named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Catalyst Session
Introductory 1-2 hour workshop introducing Theatre of the Oppressed techniques through participatory exercises, dialogue, and role-play to spark reflection and collective action.
Legislative Theatre
Interactive theatre process that identifies community problems and develops concrete policy solutions through role-play and audience engagement, requiring a minimum of 3 hours.
Rapid Response Troupe
Community theatre troupe that creates performances in response to urgent social justice issues, such as homelessness and LGBTQ+ rights, often in partnership with advocacy groups.
Scene Creation & Performance
4-10 hour program guiding groups through creating and performing original activist theatre pieces based on real community issues.
Teachback & Facilitator Trainings
Extended training (3+ hours) that prepares participants to lead Theatre of the Oppressed workshops, emphasizing ethical facilitation and peer support.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Human Rights & Peace Education Curriculum 2 activities
- Facilitate participatory Theatre of the Oppressed workshopsLeads in-person and virtual workshops using games, dialogue, and improvised role-play to explore oppression and build collective action. Workshops are offered in Spanish and English, designed for participants aged 15+, and delivered as single sessions or extended 10–20 hour residencies.
- Host community events and gatherings using Theatre of the Oppressed methodsHosts facilitated gatherings and events that use Theatre of the Oppressed techniques such as Forum Theatre and Legislative Theatre to encourage dialogue around power, ethics, and social justice. Includes trained facilitators, co-designed planning, and follow-up support.
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Post-Performance Audience Engagement 1 activity
- Advocate for policy change through Legislative TheatreCo-organizes Legislative Theatre festivals and initiatives that engage impacted communities in performance-based dialogue to generate policy ideas and influence legislative change, with outcomes documented in published reports.
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Community-Engaged Theater Production 1 activity
- Create and perform original Forum Theatre productions with community membersProduces one to two original Forum Theatre shows annually per active troupe, developed in collaboration with community partners and performed in theaters, community centers, shelters, and at festivals. Troupes include ESCUCHA (Spanish-language performances based on real experiences of undocumented workers) and Rapid Response (addressing urgent social issues like homelessness).
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Host public training intensives and author eventsOrganizes in-person and virtual events such as the Forum Theatre Intensive led by Julian Boal and Zoom meetups with authors of the Wildcard Workbook to engage practitioners and expand public learning.
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Arts Education Professional Development 1 activity
- Offer training and capacity-building in Theatre of the Oppressed methodologiesProvides workshops and training programs for organizations and individuals, reimagined from pandemic-era adaptations and workbook development, to build capacity in using Theatre of the Oppressed for education and social change.
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Community Space Provision 1 activity
- Provide space rental for community and organizational useOffers affordable, ADA-accessible workspace rentals in Manhattan’s Theatre District, including private offices and open rooms equipped with Wi-Fi, projector, Meeting Owl, furniture, and access to shared facilities such as a pantry and gender-neutral bathroom.
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Benefit Events for Arts and Culture 1 activity
- Raise awareness and funds through performance eventsHosts performance events such as FIGHT-RAISER II and Rapid Response productions to raise public awareness and funds for social justice causes, including responses to eviction moratoriums and homelessness.
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Storytelling and Literacy Resource Development 1 activity
- Sell educational materials and maintain public resourcesOffers the Wildcard Workbook for purchase in print and eBook formats and maintains a video archive and Bookshop.org affiliate reading guide to support public education and organizational sustainability.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$447K
Contributions & grants$397K89%
Program service revenue$47K10%
Investment income$690%
Other revenue$4K
expenses
Total expenses$705K
Program expenses67%
Admin / overhead23%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$555K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$570K
Cash$140K
Investments$0
Liabilities$133K
Net assets$437K
Liquid reserves2.4 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -51.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SULU LEONIMM | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 35 | $81K |
board members · 12
- ADAM COY — MEMBER (RESIGNED OCT 2024)
- BENJAMIN SOLOTAIRE — MEMBER
- ELEANOR DICKENSON — MEMBER
- ELIZABETH BANGURA — DEPUTY TREASURER (RESIGNED DEC 2024)
- ELLIE BELL — MEMBER
- JOSH VAN KIRK — CHAIR
- JUNCAL PLAZAOLA CASTAO — SECRETARY (RESIGNED JUNE 2024)
- KATY RUBIN — TREASURER (STARTING FROM OCT 2024)
- MIKAYLA KNIGHT — DEPUTY SECRETARY (RESIGNED MARCH 2024)
- PABLO HERNANDEZ BASULTO — MEMBER
- SAM BRANDT — TREASURER (RESIGNED SEPT 2024)
- VINCENT LAROPOLI — SECRETARY (STARTING FROM OCT 2024)
relationships · 32
Who they work with
- Arizona State University Partner — Client organization that has participated in TONYC workshops.
- ArtsPool Network — TONYC is a member of ArtsPool, a nonprofit services organization supporting arts groups in New York City.
- Ashtar Theatre Partner — Collaborated on a World Theatre of the Oppressed Day celebration.
- Bard College Partner — Client organization that has participated in TONYC workshops.
- Belarus Free Theatre Partner — Engaged in conversation and artistic exchange at La MaMa to explore shared approaches to political theater.
- Bookshop.org Partner — TONYC is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, using its platform to support organizational funding through book sales.
- Broadway Advocacy Coalition Partner — Client organization that has participated in TONYC workshops.
- Brooklyn Friends School Partner — Client organization that has participated in TONYC workshops.
- Brooklyn Movement Center Partner — Client organization that has participated in TONYC workshops.
- CITY AGENCIES Government — Partners with city agencies to deliver theatre programs addressing social and economic injustices.
- Columbia University Partner — Client organization that has participated in TONYC workshops.
- Covenant House Partner — Supported homeless youth in creating and performing original plays as part of a theater initiative.
- Eileen Fisher Partner — Collaborated on programming to inspire women leaders through Theatre of the Oppressed methods.
- Facebook Partner — Platform for user sign-in and engagement
- Facebook Partner — Platform for user sign-in on website
- Ford Foundation Partner — Client organization that has participated in TONYC workshops.
- Harrow Sansom Choi Partner — Point of contact for volunteering inquiries.
- Housing Works Partner — Collaborated on onstage advocacy initiatives including participation in the Legislative Theatre Festival.
- Housing Works Partner — Community program partner site where TONYC collaborates with participants to create Forum Theatre performances.
- NYU Partner — Client organization that has participated in TONYC workshops.
- New Immigrant Community Empowerment Partner — Partnered with TONYC’s ESCUCHA troupe to co-create a theatrical performance for The Day Of The Fallen Worker.
- RISE Theatre Network Partner — TONYC is a RISE Theatre Network Partner.
- Red Hook Community Justice Center Partner — Community program partner site where TONYC collaborates with participants to create Forum Theatre performances.
- SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS Partner — Collaborates with social service organizations to create theatre troupes with affected community members.
- Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation Partner — Client organization that has participated in TONYC workshops.
- The Ali Forney Center Partner — Community program partner site where TONYC collaborates with participants to create Forum Theatre performances.
- The Fortune Society Partner — Community program partner site where TONYC collaborates with participants to create Forum Theatre performances.
- Twitter Partner — Platform for user sign-in and engagement
- Twitter Partner — Platform for user sign-in on website
- US Federation of Worker Cooperatives Network — TONYC is a member of the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives and its NYC Network.
+ 2 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.
- Embodied Learning for Internalizing Anti-Oppression Practicemethodology: embodied_learningBy engaging participants in physical and emotional rehearsal through games, role-play, and dialogue, anti-oppression principles move beyond intellectual understanding into bodily knowledge, because experiential, embodied practice strengthens retention, empathy, and readiness for real-world intervention.
- Lived Experience as Expert Knowledge in Program Leadershipmethodology: lived-experience leadershipBy centering people with direct experience of oppression as leaders and facilitators of theatre programs, the organization ensures authenticity and relevance, because those most impacted by systemic injustice possess critical insight necessary to guide transformative learning and action.
- Theatre of the Oppressed as Rehearsal for Social Changemethodology: theatre-of-the-oppressedBy using participatory theatre methods like Forum Theatre and improvisation, communities directly affected by oppression rehearse and test solutions to systemic injustice in a safe, embodied space, because this experiential practice builds collective agency and transforms abstract critique into actionable resistance.