named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
HOME/SICK
Devised play exploring the 1960s student movement and the radicalization of Students for a Democratic Society, developed collectively by the ensemble and toured nationally and internationally.
IN CORPO
Original musical inspired by Kafka and Melville that critiques corporate culture and technology, featuring an electro-folk-funk score and premiered at Theatre Row in 2023.
SEAGULLMACHINE
Performance combining Chekhov’s The Seagull and Heiner Müller’s Hamletmachine to explore the relevance of 20th-century drama in contemporary society, premiered at La MaMa in 2018.
That Poor Dream
Adaptation inspired by Dickens’ Great Expectations examining class identity and economic disparity in American society, premiered at The New Ohio in 2014.
The Dark Heart of Meteorology
Part lecture, part theatrical happening about natural disasters and personal tragedy, centered on a solo performance by Richard Lovejoy.
The Three Sisters
adaptation of Chekhov’s play exploring revolution and personal longing, featuring immersive staging and audience interaction, performed in 2010.
We Can't Reach You, Hartford
Devised play about the 1944 Hartford Circus Fire, blending historical fact and dramatic interpretation, premiered at Wesleyan University in 2007.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Experimental Circus and Immersive Theater Production 1 activity
- Immersive and experimental theatrical performancesCreates immersive and multimedia theatrical experiences that integrate audiences into performances through environmental staging, sensory engagement, and hybrid formats combining lecture, slideshow, and performance. Notable examples include an immersive staging of "The Three Sisters," "The Dark Heart of Meteorology," and "Daguerreotype," with audience interaction elements such as distributed props and surrounding staging.
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New Play Development Programs 1 activity
- Theater production and development of original worksDevelops and produces original theater productions through workshops, residencies, and staged readings, leading to world premieres and subsequent performances at theaters and festivals. Examples include SEAGULLMACHINE, "IN CORPO," HOME/SICK, "The Museum of the Other," and "We Can't Reach You, Hartford," with development supported by institutions such as La MaMa, TDF Performeteria, Atlantic Theater Company, and Wesleyan University.
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Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
- Thematic theatrical exploration of historical and societal issuesProduces plays that examine historical events, economic crises, and cultural narratives, such as the 1849 Gold Rush, the 1990s dot-com bubble, the Hartford Circus Fire, and W.E.B. DuBois’s "Black Reconstruction in America," using theater to explore their societal impact and unresolved legacies.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$39K
Contributions & grants$37K94%
Program service revenue$2K6%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$22K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$4K
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$18K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$-9K
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -76.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meredith Lucio | Producing Director | 5 | $4K |
board members · 7
- Ben Beckley — Co-Artistic Director
- David Milch — Board Chair
- Greg Gorman — Board Member, Treasurer
- Jess Chayes — Co Artistic Director
- John W McMath — Board Member
- Stephen Aubrey — Co-Artistic Director
- Susan Bernfield — Board Member
relationships · 43
Who they work with
- ART/NY Funder — Funded the development of "That Poor Dream."
- ART/NY Funder — Provided funding through the Bel Geddes Design Fund and the Creative Spaces grant for the production.
- Atlantic Theater Company Partner — Hosted a residency for the development of "IN CORPO".
- Backyart Partner — Collaborated in the development of "The Dark Heart of Meteorology."
- Brooklyn Arts Council Funder — Funded the development of "That Poor Dream."
- Collapsable Hole Partner — Hosted the world premiere of HOME/SICK in 2011.
- Columbia University Partner — Provided support for the development of "I Will Look Forward to This Later."
- Dutch Kills Theater Partner — Co-produced "IN CORPO" in association with The Assembly Theater.
- Foundation for Contemporary Arts Funder — Provided an Emergency Grant to support the development of "That Poor Dream."
- HERE Arts Center Partner — Hosted a workshop of "That Poor Dream" in 2014.
- Hi-ARTS Partner — Co-presented "The Museum of the Other" with The Assembly's Deceleration Lab.
- Horse Trade Theater Group Partner — Co-developed and co-produced "The Dark Heart of Meteorology" at UNDER St. Marks.
- Horse Trade Theater Group Partner — Co-produced The Three Sisters and hosted a residency for its development during 2009–2010.
- Horse Trade Theater Group Partner — Hosted a residency for the development of HOME/SICK from 2009 to 2010.
- IRT Partner — Collaborated with IRT on workshops and the development of "I Will Look Forward to This Later."
- JACK Partner — Hosted a performance of HOME/SICK in Brooklyn in 2017.
- La MaMa E.T.C. Partner — Presented the world premiere of SEAGULLMACHINE at La MaMa E.T.C.'s Ellen Stewart Theatre.
- Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Funder — Provided support for the development of "I Will Look Forward to This Later."
- Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Partner — Provided a residency and public funding support for the development of SEAGULLMACHINE.
- New Theater Corps Partner — Reviewed and provided critical acclaim for the production "Daguerreotype."
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provided public funding support for SEAGULLMACHINE in partnership with the City Council.
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provided public funding support for the production through partnership with the City Council.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provided funding support for the production of "IN CORPO".
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provided public funding for SEAGULLMACHINE through Creative Engagement and Creative Learning programs.
- North American Cultural Lab (NACL) Partner — Hosted a residency for the development of "I Will Look Forward to This Later."
- Prelude Festival Partner — Presented a workshop of "That Poor Dream" in 2013.
- Puffin Foundation Funder — Provided funding for the production of "IN CORPO".
- Sticky at The Bowery Poetry Club Partner — Collaborated in the development of "The Dark Heart of Meteorology."
- TDF Performeteria Partner — Hosted a workshop presentation of SEAGULLMACHINE in 2017.
- The Brick Theater Partner — Presented the production of "What I Took In My Hand" in 2008.
+ 13 more
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.
- Ensemble-Based Collaborative Creationmethodology: collective_devisingBy developing theater through collective devising, ensemble-driven processes, and multigenerational collaboration, the organization generates authentic, emotionally resonant performances, because shared authorship and diverse generational perspectives deepen artistic innovation and thematic richness.
- Immersive Historical Storytelling for Contemporary Relevancemethodology: immersive_historical_storytellingBy using primary sources and hybrid formats like staged readings, visual storytelling, and lecture-performance blends, the organization immerses audiences in historical narratives to foster emotional and intellectual connections with present-day social and political issues, because experiential engagement strengthens relevance and critical reflection.
- Interdisciplinary and Hybrid Theatrical Forms for Social Critiquemethodology: interdisciplinary_theater_developmentBy combining dramatic texts with live video, music, surreal mashups, and genre-blending performance elements, the organization examines systemic issues and cultural patterns in American society, because hybrid forms disrupt conventional narratives and enable deeper critique of economic, historical, and institutional systems.
- Literary and Autobiographical Adaptation to Explore Institutional Resistancemethodology: literary-and-autobiographical-adaptationBy adapting literary classics and personal experiences with bureaucracy, the organization explores themes of autonomy and resistance within institutional systems, because grounding abstract struggles in narrative and lived experience makes systemic critique more accessible and emotionally compelling.