named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Amm(i)gone
A theatrical production blending Greek tragedy, Islamic tradition, and personal narrative, exploring the relationship between a queer Pakistani-American artist and his mother through a Urdu translation of Antigone.
Community Potlucks
Initiative that centers food, hospitality, and art to nourish the community physically and spiritually, fostering connection and inclusivity.
Land Acknowledgement Initiative
Public recognition that PlayCo operates on the traditional land of the Lenape people, with educational outreach and support for Lenape cultural programming.
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Annual Financial and Activity Reporting 1 activity
- Advancing organizational transparency and accountabilityProduces semi-annual public accountability reports tracking progress toward equity and inclusion goals and publishes an annual audited budget report to ensure financial transparency and stakeholder accountability.
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Cultural Exchange and Community Integration Events 1 activity
- Amplifying Palestinian culture and communityHighlights Palestinian-owned businesses in Bay Ridge through community maps, exhibits works from the Gaza Biennale during theatrical runs, and hosts cultural events such as Tatreez Circle to support Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery and storytelling.
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Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
- Commissioning and producing new theatrical worksCommissions, develops, and produces new plays from the U.S. and globally, including co-commissioned productions such as Amm(i)gone in partnership with other theaters and networks. Since 2001, the organization has produced 47 theatrical works from six continents and supported the U.S. debuts of hundreds of artists.
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Performing Arts Ticket Access Programs 1 activity
- Expanding community access to theatreReserves a block of $10 Theatre For Everyone tickets for every performance with no time limit for purchase, lowers general admission prices to increase affordability, and distributes complimentary and subsidized tickets to community partners for each production to support access and engagement.
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Hosting community-centered cultural events and workshopsHosts free writing workshops for playwrights and translators of all levels and organizes communal events such as Tatreez Circle, which centers on Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery as a practice of cultural preservation, storytelling, and community building, providing materials and space for participation.
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Community-Engaged Theater Production 1 activity
- Integrating food and hospitality into community eventsProduces theatrical works and community events such as _Community Potlucks_ that integrate food and hospitality to nourish the community physically and spiritually.
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Experimental Circus and Immersive Theater Production 1 activity
- Presenting innovative and site-specific theatrical productionsPresents unusual and challenging theatrical pieces, including the one-person-at-a-time installation _Dear Laila_ at multiple venues in Brooklyn and Manhattan, and performs internationally the solo show "The Horse of Jenin," which reflects on life in Jenin through storytelling and humor.
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Artist Support Grants 1 activity
- Supporting artists through funding and creative resourcesLaunched the Artist Opportunity Fund to support artists at all stages of the creative process, including commissioning, design development, and assistance with visas and travel.
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Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Services 1 activity
- Supporting refugee resettlement and advocacySupports Afghan families' resettlement in New York and Virginia through case management, immigration legal services, and mental health counseling, and advocates for women's and girls' rights in Afghanistan.
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Uncategorized 3 activities
- Co-founding cultural platforms for underrepresented voicesCo-founded the Palestine Comedy Club, a platform for Palestinian comedians to share stories and culture, which was documented in a film that premiered at SXSW London and won the Spirit of Raindance Award in 2025.
- Engaging in international artistic and public speaking eventsParticipates in stage events with prominent performers such as Bassem Youssef and delivered a TEDx London talk with comedian Nish Kumar in 2025, expanding public engagement through performance and dialogue.
- Providing spiritual and inclusive spaces during performancesOffers a non-denominational, gender-neutral prayer room for audience members during the run of Amm(i)gone to support reflection and spiritual needs.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$669K
Contributions & grants$609K91%
Program service revenue$52K8%
Investment income$100%
Other revenue$8K
expenses
Total expenses$761K
Program expenses70%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$431K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$509K
Cash$90K
Investments$0
Liabilities$343K
Net assets$167K
Liquid reserves1.4 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -19.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Bradshaw | Exec. Producer | 40 | $84K |
| Kate Loewald | Secretary | 40 | $83K |
board members · 9
- Aya Ogawa — Director
- Ayo Renee Schwartz — Director
- Carmine Boccuzzi — Board Chair
- Christine Dauchez — Director
- George Sheanshang — Director
- Nella Vera — Director
- Ruth Hendel — Director
- Trip Cullman — Director
- Victoria Detres — Director
relationships · 22
Who they work with
- Carolina Do Partner — Associate Director for Community Engagement leading the OpenHouse program and community partnerships.
- Gaza Biennale Partner — Collaborates to exhibit selected works from the New York Pavilion of the Gaza Biennale during _Dear Laila_ presentations.
- Hatch Arts Collective Partner — Developed the production Amm(i)gone as a collaborative project.
- Healing Bean Cafe Partner — Hosts the Tatreez Circle gathering at Healing Bean Cafe in Bay Ridge.
- Jeremy Tiang Partner — Lead facilitator for the Summer Script Soirées workshops.
- Kelly Strayhorn Theater Partner — Co-commissioned the production Amm(i)gone with The Play Production Company Inc.
- NYTW Partner — Co-presents the Tatreez Circle event with PlayCo.
- National Performance Network Network — Co-commissioned Amm(i)gone through its Creation & Development Fund in partnership with The Play Production Company Inc.
- Red Noses International Partner — Collaborates with Red Noses International as a Clown Doctor in the West Bank.
- SXSW London Partner — Premiered the documentary "Palestine Comedy Club" at SXSW London.
- Sabri Sundos Partner — Collaborates with artist Sabri Sundos to lead a Tatreez Circle gathering on Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery.
- Salam Arabic Church Partner — Hosts presentations of _Dear Laila_ in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and co-presents works from the Gaza Biennale.
- Stand4 Gallery Partner — Hosts presentations of _Dear Laila_ in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
- TEDx London Partner — Delivered a talk at TEDx London in 2025.
- The Flea Partner — Co-produced the production Amm(i)gone with The Play Production Company Inc.
- The Theater Offensive Partner — Co-commissioned the production Amm(i)gone with The Play Production Company Inc.
- Theaterlab Partner — Hosts presentations of _Dear Laila_ in Manhattan and co-presents works from the Gaza Biennale.
- Troupe Courage Network — Member of Troupe Courage in Amsterdam, specializing in mask theatre.
- We See You White American Theater Partner — Uses the organization's published demands as a guiding framework for equity and inclusion reforms.
- We See You White American Theater Partner — Uses the organization's published list of Demands as a guide for organizational equity commitments and accountability reporting.
- Women For Afghan Women Partner — Community partner of PlayCo since the production of _9 Kinds of Silence_ by Abhishek Majumdar, collaborating on resettlement support and advocacy for Afghan women and families.
- Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company Partner — Co-produced the production Amm(i)gone with The Play Production Company Inc.
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.
- Anti-Racist Organizational Transformationmethodology: anti-racist_organizational_transformationBy adopting externally developed racial justice frameworks, such as the We See You White American Theater demands, the organization enacts structural change to address its complicity in systemic racism and advance equity in the arts, because accountability to external, community-driven standards produces more authentic and effective reform than self-guided initiatives.
- Championing Marginalized Voices in Artistic Productionmethodology: championing_marginalized_voicesBy centering queer people of color, integrating faith and queerness, and amplifying Palestinian and other underrepresented narratives through storytelling and humor, the organization fosters an inclusive American theatre ecosystem, because elevating historically excluded voices produces more innovative, authentic, and socially resonant art.
- Cultural Preservation and Resistance Through Craftmethodology: cultural_preservation_through_craftBy treating traditional practices like tatreez (Palestinian embroidery) as a living archive, the organization preserves cultural identity and resistance narratives through storytelling and shared creative practice, because material craft functions as both historical record and active political expression in diasporic and occupied communities.
- Equitable Access Through Subsidized Pricing and Community Partnershipsmethodology: equitable_pricing_modelBy implementing a tiered affordability model and lowering ticket prices in partnership with communities, the organization expands access to theatre for diverse and under-resourced audiences, because financial equity removes systemic barriers to participation and ensures that artistic engagement is not limited by socioeconomic status.
- Immersive and Intimate Storytelling for Emotional Engagementmethodology: immersive_storytellingBy using intimate formats such as one-on-one audio performances and solitary experiences with miniature sets, the organization creates deep emotional connections to narratives of displacement and memory, because personal, sensory-rich storytelling produces greater empathy and contemplative impact than traditional theatrical staging.