named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Angel of the Amazon
A modern opera based on the true story of Sister Dorothy Stang, an American missionary who fought to protect the Brazilian rainforest and its indigenous people. The production is part of a touring initiative and linked to environmental advocacy.
Anna Christie
World-premiere opera based on Eugene O'Neill's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, produced in 2018 and later released as a recording on Broadway Records.
Musical Salute Gala
Annual fundraising event honoring lifetime achievements in music theatre, featuring performances and awards named after Sheldon Harnick and recognizing figures like Alan Menken and Chita Rivera.
Paradigm Shifts Music and Film Festival
Educational outreach program that celebrates environmental and social justice advocates through music and film, highlighting indigenous cultures and women's wisdom.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Original Music-Theater and Opera Production 2 activities
- Commissioning new operatic works on interdisciplinary themesCommissions and develops original operas that explore intersections of science, spirituality, and indigenous cosmology, such as The Theory of Everything (inspired by super-string theory and Q'ero cosmology) and Angel of the Amazon. These projects are supported by funders including the National Endowment for the Arts, Opera America, and the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust.
- Producing and presenting new contemporary opera and music theatre worksCreates, develops, and produces full-scale operatic and music-theatre productions with orchestra, including world premieres and New York premieres of contemporary American operas, as well as revivals of significant musical works by American and international composers. The organization has produced over 69 full-scale productions and held more than 166 staged readings across genres including opera, jazz, cabaret, and musicals since 1975.
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Film Festival and Screening Programming 1 activity
- Operating the Paradigm Shifts Music and Film FestivalProduces the educational outreach program Paradigm Shifts Music and Film Festival, a two-week event featuring musical performances and films centered on environmental and social justice themes. The 2019 edition included 55 performers, 14 films, and 14 musical events highlighting change-makers.
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Arts Professional Advocacy & Equity Initiatives 1 activity
- Practicing inclusive casting and audience engagementApplies multicultural casting in productions to reflect the diversity of musical artists in the United States, a practice sustained for over 47 years. Develops marketing strategies and hires outreach staff to engage diverse audiences across race, ethnicity, age, physical ability, and socio-economic background.
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New Play Development Programs 1 activity
- Presenting concert readings and showcase events for new worksHosts concert readings, scenes, and preview performances of new operas and music-theatre works at venues such as Symphony Space, New York City Opera’s VOX: On the Edge, and Opera America’s New Composers Forum to support development and public engagement with emerging repertoire.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Supporting early-career composers and performersProvides developmental opportunities and early performance platforms for emerging composers, singers, designers, and artists, many of whom have gone on to careers on Broadway and in major opera houses. Supported early work by composers including Michael John LaChiusa, Ricky Ian Gordon, and Adam Guettel.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Staging memorial and legacy performancesHosts special performances honoring past work and artistic collaborators, such as a memorial event featuring music from previous productions performed by long-time company artists.
- Touring opera productions nationally and internationallyPresents performances of its productions beyond New York City, including tours to the Netherlands (Holland Festival and four cities), Albania (first American musicals performed at the Albanian National Opera), Germany (Munich festival), and Massachusetts, as well as regional U.S. tours such as the Cleveland run of The Diary of Anne Frank.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$160K
Contributions & grants$115K72%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$45K
expenses
Total expenses$142K
Program expenses29%
Admin / overhead58%
Fundraising12%
Salaries & benefits$14K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineOther
balance sheet
Total assets$90K
Cash$88K
Investments$0
Liabilities$34K
Net assets$56K
Liquid reserves7.4 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +74.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 1
- NANCY RHODES — ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
relationships · 46
Who they work with
- ASCAP Partner — Recognized as a corporate funder of Encompass Theatre Company Inc.
- After Dinner Opera Partner — Co-produced "A Perfect Plan" with Encompass in 2004.
- Alva Nelson Partner — Musician involved in Encompass productions
- Angela Huff Partner — Costume designer for Encompass productions
- BMI Partner — Recognized as a corporate funder of Encompass Theatre Company Inc.
- Barbara Bliss Mestre Partner — Longtime board co-chair and emerita member who provided artistic leadership and mentorship for over 17 years.
- Bill Banfield Partner — Collaborates with composer Bill Banfield on the opera "EDMONIA".
- Carlin America, Inc. Partner — Recognized as a corporate funder of Encompass Theatre Company Inc.
- Cornelius N. Bliss Memorial Fund Funder — Supports Encompass programs.
- Dramatists Guild Fund Funder — Supports Encompass programs.
- Edith Meiser Foundation Funder — Supports Encompass programs.
- Holland Festival Partner — Hosted Encompass productions in Amsterdam and during a tour of four Dutch cities.
- John Miller Partner — Bassist and musician involved in Encompass productions
- Jujamcyn Theatres Partner — Recognized as a corporate funder of Encompass Theatre Company Inc.
- Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust Funder — Provided commissioning funds for contemporary music projects.
- Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust Funder — Provided funding for the commission of The Theory of Everything and supported contemporary music projects.
- Music Theatre International Partner — Recognized as a corporate funder of Encompass Theatre Company Inc.
- National Endowment for the Arts Funder — Provided funding for The Theory of Everything and awarded Encompass an Access to Artistic Excellence grant.
- National Endowment for the Arts Funder — Provided public funding for the production of "The Theory of Everything" through its Access to Artistic Excellence program.
- National Endowment for the Arts Government — Provided public funding for the development of The Theory of Everything through the Access to Artistic Excellence program in 2006 and 2009.
- New York City Opera Partner — Presented scenes from The Theory of Everything in its VOX: On the Edge program.
- New York Opera Alliance Network — Member of the consortium of NYC opera companies that produces the NYOA Next festival to enhance the visibility of opera in New York City.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provided funding for the development of The Theory of Everything with support from Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — State agency that provided public funding for the production of "The Theory of Everything".
- New York Times Co. Fdn. Funder — Supports Encompass programs.
- Notre Dame Academy Partner — Hosted the touring performance of "Angel of the Amazon" in Hingham, MA on November 15, 2023.
- OPERA America Funder — Provided commissioning support for The Theory of Everything through its Opera Fund, launched by the NEA and funded by multiple foundations.
- OPERA America Funder — Provided funding for "The Theory of Everything" through its Opera Fund.
- Opera America Funder — Funded the commission of The Theory of Everything through the Opera Fund.
- Opera America Partner — Collaborated on the Oral History Project with Nancy Rhodes and participated in events hosted at The Greene Space and The Bronx House.
+ 16 more
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 Incubation and Stewardship of American Opera Legacymethodology: artist-incubationBy nurturing emerging composers and stewarding the artistic legacy of figures like Virgil Thomson, the company ensures the evolution and continuity of American opera, because early-career support combined with legacy-based vision produces sustainable innovation grounded in tradition.
- Cultural Reclamation and Inclusion through Representation in Operamethodology: cultural_inclusion_through_representationBy producing works that tell stories of underserved communities, reclaiming marginalized histories, and prioritizing multicultural and BIPOC casting, the company increases accessibility and counters opera’s historical exclusivity, because representation disrupts systemic erasure and builds belonging for audiences and artists who have been historically excluded.
- Interdisciplinary Artistic Development for Cultural and Scientific Synthesismethodology: interdisciplinary_artistic_developmentBy integrating research from theoretical physics, indigenous spirituality, and metaphysical literature into operatic works, the company creates art that fosters deeper understanding of interconnected, multidimensional existence, because synthesizing diverse knowledge systems enables transformative audience experiences and challenges dominant cultural paradigms.