named programs · 9 · from sources
What they call their work
BACKSTITCH
Yearlong residency program supporting innovative performance artists in developing new work across genres
Celebrate the Artist
Pop-up event series fostering cultural exchange between international artists and New York audiences
Every Body in the House
Monthly community gathering featuring participatory conversations and live art-making
First Look Series
Curated rental track for emerging artists to present early versions of new works and receive audience feedback
Hotel New Work
Residency offering collaborative companies space and resources to develop ambitious new works in early stages
Mothers Myths Monsters
Curated residency exploring themes of motherhood, myth, and monstrosity through short, interdisciplinary works
Round The Block!™
Free, promenade-style public performances activating neighborhood spaces to reveal local histories and creative fabric
Space to Create
Flexible rental program providing affordable space for NYC artists to develop performance-based work
The Gallery Series
Residency for early-stage solo performance works, providing a platform for experimental and intimate audience experiences
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Community-Engaged Public Art Projects 1 activity
- Hosts community engagement and public access programs to expand arts participationOffers free community initiatives such as Round The Block! and Every Body In The House, monthly participatory gatherings, pop-up cultural exchanges, and events exploring the Garment District’s creative identity. These programs aim to combat isolation, increase access to the arts, and foster cultural exchange between local and international artists.
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Subsidized Rehearsal and Performance Space 1 activity
- Offers affordable rental space and technical support for independent theater productionsProvides low-cost, flexible rental space in its Manhattan theater and gallery for independent producers, directors, and theater companies to develop and present full-length and experimental works. The space includes subsidized rehearsal rates (e.g., $10/hour in 2024) and is designed to support early-stage and non-traditional performance creation within a historic building.
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Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
- Produces and presents original theatrical works and new performance piecesDevelops and stages original theatrical productions and new performance works, including world premieres and reimagined classics such as "Snow in the Living Room" and "Three Sisters Come and Go," for New York City audiences. The organization has presented thematic performance series like the Homecoming Season and "Eat Your Heart Out," and hosts limited runs of solo and ensemble works, including the trilogy "Let Me Cook for You."
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New Play Development Programs 1 activity
- Provides artist residencies and development programs for emerging theater creatorsOperates multiple residency and support programs—including Hotel New Work, First Look Series, and genre-spanning residencies—for emerging and experimental theater artists to develop new works. These programs offer rehearsal space, work-in-progress showings, cash support, and audience feedback, with a focus on solo and collaboratively-driven projects across performance genres.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$346K
Contributions & grants$121K35%
Program service revenue$224K65%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$350K
Program expenses72%
Admin / overhead28%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$29K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$32K
Cash$20K
Investments$0
Liabilities$23K
Net assets$9K
Liquid reserves0.7 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +11.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORIETTA CRISPINO | President | 40 | $27K |
board members · 2
- JOLENE CHRISTENSEN — Treasurer
- NICOLO SBUELZ — Secretary
relationships · 25
Who they work with
- A.R.T./New York Partner — Administered the Leon Levy Foundation COVID Relief Fund through which Theaterlab received support.
- David Greenspan Partner — Artist supported by Theaterlab; six-time OBIE Award winner.
- Edith Lutyens and Norman Bel Geddes Foundation Funder — Provided seed funding for grants supporting Theaterlab.
- Foundation for Fairer Capitalism Funder — Private foundation providing financial support to Theaterlab.
- Gabri Christa Partner — Artist supported by Theaterlab; Guggenheim Fellow and creator of Magdalena.
- HERE Arts Center Partner — Andy Lynn previously served as Assistant General Manager, managing contracts and operations for artists at HERE Arts Center.
- IndieSpace Funder — Awarded a $25,000 LVTC grant from IndieSpace through a lottery system.
- IndieSpace Partner — Receives grant funding and professional development services from IndieSpace through the Little Venue That Could Grant Program.
- Jack Serio Partner — Artist supported by Theaterlab; received Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Direction in 2025.
- Leon Levy Foundation Funder — Provided seed funding and supported Theaterlab through the COVID Relief Fund in Spring 2021.
- NYSCA Government — Received over $13,000 in funding from NYSCA for new flooring.
- New York City Cultural Affairs Government — Government funder supporting Theaterlab's programming.
- New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Provided a $13,065 capital grant for the purchase and installation of new vinyl dance flooring.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provided grant funding enabling subsidized rehearsal rates in 2024.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — State-level arts funding agency supporting Theaterlab.
- PEN America Partner — Lanie Zipoy produced PEN America’s Prison Justice Awards in 2020 in collaboration with Theaterlab.
- PopUP Theatrics Partner — Collaborated on a site-specific production of "Let Me Cook For You" in 2018.
- Silk Road Cultural Center Partner — Andy Lynn served as Production Manager and Associate Producer at Chicago’s Silk Road Cultural Center, supporting work centered on Arab, Muslim, and SWANA stories.
- Stavros Niarchos Foundation Funder — Provided seed funding for grants supporting Theaterlab.
- Tectonic Theater Project Partner — Supported through Theaterlab’s programs; developed Here There Are Blueberries, a 2024 Pulitzer Prize finalist.
- The Map Partner — Co-producing partner for the presentation of 'The Invention of Love' at Theaterlab.
- The Play Company Partner — Supported through Theaterlab’s programs; produced award-winning work including OBIE Award-winning play Caught.
- Traumaturgy Productions Partner — Resident theater company that co-produced and presented work at Theaterlab, including "Remains" and "Sunset Park."
- Voices Inside/Out Partner — Lanie Zipoy co-founded and co-directed Voices Inside/Out, a theatrical exchange program with a medium-security prison in Kentucky hosted at Theaterlab.
- Zeffy Partner — Partner organization used for fundraising with no transaction fees.
strategies · 5
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-Led Research Laboratory 96 orgsmethodology: artist-led_research_laboratoryBy treating live performance as a research practice and positioning the audience as a collaborative partner, Theaterlab generates new theatrical knowledge and deepens engagement because shared creative agency fosters innovation and developmental momentum.shared approach: Community-Engaged Theater →
- Civic Art Activation Through Public Performance 96 orgsmethodology: civic_art_activationBy staging free, promenade-style performances in urban spaces, Theaterlab activates civic reflection and reveals neighborhood histories because framing everyday life as art invites public participation and reorients community narratives.shared approach: Community-Engaged Theater →
- Developmental Ecosystem for Experimental Theater 96 orgsmethodology: experimental_development_spaceBy combining low-stakes experimental spaces, early audience feedback, curated residencies, and public showings, Theaterlab nurtures innovative performance work from concept to presentation because iterative exposure and flexible support accelerate artistic risk-taking and refinement.shared approach: Community-Engaged Theater →
- Ritual-Based Immersive Storytelling 57 orgsmethodology: ritualistic_storytellingBy blending sensory rituals—such as food preparation—with narrative in immersive performance formats, Theaterlab produces deeper audience engagement and reframed perspectives because multi-sensory, ritualistic experiences create affective resonance and cultural reflection.shared approach: Immersive Resonance →
- Radical Generosity in Artist Support 22 orgsmethodology: radical_generosityBy reserving operational resources to provide affordable or no-cost access to performance and rehearsal space, Theaterlab sustains a vibrant ecology of experimental work because removing financial barriers enables risk-taking and long-term creative development for NYC artists.shared approach: Affordable Space Provision →