named programs · 1 · from sources
What they call their work
Othello (Outdoor Production)
A modern staging of Shakespeare’s tragedy performed in Marcus Garvey Park, exploring themes of war trauma and jealousy, directed by Carl Cofield and starring James Udom as Othello
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
- Creating and producing audio plays and podcast series highlighting cultural figuresProduces podcast series and audio plays, including "ICONS 3: Prominent Figures in the Landscape" and a second season featuring monologues by Latinx writers on historical figures from Latin America and the Caribbean, commissioning Harlem-based and Latinx-descended playwrights and performers to highlight underrepresented stories.
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Traditional & Cultural Performing Arts 1 activity
- Presenting cultural events and performances celebrating Harlem’s heritageHosts concerts, holiday performances, and panel discussions such as a Broadway holiday concert at Ginny's Supper Club and "Renaissance Reborn: Remembering the Past, Igniting the Future" to honor the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance.
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Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
- Producing classical and contemporary theatrical worksStages professional productions of Shakespearean plays, classical works, and new musicals, including modern-dress and streamlined adaptations such as a sub-two-hour version of "Othello" without intermission. These productions are presented both indoors and in outdoor public spaces like Marcus Garvey Park and Bryant Park.
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Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Providing free theatrical and educational programs to underserved communitiesOffers theatrical productions, educational initiatives, and literary programs at little or no cost to residents of Harlem and surrounding areas, directly benefiting approximately 30,000 people annually through partnerships with schools, community organizations, and public performances.
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New Play Development Programs 1 activity
- Supporting emerging playwrights through developmental readings and collaborationsHosts cold readings of early-stage plays and supports emerging playwrights in developing full-length works through dramaturgical and directorial collaboration, providing platforms for new voices in theater.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.44M
Contributions & grants$2.85M83%
Program service revenue$638K19%
Investment income$47K1%
Other revenue$-88K
expenses
Total expenses$3.28M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead5%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$1.58M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.88M
Cash$1.21M
Investments$1.83M
Liabilities$37K
Net assets$3.84M
Liquid reserves11.1 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +4.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TYRON JONES | ARTISTIC DIR. | 40 | $122K |
| BETTY IBRAHIM | PLAYWRIGHT IN RES. | 40 | $109K |
| PENN W GENTHNER | DIR OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $101K |
board members · 12
- BRAD BENDER — Treasurer
- CAROL KAPLAN — Director
- DR KAREN JACKSON WEAVER — Director
- ETHAN HAWKE — Director
- JASON DELANE LEE — Director
- JOSEPH JOHNSON — Director
- KARA YOUNG — Director
- KELLI Y PAYNE — Director
- PATRICK A BRADFORD — Chairman
- RENEE BEAUMONT — Director
- SUE SUH — Director
- TERRI COOPER — Director
relationships · 43
Who they work with
- American Theatre Magazine Partner — Collaborates on the production of a series of audio plays highlighting leaders of the Harlem Renaissance.
- American Theatre Magazine Partner — Collaborating partner on the production of the audio play series "ICONS 3: Prominent Figures in the Landscape".
- Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Funder — Provides general operating support to the organization.
- Axe-Houghton Foundation Funder — Private foundation supporting the Literary Series.
- Bank of America Government — Presenting sponsor of the Bryant Park Picnic Performances, including The Classical Theatre of Harlem's "Young, Gifted and Black" event.
- Bloomberg Philanthropies Funder — Provides general operating support to the organization.
- Carl Cofield Partner — Collaborating director who staged the production of "Othello" with original narrative additions.
- City Council Member Yusef Salaam Government — Partner in securing public funds for programs
- City Council Members Shaun Abreu Government — Partner in securing public funds for programs
- City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams Government — Partner in securing public funds for programs
- Ginny's Supper Club Partner — Venue partner hosting performances
- Harlem Grown Partner — Listed among general operating support providers, indicating a partnership in support of the organization’s work.
- Harlem businesses Partner — Collaborates with local businesses in community engagement efforts
- Harlem residents Partner — Engages with residents as part of community programming
- Harlem schools Partner — Partners with schools for theatre-based educational programs
- Hester Street Fair Partner — Curates a rotating line-up of local artisanal food vendors for the Bryant Park Picnic Performances.
- Isabel Arraiza Partner — Actor portraying Desdemona in the production.
- James Udom Partner — Lead actor portraying Othello in the production.
- Jarvis & Constance Doctorow Family Foundation Funder — Private foundation supporting the Literary Series.
- Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine Government — Partner in securing public funds for programs
- Marcus Garvey Park Partner — Hosts outdoor performances in collaboration with The Classical Theatre of Harlem.
- National Endowment for the Arts Government — Provides funding support for the organization’s artistic work.
- National Endowment for the Arts Government — Provides funding to support the organization's work
- Netflix Funder — Provides general operating support to the organization.
- New York City Council Government — Partnered with the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs to support the program through public funds.
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provided public funding support for the program in partnership with the City Council.
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provides public funding for programming in partnership with Manhattan Borough leadership and City Council members.
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provides public funding for programs in partnership with city officials
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Public funder supporting the Literary Series in partnership with the City Council.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Funds the organization with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
+ 13 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.
- Culturally Rooted Storytelling for Community Representationmethodology: cultural_reimaginingBy commissioning and staging works from local playwrights and underrepresented cultural perspectives—particularly those tied to the Harlem Renaissance—the organization strengthens community identity and engagement, because stories grounded in local history and cultural aesthetics resonate more deeply with diverse, underserved audiences.
- Low-Cost Access to Expand Community Engagementmethodology: community_accessBy offering theatrical and educational programming at little or no cost, the organization increases participation among underserved communities, because financial accessibility removes a key barrier to cultural engagement and broadens audience diversity.
- Reinterpretation of Classical Texts to Reflect Systemic Oppressionmethodology: systemic-oppression_narrative_framingBy reinterpreting Shakespearean characters and narratives through the lens of systemic oppression and contemporary psychological conditions, the organization makes classical theater relevant to modern audiences and surfaces enduring social inequities, because this framing allows audiences to see historical power dynamics reflected in current societal challenges.
- Transformative Theater for Social Norm Changemethodology: transformative_theaterBy producing theater that intentionally connects diverse perspectives and challenges dominant cultural narratives, the organization fosters social transformation, because live performance creates a shared space where audiences can critically engage with and reconsider entrenched societal norms.