irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $52KNEW PLAY READINGS, SILENT AUCTION, AUDITION EVENT SERIES & WRITERS PROGRAMS- SPONSORSHIP
- #2 $46KEDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING - PRODUCER DEVELOPMENT, MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AND BOOT CAMPS
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Educational Programming - Producer Development, Mentorship, and Boot Camps
Training and mentorship initiatives for emerging producers, including boot camps and master classes on producing fundamentals
TRU Audition Conference for Theater (ACT)
Event series focused on audition education, featuring panels with casting directors, producers, and directors to help actors understand the casting process
TRU Community Gathering
Weekly virtual conversations on creativity and theater, featuring industry professionals and open to members; past sessions archived on YouTube
TRU Voices New Musicals Reading Series
Developmental staged readings for new musicals, including casting, rehearsal, and presentation, providing exposure and feedback for creators
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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New Play Development Programs 2 activities
- Developmental reading series for new plays and musicalsProduces and underwrites the TRU VOICES Annual New Play and New Musicals Reading Series, providing developmental staged readings for emerging works, including professional casting and audience engagement. Offers priority consideration and waived fees for members.
- Writer-Producer Speed Date and collaboration eventsHosts Writer-Producer Speed Date events and specialized labs to connect theater creators with producers, enabling writers to pitch new works and receive feedback. Includes reduced participation fees and structured workshops to improve writer-director communication and collaboration.
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Theatrical Casting and Audition Programs 1 activity
- Annual and recurring theater events and gatheringsHosts the annual TRU Audition Event, Tony Party, and theater parties for members, as well as weekly virtual Community Gatherings focused on creativity and resilience in theater. Also organizes livestreamed panel discussions and special events like TRUSPEAK, a virtual evening of short plays on socially relevant themes.
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Artist Support Grants 1 activity
- Awards scholarships and grants to theater artistsFunds the annual Pomranz Performance Grant to support artists in the cabaret community and awards scholarships to aspiring producers for training at The Commercial Theater Institute.
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Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 1 activity
- Educational workshops and seminars for theater professionalsConducts monthly panel discussions, workshops, and seminars on topics including self-producing, fundraising, mediation, and commercial potential assessment, featuring experts from Broadway, Off-Broadway, and film. Events are offered in person, hybrid, and via livestream.
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Performing Arts Production Support 1 activity
- Fiscal sponsorship and co-production supportProvides fiscal sponsorship for developmental staged readings and serves as an umbrella organization for co-productions among member companies, including participation in festivals such as the New York Fringe Festival.
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Professional Membership and Association Benefits 1 activity
- Free membership benefits and community accessProvides members with free subscription and unlimited postings in the TRU Update newsletter, free admission and priority seating at monthly panels and meetings, access to a postal mailing list of over 10,000 names, and reduced fees for various events and consultations. Also offers one free annual consultation in legal, creative career, or financial advising for new members.
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Mentorship and Professional Development Programs 1 activity
- Producer Development & Mentorship ProgramOffers structured training, mentorship, and internship opportunities for aspiring and self-producing theater professionals through monthly panels, boot camps, one-on-one mentoring, and hands-on internships with industry professionals. Includes specialized programming such as Foundations and Master Classes led by experienced producers.
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Arts Professional Advocacy & Equity Initiatives 1 activity
- Support for BIPOC and equity-focused theater initiativesConducts developmental readings and quarterly Town Hall conversations specifically for and with BIPOC theater professionals to advance representation and equity in the industry. Also hosts gatherings focused on professional women in theater.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$228K
Contributions & grants$192K84%
Program service revenue$36K16%
Investment income$20%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$224K
Program expenses50%
Admin / overhead26%
Fundraising23%
Salaries & benefits$93K
Grants paid out$650
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$111K
Cash$101K
Investments$10K
Liabilities$0
Net assets$111K
Liquid reserves6.0 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +57.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT OST | Executive Direc, President | 30 | $26K |
board members · 11
- CHERYL DAVIS — VICE PRESIDENT, TREASURER
- COURTNEY SWEETING — SECRETARY
- JANEL SCARBOROUGH — PRODUCER
- JOHN LANT — PRODUCER, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
- MARGOT ASTRACHAN — PRODUCER
- MERRIE L DAVIS — PRODUCER
- NEAL RUBINSTEIN — PRODUCER
- PATRICK BLAKE — PRODUCER, WRITER
- SANFORD SILVERBERG — BOARD CHAIR
- SCOTT SICKLE — PLAYWRIGHT
- STEPHANIE ROSENBERG — PRODUCER
relationships · 29
Who they work with
- American Songbook Association Partner — Craig Pomranz serves on the board of the American Songbook Association, indicating a leadership-level affiliation between individuals associated with TRU and this organization.
- Back Stage Partner — Allows TRU members to post casting notices for free using a TRU code.
- Backstage Partner — Offers TRU members a special introductory subscription offer for first-time subscribers.
- Blair Russell Partner — Tony-nominated producer teaching the Foundations class in the PDMP program
- BroadwayHD Partner — Offers TRU members a 50% discount on a yearly subscription to its streaming service.
- Campaigner Partner — Uses Campaigner's platform for newsletter distribution and subscription management.
- Capital Cabaret Partner — Craig Pomranz serves on the board of Capital Cabaret in DC, reflecting a professional connection between a TRU-affiliated individual and this organization.
- Cheryl Wiesenfeld Partner — Collaborated with TRU to create the Producer Development & Mentorship Program; 4-time Tony winning producer
- Chris Grady Partner — Collaborates on international partnership discussions between UK and US theater producers.
- Corfu Literary Festival Partner — Craig Pomranz serves on the board of the Corfu Literary Festival in Greece, showing international artistic collaboration linked to TRU through affiliated individuals.
- Dramatists Guild Partner — Organization that forged a groundbreaking inclusion rider, referenced in the context of advancing diversity in theater.
- Episopal Actors Guild Partner — Offers reciprocal memberships at a reduced rate for TRU members.
- Gitelman and Good Partner — Larry Little co-created the Spotlight New Works Fest with Gitelman and Good and serves as an advisor to the licensing house, establishing a formal partnership in developing new works for educational and community theaters.
- Houses on the Moon Partner — Jane Dubin is board co-chair of Houses on the Moon, and TRU has hosted representatives from the organization, indicating an ongoing institutional relationship.
- Jane Dubin Partner — Tony-winning Broadway producer leading the Master Class in the PDMP program
- Jason Aguirre Partner — Partnered as director for the developmental presentation of "AMÉRICA TROPICAL."
- League of Professional Theatre Women Partner — Offers reciprocal memberships at a reduced rate for TRU members.
- Mix & Match Productions Partner — Collaborates with TRU to present theater events, including Cellino v. Barnes.
- Our Sponsors Partner — Receives sponsorship support from unnamed sponsors listed under "Our Sponsors."
- Our Sponsors Partner — Receives support from sponsors to fund programs and operations.
- Pamela (Proucer) Jamila Ponton Bragg Partner — Partnered as producer for the developmental presentation of "AMÉRICA TROPICAL."
- Parity Productions Partner — TRU hosted Ludovica Villar Hauser, founder of Parity Productions, for a conversation about anniversary celebrations and mission-driven theater, reflecting a partnership with this gender equity-focused theater company.
- Polaris North Studio Partner — Hosts TRU workshops in physical space at 245 W. 29th Street, NYC, while also supporting simul-streaming via Zoom.
- Polaris North Studio Partner — Provides physical venue space for TRU's live panel events in New York City.
- Seattle Cabaret Festival Partner — Craig Pomranz serves on the board of the Seattle Cabaret Festival, indicating a collaborative relationship through shared leadership.
- Spotlight New Works Fest Partner — TRU collaborates with the Spotlight New Works Fest, which was co-created with Larry Little and Gitelman and Good, to showcase new plays suitable for secondary markets.
- The Commercial Theater Institute Partner — TRU awards scholarships for aspiring producers to attend training at The Commercial Theater Institute.
- The Drama League Partner — Collaborates on developmental staged readings, with TRU serving as fiscal sponsor.
- Theatermania Partner — Provides TRU members with an affiliate price to join Theatermania's Gold Club.
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.
- Creative Producing as Strategic Leadershipmethodology: artist-as-CEOBy reframing producing as a creative, CEO-like function involving vision, team-building, and resource strategy, the organization equips artists to lead their own projects successfully, because this mindset shift increases ownership, clarity, and sustainability in theater production.
- Equity-Centered Industry Transformationmethodology: amplifying-bipoc-voicesBy centering BIPOC voices and maintaining a sustained focus on gender equity, the organization advances systemic change in theater, because amplifying marginalized creators and addressing structural inequities are necessary to transform industry norms and representation.
- Hybrid and Themed Engagement for Inclusivitymethodology: hybrid_accessBy using virtual/hybrid formats and culturally resonant themes in communications, the organization expands access and engagement beyond geographic and temporal barriers, because flexible, relatable programming increases participation and sustains community connection.
- Mentorship-Driven Capacity Buildingmethodology: mentorship-based_capacity_buildingBy pairing emerging theater professionals with established industry mentors through structured training, panels, and personalized consultations, the organization increases individual success in producing theater, based on the belief that business knowledge and industry navigation skills are critical to artistic success.
- Peer and Network-Based Community Empowermentmethodology: peer-to-peer_resource_sharingBy facilitating peer-to-peer resource sharing, collaborative assessments, and networked dialogue, the organization strengthens the theater community’s collective resilience and opportunity access, because mutual support and visibility within a professional network increase individual and systemic capacity.