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THEATREWORKS USA CORPORATION
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 132583793 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A650 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M)
revenue
$7.4M
expenses
$8.1M
net assets
$1.6M
employees
215
volunteers
19
program ratio
79%
mission · from form 990

THEATERWORKSUSA CREATES EXCEPTIONAL, TRANSFORMATIVE THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNG AND FAMILY AUDIENCES IN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT NEW YORK CITY AND NORTH AMERICA.

profile · synthesized from sources

Theatreworks USA Corporation creates theatrical experiences for young and family audiences across New York City and North America. The organization commissions and produces new plays and musicals adapted from literature, history, and world culture, with over 140 works developed to date. It also offers educational programming and streaming content to support youth creativity and literacy.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $375K
    NEW WORK DEVELOPMENTNEW WORK DEVELOPMENT IS THE ARTISTIC ENGINE OF TWUSA WHICH COMMISSIONS, DEVELOPS, AND PRODUCES NEW WORKS OF THEATER FOR YOUNG AND FAMILY AUDIENCES EVERY YEAR. WE ENGAGE PROFESSIONAL, CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTISTS TO CREATE WORK THAT IS RELEVANT TO OUR AUDIENCE MEMBERS IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, AND CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT. IN ITS LIFETIME, TWUSA HAS DEVELOPED A REPERTOIRE OF MORE THAN 140 NEW PLAYS AND MUSICALS ADAPTED FROM LITERATURE, HISTORICAL EVENTS, AND VARIOUS ASPECTS OF WORLD CULTURE.
  2. #2 $73K
    ACADEMY & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTTWUSA IS WHERE ARTS AND EDUCATION MEET TO ENHANCE COMMUNITIES AND ENLIGHTEN STUDENTS TO SEE THEIR FULL INSPIRED POTENTIAL. WE WORK IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS (BOTH DURING SCHOOL HOURS AND WITH AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS) WITH CUSTOMIZABLE PROGRAM STRUCTURES AND LESSON PLANS THAT UNIQUELY INSTILL CONFIDENCE AND PRIDE IN EVERY STUDENT. EXAMPLE OFFERINGS INCLUDE MAKE A STORY!, MAKE A SONG!, ON BROADWAY, MAKE A DESIGN!, AND ENSEMBLE THEATER SPORTS.
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Academy & Community Engagement
Offers in-school and after-school programs with customizable curricula such as Make a Story!, Make a Song!, and Ensemble Theater Sports to build confidence and creativity in students.
New Work Development
Commissions, develops, and produces new theatrical works for young and family audiences, with over 140 plays and musicals created from literature, historical events, and world culture.
TWStudios: Chelsea
Rehearsal and creative facility in New York City with studio space used by Theatreworks USA and, when available, by nonprofit theater groups, educational institutions, and individual artists.
TWUSA.TV
Subscription-based streaming platform delivering theatrical content to homes across North America, extending access to performances beyond live venues.
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Youth Theater Arts Education 2 activities
    • Arts education programs in schools and communities
      Delivers theater-based educational programs during school hours and through after-school programs, summer camps, and residencies, including curricula such as Make a Story!, Make a Song!, and Ensemble Theater Sports. Programs teach students playwriting, songwriting, scene performance, and theater design, culminating in presentations of student-created work.
    • Touring theatrical productions for young audiences
      Produces and tours live theatrical productions across the United States, bringing performances to schools and performance venues for children and youth. Up to two shows can be performed in a single day in school spaces such as auditoriums or gymnasiums.
  • Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
    • Creation and production of original youth-oriented musicals and plays
      Commissions and produces original musicals and plays adapted from literature, historical events, and world culture for young and family audiences, including works like "Dog Man: The Musical" and "Long Way Down," which received the 2025 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical Adaptation.
  • Subsidized Rehearsal and Performance Space 1 activity
    • Operation of creative facility supporting artists and students
      Operates a facility in New York City with rehearsal studios and craft shops that hosts an average of 200 artists, educators, and students daily, supporting the development and production of theatrical works.
  • Arts Professional Advocacy & Equity Initiatives 1 activity
    • Professional development and creative platforms for artists
      Supports professional development for theater artists by offering platforms for creative expression across all career stages, fostering new voices in the field.
  • Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
    • Provision of educational resources for teachers
      Provides classroom resources that support teaching and learning aligned with the Four Cs of 21st Century Learning (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity).
  • Digital Music and Performance Archiving 1 activity
    • Streaming platform for theatrical content
      Operates a subscription-based streaming platform that delivers theatrical experiences to homes across North America, increasing accessibility to performances for families and young audiences.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • International representation in theater for young audiences
      Served as the U.S. representative at the World Festival of Theater for Young Audiences during the Louisiana World Exposition, showcasing American theater for youth on an international stage.
    • Licensing theatrical productions to schools and community groups
      Offers theatrical productions for licensing to schools and community organizations, expanding access to its original works beyond touring performances.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$7.45M
Contributions & grants$1.07M14%
Program service revenue$5.98M80%
Investment income$95K1%
Other revenue$296K
expenses
Total expenses$8.15M
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead17%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$3.31M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.22M
Cash$882K
Investments$1.04M
Liabilities$2.59M
Net assets$1.63M
Liquid reserves2.8 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -10.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
BARBARA PASTERNACK PRESIDENT 40 $227K
MICHAEL HARRINGTON PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $154K
board members · 23
  • AALIYTHA STEVENS — TRUSTEE
  • ADRIENNE LIN — TRUSTEE
  • ALLISON GUTSTEIN — SECRETARY
  • ALYSSA MACK — TREASURER
  • ANDREW FISHER — TRUSTEE
  • ANN HULL — TRUSTEE
  • ARPITHA SHETTY — TRUSTEE (THRU 9/25)
  • CHUCK COOPER — TRUSTEE (THRU 3/25)
  • CHUCK SANTORO — TRUSTEE
  • DAVID LO MASTRO — TRUSTEE
  • DIONNE NOSEK — TRUSTEE (THRU 3/25)
  • ELLEN MILLER-WACHTEL — TRUSTEE
  • HILARY HULL GUPTA — TRUSTEE
  • JUDITH PRINCE — TRUSTEE
  • KEVIN HOOSHANGI — TRUSTEE
  • KIM ISAACS KATZ — TRUSTEE
  • LESLIE MONSKY — TRUSTEE
  • MARY J DONOHUE — TRUSTEE
  • SUZANNE COHEN — TRUSTEE (THRU 6/25)
  • TIM FREYDBERG — TRUSTEE
  • TOM TOCE — TRUSTEE
  • TRACY STEIN — CHAIR
  • YARITZA VILLABLA — TRUSTEE (THRU 6/25)
relationships · 22

Who they work with

  • Brad Alexander Partner — Composer of the musical production "Dog Man: The Musical."
  • Dav Pilkey Partner — Licensed creator of the "Dog Man" book series adapted into a musical production.
  • Enterprise Mobility Foundation Funder — Provides financial support for TheaterWorksUSA's activities.
  • Jen Wineman Partner — Director and choreographer of "Dog Man: The Musical."
  • Kevin Del Aguila Partner — Writer of the musical production "Dog Man: The Musical."
  • Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez Partner — Artists who have publicly endorsed TheaterWorksUSA's mission and impact.
  • Los Angeles Unified School District Partner — Receives arts education classes and programming from TheaterWorksUSA.
  • MTI (Music Theatre International) Partner — Licensing partner for multiple TheaterWorks USA productions.
  • National Endowment for the Arts Government — Provides public program support to TheaterWorksUSA.
  • New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provides public program support to TheaterWorksUSA in partnership with the City Council.
  • New York State Council on the Arts Government — Makes TheaterWorksUSA's public programs possible with support from the Office of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
  • On Tour Productions Partner — Collaborates with touring productions to deliver performances to schools and venues.
  • Red Dog Hill Fund Funder — Provides financial support for TheaterWorksUSA's activities.
  • Samuel French Partner — Licensing partner for select TheaterWorks USA productions.
  • Sarah and David Partner — Individuals from Michigan who have expressed support for TheaterWorksUSA's work with children.
  • TWSTUDIOS: Chelsea Partner — Facility operated by TWUSA that serves as a creative home for its productions and is made available to nonprofit theater companies, educational institutions, and individual artists.
  • The Benevity Community Impact Fund Funder — Provides financial support for TheaterWorksUSA's activities.
  • The Frederick Loewe Foundation Funder — Provides financial support for TheaterWorksUSA's activities.
  • The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Partner — Commissioned TheaterWorksUSA to create "Lady Liberty" for the Statue of Liberty Centennial Celebration.
  • The Lucille Lortel Foundation Funder — Provides financial support for TheaterWorksUSA's activities.
  • The Shubert Foundation Funder — Provides financial support for TheaterWorksUSA's activities.
  • YouTube Partner — Hosts video content demonstrating set-up and logistics for school performances.
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.

  • Equitable Access Through Touring and Affordability
    methodology: affordable_access
    By bringing high-quality, affordable theater directly to schools and communities, we increase access to the arts for underserved youth because removing logistical and financial barriers enables participation regardless of geography or socioeconomic status.
  • Licensing for Field-Wide Impact
    methodology: licensing_model
    By licensing youth-oriented theatrical works to educational and community theaters, we scale the reach of transformative content because decentralized production enables broader cultural and geographic dissemination while maintaining artistic integrity.
  • Standards-Aligned Arts Integration
    methodology: standards-aligned arts education
    By aligning theater-based education programs with state educational standards and delivering them through trained teaching artists, we reinforce literacy and creative development in schools because structured, curriculum-integrated arts experiences enhance learning outcomes.
  • Theater as Transformative Education
    methodology: theater-as-transformation
    By using theater as a medium for self-exploration and narrative engagement, we foster emotional, creative, and social development in young people because live, literature-based performances and student-led storytelling make abstract themes tangible and personally relevant.