named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Cold Reading Series
Opportunity for actors to perform readings of 21st-century plays (post-2000) with no rehearsal or audition required, fostering ongoing craft development
Larry D. Gabbard Performing Arts Scholarship
Annual scholarship awarded to a Rockland County high school senior pursuing a career in performing arts, including performance, technical theater, or arts education
One-Act Weekend
Annual summer festival featuring eight original short plays by local writers, performed over a single weekend with multiple shows; includes matinee and evening performances
Public Domain Players Reading Series
Free public readings of plays in the public domain, focusing on lesser-known works from before the mid-1920s, including plays by Shakespeare, Shaw, and Ibsen
Sundays at 7
Showcase series featuring local talent and performance groups in a curated performance slot
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Arts Education Scholarships 1 activity
- Awards performing arts scholarshipsFunds and awards the annual Larry D. Gabbard Performing Arts Scholarship to high school seniors from Rockland County pursuing careers in the performing arts, with recipients named annually since at least 2022.
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Benefit Events for Arts and Culture 1 activity
- Hosts benefit performances for scholarship fundraisingOrganizes special performances, such as “Songs of Innocence and Experience” and a scheduled 2026 event, to raise funds for the Larry D. Gabbard Performing Arts Scholarship. Ticket sales support the scholarship, and external organizations may also sponsor benefit events through the theater.
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Hosts play reading seriesOrganizes regular public readings of plays, including a Cold Reading Series featuring works published after 2000 and occasional readings of public domain plays written before the mid-1920s through the Public Domain Players program. Events are held in-person at the Tarson Studio and have included works such as “The Rivals” by Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
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Event and Production Volunteer Coordination 1 activity
- Manages theater operations and volunteer coordinationOrganizes opening and closing night parties, constructs theatrical sets between productions, and coordinates volunteer teams for events and operations. Also maintains a digital archive of scripts, technical books, photographs, and publicity materials dating back to 1947.
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Youth Musical Theater Productions 1 activity
- Produces and presents theatrical productionsStages mainstage productions and original works, including full-length plays and musicals, with scheduled performances and public showings. Examples include co-producing "Finding Nemo Jr." and hosting the annual One-Act Weekend featuring eight original short plays by local writers.
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Theatrical Casting and Audition Programs 1 activity
- Provides performance and audition opportunities for local artistsOffers local performers, playwrights, and theater practitioners opportunities to engage in productions, auditions, and festivals. This includes showcasing original one-act plays by local writers and supporting local talent through casting and performance roles.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Supports community engagement and local eventsParticipates in community events such as staffing booths at street fairs, joining the Nyack Halloween Parade, and hosting gallery receptions featuring artwork by local artists from the Nyack Art Collective during mainstage productions.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$275K
Contributions & grants$69K25%
Program service revenue$196K71%
Investment income$10K4%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$282K
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$38K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$448K
Cash$57K
Investments$227K
Liabilities$271K
Net assets$176K
Liquid reserves12.1 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +17.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
board members · 9
- ALISON COSTELLO — Vice President
- CLAUDIA STEFANY — Secretary
- DARREN CARFANO — Director
- DEREK TARSON — President
- JAMES LUGO — Director
- KATHY SIMPSON — Director
- LISA SPIELMAN — Director
- MARGARET YOUNG — Director
- STEVE BERMACK — Treasurer
relationships · 27
Who they work with
- Alison Costello Partner — Director of the one-act play "These Aren’t My Boobs" featured in the festival.
- Brian Petti Partner — Playwright of the one-act play "Electronic Arms" featured in the festival.
- Claudia Stefany Partner — Board member and director of scholarship benefit performances.
- Claudia Stefany Partner — Sponsors the LDG Scholarship Benefit performance at Elmwood Playhouse.
- David Gill Partner — Playwright and director of the one-act play "Eugene and Oliver Back at the White Horse Tavern" featured in the festival.
- Derek Tarson Partner — Curates the Public Domain Players series and performs in productions as a member of Elmwood Playhouse.
- Derek Tarson Partner — Director of the one-act plays "Gridlock" and "The Standing Ovation" featured in the festival.
- Jacqueline Neeley Partner — Director of the one-act play "Where the Waves Meet the Shore" featured in the festival.
- Larry D. Gabbard Performing Arts Scholarship Partner — Beneficiary of fundraising efforts and special performances hosted by Elmwood Playhouse.
- Lisa Spielman Partner — Director of the one-act play "Electronic Arms" featured in the festival.
- Loren Edelson Partner — Playwright of the one-act play "Gridlock" featured in the festival.
- Matthew Gilleece Partner — Playwright and director of the one-act play "Burnt Toast" featured in the festival.
- Matthew Moore Partner — Playwright of the one-act play "The Standing Ovation" featured in the festival.
- Michael Reisman Partner — Playwright of the one-act play "Comfort Care" featured in the festival.
- Molly Canu Partner — Playwright of the one-act play "These Aren’t My Boobs" featured in the festival.
- Music For Life/Creative Arts Therapy Partner — Co-produced the musical Finding Nemo Jr.
- Nyack Art Collective Partner — Collaborates with Elmwood Playhouse to curate and display artwork by local artists during mainstage productions.
- Nyack Halloween Parade Partner — Participates in the Nyack Halloween Parade as part of community engagement activities.
- Nyack Street Fairs Partner — Staffs a booth at Nyack Street Fairs as part of community engagement activities.
- Nyack Tourism Funder — Provides grant funding supporting publicity for the opening night reception event.
- Paul Russo Partner — Director of the one-act play "Comfort Care" featured in the festival.
- Public Domain Players Partner — Collaborates with Public Domain Players on staged readings of public domain works.
- Scott and Joe Partner — Supplies cheese, fruit, and crackers for the opening night reception.
- St Catharine's Church Partner — Sponsors a benefit performance at Elmwood Playhouse.
- Tiffany M. Card Partner — Curates the Cold Reading Series as a member of Elmwood Playhouse.
- Tony Bellomy Partner — Musical director and collaborator on productions and scholarship benefit events.
- Wesley Cappiello Partner — Playwright of the one-act play "Where the Waves Meet the Shore" featured in the festival.
strategies · 3
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.
- Arts-Based Personal Development Through Participationmethodology: arts_based_educationBy involving community members in all aspects of theater production—especially through open casting and volunteer roles—the organization promotes personal growth, skill development, and relationship building, because hands-on creative participation builds confidence and capacity.
- Community-Engaged Theater for Social Connectionmethodology: community_engaged_theaterBy producing theater that reflects diverse community voices and involves local artists, the organization fosters broad community engagement and strengthens social ties, because shared creative experiences build collective identity and partnerships.
- Revival of Cultural Heritage Through Theatermethodology: revival_of_lesser_known_classicsBy staging lesser-known classic plays from the public domain, the organization reconnects audiences with historically significant works, because reviving underperformed cultural material deepens public appreciation for theatrical heritage and expands access to diverse narratives.