named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Around the Kitchen Table
Pre- and post-show discussions with community leaders, subject experts, and artists to deepen engagement with each production’s themes.
Kitchen Sink programs
Special events or experimental performances offered alongside the mainstage season.
Mainstage Productions
Professional theater productions of contemporary plays, including new works and modern classics, performed in an intimate setting.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Performing Arts Ticket Access Programs 2 activities
- Manage audience subscriptions and ticketing servicesOffers full-season and flexible subscription packages with benefits including early seat access, exchange flexibility, and automatic tracking of remaining tickets via a Subscriber Flex Pass. Patrons can manage tickets, exchanges, and purchases online through a self-service account system.
- Offer tiered and accessible ticket pricingProvides multiple pricing options to increase accessibility, including $10–$20 discounted tickets for students and community members, Name Your Price tickets for previews, group rates, and flexible subscription models. These options are offered across mainstage and special productions.
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Theatrical Casting and Audition Programs 1 activity
- Conduct professional theater auditionsHosts Equity Principal Auditions in Ithaca on scheduled dates, providing opportunities for professional actors to audition for roles in upcoming productions.
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Event and Production Volunteer Coordination 1 activity
- Engage volunteers in theater operationsRecruits and utilizes volunteers as ushers, promotional distributors, set builders, lighting technicians, and outreach assistants to support productions and events.
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Accessibility Services for Cultural Programs 1 activity
- Ensure accessibility for patrons with disabilitiesProvides wheelchair-accessible seating with 48-hour advance notice, assisted listening devices at every performance, and other accommodations to ensure inclusive access to all productions.
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Post-Performance Audience Engagement 1 activity
- Host post-performance discussions and community engagement eventsOrganizes pre-show and post-show discussions for each production featuring community leaders, subject-matter experts, and artists to deepen audience engagement with the themes of the plays.
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New Play Development Programs 1 activity
- Nurture diverse artists and local arts communitySupports a community of diverse artists through performance opportunities, new play development, and collaborative programming, contributing to the vitality of the local and regional arts ecosystem.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Present alternative and community-centered performance programmingHosts the Kitchen Sink Series and other events that provide a curated platform for local and traveling artists, including cabaret, musical performances, solo shows, and collaborative events with regional arts organizations, using KTC’s stage and lobby space outside the mainstage season.
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Professional Theatrical Production 1 activity
- Produce and stage mainstage theater productionsProduces a seasonal lineup of new and contemporary plays in an intimate performance space, including world premieres and works by established playwrights. The 2025–26 season included five productions, with historical seasons ranging from three to nine plays, and ongoing staging of works such as "You Will Get Sick," "Born With Teeth," and "Maytag Virgin."
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Maintain sustainable theater operationsOperates in a LEED-certified building and implements environmentally sustainable practices in the fabrication of sets and production elements.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$709K
Contributions & grants$472K67%
Program service revenue$181K26%
Investment income$22K3%
Other revenue$34K
expenses
Total expenses$803K
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$456K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.58M
Cash$298K
Investments$89K
Liabilities$259K
Net assets$1.32M
Liquid reserves5.8 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +5.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emily Jackson | Producing Artist Director | 40 | $75K |
board members · 13
- Andria Colon — Board Member
- Barry Chester — President
- Deborah Streeter — Board Member
- Howard Steven Klein — Secretary
- Megan Omohundro — Board Member
- Michelle M Benedict — Treasurer
- Rachel Lampert — Board Member
- Sari Steifelman — Board Member
- Sherron Brown — Board Member
- Stacia Zabusky — Board Member
- Stephen Pope — Board Member
- Susan Kaplan — Vice President
- Thomas Smith — Board member
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- Ariana Cardoza Partner — Sound designer for the production of "You Will Get Sick."
- Civic Ensemble Partner — Collaborates on community events and guest artist programming, including the production of Cafe Utopia.
- Cuebox Partner — Technology partner providing the ticketing and account management platform used by Kitchen Theatre Company.
- Diane’s Downtown Auto Partner — Provides after-hours parking availability for patrons attending performances.
- Emily Jackson Partner — Collaborated as director for the production of "Born With Teeth".
- Emily Jackson Partner — Directed the production of Maytag Virgin
- Emily Jackson Partner — Producing Artistic Director who provides updates to subscribers
- Gayogo̱hó:nǫʼ Nation Government — Recognizes the theater's location on the unceded traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫʼ and acknowledges their historical and ongoing connection to the land.
- Human Services Building Partner — Provides after-hours parking availability for patrons attending performances.
- Ithaca College Partner — Founded by Ithaca College students, indicating an early institutional connection.
- Jennifer Schilansky Partner — Production stage manager for "You Will Get Sick" and member of USA 829.
- Sustainable Tompkins Partner — Collaborates on green initiatives for sustainable production practices, as highlighted in joint public communications.
- WOC Partner — Community partner for the production of "N/A" by Mario Correa.
- Wendy Dann Partner — Director of the production of "You Will Get Sick."
- local arts organizations Partner — Collaborates with local arts organizations to present performances and community events.
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 New Play Developmentmethodology: new_play_developmentBy supporting emerging playwrights and developing world premieres through a dedicated New Play Development Series, the organization strengthens artistic innovation and ensures a pipeline of original, urgent, and diverse stories.
- Community Dialogue Through Representational Storytellingmethodology: amplifying_marginalized_voicesBy centering narratives from historically marginalized communities and amplifying underrepresented voices, the organization fosters inclusive dialogue and deepens audience engagement across social differences, using theater as a platform for equity and connection.
- Intimate Theater Experiencemethodology: intimate_theatre_experienceBy utilizing a small, intimate performance space, the organization enhances the intellectual and imaginative engagement of audiences, deepening artistic impact through physical and emotional closeness between performers and viewers.
- Post-Performance Dialogue for Audience Engagementmethodology: audience_engagement_through_dialogueBy facilitating talkbacks and structured dialogue with artists after performances, the organization deepens audience understanding and connection to the material, transforming passive viewing into active civic and emotional engagement.
- Sliding-Scale Access Modelmethodology: sliding_scale_accessBy offering tiered, flexible, and name-your-price ticketing options, the organization reduces financial barriers to attendance, increasing access to live theater for diverse and economically varied audiences.