named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
An Enemy of the People
Production of Henrik Ibsen’s play exploring truth and societal resistance, staged with a focus on relevance to current cultural and political climates.
Caged Workshop Program
Initiative supporting workshops of the play “Caged,” written by inmates at East Jersey State Prison and mentored by Chris Hedges, expanding the company’s community impact beyond traditional theater audiences.
Happy Birthday, Wanda June
2018 production of Kurt Vonnegut’s darkly comedic critique of American machismo and capitalism, directed by Jeff Wise and recognized as a New York Times Critics Pick.
Life Sucks
New adaptation of Chekhov by Aaron Posner, produced as a critically acclaimed, ensemble-based work reflecting on modern life and relationships.
Romeo and Juliet
Ensemble-driven 2016 production of Shakespeare’s play, emphasizing playful collaboration and reimagining comedic and tragic elements to reflect contemporary cultural divides.
activities · 2 groups
What they do
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Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
- Producing and performing theatrical worksProduces and performs classic, new, and devised plays that explore socially relevant issues, including full-length productions such as "Happy Birthday, Wanda June," "Life Sucks," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Julius Caesar." The company has produced nine full-length theatrical works in its first three years, serving over 30,000 audience members and employing over 200 New York City theater artists.
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Theater and Performing Arts in Corrections 1 activity
- Supporting development of new plays through workshopsSupports the development of new theatrical works, including facilitating multiple workshops in 2018 for the play "Caged," written by inmates at East Jersey State Prison and mentored by Chris Hedges.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$20K
Contributions & grants$20K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$41K
Program expenses100%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$9K
Grants paid out—
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$68K
Cash$87K
Investments$0
Liabilities$462K
Net assets$-395K
Liquid reserves25.3 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -90.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 1
- JEFFREY WISE — ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- Chris Hedges Partner — Mentored inmates at East Jersey State Prison in writing the play "Caged," which Wheelhouse supported through workshops.
- East Jersey State Prison Partner — Collaborated on workshops for the play "Caged," written by inmates at the facility.
- Jeffrey Wise Partner — Collaborates with Jeffrey Wise as director for theatrical productions.
- KampFire Films PR Partner — Marketing consultant for Wheelhouse Theater Company's productions.
- New York Times Coalition — Critically reviewed and praised productions by Wheelhouse Theater Company.
- Slant Theatre Project Partner — Co-producing partner for a theatrical production.
- The Davenport Theatre Partner — Venue partner for the production of Romeo and Juliet.
- The Duke on 42nd Street Partner — Venue partner for the production of "Happy Birthday, Wanda June."
- The New Yorker Coalition — Critically reviewed and highlighted productions by Wheelhouse Theater Company.
- This Week in NY Coalition — Featured and praised productions by Wheelhouse Theater Company.
- Time Out New York Coalition — Recognized Wheelhouse Theater Company's production as one of the best of the year.
- Visceral Entertainment Partner — Co-produced a theatrical production as executive producer.
- Visceral Entertainment Partner — Provided general management services for the production.
- William Shakespeare Network — Produces works authored by William Shakespeare.
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.
- Ensemble-Driven Interpretation of Classical Textsmethodology: ensemble-driven interpretationBy reinterpreting classical works—especially Shakespeare—through a collaborative, playful ensemble process, we make them dynamically relevant to contemporary audiences, because emphasizing emotional contrasts (comedy/tragedy, love/hate) reveals enduring human tensions in fresh, visceral ways.
- Process-Oriented, Collective Artistic Practicemethodology: artist-citizen modelBy using a collaborative, process-oriented approach rooted in personal joy and collective curiosity, we create bold and visceral theater that responds to contemporary social issues, because shared communal experience deepens artistic impact and engagement.
- Transformative Theater for Critical Cultural Engagementmethodology: transformative-theaterBy creating theater that is transformative, intentionally provocative, and emotionally resonant—blending sharp humor with thematic risk—we engage audiences in critical reflection on American cultural narratives, because emotional and comedic contrast makes complex themes more accessible and memorable.