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NEW YORK SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 131844852 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE A650 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Very Large (>$50M) · publictheater.org
revenue
$61.1M
expenses
$53.0M
net assets
$128.0M
employees
1,323
volunteers
42
program ratio
73%
mission · from form 990

THROUGH THE PUBLIC THEATER, SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK AND JOE'S PUB, NYSF IS DEDICATED TO DEVELOPING AN AMERICAN THEATER THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND RELEVANT TO ALL PEOPLE.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Public Theater produces and presents new and classic theatrical works, including contemporary plays, musicals, and Shakespearean productions, primarily at its home in New York City. It develops American theater through innovative stagings and supports artists via residencies and commissions. The organization emphasizes accessibility through free and low-priced ticket programs.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $7.42M
    JOE'S PUBFOUNDED IN 1998, JOE'S PUB IS COMMITTED TO REFLECTING THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY THAT IT REPRESENTS IN ITS AUDIENCES AND ON ITS STAGE BY PROGRAMMING A WIDE RANGE OF EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCES FROM ARTISTS ACROSS THE FIELDS OF MUSIC, FILM, AND DANCE, WHILE KEEPING TICKET PRICES AT A MINIMUM. IN AN AVERAGE SEASON, JOE'S PUB PRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 700 SHOWS FOR OVER 100,000 AUDIENCE MEMBERS. SINCE ITS OPENING, JOE'S PUB HAS PRESENTED OVER 18,000 PERFORMANCES FROM AN ECLECTIC ROSTER THAT INCLUDES TOP PERFORMERS FROM BROADWAY, CABARET, DANCE, WORLD, SINGER-SONGWRITER, JAZZ, COUNTRY AND INDIE GENRES, TODAY'S RISING STARS, AND GRAMMY AWARD-WINNERS.THE 2023-24 JOE'S PUB SEASON FEATURED NIGHTLY PROGRAMMING WITH A MIX OF NEW AND FAMILIAR FACES SUCH AS JUSTIN VIVIAN BOND, BRIDGET EVERETT, TOSHI REAGON, SHAINA TAUB, JAKE BLOUNT, LEE JIN AH, AND EVA NOBLEZADA. IN OCTOBER 2023, JOE'S PUB HOSTED THE THIRD ANNUAL EDITION OF HABIBI FESTIVAL, A WEEK-LONG CELEBRATION OF GROUNDBREAKING ARTISTS FROM THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICAN REGIONS. OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, VANGUARD RESIDENT ARTIST ANGELIQUE KIDJO CURATED A QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE SERIES, CAPPED OFF BY A PERFORMANCE AT THE ANNUAL JOE'S PUB GALA.
  2. #2 $4.89M
    COMMUNITY PROGRAMSMOBILE UNIT MOBILE UNIT REACHES ECONOMIC AND GEOGRAPHIC BARRIERS TO THE ARTS BY STAGING FREE PROFESSIONAL THEATER PRODUCTIONS AND PROGRAMS IN LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD VENUES WHERE PEOPLE WITH SEVERELY LIMITED ACCESS TO THE ARTS ARE CONGREGATED. MOBILE UNIT FOCUSES ON TOURING PRODUCTIONS TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, HALFWAY HOUSES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND OTHER PLACES WHERE THE MOST CRITICALLY UNDERSERVED AND OVERLOOKED PARTS OF THE POPULATION ARE CONGREGATED. OVER THE YEARS, MOBILE UNIT HAS SERVED THOUSANDS OF AUDIENCES WITH CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PRODUCTIONS. IN 2023-2024, MOBILE UNIT BUILT DEEP RELATIONSHIPS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP NETWORK AND UNDERTOOK AMBITIOUS PROGRAMMING AND PRODUCTIONS WHICH EXTENDED THE IMPACT OF FREE SHAKESPEARE PROGRAMMING TO DIVERSE COMMUNITIES ACROSS NEW YORK CITY. IN 2024, AS A KEY PILLAR OF OUR SHAKESPEARE OFFERINGS WHILE THE DELACORTE THEATER UNDERWENT RENOVATION, WE PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON MOBILE UNIT WITH OUR EXPANDED 5-WEEK TOUR OF THE COMEDY OF ERRORS (LA COMEDIA DE ERRORES), PRESENTED FOR FREE IN NYC PARKS AND PLAZAS ACROSS ALL FIVE BOROUGHS.THE PUBLIC ALSO CONTINUED OUR WORK WITH CARCERAL PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT OUR MOBILE UNIT: IN CORRECTIONS PROGRAM. LED BY TEACHING ARTIST MALIK WORK, THE PROGRAM ENGAGED PARTICIPANTS IN FOUR DIGITAL WORKSHOPS ACCOMPANIED BY PHYSICAL WORKBOOKS AND MATERIALS, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE NEW YORK CARCERAL SYSTEM TO WRITE AND ENGAGE WITH SHAKESPEARE. IN WINTER 2023, WE RAN A SEVEN-WEEK WRITING MODULE AT THE METROPOLITAN DETENTION CENTER, IN WHICH PARTICIPANTS WORKED TOWARD SHARING THEIR STORIES THROUGH LIVE PERFORMANCE.PUBLIC WORKSPUBLIC WORKS PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY TO CREATE BESPOKE CREATIVE PROGRAMMING THAT AIMS TO RESTORE AND BUILD COMMUNITY AS A CENTRAL MOTIVATION IN OUR THEATER-MAKING. THROUGHOUT THE 2023-2024 SEASON, PUBLIC WORKS CONTINUED ITS YEAR-ROUND EFFORTS TO ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH WEEKLY CLASSES, MONTHLY SOCIAL GATHERINGS, SEMI-REGULAR WORKSHOPS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ATTEND PUBLIC THEATER PERFORMANCES. THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM WORKS CLOSELY WITH EIGHT COMMUNITY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO OFFER THIS ANNUAL PROGRAMMING, A MAJORITY OF WHICH HAVE ENGAGED WITH THE PUBLIC FOR ALL OR MOST OF THE PROGRAM'S DECADE-LONG HISTORY: CHILDREN'S AID (MANHATTAN), THE FORTUNE SOCIETY (QUEENS), DREAMYARD (BRONX), BROWNSVILLE RECREATION CENTER (BROOKLYN), DOMESTIC WORKERS UNITED (STATEN ISLAND AND CITYWIDE), CASITA MARIA CENTER FOR ARTS AND EDUCATION (BRONX), CENTER FOR FAMILY LIFE IN SUNSET PARK (BROOKLYN), AND MILITARY RESILIENCE FOUNDATION (CITYWIDE). WHILE THE DELACORTE THEATER WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR OUR ANNUAL CELEBRATORY PAGEANT PRODUCTION, IN SUMMER 2024, THE PUBLIC REMAINED DEDICATED TO CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO SHARE THEIR ARTMAKING WITH ONE ANOTHER AND THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK CITY. AS A CULMINATION OF OUR 2023-2024 PROGRAMMING, PUBLIC WORKS PRODUCED LET'S HEAR IT FOR NEW YORK!, A LARGE-SCALE PARTICIPATORY PERFORMANCE IN WHICH HUNDREDS OF NEW YORKERS GATHERED WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS IN CENTRAL PARK FOR A DANCE CHOREOGRAPHED BY TONY AWARD NOMINEE CAMILLE A. BROWN AND SET TO THE ICONIC NEW YORK ANTHEM "EMPIRE STATE OF MIND" BY ALICIA KEYS FROM THE HELL'S KITCHEN ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST ALBUM.
named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Girl, Interrupted
World premiere theatrical production based on Susanna Kaysen's memoir, featuring original music by Aimee Mann and choreography by Sonya Tayeh
Henry VI: A Trilogy in Two Parts
Adapted and condensed performance of Shakespeare’s history plays, presented in two parts by NAATCO
Joseph Papp Free Previews
Program offering free preview performances to the public
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • Emerging Filmmaker Support Programs 1 activity
    • Advances equity in cultural criticism
      Hosts the BIPOC Critics Lab to support and develop cultural criticism by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color writers.
  • Performing Arts Archival Preservation 1 activity
    • Documents and archives live performances
      Preserves live theatrical works, such as PUBLIC RECORD, in the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts as part of a permanent archival record.
  • Accessibility Services for Cultural Programs 1 activity
    • Expands accessibility of performances
      Provides open captioning in Spanish for all performances to increase accessibility for non-English-speaking and deaf or hard-of-hearing audiences.
  • Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
    • Hosts citywide literary and performance events
      Organizes culminating public events tied to citywide initiatives, such as a book club centered on N.K. Jemisin’s The City We Became, featuring readings, performances, and discussions.
  • Leadership & Policy Dialogue Forums 1 activity
    • Hosts public forums and live conversations on cultural and social issues
      Organizes live public forums, panel discussions, and public philosophy events at The Delacorte Theater and other venues, featuring artists, public intellectuals, and community members discussing themes such as love, democracy, meritocracy, Asian representation, and the contemporary relevance of Shakespeare.
  • Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
    • Produces and presents professional theater productions
      Produces hundreds of world premiere plays and musicals at Astor Place and presents theatrical works including Shakespearean adaptations, new plays, and documentary theater. Notable productions include "Girl, Interrupted," "Dark Disabled Stories," and a two-part adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry VI trilogy.
  • Community-Engaged Theater Production 1 activity
    • Produces community-based theatrical works
      Creates large-scale community theater productions featuring over 100 performers, musicians, and dancers from across New York City’s five boroughs, reflecting contemporary urban life.
  • Free Outdoor & Community Theater Productions 1 activity
    • Provides free public theater performances across New York City
      Hosts free performances at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park and through citywide tours, including productions in all five boroughs and in community venues. The Mobile Unit program brings free professional theater to parks, public spaces, and correctional facilities.
  • New Play Development Programs 1 activity
    • Supports early-career playwrights through fellowship programs
      Runs the Emerging Writers Group, a two-year fellowship program that supports the development of early-career playwrights.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Engages global audiences through virtual programming
      Facilitates virtual creative work sessions and livestreams via Zoom and HowlRound, enabling participation from a worldwide audience.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$61.13M
Contributions & grants$39.74M65%
Program service revenue$10.80M18%
Investment income$2.73M4%
Other revenue$7.87M
expenses
Total expenses$52.98M
Program expenses73%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising12%
Salaries & benefits$31.32M
Grants paid out$517K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$175.04M
Cash$14.59M
Investments$36.19M
Liabilities$47.08M
Net assets$127.96M
Liquid reserves11.5 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +28.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

paid leadership · 13
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
PAUL J EUSTIS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 40 $1.12M
PATRICK WILLINGHAM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $694K
KRISTINA HOGE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT 40 $325K
SAHEEM ALI ARTISTIC AND RESIDENT DIRECTOR 40 $318K
JEREMY ADAMS GENERAL MANAGER 40 $245K
FREEDOME BRADLEY-BALLENTINE DIRECTOR OF ARTISTIC PROGRAMS 40 $239K
THOMAS M MCCANN CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 40 $236K
MANDY HACKETT ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 40 $235K
SARAH ROSEN SENIOR DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES 40 $216K
VALERIE SIMMONS MILLER DIRECTOR OF DELCORTE RENOVATION & CAPITAL PROJECTS 40 $216K
KRISTEN GONGORA DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC ADVANCEMENT 40 $194K
PETER DEAN DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION 40 $165K
MURRAY ABELES CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 40 $75K
board members · 12
  • ALEX VOLCKHAUSEN — BOARD MEMBER
  • ALEXANDRA SHIVA — BOARD MEMBER
  • ALISA AMAROSA WOOD — CO-VICE CHAIR
  • ANDREA E BERNSTEIN — BOARD MEMBER
  • ANGELA VALLOT — BOARD MEMBER
  • ANNE CLARKE WOLFF — BOARD MEMBER
  • ANNE HATHAWAY — BOARD MEMBER
  • ARIELLE TEPPER MADOVER — BOARD MEMBER
  • ASHLEY LEEDS — BOARD MEMBER
  • AUDREY WILF — BOARD MEMBER
  • CHRIS HOGBIN — BOARD MEMBER
  • DANAI GURIRA — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 16

Who they work with

  • American Express Partner — Presented "A Night at The Public" post-show conversation series.
  • Bedlam Partner — Produces theatrical works at The Public, including "Are the Bennet Girls OK?"
  • Berkeley Repertory Theatre Partner — Co-produces theatrical works, including "How Shakespeare Saved My Life."
  • Community organizations Partner — Sustains relationships with community organizations across New York City.
  • Fiasco Theater Partner — Partners to produce theatrical works, including "The Verge."
  • Folger Theatre Partner — Co-produces theatrical works, including "How Shakespeare Saved My Life."
  • NAATCO Partner — Collaborated with NAATCO to produce and present a repertory adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry VI trilogy.
  • NYC Parks Government — Collaborates to provide public park spaces for outdoor performances.
  • New York Public Library Partner — Collaborates with The New York Public Library on a summer book club and culminating event featuring N.K. Jemisin’s The City We Became.
  • New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Partner — Collaborates to permanently archive the performance of PUBLIC RECORD.
  • Prospect Park Alliance Partner — Co-hosts performances at Prospect Park in Brooklyn.
  • Queer|Art Partner — Collaborates on the Queer|Art Performance and Playwriting Fellowship program.
  • Red Bull Theater Partner — Co-produces theatrical works, including "How Shakespeare Saved My Life."
  • The Cathedral of St. John The Divine Partner — Hosts performances of the Mobile Unit's As You Like It.
  • The Fortune Society Partner — Partner organization collaborating with the Mobile Unit, particularly in correctional and reentry settings.
  • Village Alliance Partner — Partner venue or community organization supporting the Mobile Unit tour.
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.

  • Community-Centered Storytelling for Social Engagement
    methodology: community-centered_storytelling
    By centering narratives from marginalized communities—such as LGBTQ+ and Middle Eastern voices—on professional stages, the organization fosters civic dialogue and belonging because authentic representation in theater validates lived experience and strengthens democratic values.
  • Cultural Accessibility as Civic Mission
    methodology: cultural_accessibility
    By providing free and accessible theater, particularly to underserved communities, the organization strengthens democratic culture and civic engagement because art is a unifying public good essential to an equitable society.
  • Theater as a Forum for Public Dialogue
    methodology: art-and-ideas-forum
    By integrating performance with public conversation, the organization deepens audience engagement with social issues because theatrical storytelling creates a shared space for reflection and critical discourse.