Arlekin Players Theatre
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
ARLEKIN CREATES THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES THAT REVEAL WHAT CONNECTS US. A COMPANY OF OUTSIDERS - IMMIGRANTS AND CREATIVES WHO SEE DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE WE STAND AT THE EDGE - WE MAKE WORK THAT IS VISCERAL, DIRECTOR- DRIVEN, AND CONTEMPORARY. THREE CORE VALUES GUIDE EVERYTHING: BEAUTY THAT STOPS YOU, EMPATHY THAT OPENS YOU, MEANING THAT STAYS WITH YOU. WE MAKE THEATER FOR THE MOMENT AFTER - WHEN SOMETHING GOT UNDER YOUR SKIN AND STAYS WITH YOU FOR DAYS, WEEKS, AND YEARS. WE CREATE EXPERIENCES THAT ASK BETTER QUESTIONS - ABOUT WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE CARRY, AND WHAT BECOMES POSSIBLE WHEN STRANGERS SIT TOGETHER IN THE DARK AND FEEL THE SAME THING AT THE SAME TIME. IN-PERSON AND ONLINE, ACROSS BORDERS AND BETWEEN CULTURES, WE TRANSFORM A GATHERING OF STRANGERS INTO COMMUNITY. EXPERIENCES THAT LIVE ON IN CONVERSATION, IN SILENCE, IN MEMORY, AND IN BELONGING.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- -1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $117,725, artistic dir
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 134% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 90% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $1.2 million spent. IN APRIL 2024, ARLEKIN ENTERED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MART FOUNDATION. THE AGREEMENT ESTABLISHED A PARTNERSHIP TO CO-PRODUCE OUR CLASS AND FOR ARLEKIN TO PRODUCE MERCHANT OF VENICE, WITH MART AS CO-PRESENTER. BOTH PRODUCTIONS TOOK PLACE AT CLASSIC REPERTORY THEATRE (CSC) IN NEW YORK CITY AND INCREASED ARLEKIN'S VISIBILITY AS A SIGNIFICANT PRODUCER OF PROFESSIONAL ARTISTIC WORK. MART HANDLED THE BOOKS FOR BOTH PRODUCTIONS, WITH ARLEKIN BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTRIBUTING 200,000 OF RECOUPABLE FUNDS TOWARDS OUR CLASS AND FOR CONTRIBUTING THE FULL CAPITALIZATION COSTS OF MERCHANT OF VENICE (LESS 50,000 THAT MART CONTRIBUTED AS CO-PRESENTER). ARLEKIN SOLD TICKETS TO BOTH PRODUCTIONS USING ITS PLATFORM, AUDIENCEVIEW (AV) - TICKET REVENUE PASSED THROUGH ARLEKIN'S BALANCE SHEET AND WAS SENT DIRECTLY TO MART TO BOOK AS REVENUE ON THE PROJECT. ARLEKIN BOOKED AS EXPENSES ANY FUNDS SENT TO MART OR SPENT TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT (WHETHER REIMBURSED OR NOT) TOWARD ARLEKIN'S OBLIGATIONS ON BOTH PROJECTS. ARLEKIN ALSO BOOKED REVENUE IN THE FORM OF EQUIPMENT RENTAL FEES (LENDING ITS EQUIPMENT TO THE PROJECT), AND CONVENIENCE FEES THAT WERE USED TO OFFSET THE COSTS OF USING THE AV PLATFORM. OUR CLASS - AFTER ITS FIRST SUCCESSFUL RUN AT BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC (BAM) DURING FY24, ARLEKIN REMOUNTED OUR CLASS AT CLASSIC STAGE COMPANY FROM 9/12-11/3/24 TO OPEN ITS FY25 SEASON. THIS PRODUCTION REUNITED ARLEKIN WITH ITS CO-PRODUCING PARTNER, THE MART FOUNDATION, REASSEMBLED THE BAM PERFORMERS AND CREATIVE TEAM, AND OFFERED 54 PERFORMANCES, REACHING 8,042 AUDIENCE MEMBERS. DIRECTOR IGOR GOLAK WAS CITED AS "AMONG THE MOST INVENTIVE DIRECTORS WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES," BY THE NEW YORK TIMES AND THE PRODUCTION RECEIVED BEST OF 2024 THEATRE FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL AND THE PRODUCTION SWEPT THE PRESTIGIOUS LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS WINNING FOR OUTSTANDING REVIVAL, DIRECTOR, DESIGN, AND ENSEMBLE. AS WITH THE BAM PRODUCTION, DOZENS OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND DESCENDANTS OF THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF THAT EVENT CONTACTED ARLEKIN, ATTENDED PERFORMANCES, AND SHARED THEIR STORIES, WHICH ARLEKIN CAPTURED IN A SERIES OF DOCUMENTARY CLIPS. MERCHANT OF VENICE (MOV) - AS THE SECOND PART OF ITS RESIDENCY AT CLASSIC STAGE COMPANY, ARLEKIN MOUNTED MOV, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY DIRECTED BY IGOR GOLYAK AND PRODUCED IN 2021 BY ACTORS SHAKESPEARE COMPANY (ASP) IN BOSTON - ASP WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE NYC RESIDENCY. THE PRODUCTION RAN FROM 11/22- 12/22/24 WITH 35 PERFORMANCES REACHING 5,363 ATTENDEES. IT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED IN THE PRESS AND ALSO INCREASED ARLEKIN'S VISIBILITY IN THE NEW YORK MARKET AMONG PRESS, PRODUCERS, AND AUDIENCES. ARLEKIN RAISED THE TARGETED CONTRIBUTED FUNDS THAT IT HAD BUDGETED TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT. HOWEVER, TICKET SALES DID NOT MEET EXPECTATION AND ARLEKIN MET ITS OBLIGATIONS TO THE PROJECT THROUGH BOARD LOANS, A LINE OF CREDIT WITH WEBSTER BANK, AND THROUGH CREDIT CARD PURCHASES THROUGH A CHASE - ALL OF WHICH WERE PAID BACK AS OF 12/31/2025. OUR CLASS (BOSTON) AFTER THE TREMENDOUS SUCCESS OF OUR CLASS IN NEW YORK, ARLEKIN DECIDED TO MOUNT THE SHOW AT BOSTON'S PRESTIGIOUS CALDERWOOD PAVILION, RECASTING MOST ROLES WITH LOCAL ACTORS. THE SHOW RAN FROM 6/13-6/22/25 WITH 12 PERFORMANCES REACHING 3,670 ATTENDEES. ALL REVENUES AND EXPENSES FOR THIS RUN WENT THROUGH ARLEKIN'S BOOKS. THE SHOW WAS AGAIN A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS MAKING THE TOP 2025 LISTS OF THE BOSTON GLOBE AND THE JEWISH JOURNAL, AMONG OTHERS. IN APRIL 2024, ARLEKIN ENTERED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MART FOUNDATION. THE AGREEMENT ESTABLISHED A PARTNERSHIP TO CO-PRODUCE OUR CLASS AND FOR ARLEKIN TO PRODUCE MERCHANT OF VENICE, WITH MART AS CO-PRESENTER. BOTH PRODUCTIONS TOOK PLACE AT CLASSIC REPERTORY THEATRE (CSC) IN NEW YORK CITY AND INCREASED ARLEKIN'S VISIBILITY AS A SIGNIFICANT PRODUCER OF PROFESSIONAL ARTISTIC WORK. MART HANDLED THE BOOKS FOR BOTH PRODUCTIONS, WITH ARLEKIN BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTRIBUTING 200,000 OF RECOUPABLE FUNDS TOWARDS OUR CLASS AND FOR CONTRIBUTING THE FULL CAPITALIZATION COSTS OF MERCHANT OF VENICE (LESS 50,000 THAT MART CONTRIBUTED AS CO-PRESENTER). ARLEKIN SOLD TICKETS TO BOTH PRODUCTIONS USING ITS PLATFORM, AUDIENCEVIEW (AV) - TICKET REVENUE PASSED THROUGH ARLEKIN'S BALANCE SHEET AND WAS SENT DIRECTLY TO MART TO BOOK AS REVENUE ON THE PROJECT. ARLEKIN BOOKED AS EXPENSES ANY FUNDS SENT TO MART OR SPENT TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT (WHETHER REIMBURSED OR NOT) TOWARD ARLEKIN'S OBLIGATIONS ON BOTH PROJECTS. ARLEKIN ALSO BOOKED REVENUE IN THE FORM OF EQUIPMENT RENTAL FEES (LENDING ITS EQUIPMENT TO THE PROJECT), AND CONVENIENCE FEES THAT WERE USED TO OFFSET THE COSTS OF USING THE AV PLATFORM. OUR CLASS - AFTER ITS FIRST SUCCESSFUL RUN AT BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC (BAM) DURING FY24, ARLEKIN REMOUNTED OUR CLASS AT CLASSIC STAGE COMPANY FROM 9/12-11/3/24 TO OPEN ITS FY25 SEASON. THIS PRODUCTION REUNITED ARLEKIN WITH ITS CO-PRODUCING PARTNER, THE MART FOUNDATION, REASSEMBLED THE BAM PERFORMERS AND CREATIVE TEAM, AND OFFERED 54 PERFORMANCES, REACHING 8,042 AUDIENCE MEMBERS. DIRECTOR IGOR GOLAK WAS CITED AS "AMONG THE MOST INVENTIVE DIRECTORS WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES," BY THE NEW YORK TIMES AND THE PRODUCTION RECEIVED BEST OF 2024 THEATRE FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL AND THE PRODUCTION SWEPT THE PRESTIGIOUS LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS WINNING FOR OUTSTANDING REVIVAL, DIRECTOR, DESIGN, AND ENSEMBLE. AS WITH THE BAM PRODUCTION, DOZENS OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND DESCENDANTS OF THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF THAT EVENT CONTACTED ARLEKIN, ATTENDED PERFORMANCES, AND SHARED THEIR STORIES, WHICH ARLEKIN CAPTURED IN A SERIES OF DOCUMENTARY CLIPS. MERCHANT OF VENICE (MOV) - AS THE SECOND PART OF ITS RESIDENCY AT CLASSIC STAGE COMPANY, ARLEKIN MOUNTED MOV, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY DIRECTED BY IGOR GOLYAK AND PRODUCED IN 2021 BY ACTORS SHAKESPEARE COMPANY (ASP) IN BOSTON - ASP WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE NYC RESIDENCY. THE PRODUCTION RAN FROM 11/22- 12/22/24 WITH 35 PERFORMANCES REACHING 5,363 ATTENDEES. IT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED IN THE PRESS AND ALSO INCREASED ARLEKIN'S VIS
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2011.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.