named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
COMMEDIA DELL'ARTE & CIRCUS MONDAY MADNESS
Community workshop series teaching Commedia dell'arte and circus techniques, open to the public and sponsored by Manhattan Youth Organization
IGLOO TALES
Adaptation of Inuit folk tales and myths performed for both school audiences and adults, featuring international theatrical styles including puppetry, Kabuki dance, and Greek chorus
MAKE THEATRE ANYWHERE
Workshop and performance program led by Laura Barnett and Mark Greenfield, offered at Antioch College in Ohio to train community members in theatre creation
Tribeca Reading Series
Bi-weekly developmental reading series curated by Mark Greenfield for FRTC members and invited guests, held at Downtown Community Center
William Shakespeare's Haunted House
Interactive, site-specific performance using deconstructed texts from 12 Shakespeare plays, performed at locations including Belvedere Castle in Central Park and Chashama Theatre
activities · 3 groups
What they do
-
Site-Specific Artistic Installations and Performances 2 activities
- Conducts public art performances and interactive installationsStages public-facing performances and interactive art in non-traditional spaces such as subway stations and storefront windows, including "Conversation Hearts" and "Inside/Out," designed to engage passers-by and broader urban audiences.
- Produces immersive, site-specific theatrical productionsCreates and stages interactive, site-specific performances in non-traditional venues across New York, including parks, piers, storefronts, and theaters, often incorporating audience engagement and environmental staging. Examples include "William Shakespeare's Haunted House" at Pier 25 and "Inside/Out" at Chashama.
-
-
Professional Theatrical Production 2 activities
- Develops and tours original and adapted theatrical works for diverse audiencesCreates and presents original productions and adaptations of folk tales, literary works, and modern narratives, such as "The Tinderbox," "Igloo Tales," and "Queer In The USA," tailored for multi-generational or school audiences and performed in NYC, across the U.S., and internationally.
- Stages classical and contemporary plays with innovative interpretationsProduces adaptations of classical texts—including Greek tragedies and Shakespearean works—as well as contemporary plays, often reimagined through experimental casting (e.g., all-female or all-male ensembles), modern settings, or non-traditional rehearsal methods. Productions include "Oedipus Rex XX/XY," "Seven Against Thebes," and "365 Days/365 Plays."
-
-
Community-Engaged Theater Production 1 activity
- Hosts community workshops and reading seriesOrganizes and leads regular community-based theater workshops in Commedia dell'arte and circus techniques, as well as curated reading series for members and guests, primarily at the Downtown Community Center in NYC.
-
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$12K
Contributions & grants$12K100%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$5K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$8K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$-5K
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +140.0%
relationships · 25
Who they work with
- Aaron Poochigian Partner — Collaborated on a new translation of Seven Against Thebes for performance.
- Actors Equity Association Government — Union governing professional actors and stage managers, with members participating in the production under its auspices.
- And So… Productions Partner — Co-produced "The Cycle Trilogy" as an interactive, site-specific performance at the Figment Festival on Governors Island.
- Artist’s Space Funder — Sponsored the public art performance "Conversation Hearts" as part of the Love-A-Commuter Project.
- Belvedere Castle Partner — Co-hosted a deconstructed Shakespeare production with family audiences.
- Belvedere Castle Partner — Hosted performances of William Shakespeare's Haunted House in Central Park.
- Bryant Park Partner — Hosted performances of William Shakespeare's Haunted House.
- Gettysburg Heritage Center Partner — Co-located Macbeth performance with the Civil War wax figures at the Gettysburg Heritage Center’s battle theater.
- Hans Christian Andersen Partner — Source of original tale adapted for theatrical production.
- Judson Memorial Church Partner — Hosted the production as performance venue and provided artistic inspiration through its historic context.
- La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club Partner — Co-presented "The Bacchae" in association with Faux-Real Theatre Company.
- Manhattan Youth Organization Partner — Sponsored multiple FRTC productions and workshops including the Tribeca Reading Series and Commedia dell'arte workshops.
- Mark Greenfield Partner — Directed the production of Seven Against Thebes.
- Nada Theater Partner — Presented performances of Igloo Tales at the Nada Theater on Ludlow Street.
- Nuyorican Poets Café Partner — Hosted Faux-Real Theatre Company's production of Lysistrata.
- Pier 25 Partner — Hosted performances of William Shakespeare's Haunted House.
- SummerStage Theater Partner — Presenting partner for the production of "Tales from The Argonautica."
- TADA! Theatre Partner — Venue where "Queer In The USA" was performed
- The Flea Theater Partner — Co-produced developmental readings and full productions of "I.E. - In Other Words" by Mark Greenfield.
- The Public Theater Network — Presented "365 Days / 365 Plays" by Suzan-Lori Parks in collaboration with FRTC directors and performers.
- The Public Theatre Partner — Co-presented a week-long production of "365 Days/365 Plays."
- The Tall Ship Peking Partner — Hosted performances of William Shakespeare's Haunted House at South Street Seaport.
- Time Warner Funder — Presenting sponsor of the SummerStage Theater production featuring Faux-Real Theatre Company.
- WFUV Partner — Conducted and aired a radio interview about Faux-Real Theatre Company's production of Lysistrata.
- crashBOX Partner — Co-produced "Hamletmachine" by Heiner Müller as part of The New York International Fringe Festival.
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-Centered, Flexible Production Modelmethodology: artist-centered developmentBy supporting artists through project-based productions and developmental reading series in non-traditional formats and venues, we foster innovative work because creative autonomy and low-barrier development opportunities enable diverse voices and experimental forms to emerge.
- Democratized Access Through Public and Site-Specific Theatermethodology: public_access_theaterBy staging performances in public spaces and using site-specific formats, we increase accessibility and broaden audience reach because removing traditional theater barriers (cost, location, formality) invites historically excluded communities into cultural participation.
- Immersive and Participatory Engagement Modelmethodology: immersive_theatreBy dissolving the boundary between performer and audience through immersive theatre and participatory techniques, we create co-created, dynamic performances that deepen engagement because audience involvement transforms passive viewing into active, emotionally resonant experience.
- Physically Expressive and Interdisciplinary Performance Stylemethodology: physical-theatreBy combining physical theatre, live music, dance, and interdisciplinary forms like commedia dell’arte and circus, we amplify the psychological and primal dimensions of classical texts because embodied storytelling transcends linguistic barriers and creates visceral audience impact.
- Radical Reinterpretation of Classicsmethodology: feminist_reinterpretation_of_classicsBy recontextualizing classical texts through feminist, avant-garde, and transcultural lenses—including gender-reversed casting, rock-concert staging, and haunted-house frameworks—we make ancient stories accessible and relevant because subversive interpretation challenges dominant narratives and invites critical reflection on contemporary social issues.