named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Embodied Shakespeare
Educational program bringing Shakespeare to life through performance and music for students, particularly in underrepresented communities
Intimate Shakespeare Productions
Stages transformative Shakespeare performances in found spaces such as homes, churches, and public venues, integrating live music and immersive storytelling
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Professional Theatrical Production 2 activities
- Presenting Shakespeare cabaret and chamber-style performances with live musicProduces cabaret-style and chamber adaptations of Shakespeare plays, combining iconic scenes with live music across genres including Classical, Jazz, and Contemporary. These performances feature small ensembles of actors and musicians and are presented in intimate settings, such as The Masque of Night and condensed versions of Romeo and Juliet.
- Providing full-scale Shakespeare productions with integrated technical and musical elementsProduces full theatrical productions of Shakespeare’s works featuring up to 15 actors and musicians, with professional lighting, sound, and stage design. These include Off-Broadway runs such as Othello and planned productions of Romeo and Juliet and Othello featuring alumni from Pace University’s MFA program.
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Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Delivering educational programs through Embodied Shakespeare for underrepresented youthOffers the Embodied Shakespeare program, which engages students from marginalized or underrepresented communities in educational settings through voice, movement, music, and creative exploration of Shakespeare texts, bringing classical theater to life across mediums.
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Experimental Circus and Immersive Theater Production 1 activity
- Producing intimate, immersive Shakespeare performances in found and alternative spacesCreates and stages intimate Shakespeare productions that integrate live music, innovative storytelling, and audience interaction, performed in non-traditional venues such as private homes, churches, and public spaces to blur the boundary between performer and audience. Examples include immersive stagings of The Tempest, Twelfth Night, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream in locations like Casa Duse, Villa Lewaro, and foundry spaces.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Hosting private Shakespeare-themed events with integrated dining and musicProvides customized private events featuring Shakespeare performances combined with gourmet catering and live music, ranging from cabaret-style scenes to full thematic feasts, for audiences of 5 to 100 guests.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$292K
Contributions & grants$289K99%
Program service revenue$3K1%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$289K
Program expenses63%
Admin / overhead35%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$92K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$10K
Cash$6K
Investments$0
Liabilities$498
Net assets$10K
Liquid reserves0.2 mo
2 years on record · 2023–2024 · YoY revenue +14.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 3
- CRAIG BACON — President
- HALE GURLAND — Treasurer
- LIZ GURLAND — Secretary
relationships · 22
Who they work with
- 3 West Club Partner — Venue partner for the production of "The Tempest" in New York City.
- Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University Partner — Collaborates with faculty and alumni from the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University for artistic and educational initiatives.
- Casa Clara Partner — Exclusive venue partner in the Gramercy area for private events.
- Casa Clara Partner — Venue partner hosting the production of Othello at 218 East 25th Street, New York, NY.
- Casa Duse Partner — Hosted the debut production of Twelfth Night in its historic residence in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
- Casa Duse Partner — Venue partner hosting performances at 16 Prospect Park West in Brooklyn.
- Castle Hotel & Spa Partner — Exclusive venue partner in Tarrytown for private Shakespeare events.
- Cradle Farm Partner — Performance venue for the debut of "The Tempest" in New Hope, PA.
- Craig Bacon Partner — Co-director and performer in the production of A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Eleanora Duse Partner — Named the venue Casa Duse in honor of the Italian actress Eleanora Duse.
- Hale Gurland Partner — Board member who initiated a fundraising collaboration with University Settlement.
- Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival Partner — Collaborated on intimacy direction for The Masque of Night.
- James Ortiz Partner — Co-directed A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Craig Bacon for New Place Players.
- James Ortiz Partner — Co-directed A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Craig Bacon.
- James Ortiz Partner — Co-director and puppet designer for the production of A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Max Hansen Partner — Master chef and catering partner for private events, protégé of Thomas Keller.
- Players Club Partner — Performance venue for A Midsummer Night's Dream in New York City
- Players on Gramercy Park South Partner — Historic venue partner for the production of "The Tempest" in New York City.
- Rubber City Theatre Partner — Partnered with New Place Players on a residency at the University of Akron.
- The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University Partner — Source of artistic collaborators and performers for future productions.
- The Players Partner — Exclusive venue partner in Gramercy, NYC, for Shakespeare performances.
- University Settlement Partner — Collaborated with New Place Players on a fundraising performance.
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.
- Collaborative Artistic Process to Build Communal Meaningmethodology: collaborative_theater-makingBy involving actors, musicians, and audiences in a shared, dialogic creative process—including collaborative direction and ensemble-based development—the organization fosters communal relationships and collective interpretation, making Shakespeare a living, co-created experience rather than a static performance.
- Embodied Pedagogy to Democratize Shakespeare Accessmethodology: embodied_pedagogyBy using voice, movement, and physical embodiment—such as Lecoq techniques and Linklater voice training—the organization makes Shakespeare’s language and characters accessible and enlivening, especially for marginalized or underserved audiences, because bodily engagement deepens understanding and personal connection to text.
- Immersive, Site-Specific Theater for Intimate Audience Engagementmethodology: immersive_theaterBy staging performances in intimate, non-traditional venues—such as historic townhouses and private homes—using immersive and audience-surrounding techniques, the organization dissolves the barrier between performer and audience to foster deeper human connection and a shared artistic experience, recreating the communal nature of early modern theater.
- Integrative Dreamwork for Authentic Artistic Expressionmethodology: dreamworkBy using dreamwork—incorporating breath, voice, gesture, painting, and writing—the organization helps artists access unconscious material, enabling more truthful, emotionally resonant, and embodied performances through deeper self-exploration.
- Multi-Sensory Storytelling Through Integrated Live Music and Performancemethodology: music-integrated_theaterBy integrating live chamber music, immersive soundscapes, and original compositions directly into theatrical productions, the organization deepens narrative and character engagement, enhancing the emotional and artistic impact of Shakespearean text through a unified sensory and musical experience.