named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Free Shakespeare in Public Spaces
Presents free productions of classical plays by Shakespeare and other playwrights in parks and public areas throughout NYC, including Central Park, Battery Park, and Governors Island
New Visions Program
Initiative to develop and produce new plays by living playwrights that expand the understanding of what defines a classic; formerly funded by the NEA
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Professional Theatrical Production 2 activities
- Produce and perform classical plays at international festivalsProduces and performs classical plays at international venues, such as the Prague Shakespeare Festival, extending the organization’s artistic reach beyond New York City.
- Produce winter and indoor performances in Lower Manhattan to increase accessibility and engagementStages indoor theatrical productions during winter months in civic and commercial spaces in Lower Manhattan, offering year-round access to classical theatre and expanding audience engagement beyond the summer outdoor season.
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New Play Development Programs 1 activity
- Develop and produce new plays by living playwrights through the New Visions programRuns the New Visions program to develop new plays by contemporary playwrights, selecting works from a national pool of submissions and advancing them through public readings and multi-phase development. The program, supported by funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, aims to expand the definition of a "classic" by integrating new voices and perspectives into the classical theatre canon.
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Accessibility Services for Cultural Programs 1 activity
- Ensure accessibility and safety at performances through audience support and operational managementProvides ushering, audience flow management, and accessibility accommodations at performances, including a "Take-a-Seat Week" for audiences with mobility challenges. Also implements safety protocols, such as making performance cancellation decisions by 6 PM when ground conditions are unsafe, particularly for choreographed fight scenes.
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Free Outdoor & Community Theater Productions 1 activity
- Present free outdoor productions of classical and contemporary plays in public spaces across New York CityPresents free, fully accessible theatrical performances of classical and contemporary plays in public parks and civic spaces throughout New York City, using a mobile "Panoramic Theatre" format where audiences follow the action through multiple locations. The organization has staged over 930 free performances for more than 335,000 people since 2000, including annual Shakespeare productions and site-specific performances at locations such as Central Park, Carl Schurz Park, The Battery, and Castle Clinton National Monument.
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Post-Performance Audience Engagement 1 activity
- Provide educational and audience engagement programming around classical theatreOffers pre- and post-performance discussion guides, curriculum materials, and interactive Q&A sessions for educators and adult learners. Also hosts the "Vino & Verse" lecture series, which explores the language, history, and contemporary relevance of Shakespeare and classical plays through thematic and scholarly presentations.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$566K
Contributions & grants$566K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$2180%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$553K
Program expenses64%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising21%
Salaries & benefits$340K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$220K
Cash$29K
Investments$0
Liabilities$248K
Net assets$-28K
Liquid reserves0.6 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +5.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHEN BURDMAN | ARTISTIC DIR | 40 | $80K |
| NICK SALAMONE | DIRECTOR | 1 | $6K |
board members · 14
- ANDREW CARLON — DIRECTOR
- BJOERN H WELLER — DIRECTOR
- CHRISTOPHER D FAGAN — DIRECTOR
- COURTNEY MITCHELL — DIRECTOR
- DAFNA LINZER — DIRECTOR
- DAVID S FRANKEL — TREASURER
- JEREMY E SCHIFFRES — SECRETARY
- KATRIANA LOPEZ — DIRECTOR
- MELISSA KUKLIN — DIRECTOR
- SAM NYITRAY — DIRECTOR
- SID RAY — DIRECTOR
- SOPHIA MURASHKOVSKY ROMA — DIRECTOR
- STEVEN PERLSTEIN — CHAIR
- WILLIAM C INGS — DIRECTOR
relationships · 36
Who they work with
- AARP New York Partner — Co-hosted a senior matinee performance of Julius Caesar in Carl Schurz Park.
- ART/New York Mezzanine Theater Partner — Hosts indoor winter productions of NY Classical Theatre.
- Advisory Council Partner — Group of senior partners providing expertise to support the growth of free, Off-Broadway theatre across New York City.
- Broadway Green Alliance, Off-Broadway Chapter Network — Proud member organization committed to environmental sustainability in theatre production.
- Brookfield Place Partner — Hosts indoor winter productions of NY Classical Theatre.
- Carl Schurz Park Partner — Performance venue for outdoor productions
- Carl Schurz Park Conservancy Partner — Partners to host performances, including accessibility-focused "Take-a-Seat Week," in Carl Schurz Park.
- Central Park Partner — Performance venue for outdoor productions
- Central Park Conservancy Partner — Collaborates on performance logistics and park regulations for shows in Central Park.
- China Institute in America Partner — Employer of board member Melissa Kuklin, indicating a professional affiliation.
- Google Partner — Employer of board members Christopher D. Fagan and Christina Thompson, indicating professional affiliations.
- Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP Partner — Employer of board member Samuel Nyitray, indicating a professional affiliation.
- Howard Gillman Foundation Funder — Supports the New Visions program.
- Jennison Associates LLC Partner — Employer of board member William (Bill) Ings, indicating a professional affiliation.
- Kobre & Kim LLP Partner — Employer of board member Steven Perlstein, indicating a professional affiliation.
- Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Partner — Former employer of board member David S. Frankel, indicating a professional affiliation.
- Lenape Center Partner — Partner organization providing context and continuity for Indigenous land and cultural history in New York City.
- Macquarie Capital Partner — Employer of board member Courtney Mitchell, indicating a professional affiliation.
- Metropolitan Transportation Authority Partner — Employer of board member Jeremy E. Schiffres, indicating a professional affiliation.
- NYC Council Member Julie Menin, District 5 Government — Supports the New Visions program.
- National Endowment for the Arts Funder — Funded the New Visions program until 2025
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provider of public funds supporting NY Classical Theatre's programs
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Primary public funder supporting NY Classical Theatre's performances
- One Liberty Plaza Partner — Hosts indoor winter productions of NY Classical Theatre.
- One New York Plaza Partner — Hosts indoor winter productions of NY Classical Theatre.
- Oneicity Partner — Employer of board member Katriana Lopez, indicating a professional affiliation.
- Pace University Partner — Collaborates with faculty member Dr. Sid Ray, who serves as professor and board member of NY Classical Theatre.
- Pace University Partner — Employer of board member Sid Ray, indicating a professional affiliation.
- Prague Shakespeare Festival Partner — Collaborated to present "Romeo and Juliet" in Prague in 2025.
- SUNY New Paltz Partner — Collaborates with Matthieu Chapman, who is Associate Professor and Head of Theatre Studies at SUNY New Paltz and NY Classical Literary Director.
+ 6 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.
- Free and Site-Specific Theatre for Expanded Accessmethodology: free_public_accessBy offering free, mobile performances in public spaces, we increase access to classical theatre and reinvigorate audience engagement, because removing economic and geographic barriers allows diverse urban communities to experience theatre as a shared social and cultural activity.
- Immersive, Environment-Integrated Performance Modelmethodology: immersive_park_theatreBy staging performances in public spaces using mobile, immersive formats where audiences move through the environment, we deepen engagement, because integrating the performance site into the narrative creates a visceral, participatory experience that strengthens emotional connection and communal bonding.
- Inclusive Reimagining of the Classical Canonmethodology: inclusive_canon_expansionBy commissioning and producing new works from historically excluded playwrights, we expand and redefine the classical canon, because centering diverse voices ensures classical themes remain relevant and accessible to contemporary audiences while correcting historical inequities in representation.
- Live Performance as Educational and Cultural Engagementmethodology: live_performance_as_educationBy using live theatre and scholar-led lectures to interpret classical works, we enhance public understanding and engagement, because dynamic performance and expert dialogue transform literature into accessible, interactive experiences that foster deeper learning and cultural connection.