Nate the Great the Musical - The Growing Stage: The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey
FY26 Annual Report Supporting Theatre Engaging Audiences
Dear Valued Supporters & Partners, On behalf of the Board of Trustees and staff of New Jersey Theatre Alliance, we are pleased to present this report on our programs, activities and financial health for our 2026 fiscal year (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026). We thank you for your support, encouragement, and partnership which allow the Alliance to build community, strengthen professional networks, expand accessibility, and provide consultation to strengthen our member theatres. The continued strength of our programs, partnerships, and organizational resources tells us that our work is heading toward a more equitable, accessible, connected, and sustainable arts sector. Programs and services continue to be designed with input from our member theatres and the field at large. This year, steering committees for the Creating Change Network, Cultural Access Network, and New Jersey Arts Administrators of Color Network helped us design and implement 32 education and networking opportunities, engaging more than 1,000 colleagues in advancing equity, inclusion, and access. Highlights are the launch of our Theatre and Health Bridge Project, the second distribution of the Arts Pay NJ salary survey, and the continuation of marketing initiatives like our Explore Professional Theatre Close to Home campaign. This report covers these program highlights and so much more, and we hope it provides an understanding of the impact of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance on our member theatres and the entire state’s arts community. We are extremely grateful to all who have invested in the New Jersey Theatre Alliance: our board, member organizations, arts colleagues, community partner organizations, funders, donors and sponsors. Together, we are helping to ensure our community of organizations and arts workers are supported, connected, nurtured and celebrated. We could not do our work without your generous support and partnership. We hope you share in our pride.
Laura Ekstrand
Marshall Jones, III
Board Chair
Board President
John McEwen Executive Director
Newsies – Vanguard Theater Company
About Us New Jersey Theatre Alliance was founded in 1981 by five professional theatres on the belief that the theatre community is stronger united, not divided, and that one theatre’s success is a success for all. Today we serve forty-one professional theatres in New Jersey and the region, representing sixteen of the state’s twenty-one counties, as well as Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Being part of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance really allows for effortless networking between member theatres. It's fantastic to meet up with people at membership gatherings and also virtually with staff roundtables held throughout the year to connect us with our peers. We are extremely grateful for the Creating Change Network - the annual summit every year is very inspiring and the virtual sessions really help our organization keep anti-racism, justice, and accessibility at front of mind throughout our season. There are so many resources, marketing opportunities, and a fantastic team of people at the Alliance that are a great benefit to us. – Stephanie Kingsbury, Managing Director, The Growing Stage
Vision
Kalamazoo – Cape May Stage
New Jersey Theatre Alliance and its members envision a field that is flourishing, collaborative, and equitable for artists, administrators, member theatres, organizations, and audiences.
Mission
Cinderella – Axelrod Performing Arts Center
The mission of New Jersey Theatre Alliance is to unite, promote, strengthen, and cultivate New Jersey and the region’s professional theatres. We advance the theatre community by developing innovative, collaborative, and engaging programs and services for member theatres and their diverse audiences.
Core Values Equity & Access Innovation & Creativity Collaboration & Partnership Integrity & Accountability
My Lord, What a Night – George Street Playhouse
Spend an Evening with the Delaney Sisters – East Lynne Theater Company
Our Town – American Theater Group
At Home At the Zoo – Hudson Theatre Works
FY26 by the Numbers
41
THEATRES SERVED
& Sons – Luna Stage
How My Grandparents Fell in Love – New Jersey Repertory Company
What Became of Us – George Street Playhouse
$950,407 $20K 30 300
RAI SED
PROVIDED TO THEATRES AS NO-INTEREST LOANS
COMMUNI TY PARTNERS
CONSULTI NG HOURS TO THEATRES
310
68
ARTISTS SERVED
WORKSHOPS/ TECHNI CAL ASSI STANCE OFFERI NGS
Evelynn Knox, Poetry Outloud Regional Champion 2026, recites a poem at Curtain Call 2026
Star Award Honoree, Kevin O'Brien, addresses guests at Curtain Call 2026
Janeece Freeman Clark, Artistic Director of Vanguard Theater in Montclair, and husband Dwayne Clark perform at Curtain Call 2026
Star Award Honoree, Kevin O'Brien (center), joins the theatres’ Award of Excellence honorees on stage at Curtain Call 2026
John McEwen, Executive Director of New Jersey Theatre Alliance (left), and Mike Stotts, Vice Chair of New Jersey Theatre Alliance and Executive Director at Paper Mill Playhouse (right), present the Star Award to Kevin O'Brien (center) at Curtain Call 2026
Star Award Honoree, Kevin O'Brien (fifth person from the right in the last row), celebrates with his International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) colleagues at Curtain Call 2026
Curtain Call On April 20, 2026, the New Jersey Theatre Alliance welcomed 230 theatre professionals and supporters from across the state to Bell Works in Holmdel for Curtain Call 2026, the Alliance's annual celebration of New Jersey's vibrant theatre community. This year's event shined a spotlight on the production and design professionals whose creativity, technical expertise, and dedication bring theatrical productions to life, recognizing the essential work that happens behind the scenes to create unforgettable experiences for audiences. The Alliance presented its Star Award to Kevin O'Brien, President of IATSE Local 632, in recognition of his steadfast advocacy, leadership, and unwavering support of New Jersey's arts and theatre community. Throughout his distinguished career, Kevin has championed the performing arts through his service with IATSE, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Mid-Atlantic Arts, the Entertainment Community Fund, and the Governor's Restart and Recovery Advisory Council. The evening also featured the presentation of the Awards of Excellence, honoring 26 outstanding production and design professionals from Alliance member theatres whose exceptional artistry and behind-the-scenes contributions make live theatre possible. We would like to thank the leadership support of the following individuals, businesses and foundations for their generous support of Curtain Call:
TITLE SPONSORS
LEADING PLAYERS SPONSORS
IATSE District 10 IATSE International IATSE Local 632 Joan Rechnitz
Bartley & Dick Merrill G. and Emita E. Hastings Foundation Hudson County Cultural and Heritage Affairs/Tourism Mayo Center for the Performing Arts
RECEPTION SPONSOR Carolyn Ferolito
AWARD SPONSORS Entertainment Community Fund/Nan and Joe Benincasa Mills + Schnoering Architects, LLC New Brunswick Development Corporation
JOURNAL SPONSOR Stages Consultants, LLC
PATRONS Robert Bingaman Meredith Burns Steve DeMicco Wendy Liscow Diane L. Parker Geoffrey Shearing
Celebrating New Jersey and the Region's Professional Theatres!
CURTAIN CALL
Professional Theatre Close to Home In its third year, the Explore Professional Theatre Close to Home Campaign continued to elevate the work of member theatres by increasing their visibility across the region. Through a series of social media posts and Google ads, the Alliance increased traffic to the Alliance’s website and to those of our member theatres. Our most recent metrics show the significant reach of our campaign for FY26: over 953,500 impressions (total number of times our social media ads were seen) resulted in over 136,000 clicks to our campaign landing page, 123,504 clicks to our calendar performance listings, and over 94,800 visits to member theatres’ websites.
The Theatre Close to Home campaign is a wonderful example of the innovative, collaborative support the New Jersey Theatre Alliance provides its member theatres, bringing us together with one strong, collective voice. The campaign helps audiences discover the extraordinary range of professional theatre happening right here in New Jersey, while extending the reach of each individual theatre beyond what we could accomplish on our own. It reminds audiences that exceptional theatre doesn’t require a trip to New York—it’s happening right here, close to home. – Hawley Abelow, Director of Marketing and Communications, Paper Mill Playhouse
Center Stage: With John Bathke To support the Explore Professional Theatre Close to Home Campaign and build deeper awareness of our member theatres, we continued our successful partnership with Emmy Award-winner John Bathke, former News 12 arts reporter, to present a series of video news features covering various topics highlighting the work of our member theatres. This year the topics included theatres producing new work, international collaborations, the vital work of our production departments, and making theatre accessible to people with disabilities. In addition, a series of reels were produced to highlight upcoming shows and promote the Explore Professional Theatre Close to Home campaign.
Creating Change 2025 surfaced a clear and shared understanding: building an equitable and anti-racist future in the arts is not achieved through isolated programs or aspirational statements, but through aligned systems, cultures, and relationships that redistribute power, resources, and care. Across working groups, participants named different entry points—funding, leadership, wellness, collaboration, and artistry—but the underlying throughline was consistent: anti-racism requires changing how we operate, how we relate, and who gets to decide. – Carrie E. Neal, Leading Changemakers
This moment is really calling on us to be together and help each other grow creatively. We must use our individual creative energies for collective growth. – Meghana Karankjkar, Creating Change Summit Participant
I loved it. The group was incredible. Something that will stay with me from this experience is that I am NOT ALONE! – Arts Trustee Cohort Participant
Creating Change 2025 Plenary Panel
Creating Change 2025 CoCA Moves Dance Performance
Equity & Access The Alliance believes in breaking down silos and will often open its programs to benefit the entire arts sector. This is especially true in its equity and access work. Despite the changes on the political landscape, equity and access remain core values of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.
Creating Change The Creating Change Network, a program of the Alliance in partnership with ArtPride New Jersey and guided by a steering committee of NJ-based arts and social justice leaders, offered essential programming to support arts organizations as they build a more just and equitable future. Virtual roundtables focused on cross-sector partnerships with social justice organizations and updating internal policies for current realities. The cohort-based learning series for arts trustees was re-imagined this year to focus on equity as a central tenet of board health and effectiveness. Our annual in-person summit was held at Count Basie Center for the Arts, featuring an inspiring keynote, thought-provoking plenary panel, and an "emergent agenda" during which facilitators from Leading Changemakers helped bring to light the primary concerns, needs, resources, and opportunities for collaboration among attendees. Over 350 members of the arts community participated network events and activities over the course of the year.
Creating Change 2025 Keynote Address Audience
Creating Change 2025 Breakout Session
Creating Change 2025 end of day reflections
Donna Walker-Kuhne addresses the Creating Change 2025 Attendees
Creating Change 2025 end of day reflections
Daniel Alexander Jones Delivers the Creating Change 2025 Keynote Address
All photos from Creating Change 2025 Breakout Sessions
Naia Edmonds, Khamille Blackman, and Imani Nyame at the Curltural Access Summit
Career Accelerator Launched in 2023, the Career Accelerator Program is a six-month paid fellowship designed to cultivate the next generation of theatre leaders by connecting emerging professionals from underrepresented communities with member theatres and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance. Selected from a competitive pool of more than 30 applicants, the 2026 fellows—Khamille Blackman of Fort Lee, Naia Edmonds of Bound Brook, and Imani Nyame of East Orange—each completed three two-month placements, gaining hands-on experience in theatre administration and management while participating in professional development and receiving direct mentorship from industry professionals. Throughout their placements, the fellows expanded their skills and explored different facets of the theatre field, from daily operations and season planning to auditions, producing new works, and arts administration. The program also provided stipeneds for travel and living expenses, helping to reduce barriers to participation while giving fellows the opportunity to build professional networks and identify pathways toward long-term careers in the arts. Since the launch of the program, 90% of the fellows have secured employment at a member theatre or an arts organization in the state.
This program has not only offered me insight into the theatre administration world, but has also enlightened me to the many things I am capable of doing. I believe wholeheartedly that the Career Accelerator Program promotes the strength and capability that many underrepresented theatre makers bring to the field, amplifying their voices and empowering them to lead with confidence, innovation, and impact. – Khamille Blackman, FY26 Career Accelerator Fellow
This initiative is one of my favorites to support. The magic is that it elevates and educates all involved—the fellows, the theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance. We are all working to create a more equitable field and the Career Accelerator Program is evidence of that. I am honored to connect with these incredible fellows and I’m thrilled to see where all their talents and strengths lead. Any organization is lucky to have them onboard, us included. – Daria M. Sullivan, Manager of Programs and Services, New Jersey Theatre Alliance.
A core value of the Alliance is collaboration and we are grateful to the following individuals and organizations for their partnership and dedication in supporting and lifting up our theatre and arts community.
Cultural Access Network Project Committee Krystle Allen, New Jersey Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired, Kelly Boyd, Preparedness Bureau/Emergency Management Section, NJ Office of Emergency Management, Janet Zoubek Dickson, Educator, Donald Ehman, Arts Advocate, Diane Feldman, Arts Advocate, Lee Grimanis, NJ Department of Human Services, Julie Hain, South Jersey Cultural Alliance, Maureen Heffernan, Arts Advocate/Teaching Artist, Sam Hwang, Grounds For Sculpture, Emily Ladau, Disability Rights Activist, Communications Strategist, and Author, Kat Lily, New Jersey Theatre Alliance, Michelle Marigliano, Young Audiences Arts for Learning, John McEwen, New Jersey Theatre Alliance, Beth Prevor, HandsOn, Arlene Romoff, Hearing Loss Association of NJ, Michael Schnoering, FAIA, Mills + Schnoering Architects, LLC, Jack Tomy, Paper Mill Playhouse, Heather Williams, Arts Access, Matheny, Miss Ruth Williams, Writer & Low Vision/Disability Rights Advocate, Wanda Williford, The New Jersey Council for the Blind, Members Ex Officio: Allison Tratner, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Lindsay Dandeo, New Jersey State Council on the Arts
Creating Change Network Committee Creating Change Steering Committee Chair: Donna Walker-Kuhne, NJ Performing Arts Center Steering Committee: Rachel Aponte, Visual Arts Center of NJ, Donia Salem Harhoor, The Outlet Dance Project, Vince Hall, ArtPride New Jersey Foundation, Jessica Gaines, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Deonté Griffin-Quick, DGQ Culture, Chase Jackson, Ocean City Arts Center, Marshall Jones, III, Rutgers University, Eyesha Marable, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, John McEwen, New Jersey Theatre Alliance, Elizabeth Murphy, Stone Foundation of New Jersey, Erica Nagel, New Jersey Theatre Alliance, Adam Perle, ArtPride New Jersey Foundation, Gwen RicksSpencer, Ernst and Young, Michael Roberson Reid, Young Audiences of NJ and Eastern PA, Daria M. Sullivan, New Jersey Theatre Alliance, Kayla Kim Votapek, Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (CAATA), Talia Young, Newark Symphony Hall
New Jersey Arts and Culture Administrators of Color (NJACAC) Network Steering Committee Briana Butler, Two River Theater, Andy Chiang, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, Priscilla Cordero, Arts Advocate, Olivia Duho Sterling, Young Audiences NJ & Eastern PA, Jessica Gaines, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, April Grier, New Dawn Multimedia, Vincent Hall, ArtPride NJ, Sam Hwang, Grounds For Sculpture, Erika Sage Kelley, Sage Horizons, Paul McRae, New Jersey Ballet, Dipan Ray, Epic Actors’ Workshop, Shoanne Seijas, South Jersey Cultural Alliance, Daryl L. Stewart, Daryl Stewart Productions & Newark Arts Festival, Daria M. Sullivan, New Jersey Theatre Alliance, Sunjay Venkatraman, Art House Productions, Kayla Kim Votapek, Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists (CAATA)
New Jersey Arts and Culture Administrators of Color (NJACAC) Building on the strong foundation established since its creation in 2019, this past year, NJACAC continued to enhance connections and create brave spaces for arts leaders to come together. Over the course of the year, NJACAC offered nine events, including two social mixers, three enrichment sessions, and four affinity space gatherings to 115 NJACAC members representing 14 counties in NJ. Additionally, the Alliance provided professional development opportunities to 10 members to attend one statewide gathering as well as represent the network at a national gathering: NJ Theatre Alliance's annual Creating Change Summit and Arts Administrators of Color (AAC) Annual Convening in California. Being a member of NJACAC is an incredible resource to the arts administrators it intends to serve by not only offering community and networking, the group is intentional about programming quality events that enrich and elevate the lives of its community members. NJACAC generates meaningful opportunities, connections, and collaborations between arts and culture workers across our vast state. I've seen the group spark possibility in a way perhaps would not have been able to be realized without the space NJACAC cultivates. It is one of my most treasured resources as an arts worker in New Jersey. – Priscilla Cordero, Arts Advocate
The management partner leads of NJACAC came together to strategize the vision for the network. L to R: Vince Hall, Daria M. Sullivan, and Jessica Gaines.
NJACAC at Two River Theater; Improv for Biz and A Doll’s House
Enrichment Session titled, "Grounding & Flow" with Kristine Leslie (of Consult with Kristine) at The Institute of Music for Children in Elizabeth, NJ.
ArtsPay NJ 2025 marked the second cycle of data collection for ArtsPay NJ, the first-of-its-kind compensation survey for the New Jersey Arts Community. This initiative, spearheaded by the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, is a collective effort of the Alliance and the state’s 4 other service organizations (ArtPride NJ, Arts Ed NJ, Dance NJ, New Jersey Alliance of Museums, South Jersey Cultural Alliance) as well as the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Arts Pay NJ gathered compensation data this year from over 600 individuals and over 120 organizations, representing over 7000 positions, salaries, and benefits packages. Our data analytics partners at Baker-Richards used this information to create comprehensive reports and an interactive dashboard, all available free to the public on the Theatre Alliance website. Through the transparency of this information and the educational opportunities related to it, ArtsPay NJ is a powerful tool for both employers and workers as the field moves toward greater pay equity and sustainability.
Speaking as an HR professional in the arts, I see the value of ArtsPay NJ firsthand. It captures more than salary alone, giving us real data on the fuller compensation package of organizations across the state, which is critical when building honest, competitive offers. Having this information publicly available also matters beyond any one organization: it sparks necessary conversation and helps our whole sector both celebrate the beauty we collectively create and communicate the real needs of artists and arts organizations in New Jersey, noting where the deficiencies are, and how increased funding, investment, and policy can close those gaps. To me, that's part of a compassionate approach to caring for our staff as whole people, not just what we pay them, but how we support their wellbeing and their ability to sustain a career in this field.
– Austin Brecht, Human Resources Director, McCarter Theatre Center
Jason Szamreta, Beth Painter, and Ginny Johnston
Laura Ekstrand, Gargi Mukherjee, Jason Szamreta, Ginny Johnston, Beth Painter, and Overlook Medical Center Staff
Theatre & Health Bridge Project Launched as a pilot program in FY25 to integrate theatre-based activities into health initiatives, the Theatre and Health Bridge Project represents a collaborative partnership between the Alliance, member theatres, and medical institutions focused on improving the overall physical and emotional well-being of patients and healthcare professionals. This past year, Vivid Stage of Summit and Epic Actors’ Workshop of Somerset offered an artist residency to patients in the oncology unit at Overlook Medical Center in Summit; The Growing Stage - the Children’s Theatre of New Jersey offered a residency to patients in both the long-term care unit and pediatric outpatient support groups at New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus; and Premiere Stages in Union offered a residency to the “Living with Cancer” support group at Overlook Medical Center.
This experience has reshaped my understanding of healing through the arts. By sharing their stories with me, patients begin a process of externalization—taking their complex emotions, fears, and triumphs and giving them form outside themselves. Through the interview process, I've observed how storytelling helps patients organize fragmented memories of their diagnosis and treatment into coherent narratives that provide meaning and structure to what once felt chaotic. I have noticed patients reclaiming agency over their own stories and shifting their self-view from victim to thriver. – Jason Szamreta, Playwright for the Theatre and Health Bridge Project with Overlook Medical Center"
Priscilla Garces, Board of Trustees Member, Fund for the New Jersey Blind, recieves the Champion Recognition from John McEwen, Executive Director, New Jersey Theatre Alliance, and Jack Tomy, Cultural Access Network, Committee Member.
Front: Kelly Boyd, Cultural Access Network Committee Member. Back Row, Left to Right: Sandy Elkanady, Founder, Kids Piano Studio, Jack Tomy, Cultural Access Network Committee Member, Krystle Allen, Cultural Access Network Committee Member, Allison Tratner, Executive Director, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Kat Lily, Access Coordinator, New Jersey Theatre Alliance, Lindsay Dandeo, Access Coordinator and Program Officer, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Janet Dickson, Cultural Access Network Committee Member, Wand Williford, Cultural Access Network Committee Member Arlene Romoff, Cultural Access Network Committee Member, John McEwen, Executive Director, New Jersey Theatre Alliance, Maureen Heffernan, Arts Advocate/Teaching Artist, and Julie Hain, South Jersey Cultural Alliance
Left to Right: Heather Williams, Cultural Access Network Committee Member, Priscilla Garces, Board of Trustees Member, Fund for the New Jersey Blind, John McEwen, Executive Director, New Jersey Theatre Alliance, and Jack Tomy, Cultural Access Network, Committee Member.
Front Row: Marisa Jean Giachetti, Actor, Plays by the People. Back Row, Left to Right, Christina Hoffman, Director of Marketing and Audience Development, Premiere Stages at Kean University, Nick Gandiello, Managing Director, Premiere Stages at Kean University, Lucas Luchsinger, Actor, Plays by the People, Daria Sullivan, Actor, Plays by the People, Sarah Cuneo, Actor, Plays by the People, John Wooten, Vice President of Arts Programming, Premiere Stages at Kean University, Allison Tratner, Executive Director, New State Council on the Arts, John McEwen, Executive Director, New Jersey Theatre Alliance, Lindsay Dandeo, Access Coordinator and Program Officer, New State Council on the Arts, Kat Lily, Access Coordinator, New Jersey Theatre Alliance.
Front Row, Left to Right: Briana Butler, Education Manager, Two River Theater, Kat Lily, Access Coordinator, New Jersey Theatre Alliance, Janet Dickson, Cultural Access Network Committee Member. Back Row, Left to Right: Krystle Allen, Cultural Access Network Committee Member, Allison Tratner, Executive Director, New State Council on the Arts, Lindsay Dandeo, Access Coordinator and Program Officer, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Wanda Williford, Cultural Access Network Committee Member, John McEwen, Executive Director, New Jersey Theatre Alliance, Jack Tomy, Cultural Access Network Committee Member.
The Cultural Access Network is a co sponsored project of New Jersey Theatre Alliance and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
For 35 years, the Cultural Access Network has served as New Jersey's leading resource for advancing accessibility in the arts, helping cultural organizations create more welcoming and inclusive experiences for artists and audiences with disabilities. In FY26, the Cultural Access Network offered six Access Thursday virtual roundtables and eleven awareness trainings, reaching more than 426 arts colleagues and addressing key topics such as creating dementia-inclusive arts experiences, expanding access in dance, improving community arts participation, and contracting audio describers, sign language interpreters, and captioners. The Alliance further expanded its Audio Description program by introducing a new two-part Audio Description for the Visual Arts training, led by award-winning audio description voice talent and disability advocate Nefertiti Matos Olivares, while continuing its longstanding theatre training. Together, these specialized courses served 14 participants and strengthened the field's capacity to provide meaningful access for audiences who are Blind/low vision. On May 28, 2026, 135 arts colleagues attended the Cultural Access Summit at Grounds For Sculpture. Through a keynote presentation and panel discussion focused on universal access, participants explored strategies for embedding accessibility across physical spaces, programs, and communications while strengthening organizational responsibility and community partnerships to advance inclusion. We also recognized outstanding leaders for their contributions to the field: Fund for the New Jersey Blind (Champion Recognition); Premiere Stages at Kean University (Excellence in Leadership Recognition); and Kids Piano Studio and Two River Theater (Excellence in Cultural Access Innovation Recognition).
The Cultural Access Network of the New Jersey Theater Alliance is such an important connector for member theaters and beyond. With engagements dedicated to advancing understanding as well as expand upon what it means to truly eliminate barriers. Two River Theater is grateful for the support and resources that have continued to help promote inclusive, dynamic, holistic, and accessible offerings for our staff, our patrons, and the community. We express our deepest gratitude for sharing your wealth of expertise and resources. We look forward to continuing this great work together. – Briana Butler, Education Manager, Two River Theater
Murder on the Links – Two River Theater
The Mountaintop – Mile Square Theatre
Guys and Dolls – Surflight Theatre
A WORLD PREMIERE MUSICAL! Starstruck – Bucks County Playhouse
Come From Away – Paper Mill Playhouse
Muleheaded – Passage Theatre
Macbeth – The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey
Kim’s Convenience – McCarter Theater Center
Crumbs From the Table of Joy – Crossroads Theatre Company
She Kills Monsters – The Ritz Theatre Company
Walden – Premiere Stages at Kean University Etiquette – Vivid Stage
The Revolutionists – South Camden Theatre Company
Joy Meets Girl – Skyline Theatre Company
Operating Budget Earned (Membership Dues, Fees for Service) 8%
INCOME Contributed: $950,407 – 92% Earned (Membership Dues, Fees for Service): $84,620 – 8% TOTAL: $1,035,027
Contributed 92% Special Events 10%
CONTRIBUTIONS BY CATEGORY Government: 43% Foundations: 23% Corporations: 9% Individuals: 15% Special Events: 10%
Individuals 15% Government 43%
Corporations & Businesses 9%
Foundations 23%
Fundraising 16%
EXPENSES Programs: $671,160 – 66% Management: $233,835 – 18% Fundraising: $113,147 – 16%
Management 18%
Programs 66%
TOTAL: $1,018,142
A policy of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance is to invest the FY26 surplus into the organization’s cash reserves to ensure the Alliance remains a critical resource to the region’s theatre and arts community. You can find the New Jersey Theatre Alliance's audited financial statement on the organization’s website at njtheatrealliance.org or ask for a copy of the audited statement by contacting John McEwen, Executive Director, at jmcewen@njtheatrealliance.org.
Donors
Listing from July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
We are grateful to the following individuals, foundations, corporations, government agencies, and organizations for their support and encouragement of our programs and events that enable us to carry out our mission. Sustainers ($50,000+)
Anonymous Grunin Foundation New Jersey State Council on the Arts The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation The F.M Kirby Foundation
Producers ($25,000+)
ArtPride New Jersey The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey The Stone Foundation of New Jersey The Shubert Foundation
Directors ($10,000+)
Carolyn Ferolito Joan Rechnitz The New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund
Benefactors ($5,000+)
Customers Bank IATSE 632 IATSE District 10 IATSE International Mills + Schnoering Architects LLC New Brunswick Development Corporation New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company OceanFirst Foundation The Hyde and Watson Foundation The Westfield Foundation
Sponsors ($2,500+)
Larry Capo Entertainment Community Fund Fund for the New Jersey Blind Merrill G. and Emita E. Hastings Foundation Diane L. Parker Stages Consultants
Patrons ($1,000+)
Joseph and Nan Benincasa Neha Bhalani, Esq. Citizens Charitable Foundation Donald Ehman and Linda Kinsey Seth and Amy Geldzahler Carol and Harold Herbert Hudson County Cultural and Heritage Commission Michael Hurst Sharon Karmazin Michael Schnoering, FAIA Alec Stoll and Heather Fisher-Stoll The Sosland Foundation Mayo Performing Arts Center Supporters ($500+) Robert Bingaman Meredith Burns Wendy Collins Michael Bzdak and Meredith Arms Bzdak, PhD Stephan De Micco William Engel Diane Gallo IATSE District 21 IATSE District 59 IATSE Local 1 Elizabeth Johnston
Supporters Cont ($500+)
Virginia Johnston Marshall Jones, III and Chantal Jean-Pierre Kean University Metlife Stadium Maryann Pascarella Paper Mill Playhouse Julie Ellen Prusinowski Teresa Sanpietro Michael Stotts and David Mayhew Elliot and Susan Stupak Mary Ellen and Bob Waggoner Nina Mitchell Wells Paul Whelihan and Ellen Beattie
Angels ($250+)
Laura Aden Art House Productions ArtsEd New Jersey Jeanne Barrett Andrew Binger Bucks County Playhouse Cape May Stage Centenary Stage Company Laura Ekstrand and Joseph Zawila John Gormley James Heston Jersey City Theater Center Robin Jones Ruth Lipper Mid Atlantic Arts Adam Perle Premiere Stages at Kean University Tolanda Griffin-Ross Kelly Ryman Sam Scalamoni Geoffrey Shearing Steve Steiner Patrice Sullivan Surflight Theatre The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey State Theatre New Jersey Two River Theater James Vagias Vanguard Theater Company Kayla Kim Votapek John Wooten
SUSTAINING PARTNERS
Programming made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Friends ($100+)
American Theater Group Connie Alexis-Laona Heather Barberi Jeanne Barrett John Brouillard Melverne Cooke Carol Cronheim Etta Denk Paul Dennison Patricia and Stewart Docherty Linda Fowler and David Curcio Natasha Gallop Felicia Grant Tolanda Griffin-Ross Sharon Harrington Chris and Tina Heintz Howard Hirsch Nicholas Kong Judith Leone Richard Limekiller Wendy Liscow Benjamin Marshall Victoria Masteller McCarter Theatre Center Elizabeth Murphy New Jersey Repertory Company Martin Prentice Pushcart Players Gwen Ricks-Spencer River Union Stage Steve Runk Melody Serafino Drs. Donald and Lynn Siebert South Camden Theatre Company Susan Speidel Gayle Stahlhuth Pamela and William Starkey Vivid Stage Young Audiences New Jersey and Eastern PA
Board of Trustees & Staff Laura Ekstrand, Chair
Diane L. Parker
Vivid Stage
Arts Advocate
Paper Mill Playhouse
Michael Schnoering, FAIA, Treasurer
Neha Bhalani, Esq. CSG Attorneys at Law
Michael Hurst Arts Advocate
Kelly Ryman
Michael Stotts, Vice Chair
Vanguard Theater Company
Arts Advocate
Ernst & Young
Rutgers University
Janeece Freeman Clark, Secretary
Larry Capo
Gwen Ricks-Spencer
Marshall Jones, III, President
Mills + Schnoering Architects
Trustee Emeriti
McCarter Theatre Center
Ruth Fost
Teresa Sanpietro
Arts Advocate
Bucks County Playhouse
Gayle Stahlhuth
Alec Stoll
Arts Advocate
Stages Consultants
John Wooten Premiere Stages at Kean University
Kayla Kim Votapek
Consortium of Asian American Theatre Artists
Paul Whelihan Pushcart Players
Joseph Benincasa Entertainment Community Fund
Staff
Meredith Burns Art House Productions
Wendy Collins
Stephanie Haas Grants & Development Manager
John McEwen Executive Director
Kat Lily Access Coordinator
Erica Nagel Deputy Director
Lauren Mancuso Manager of Digital Communications & Marketing
Daria M. Sullivan Manager of Programs & Services
Cape May Stage
Seth Geldzahler JLL-Northeast Region
Carol A. Herbert Arts Advocate
Sierra London McDonald Administrative Coordinator
Member Theatres American Theater Group
The New Jersey Play Lab
Art House Productions
New Jersey Repertory Company
ArtYard
Paper Mill Playhouse
Axelrod Performing Arts Center
Passage Theatre Company
Bucks County Playhouse
Paterson Performing Arts Development Council
Camden Repertory Theater
Premiere Stages at Kean University
Cape May Stage
Pushcart Players
Catalyst Theater Company
Ritz Theatre Company
Centenary Stage Company
Ritual4Return
The Company Theatre Group
River Union Stage
Crossroads Theatre Company
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey
East Lynne Theater Company
Skyline Theatre Company
Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble
South Camden Theatre Company
Epic Actors’ Workshop
Speranza Theatre Company
George Street Playhouse
Surflight Theatre
The Growing Stage – The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey
The Theater Project
Hudson Theatre Works
Two River Theater
Jersey City Theater Center
Vanguard Theater Company
Luna Stage Company
Vivid Stage
McCarter Theatre Center
Yendor Theatre Company
Union / Basking Ridge Jersey City
Frenchtown Deal
New Hope, PA Camden
Cape May Plainfield
Hackettstown Hackensack
New Brunswick West Cape May Elizabeth
Old Bridge
New Brunswick Netcong
Weehawken Jersey City
West Orange Princeton
Mile Square Theatre Hoboken
Randolph
Long Branch Millburn
Trenton
Paterson Union
Verona
Haddon Township Newark
Frenchtown Madison
Bloomfield Camden
Jersey City
Beach Haven Maplewood Red Bank Montclair Summit Newark
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