irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $8.06MAt Atlantic Theater Company, we're an award-winning producer, premiering works by intrepid playwrights like Ngozi Anyanwu, Lloyd Suh, and Stephen Adly Guirgis as well as critically-acclaimed musicals such as "KIMBERLY AKIMBO"THE BEDWETTER". As part of this work, each season we serve almost 50,000 patrons and artists and produce four productions at the company's two theater spaces in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan: the 199-seat Linda Gross Theater on West 20th Street and the 99-seat Stage 2 theater on West 16th Street. Productions programmed as part of Atlantic's 2023-24 season included Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker's "Infinite Life", the new musical "Buena Vista Social Club", book by Marco Ramirez and music and lyrics by Buena Vista Social Club, the American premiere of Lucy Kirkwood's "The Welkin", and Shayan Lotfi's Off-Broadway debut, "What Became of Us". We also continued our New Play Development programs and served over 12 playwrights through readings and workshops.
- #2 $132KStudio and theater spaces, when not being used for Atlantic programs, are available to rent. Atlantic offers space at scaled prices to help our school alumni build their artistic ensembles, to help other theater education organizations address social issues through the use of theater, and to provide young or up-and-coming non-profit theater companies the opportunity to bring their work to the New York City audience. Miscellaneous other income is received for various program-related activities.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Access Success
Program providing theater access for neurodivergent individuals, including relaxed performances, internships, and the Storytellers drama program.
Community Audience Partnership (CAP)
Initiative offering up to 4,350 free or $25 tickets per season to diverse NYC communities, distributed through community organizations and online.
Discover Success
Student matinee program offering free or subsidized tickets to public school students, including classroom workshops and post-show discussions.
New Play Development
Program supporting emerging and established playwrights through readings, workshops, commissions, and residencies to develop new theatrical works.
Staging Success
Cross-curricular theater residency program for Title I schools serving over 600 teenagers annually, focusing on students who identify as people of color.
Storytellers
Drama program in collaboration with AHRC New York for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, involving theater games, performance training, and creative writing.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Deliver theater education programs for public school studentsProvides arts education programming to over 3,500 New York City public school students annually through initiatives such as Discover Success, which offers free or subsidized matinee tickets, pre-show workshops, and post-show discussions, and Staging Success, a cross-curricular residency serving over 600 teenagers annually from Title I schools.
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New Play Development Programs 1 activity
- Develop new plays and support playwrightsCultivates new plays and musicals from over thirty-six artists annually through developmental programs including the Amplified Reading Series, Launch Commissions for early-career playwrights, and the summer MixFest. Supported over 12 playwrights annually through readings and workshops.
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Host community engagement events and themed programmingEngages diverse audiences through Community Influencer Nights, Theme Night panel discussions, and free public readings such as Multiracial MixFest 2025, held at Atlantic Stage 2. These events aim to deepen audience connection and promote inclusive dialogue around theatrical works.
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Accessibility Services for Cultural Programs 1 activity
- Offer accessible performances and audience servicesProvides open captioning and audio description for select performances using GalaPro technology and dedicated accessibility services. Hosts specific accessible performances, such as audio description for a performance of The Saviors on August 5, 2025. Maintains an Audience Services team to support inquiries related to accessibility, health, and safety.
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Subsidized Rehearsal and Performance Space 1 activity
- Operate theater facilities for artistic developmentManages multiple performance and rehearsal spaces including the Linda Gross Theater, Atlantic Stage 2, and nine flexible studio spaces used for rehearsals, readings, and new play development. Provides subsidized access to these spaces for alumni, emerging theater companies, and education organizations.
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Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
- Produce off-Broadway theatrical productionsProduces four world premiere plays annually across two Manhattan theaters, including the Linda Gross Theater and Atlantic Stage 2, serving nearly 50,000 patrons and artists each season. Recent seasons have featured works by Annie Baker, Marco Ramirez, Lucy Kirkwood, and Shayan Lotfi.
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Performing Arts Ticket Access Programs 1 activity
- Provide subsidized theater access for underserved communitiesOffers up to 4,350 free or $25 tickets per production through the Community Audience Partnership (CAP), targeting New Yorkers from communities of color and low-to-middle income backgrounds. Also provides $25 tickets to every preview performance via the Access25 initiative during the 2025|2026 season.
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Art Programs for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities 1 activity
- Run specialized drama programs for individuals with disabilitiesOffers Storytellers, an ongoing drama program in collaboration with AHRC New York for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, providing in-person and virtual workshops in theater skills and creative writing.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$16.72M
Contributions & grants$5.30M32%
Program service revenue$11.05M66%
Investment income$326K2%
Other revenue$44K
expenses
Total expenses$15.64M
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$8.87M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$29.41M
Cash$9.93M
Investments$2.61M
Liabilities$16.90M
Net assets$12.51M
Liquid reserves9.6 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -0.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 4
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFORY LAWSON | MANAGING DIRECTOR | 40 | $418K |
| NEIL PEPE | ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | 40 | $383K |
| MARY MCCANN | DIRECTOR/SCHOOL EXEC DIR | 40 | $353K |
| HILARY HINCKLE | BOARD MEMBER/FACULTY | 1 | $30K |
board members · 21
- ANNIE PELL — director
- BETSY PITTS — secretary
- CAROL AUERBACH — Vice Chair
- CHRIS BONEAU — Director
- CLARK GREGG — Director
- CLAUDIA WAGNER — Director
- EMANUEL WEINTRAUB — Director
- HILARY EDSON POLK — Director
- ILONA NEMETH — Director
- JANE KING — Director
- JENNI DICKSON — director
- JENNIFER DANIELSEN — director
- JOANNE R WENIG — Director
- JOY BUNSON — Director
- KATIE LEEDE — Director
- KEVIN R LYLE — Treasurer
- MAHLET SEYOUM-Powell — Director
- MARY GARETT TURNER — director
- MONIQUE LONG — Director
- OLAF OLAFSSON — Chair
- ROGER KASS — Director
relationships · 30
Who they work with
- AHRC New York Partner — Collaborates on the Storytellers drama program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Atlantic Acting School Partner — Collaborative educational arm offering classes that extend the organization's mission of truthful storytelling and artist development.
- Axe-Houghton Foundation Funder — Provides funding for Atlantic Theater Company's new play and musical development activities.
- Barbara Bell Cumming Charitable Trust Funder — Provides funding for Atlantic Theater Company's new play and musical development activities.
- Buena Vista Social Club Partner — Collaborated on the new musical "Buena Vista Social Club" with music and lyrics by Buena Vista Social Club and book by Marco Ramirez.
- Clare Barron Partner — Playwright whose work is being developed and produced
- Clare Barron Partner — Playwright whose work is featured in a world premiere production.
- Community Audience Partnership Partner — Program that builds partnerships with diverse communities to increase access to and engagement with Atlantic Theater productions.
- GalaPro Partner — Partners with GalaPro to provide open captioning for performances.
- Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Provides leadership support for Atlantic Theater Company's new play and musical development activities.
- Jack D. Coen Partner — Playwright whose work is being developed and produced
- Jack D. Coen Partner — Playwright whose work is featured in a world premiere production.
- Jackie Sibblies Drury Partner — Playwright whose work is being developed and produced
- Jackie Sibblies Drury Partner — Playwright whose work is featured in a world premiere production.
- Justin Peck Partner — Artist whose work is featured in a world premiere production.
- Justin Peck Partner — Choreographer whose work is being developed and produced
- Lucas Hnath Partner — Playwright whose work is being developed and produced
- Lucas Hnath Partner — Playwright whose work is featured in a world premiere production.
- Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Funder — Provides funding for Atlantic Theater Company's new play and musical development activities.
- Mona Pirnot Partner — Playwright whose work is being developed and produced
- Mona Pirnot Partner — Playwright whose work is featured in a world premiere production.
- National Alliance for Musical Theatre Funder — Provides funding for Atlantic Theater Company's new play and musical development activities.
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provides public funding for Atlantic Theater Company's productions and programs in partnership with the City Council.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides public funding for Atlantic Theater Company's productions and programs with support from the Governor and State Legislature.
- Patricia Delgado Partner — Artist whose work is featured in a world premiere production.
- Patricia Delgado Partner — Choreographer whose work is being developed and produced
- St. Peter’s Church Partner — Hosted Atlantic Theater Company in the Parish House, which became the Linda Gross Theater.
- The Tow Foundation Funder — Provides leadership support for Atlantic Theater Company's new play and musical development activities.
- Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Funder — Supports commissioned artists and new play development at Atlantic Theater Company.
- We See You White American Theater Coalition — Engaged with WSYWAT’s list of demands to inform internal DEIA strategy and assessment.
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.
- Equity-Driven Community Access to Theatermethodology: community-engaged-audience-developmentBy removing financial and cultural barriers through subsidized pricing, targeted outreach, and community-centered programming, the organization increases access to theater for diverse New York City audiences, because inclusive access fosters broader public engagement and strengthens the relevance of live performance across social and economic lines.
- New Play Development through Collaborative Artist Supportmethodology: new-play-developmentBy producing world premiere plays and offering deeply collaborative programs, the organization supports emerging and established playwrights—especially from underrepresented backgrounds—to develop new works, because this fosters artistic innovation and ensures diverse, authentic storytelling reaches the stage.
- Structural Equity through Decentering Whitenessmethodology: intersectional equity frameworkBy using the We See You White American Theater (WSYWAT) framework to guide internal change and decenter whiteness in curriculum and artistic practice, the organization aims to dismantle systemic oppression in its operations and programming, because structural transformation is necessary to create truly inclusive and rigorous artistic environments.
- Transformative Theater for Social Reflection and Changemethodology: transformative_theaterBy using adventurous, honest storytelling—blended with music, humor, and spectacle—the organization engages audiences in serious themes and societal norms, because theater that challenges and reflects human experiences can foster individual insight and collective understanding.