named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
On Her Shoulders Program
Presents plays by women writers and restores female theatre practitioners to the canon; has presented 66 plays by 51 writers and maintains a database of over 500 works.
VOICES FROM THE EDGE
Presents new works by African American writers and performers, amplifying Black voices in theater.
Women's Work Residencies
Artist residency program that supports the development of full-length and short plays by women, resulting in the creation of dozens of new scripts.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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New Play Development Programs 3 activities
- Advances recognition of women in theatre through dedicated programming and archivesWorks to restore the recognition of female theatre practitioners by presenting plays by women through initiatives like the On Her Shoulders Program, which has presented 66 plays by 51 writers, and by maintaining a database of over 500 works by women playwrights.
- Develops and produces new plays with a focus on underrepresented voicesDevelops new plays and supports playwrights, particularly focusing on artists of color and women. The organization has produced 56 original and classic plays and presented 80 new works by African American writers through its VOICES FROM THE EDGE program.
- Supports playwright development through residencies and script creationProvides developmental opportunities for playwrights, particularly women, through the 100 Women's Work residencies that led to the creation of 60 full-length scripts and 80 short plays.
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Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Expands access to theatre for underserved communities and public school audiencesExtends access to theatre benefits for communities in need, including over 30,000 public school students and hundreds of teachers across New York City and the Tri-state area through educational outreach and programming.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Mentors emerging theatre artists through internship programsMentors young artists through structured internships and support programs, having trained 100 emerging artists to date and currently engaging 15–20 interns annually.
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Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
- Presents classical theatrical works in contemporary productionsPresents classical theatrical works reinterpreted in a modern style, contributing to the contemporary relevance of the theatrical canon.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$141K
Contributions & grants$114K81%
Program service revenue$26K18%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$153K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$31K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$27K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$10K
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +26.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melody Brooks | Artistic Director & CEO | 40 | $28K |
board members · 3
- Catharine Guiher — Board Secretary & General Manager
- Christine Souders — Board Treasurer
- Stephen Foreht — Board Chair
relationships · 1
Who they work with
- NY Foundation for the Arts Government — Recognized by the NY Foundation for the Arts as a “Community Asset”.
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.
- Artist-Centered Equity Developmentmethodology: artist-centered equity developmentBy centering artists of color in the development of new plays and playwrights, we advance equity in theatre because it directly addresses systemic underrepresentation and shifts creative power to marginalized voices.
- Decolonizing the Theatrical Canonmethodology: decolonizing-the-canonBy reinterpreting classical works and restoring erased contributions of women and BIPOC artists, we make theatre more relevant and just because it challenges dominant narratives and reclaims historical representation.
- Non-Traditional Casting as Representation Practicemethodology: non-traditional-castingBy using multi-racial and non-traditional casting, we expand who sees themselves on stage and challenge theatrical norms because casting diversity disrupts historical exclusion and models equitable storytelling.