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RATTLESTICK PRODUCTIONS INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 113105457 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Medium ($1M-$10M) · rattlestick.org
revenue
$2.1M
expenses
$1.9M
net assets
$3.8M
employees
168
volunteers
35
program ratio
69%
mission · from form 990

Rattlestick Theater has been steadfast in producing diverse, challenging, and provocative plays while fostering the future voices of the American theater. Now led by Artistic Director Will Davis, the first transgender person to run an off-Broadway theater, we are proud to make Rattlestick a place that is focused on energetic theater that responds to the complexities of our culture in conversation with community partners. Our mission is to produce ambitious plays to inspire empathy and provoke conversation that will lead to positive social change.

profile · synthesized from sources

Rattlestick Productions is an off-Broadway theater company in New York City dedicated to producing diverse, provocative plays and fostering emerging voices in American theater. Under Artistic Director Will Davis, the organization supports early-career playwrights through developmental programs and produces new works that explore identity, culture, and social change. It emphasizes queer and BIPOC narratives through experimental, process-driven projects.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Terrence McNally New Works Incubator
Program for early-career playwrights offering a $10,000 stipend, mentorship, incubation period, and developmental workshop leading to an industry presentation
Van Lier New Voices Fellowship
Two-year fellowship for playwrights of color under 30, providing a $35,000 living stipend, $5,000 artistic fund, mentorship, and integration into Rattlestick’s artistic network
Waverly Performance Studio
Developmental program supporting experimental, process-driven theater projects beyond traditional script-based workshops, culminating in performance showings
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • New Play Development Programs 2 activities
    • Co-producing and developing new theatrical works
      Co-produces and develops new plays through workshops, readings, and full productions, including the New York premiere of "Indian Princesses" at Atlantic Theater Company and developmental workshops for works such as _sadie river’s drag ball on the lawn_, _The Call_, and _Fatherhood: continuum_. Also initiates development of new dance-theater pieces like _Ballet Bar_.
    • Supporting early-career playwrights through the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator
      Operates an annual fellowship program that selects playwrights to receive a $10,000 stipend, one-on-one mentorship, and a 29-hour developmental workshop culminating in an industry presentation. The program provides time, space, professional guidance, and access to a community of artists for early-career playwrights.
  • Artist Support Grants 1 activity
    • Funding immigrant artists through microgrants
      Awards three $1,000 microgrants annually to immigrant artists as part of the Global Forms festival, enabling support for creative projects and professional development.
  • Community Event Fundraising 1 activity
    • Hosting annual community and fundraising events
      Hosts an annual holiday party and fundraiser centered around the Rat King, featuring community gathering, theatrical performances, and the crowning of a new Rat King to celebrate and support the organization’s mission.
  • Arts and Cultural Workforce Training 1 activity
    • Offering director fellowships for career development
      Provides a 12-month fellowship for one graduate director annually, including a weekly salary, leadership experience, access to theater resources, and a public showcase event, to support career development in the NYC theater industry.
  • Original Music-Theater and Opera Production 1 activity
    • Producing provocative and socially engaged theater
      Produces ambitious, diverse, and challenging plays designed to inspire empathy, provoke conversation, and contribute to positive social change, including recent productions such as "SPIRITUS/VIRGIL'S DANCE," "AMANI," and "The Siblings Play." The organization operates as an off-Broadway theater and serves as an artistic home for emerging and underrepresented voices in American theater.
  • Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
    • Providing multi-year fellowships and support for playwrights of color
      Offers the Van Lier New Voices Fellowship, a two-year residency for two playwrights of color under 30, providing a $35,000 living stipend, $5,000 artistic fund, mentorship, workshops, and access to artistic networks. Since 2011, the program has supported sixteen playwrights whose works have reached thousands of audiences and received major awards.
  • Historic Theater and Arts Venue Preservation 1 activity
    • Renaming and maintaining a historic theater space
      Renamed its venue at 224 Waverly Place to The Terrence McNally Theater in honor of the playwright and undertook structural renovations including asbestos abatement, elevator installation, and preservation of historic proscenium molding, while hosting community events to commemorate its 30-year artistic legacy.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.06M
Contributions & grants$1.76M85%
Program service revenue$221K11%
Investment income$72K4%
Other revenue$11K
expenses
Total expenses$1.86M
Program expenses69%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising14%
Salaries & benefits$668K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.60M
Cash$1.91M
Investments$0
Liabilities$823K
Net assets$3.77M
Liquid reserves12.4 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +86.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
WILL DAVIS ARTISTIC DIR. 40 $104K
board members · 14
  • ALANA WEISS — BOARD MEMBER
  • BRUCE LOVETT — Treasurer
  • DARYL BOREN — BOARD MEMBER
  • DOUG NEVIN — BOARD MEMBER
  • FAITH CATLIN — BOARD MEMBER
  • HALLEY FEIFFER — BOARD MEMBER
  • JEFF THAMKITTIKASEM — Chairman
  • JOSHUA KAHAN BRODY — BOARD MEMBER
  • MARI FOSTER — Vice President
  • MATTHEW D'AMICO — BOARD MEMBER
  • RAY BRUNT — Secretary
  • ROBERT LOMISON — VICE CHAIR
  • STEVEN C PHILLIPS — BOARD MEMBER
  • SUSAN STRICKLER — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 18

Who they work with

  • Atlantic Theater Company Partner — Co-producing the play "Indian Princesses" in 2026.
  • Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Partner — Provided residency support for the development of _The Call_.
  • City Council Member Erik Bottcher Government — Joined Rattlestick for a community event and renovation tour, offering public support for the project.
  • David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University Partner — Collaborates with Rattlestick Theater to identify and support a graduate director for the annual Directing Fellowship.
  • Jerome Foundation Funder — Funds the Van Lier New Voices Fellowship
  • Lucille Lortel Theatre Partner — Co-presents the Global Forms festival with Rattlestick Theater.
  • StoryBridge Productions Partner — Co-produced the musical _The Call_ and collaborated on its New York workshop development.
  • Terrence McNally Partner — Honors the playwright by naming the theater building after him.
  • Terrence McNally Foundation Partner — Co-presents the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator with Rattlestick Theater.
  • Terrence McNally Foundation Partner — Collaborating on the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator to support the development of original new work.
  • Terrence McNally Foundation Partner — Partnered with Rattlestick to rename the theater building in honor of Terrence McNally.
  • The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Partner — Collaborates with Rattlestick on the National Playwright Residency Program to support a long-term playwright-in-residence.
  • The New York Community Trust Funder — Funds the Van Lier New Voices Fellowship
  • Tom Kirdahy Productions Partner — Co-presents the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator and collaborates on selecting collaborators and guiding development.
  • Waverly Club Partner — Collaborates with Waverly Club on the Waverly Performance Studio Program and shared branding.
  • Waverly Club Partner — Recurring donor group providing sustained financial support for Rattlestick Theater's programming and operations.
  • Wegmans Partner — Sponsor of The Ratcracker event
  • community partners Partner — Collaborates with community partners to inform and shape theatrical work that responds to cultural complexities.
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.

  • Artist-Centered Institutional Model
    methodology: artist-centered_institution
    By centering artists' voices in organizational decision-making and identity, Rattlestick creates a more responsive and inclusive institution that empowers creative risk-taking and expands the boundaries of contemporary theater.
  • Mentorship-Driven Incubation for Playwrights
    methodology: mentorship-based_incubation
    By providing emerging playwrights with sustained mentorship, dedicated space, and individualized support, Rattlestick nurtures bold new voices and advances innovative theatrical work through professional development and creative continuity.
  • Process-Driven, Experimental Development Model
    methodology: process-driven_exploration
    By prioritizing expansive, non-traditional exploration over conventional script-based methods, Rattlestick fosters innovation in theater through radical experimentation and developmental flexibility.
  • Theater as a Catalyst for Social Change
    methodology: theater-for-social-change
    By producing ambitious plays that inspire empathy and provoke public conversation, Rattlestick leverages theater as a tool to generate deeper understanding and drive positive social change.