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AURORA PLAYERS INC

EAST AURORA, NY · EIN 166052466 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · auroraplayers.org
revenue
$105K
expenses
$85K
net assets
$539K
employees
0
volunteers
130
program ratio
88%
mission · from form 990

AFFORDABLE THEATE EXPERIENCE FOR THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

profile · synthesized from sources

Aurora Players Inc is a community theater organization based in East Aurora, NY, founded in 1934 and incorporated in 1941. It produces live theatrical performances, including plays and musicals, at the Historic Roycroft Pavilion. The organization offers affordable theater experiences and educational opportunities such as ProjectSTAGE for youth and an annual scholarship for high school seniors pursuing theater or arts degrees.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Annual Youth Scholarship
Provides financial support to local graduating high school seniors pursuing theater or arts-related degrees; established in the 1970s and awarded annually.
Live Theater Productions
Produces a seasonal lineup of plays and musicals at the Historic Roycroft Pavilion, including performances by adult and youth casts.
ProjectSTAGE
Annual summer education and mentoring program for students entering grades 4 through 12, providing opportunities to develop artistic talents and a love of theater.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Arts Education Scholarships 1 activity
    • Award annual arts scholarship
      Provides an annual $1,000 college scholarship to local high school seniors pursuing theater or arts-related degrees, a program established in the 1970s and funded through sponsorship and advertising revenue.
  • Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
    • Operate youth theater education program (ProjectSTAGE)
      Operates ProjectSTAGE, a summer theater program for students entering grades 4 through 12, which has been running since the 1960s. The organization serves as producer and director of the program, providing educational and performance opportunities for youth in theater arts.
  • Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
    • Produce and stage theatrical performances
      Produces and stages a full season of theatrical performances annually at a 200-seat theater located in the Roycroft Pavilion in Hamlin Park, East Aurora, NY, with a history of continuous production since 1935. Recent and upcoming productions include "The Hobbit," "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder," "Don't Dress for Dinner," "The Importance of Being Earnest," and "Peter and the Starcatcher."
  • Facility Accessibility Improvements 1 activity
    • Provide accessibility and facility improvements
      Maintains full accessibility in all public areas of the theater, including wheelchair-accessible seating, accessible restrooms, ramps, and an expanded box office. Completed a 15-year capital campaign in 2008 that added a two-story atrium lobby and upgraded facilities, and has continued renovations including new seating, sound and lighting systems, and HVAC improvements.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Design and maintain theatrical production elements
      Designs and maintains costumes, props, set decorations, and soft furnishings for theatrical productions, including specific works such as "Pirates of Penzance," "CLUE on Stage," and "James and the Giant Peach." Also maintains and replenishes these materials between productions.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$105K
Contributions & grants$20K19%
Program service revenue$74K71%
Investment income$5K5%
Other revenue$6K
expenses
Total expenses$85K
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$539K
Cash$525K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$539K
Liquid reserves74.2 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -9.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 8
  • CATHERINE BURKHART — MEMBER-AT-LARGE
  • E ROGER STEPHENSON — MEMBER-AT-LARGE
  • GAIL STENGAL — MEMBER-AT-LARGE
  • GEORGE LAMBERT — MEMBER-AT-LARGE
  • LOWELL SYLWESTER — TREASURER
  • PAT HOEFLER — VICE PRESIDENT
  • REBECCA CAUFIELD — RECORDING SECRETARY
  • TIM MUSIAL — PRESIDENT
relationships · 7

Who they work with

  • East Aurora High School Partner — Alumni affiliation and potential community connection for recruitment and engagement.
  • OvationTix Partner — Uses OvationTix platform for ticket sales and gift card distribution.
  • Robert James Waller Network — Adapts theatrical works based on the novel by Robert James Waller.
  • SUNY at Buffalo Partner — Collaboration through musical performance group participation involving board member.
  • The Scott Bieler Family Foundation Funder — Provided a generous donation to install new seating in the auditorium.
  • The Scott Bieler Family Foundation Partner — Provided seating for the auditorium renovation.
  • Village of East Aurora Government — Collaborates with Aurora Players on maintenance, improvements, and capital projects at the Historic Roycroft Pavilion.
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.

  • Community-Engaged Theater for Education and Engagement
    methodology: community-engaged theater
    By combining theatrical performances with educational programming and community participation, we increase learning and civic engagement because shared artistic experiences foster deeper understanding and connection within the community.
  • Volunteer-Driven Model to Strengthen Community Ownership
    methodology: volunteer-driven community theater
    By relying on sustained volunteer involvement in production and operations, we deepen community investment and sustainability because local participation fosters stewardship and reduces barriers to access.
  • Youth Engagement Through Theater as Transformative Practice
    methodology: community-theatre-youth-engagement
    By involving youth in structured theater programs, we promote personal and artistic development because participation in the dramatic arts builds confidence, skills, and a sense of belonging.