambic pentameter and Shakespeare’s verse, using modern references like hip-hop and Hamilton to make the material accessible and engaging.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Youth Theater Arts Education 3 activities
    • Offers professional development for educators teaching Shakespeare
      Provides professional development workshops for English Language Arts and Arts/Drama educators, offering strategies, classroom activities, and resources aligned with Common Core Standards to effectively teach Shakespeare in schools.
    • Offers structured Shakespeare classes and training programs for artists
      Provides multi-week acting and text-based classes, both in-person and virtual, focused on Shakespeare’s language, verse, monologues, and scene work, with personalized exercises and financial accessibility options including flexible payment plans, discounts, and individualized support.
    • Provides Shakespeare education and performance programs in NYC public schools
      Delivers performances and interactive instruction in New York City public schools, including Title I schools and District 75 programs serving students with autism, cognitive delays, emotional challenges, and sensory impairments, using Shakespeare-based theatre to engage students and support inclusive arts education.
  • Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
    • Hosts free weekly Shakespeare workshops in Los Angeles
      Conducts weekly open workshops every Tuesday from 7:30–9:30 PM PT at Young People to the Front in Los Angeles, offering a supportive and inclusive environment for artistic collaboration and performance focused on Shakespearean texts.
  • Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
    • Produces low-cost, high-quality Shakespeare performances for the public
      Produces and presents professional, critically acclaimed performances of Shakespeare plays such as Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Love's Labour's Lost, and Titus Andronicus, with free or low-cost access for community audiences in New York and regionally.
  • Storytelling and Literacy Resource Development 1 activity
    • Provides free online Shakespeare resources for teachers
      Maintains and shares a curated list of free online materials and tools to support educators in teaching Shakespeare, expanding access to pedagogical content beyond in-person programs.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Hosts free weekly Shakespeare workshops in New York City
      Conducts weekly open workshops every Tuesday from 8–10 PM at El Barrio's Artspace PS109 in New York City, providing a space for actors, directors, and Shakespeare enthusiasts to perform and revise monologues with group feedback, engage in artistic development, and deepen their connection to Shakespeare’s language through vocal and physical exploration.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$47K
Contributions & grants$44K95%
Program service revenue$2K5%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$3
expenses
Total expenses$38K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$6K
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$38K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$38K
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +28.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Tyler Moss Board Director, Artistic Director 5 $1K
Whitney Busch Secretary, Managing Director 2 $465
Karen Bruun Board Director, Executive Director 5 $250
board members · 6
  • Antonio Disla — Board Director
  • Benjamin Cacchione — Board Director, Treasurer
  • Erin Keskeny — Board Director
  • Francis Mateo — Board Director
  • Megan Philbin — Board Director, President
  • Mila Rosenthal — Board Director
relationships · 27

Who they work with

  • A.C.T. Conservatory Partner — Student placement destination for conservatory-level acting training
  • Actors Equity Association Partner — Collaborates with Actors Equity Association for productions, with some performers appearing under its auspices.
  • Artworks Partner — Partner organization where a Forum teaching artist served as teacher-in-residence
  • Brachiate Outreach Division Partner — Collaborated on educational arts outreach programming
  • Bright Horizons Partner — Partner organization where a Forum teaching artist served as teacher-in-residence
  • Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Partner — Student placement destination for training in classical acting
  • Brooklyn College Partner — Student placement destination for theater education
  • Dominique Salerno Partner — Actor and participant in The Shakespeare Forum.
  • El Barrio's Artspace PS109 Partner — Venue partner hosting The Shakespeare Forum's workshops and performances in New York City.
  • Elise Toscano Partner — Actor and regular attendee of The Shakespeare Forum.
  • Elliot Eustis Partner — Actor and participant in The Shakespeare Forum's programs.
  • James Beaman Partner — Actor and participant in The Shakespeare Forum.
  • Kelly Zekas Partner — Resident Artist actively involved in The Shakespeare Forum's workshops.
  • Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Funder — Institutional funder supporting The Shakespeare Forum through grant funding
  • New York City Department of Education Partner — Collaborates with New York City Public Schools, including Title One and District 75 schools, to deliver programming.
  • Paul Battiato Partner — Actor and participant in The Shakespeare Forum's weekly workshops.
  • Project Shine Partner — Collaborated on educational arts outreach programming
  • Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Partner — Student placement destination for classical acting training
  • Stages on the Sound Partner — Partner organization where a Forum teaching artist served as teacher-in-residence
  • Steel City Shakespeare Center Partner — Named donor and implied organizational partner of The Shakespeare Forum
  • Stephen Mosher Partner — Photographer and participant in The Shakespeare Forum events.
  • The Globe Training Program Partner — Student placement destination for classical acting training
  • The New School for Drama Partner — Student placement destination for drama training
  • The Shakespeare Theater's Academy for Classical Acting Partner — Student placement destination for classical acting training
  • UC San Diego Partner — Student placement destination for theater training
  • Y.C. Ho / Helen and Michael Chiang Foundation Funder — Named donor organization providing financial support to The Shakespeare Forum
  • Young People to the Front Partner — Host site for The Shakespeare Forum's weekly workshops in Los Angeles.
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.

  • Accessible Arts Participation Model
    methodology: financial_accessibility
    By removing financial and artistic barriers through donation-based access and individualized training, the organization increases participation in Shakespeare, because equitable access and personalized support enable broader and more sustainable engagement.
  • Arts-Based Community Building
    methodology: arts-based_community_building
    By using Shakespeare performance and education as a shared cultural practice, the organization builds community and empowers underserved populations, because collective artistic engagement fosters inclusion, mutual growth, and social cohesion.
  • Integrated Education and Performance for Sustainable Arts Learning
    methodology: integrated-performance-education
    By integrating educational development with performance opportunities, the organization creates sustainable arts learning pathways, because experiential learning through rehearsal and production deepens understanding and retention.
  • Interactive and Contemporary Text Engagement
    methodology: contemporary_engagement_with_classical_text
    By treating Shakespeare’s text as a living, dynamic language and using interactive performance and contemporary connections, the organization fosters deeper audience and artist engagement, because playfulness and relevance increase accessibility and emotional investment.