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LIFE JACKET THEATRE COMPANY INC

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 472473125 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · NTEE A65 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · lifejackettheatre.org
revenue
$149K
expenses
$153K
net assets
$20K
employees
mission · from form 990

LIFE JACKET THEATER COMPANY USES FIELD INTERVIEWS AND ARCHIVAL RESEARCH TO TELL STORIES ABOUT DIVERSE HUMAN EXPERIENCES.

profile · synthesized from sources

Life Jacket Theatre Company creates investigative theater productions based on field interviews and archival research, focusing on underrepresented and diverse human experiences. The organization develops new works through initiatives like the Writers Room and commissions for LGBTQ+ and Trans+ playwrights. It also runs educational outreach programs that empower individuals from underserved communities to share their stories through live performance.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

The Storytelling Project
Educational outreach program empowering individuals from underserved communities to share personal stories through live performance, with a focus on safe, creative expression and community connection.
Trans+ Playwriting Commission
$10,000 commission for Trans+ playwrights to create new works based on interviews with Trans+ individuals across America, including gender non-conforming, gender-expansive, and nonbinary artists.
Writers Room
Dramaturgical program supporting emerging LGBTQ+ playwrights through bi-monthly writing studios, feedback sessions, and culminating readings of full-length plays in development.
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
    • Create documentary-style theatrical productions based on real people and events
      Develops and presents theatrical works using field interviews, archival research, and investigative methods to tell stories drawn from diverse human experiences. Productions include "Gorgeous," "Speakeasy," "America," and "Gorey."
  • Artist Support Grants 1 activity
    • Fund commission of new plays by selected playwrights
      Awards grants to playwrights to create new works based on interviews and research; for example, funded a $10,000 commission for playwright C. Quintana to develop a play based on interviews with Trans+ individuals across the United States.
  • Community-Engaged Theater Production 1 activity
    • Operate educational outreach program for underserved communities
      Runs an outreach initiative that supports individuals from underserved communities in sharing their personal stories through live performance.
  • New Play Development Programs 1 activity
    • Run WRITERS ROOM program for emerging LGBTQ+ playwrights
      Hosts a writing development program that selects playwrights from a competitive applicant pool, provides bi-monthly writing studio sessions for workshopping full-length plays, and culminates in an invited reading of works-in-progress.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$149K
Contributions & grants$139K93%
Program service revenue$9K6%
Investment income
Other revenue$976
expenses
Total expenses$153K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits
Grants paid out
balance sheet
Total assets$32K
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$20K
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +26.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 1
  • TRAVIS RUSS — ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
relationships · 15

Who they work with

  • Baharestani & Ritt, CPAs Partner — Provides accounting services for the organization.
  • Cozen O'Connor Partner — Provides legal counsel for the organization.
  • Evan Bernardin Productions Partner — Provides general management services for Life Jacket Theatre Company.
  • Feldman, Golinski, Reedy + Ben Zvi PLLC Partner — Provides legal counsel for the organization.
  • Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Provides funding support for The Storytelling Project.
  • Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Provides support for the WRITERS ROOM program.
  • John Golden Fund Funder — Provided funding support for the Trans+ Playwriting Commission.
  • John Golden Fund Funder — Provides funding support for The Storytelling Project.
  • John Golden Fund Funder — Provides support for the WRITERS ROOM program.
  • Mobius Industries Partner — Serves as press agent for the organization in the United Kingdom.
  • New York City Small Theatres Fund Funder — Provides funding support for The Storytelling Project.
  • New York City Small Theatres Fund Funder — Provides support for the WRITERS ROOM program.
  • New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Provides funding support for The Storytelling Project.
  • New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Provides support for the WRITERS ROOM program.
  • Print Shop PR Partner — Serves as press agent for the organization in the United States.
strategies · 1

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.

  • Documentary Theatre for Amplifying Marginalized Voices
    methodology: documentary_theatre
    By creating documentary theatre based on first-person testimonials and investigative research, we produce empathetic audience engagement and social change because centering authentic, lived experiences challenges systemic erasure and makes injustice visible.