activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Professional Theatrical Production 3 activities
- Adapts literary and historical texts into theatrical performancesProduces stage adaptations of major literary and historical works, including Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, James Baldwin and William F. Buckley’s 1965 debate, and novels by Hemingway, Faulkner, and Joyce, transforming them into immersive theatrical experiences.
- Develops and produces original ensemble-based theater worksCreates innovative theatrical productions through a two-year cycle of 4-6 intensive collaborative work periods, resulting in original adaptations of literary texts and found material that explore the fundamentals of live performance. Productions include "Gatz," "The Select (The Sun Also Rises)," "Baldwin and Buckley at Cambridge," and "Seagull."
- Presents completed theater productions locally, nationally, and internationallyPresents finished theatrical works in extended runs in New York City and tours them across the United States and to international venues and festivals, including performances at The Public Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Dublin Theatre Festival, and Perth Festival.
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New Play Development Programs 1 activity
- Presents work-in-progress showings during development phaseShares developing productions with audiences through public work-in-progress showings at venues such as Abrons Art Center, The Performing Garage, and Philadelphia LiveArts Festival, allowing iterative feedback and engagement prior to full premiere.
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Arts Education Professional Development 1 activity
- Shares artistic process through workshops and educational programmingConducts workshops for students, artists, and theater enthusiasts that teach experimental theater-making, ensemble building, and improvisational techniques, often guiding participants to adapt novels, video clips, and sound into performance. Programming ranges from single sessions to multi-month residencies and provides access to ERS’s creative methodology.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.10M
Contributions & grants$524K48%
Program service revenue$526K48%
Investment income$20K2%
Other revenue$29K
expenses
Total expenses$1.04M
Program expenses77%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising14%
Salaries & benefits$752K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$902K
Cash$205K
Investments$323K
Liabilities$48K
Net assets$854K
Liquid reserves6.1 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +9.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Collins | President | 40 | $110K |
board members · 17
- Anne Stringfield — Director
- Arthur Aufses — Director
- Clay Ballard — Director
- Clifford Fritz Michel — Director
- David Gilbert — Director
- Doug Curtis — Director
- Eric Liftin — Director
- Greig Sargeant — Director
- Ira Simmonds — Director
- John Kim — Director
- Kenneth Cera — Vice-Chair
- Lucy Mallett — Treasurer
- Robert Wilson — Director
- Steve Bodow — Director
- Susan Eddy — Director
- William Stasiulatis — Board Chair
- Zoe Rotter — Vice-Chair
relationships · 52
Who they work with
- '62 Center for Theatre and Dance Partner — Presented the production ARGUENDO by Elevator Repair Service.
- Abrons Art Center Partner — Hosted work-in-progress showings of "Baldwin and Buckley at Cambridge" in January 2020.
- Alliance of Resident Theaters/New York Network — Member organization of a regional theater network
- Arts Administrators of Color Partner — Shares job postings through this organization to reach BIPOC communities.
- Asian American Arts Alliance Partner — Shares job postings through this organization to reach BIPOC communities.
- BEAT Festival Partner — Presented the production Shuffle by Elevator Repair Service.
- Berkeley Repertory Theatre Partner — Presented the production GATZ in collaboration with Elevator Repair Service.
- Berkeley Repertory Theatre Partner — Presenting partner for the performance of "Gatz"
- Culturgest Partner — Presented productions including THE SELECT (THE SUN ALSO RISES) and Gatz by Elevator Repair Service.
- Dance NYC Partner — Shares job postings through this organization to reach BIPOC communities.
- Dublin Theatre Festival Partner — Presented the production THE SELECT (THE SUN ALSO RISES) by Elevator Repair Service.
- Dublin Theatre Festival Partner — Presenting partner for the performance of "Everyone's Fine With Virginia Woolf"
- Foundation for Contemporary Arts Funder — Provided a grant in support of performance art and theater work.
- Graduate Center, CUNY Government — Awarded the Edwin Booth Award for Significant Impact on Theatre.
- Guiding Lights Conference Partner — Hosted a work-in-progress presentation of ARGUENDO by Elevator Repair Service.
- Hanna Novak Partner — Contact person for workshop inquiries and institutional partnerships.
- Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Foundation providing financial support
- International Festival of Arts & Ideas Partner — Presented the production ARGUENDO by Elevator Repair Service.
- LIFT Festival Partner — Presented the production Gatz by Elevator Repair Service.
- Lucille Lortel Foundation Funder — Foundation providing financial support
- MacMillan Family Foundation Funder — Family foundation providing financial support
- McCarter Theatre Center Partner — Co-presented the production GATZ and THE SELECT (THE SUN ALSO RISES) with Elevator Repair Service.
- Mid Atlantic Arts Partner — Supports upcoming engagements of "Baldwin and Buckley at Cambridge" through USArtists International in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Mellon Foundation.
- Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago Partner — Presented the production ARGUENDO by Elevator Repair Service.
- National Endowment for the Arts Government — Government funder supporting the organization
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — City agency providing cultural funding in partnership with the City Council
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — State arts council providing support with funding from the Office of the Governor and New York State Legislature
- New York Theatre Workshop Partner — Presenting partner for the performance of "The Select (The Sun Also Rises)"
- P.S.122 Partner — Presenting partner for performances of "Room Tone" and other works
- PEN World Voices Festival Partner — Presented the production Shuffle by Elevator Repair Service.
+ 22 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.
- Anti-Racist Organizational Transformationmethodology: anti_racist_organizational_developmentBy implementing equitable hiring practices, targeted outreach to BIPOC networks, and dedicated staff training, the organization advances structural transformation toward anti-racism, because removing credential barriers and proactively diversifying recruitment produces a more inclusive and representative company culture.
- Ensemble-Based Collaborative Creationmethodology: ensemble_based_creationBy developing performances through a sustained, collaborative process among a consistent ensemble, the company produces innovative theater that challenges traditional forms, because collective experimentation and long-term artistic relationships foster deeper creative risk-taking and distinctive performance styles.
- Found and Unconventional Text Adaptationmethodology: found_text_adaptationBy adapting non-theatrical source materials—such as novels, legal transcripts, video clips, and everyday speech—the company transforms static texts into dynamic, disruptive performances, because repurposing unfamiliar or non-dramatic content challenges narrative conventions and reinvigorates audience engagement.
- Iterative Work-in-Progress Developmentmethodology: iterative_developmentBy developing theatrical works through repeated, public iterations and work-in-progress showings, the company refines and evolves productions based on live feedback and performance dynamics, because staging unfinished work enables experimental rigor and reduces creative risk in final productions.