named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
BAL SLAM
Annual event featuring staged readings of new plays, including works like "The Ward"
Delicious Comedy Reading Series
Comedy-focused reading series hosted at libraries and community centers, emphasizing humor and accessibility
Earth Day Expo
Event combining theater and environmental themes, such as staged readings of plays like "The Kvetching Tree"
Hope Springs Eternal Video Series
Online video festival featuring short theatrical works, including "Dinner Talk"
Playwright’s Platform
Staged reading series for new plays by contemporary playwrights, providing development opportunities for writers and actors
The Love Festival
Annual festival of one-act plays centered on themes of love and relationships, produced live or in video format
activities · 5 groups
What they do
-
New Play Development Programs 2 activities
- Organizing annual play competitions and festivalsHosts annual events including the One Act Slam competition for unpublished short plays and themed festivals such as the Love Festival and Hope Springs Eternal Festival, featuring multiple short works and audience engagement.
- Staging readings of new and unpublished playsConducts staged readings of new and unpublished plays, often with costumes and props, as part of a developmental pipeline that may lead to full production; includes performances at academic and public venues.
-
-
Professional Theatrical Production 2 activities
- Producing and developing full theatrical productionsProduces and presents full theatrical productions of new and classic plays, often in partnership with venues such as the Midtown International Theatre Festival and CUNY Graduate Center, with documented runs of award-winning works like "Farm Hall" and "Natural Causes."
- Producing revivals of published classic playsProduces and stages revivals of previously published classic plays through the "Revivals Revisited" series, including works by Eugene Ionesco and others.
-
-
Post-Performance Audience Engagement 1 activity
- Conducting post-performance talkback sessionsHosts post-performance talkbacks after readings and full productions, featuring playwrights, theater professionals, and subject matter experts from science, media, and academia to engage audiences in discussion.
-
-
Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Hosting recurring reading series and themed performance programsOperates multiple recurring reading series such as The Art Of Science, Historically Speaking, Delicious Comedy, and Mondays at Seven, featuring science-themed, historical, and comedic works in curated thematic programs.
-
-
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Integrating science with theater through public programsDevelops and presents public programs that integrate science with theater, art, and performance, including NSF-funded "Science as Performance" initiatives and collaborations with academic institutions.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$62K
Contributions & grants$10K16%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$52K84%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$23K
Program expenses0%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineOther
balance sheet
Total assets$954K
Cash$954K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$954K
Liquid reserves489.7 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -1.6%
relationships · 43
Who they work with
- A.R.T./New York Network — Member of The Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York.
- Actors’ Equity Association Network — Collaborates with performers who are members of Actors’ Equity Association.
- Actors’ Temple Theatre Partner — Hosted Break a Leg Productions' performance and talkback of Gore Vidal’s The Best Man featuring speaker Kim Moscaritolo.
- American Theater Actors Partner — Hosted performances at ATA (American Theater Actors) venue for the Midtown International Theater Festival.
- Barnes & Noble/Astor Place Partner — Hosted staged readings of two new comedies, "The Last of My Gentleman Callers" and "Goulash Girls."
- Bildner Center for Western Hemisphere Studies Partner — Co-sponsored an Art of Science Reading Series event.
- Borders Books Partner — Hosted a performance of "Let’s Make A Deal!" featuring three corporate comedies.
- CUNY Government — Sponsored Break a Leg Productions' staged reading of "The Half-Life of Marie Curie" for the Regional Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics.
- CUNY Graduate Center Partner — Hosted multiple Break a Leg Productions performances and talkbacks, including productions of The Madwoman Of Chaillot and No, No Nobel.
- CUNY Graduate Center Partner — Hosted staged readings and performances of new plays, including "Farm Hall," "No No Nobel," and "The Relativity of Love."
- Cafe Evergreen Partner — Hosted a benefit event honoring Cindy Adams of the New York Post.
- David C. Cassidy Partner — Collaborated with playwright and science historian David C. Cassidy on multiple plays, including "The Relativity of Love," "Farm Hall," and "No No Nobel."
- East Side International Community Center Partner — Hosted multiple staged readings of new comedies in 1995 and 1996.
- Episcopal Actor’s Guild Partner — Hosted "The Art of Science" reading series at Episcopal Actor’s Guild location.
- Episcopal Actor’s Guild Partner — Hosted Break a Leg Productions' Historically Speaking reading of The King’s Face with playwright Steven Young Skyped in for the talkback.
- Feminist Press at CUNY Partner — Collaborated to develop books and a website encouraging science careers for women.
- Feminist Press at CUNY Partner — Collaborates to develop books and a website encouraging science careers for women.
- GreenStage Shakespeare Company Network — Peter Burford is a board member of this theater company, indicating an ongoing professional affiliation.
- Harold Clurman Theatre Partner — Venue for participation in the Lovecreek Productions Off-off-Broadway Original Short Play Festival.
- IBM Partner — Hosted a special performance of "No No Nobel" at its headquarters in Yorktown Heights, New York.
- IBM Headquarters Partner — Hosted Break a Leg Productions events including talkbacks for Einstein’s Wife and No, No Nobel in Tarrytown, New York.
- Jarvis & Constance Doctorow Foundation Funder — Provided a $5,000 grant to Break a Leg Productions in 2014.
- Martin E. Segal Theatre Center Partner — Co-sponsored and collaborated on multiple Art of Science Reading Series events.
- Midtown International Theatre Festival Partner — Collaborated to present Farm Hall in July 2014, with Gerald van Heerden serving as Artistic Director of Plays.
- NY Public Library Partner — Hosted Break a Leg Productions' Unexplored Territory Reading Series and other readings at multiple branches including Bloomingdale and Epiphany.
- NY Times Partner — Represented by reporter Sam Roberts, who participated in a talkback for the reading of “The Brother” at Mid-Manhattan Library.
- National Science Foundation Government — Funded the Science as Performance outreach initiative led by Brian Schwartz.
- New Media Lab, CUNY Graduate Center Partner — Represented by Stephen Brier in a post-performance talkback for The Madwoman Of Chaillot, reflecting collaboration with Break a Leg Productions.
- Our Town Partner — Media partner that has featured Break A Leg Productions' work and artistic reflections.
- Playroom Theatre Partner — Hosted Break a Leg Productions' performance of The Sherlock Entreaty with talkback speakers from the Priory Scholars of New York City.
+ 13 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.
- Audience Engagement Through Expert Dialoguemethodology: talkback-engagementBy integrating post-performance talkbacks with experts, we deepen audience understanding of complex themes, because structured dialogue following artistic experiences enhances learning and personal connection to the material.
- Community Access Through Non-Traditional Venuesmethodology: community_accessBy presenting theatrical works in accessible public venues like libraries and bookstores, we increase engagement with underserved communities, because locating art in familiar, non-institutional spaces reduces barriers to participation and expands cultural access.
- Science and Arts Integration to Enhance Public Understandingmethodology: science-and-arts_integrationBy integrating science with performing and visual arts, we make complex scientific concepts accessible and emotionally resonant through narrative and performance, because artistic expression fosters deeper public engagement with science than traditional outreach methods.
- Staged Readings as New Play Developmentmethodology: playwright-centered_developmentBy using fully staged readings with costumes and props, we simulate full production experiences to refine new plays through audience engagement and iterative playwright feedback, because this developmental process improves the quality and readiness of works for full production.
- Theatre as a Bridge for Social Connection and Inclusivitymethodology: theatre_for_social_connectionBy using theater and dramatic video to highlight shared human experiences and employing non-traditional and diverse casting, we foster connection across social divisions, because representation and emotional storytelling reduce perceived differences and build empathy among diverse audiences.