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ENSEMBLE STUDIO THEATRE INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 237150345 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A650 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · ensemblestudiotheatre.org
revenue
$3.1M
expenses
$1.9M
net assets
$4.0M
employees
77
volunteers
35
program ratio
80%
mission · from form 990

To develop and produce original, provocative, and authentic new plays that engage and challenge audiences in New York City and across the country.

profile · synthesized from sources

Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST) is a nonprofit theater company founded in 1968 that develops and produces original new plays through a collaborative ensemble of over 600 theater artists. Based in New York City, EST supports playwrights, actors, directors, and designers across their careers, with a focus on inclusion and nurturing emerging voices. The organization produces new works in its Hell's Kitchen theater and through programs like the Youngblood playwrights collective.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

EST Re:Members Podcast
Podcast featuring interviews with EST Member Artists, hosted by Rachel Lin, highlighting the careers and experiences of theater artists in the company
Marathon of One-Act Plays
Long-running program showcasing short plays by EST member artists, frequently featuring work by Youngblood playwrights and other company members
Youngblood
OBIE Award-winning collective for emerging playwrights that develops and produces new works, including the Youngblood Monday Lunch podcast series
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • New Play Development Programs 3 activities
    • Hosts festivals and recurring performance series for new work
      Presents SoloFEST solo performances, the Sunday Brunch series for short plays, and the annual First Light Festival featuring readings and workshops. Also plans mainstage productions as part of its seasonal programming.
    • Presents science- and technology-themed new plays through the EST/Sloan Project
      Develops and produces new plays exploring science, technology, and their societal impact through the EST/Sloan Project, including annual First Light Festival readings, workshops, and mainstage productions. Has supported the creation of hundreds of such American plays.
    • Supports early-career playwrights through the Youngblood program
      Operates Youngblood, an OBIE-winning collective that serves as a creative home for emerging early-career playwrights, offering development opportunities including play readings, critiques, performances, and podcast features. Supports the artistic growth of next-generation theater artists across their careers.
  • Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
    • Develops and produces original new plays for mainstage and national audiences
      Develops and produces original, provocative, and authentic new plays through readings, workshops, and full mainstage productions for audiences in New York City and nationally. Operates a theater venue at 549 W 52nd St in New York, NY, where these productions are presented.
  • Performing Arts Production Support 1 activity
    • Funds the development and production of new plays nationally
      Supports the creation of new plays in theaters across the country by awarding seed grants and production incentives to external theater companies and artists.
  • Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
    • Produces digital content featuring playwrights and new works
      Produces the Youngblood Monday Lunch podcast, releasing a new short audio play by an emerging playwright each episode, and the EST Re:Members podcast, featuring interviews with member artists about their experiences at the theater.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.07M
Contributions & grants$2.93M95%
Program service revenue$77K2%
Investment income$70K2%
Other revenue$3K
expenses
Total expenses$1.94M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$1.01M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.06M
Cash$1.38M
Investments$821K
Liabilities$54K
Net assets$4.01M
Liquid reserves13.7 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +145.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Shawn Randall Director 1 $750
board members · 11
  • Akyiaa Wilson — Director
  • Chau Haber — Director
  • Danielle Covington — Director
  • Denaka Perry — Director
  • Donna R Ward — Board Chair
  • Eddie Boroevich — Secretary
  • Jacqueline F Strayer — Director
  • Jamie Richards — Director
  • Janet Zarish — Director
  • Lou Liberatore — Director
  • Russell G Jones — Assoc. Chair
relationships · 27

Who they work with

  • Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Funder — Provides general financial support to Ensemble Studio Theatre at the $25,000+ level.
  • Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Partner — Collaborates with EST on the Science & Technology Project to develop new plays about science.
  • Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Partner — Collaborates with EST to support the development of plays about science and technology.
  • Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Partner — Partnership to develop and produce new plays about science and technology through the EST/Sloan Project.
  • Amalgamated Bank Funder — Provides corporate financial support to Ensemble Studio Theatre at the $5,000–$9,999 level.
  • Charles and Donna Ward Family Fund Partner — Supports Youngblood and new play productions at Ensemble Studio Theatre.
  • Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Provides general financial support to Ensemble Studio Theatre at the $25,000+ level.
  • J.M. Kaplan Fund Funder — Provides general financial support to Ensemble Studio Theatre at the $25,000+ level.
  • Jerome Robbins Foundation Funder — Provides general financial support to Ensemble Studio Theatre at the $5,000–$9,999 level.
  • Lenape Center Partner — Working to collaborate with members of the Lenape Center to create an updated land acknowledgment.
  • MacMillan Family Foundation Funder — Provides general financial support to Ensemble Studio Theatre at the $25,000+ level.
  • Miranda Family Fund at the Hispanic Federation Funder — Provides general financial support to Ensemble Studio Theatre at the $25,000+ level.
  • National Endowment for the Arts Government — Provides federal funding support to Ensemble Studio Theatre at the $10,000–$24,999 level.
  • New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provides public funding support to Ensemble Studio Theatre at the $25,000+ level.
  • New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides public funding support to Ensemble Studio Theatre at the $25,000+ level.
  • RJ Tolan Partner — Program Director of Youngblood, providing leadership for the playwright collective.
  • Radish Lab Partner — Designed the Ensemble Studio Theatre website.
  • Select Equity Group Foundation Funder — Provides general financial support to Ensemble Studio Theatre at the $10,000–$24,999 level.
  • The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Partner — Collaborates with Ensemble Studio Theatre on the EST/Sloan Project to support the creation of plays exploring science and technology.
  • The Axe-Houghton Foundation Funder — Provides general financial support to Ensemble Studio Theatre at the $5,000–$9,999 level.
  • The Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation Funder — Provides general financial support to Ensemble Studio Theatre at the $10,000–$24,999 level.
  • The Royal Little Family Foundation Funder — Provides general financial support to Ensemble Studio Theatre at the $25,000+ level.
  • The Shubert Foundation Funder — Provides general financial support to Ensemble Studio Theatre at the $25,000+ level.
  • Theatre Development Fund Partner — Provides financial support to Ensemble Studio Theatre at the $1,000–$4,999 level.
  • Tournesol Project Partner — Supports Youngblood and new play productions at Ensemble Studio Theatre.
  • Youngblood Coalition — OBIE Award-winning collective of emerging playwrights whose members create original plays for the Monday Lunch podcast.
  • Youngblood Network — Youth playwright program affiliated with EST for emerging writers
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.

  • Early-Career Playwright Incubation Through Peer Critique
    methodology: peer_critique_incubator
    By supporting early-career playwrights with structured peer critique and developmental opportunities, the organization enables artistic growth and industry exposure because collaborative feedback in a safe environment accelerates skill-building and creative risk-taking.
  • Ensemble-Based Artistic Development
    methodology: ensemble-based collaboration
    By engaging a large, diverse ensemble of artists in long-term collaboration, the organization fosters authentic new play development and sustains artistic innovation because collective, sustained creative relationships produce richer, more original work.
  • Inclusive Collaboration for Artistic Innovation
    methodology: inclusive_artist_support
    By committing to inclusivity across identity dimensions and using identity-inclusive collaborative processes, the organization nurtures new artistic voices and produces extraordinary work because diverse perspectives generate more innovative and equitable theater.
  • Original Play Development as Audience Engagement
    methodology: original-play-development
    By creating original, provocative, and authentic new plays, the organization drives audience engagement and meaningful artistic impact because novel narratives challenge audiences and deepen connection to contemporary issues.
  • Science-Theater Integration to Expand Public Understanding
    methodology: science-in-theater
    By integrating science and technology into narrative playwriting and theatrical workshops, the organization challenges stereotypes and reshapes public understanding because theater makes complex scientific ideas accessible and emotionally resonant.