Horizon Theatre Company Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HORIZON'S MISSION IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE, INSPIRE HOPE AND PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE THROUGH CONTEMPORARY THEATRE AND THE STORIES OF OUR TIMES. WE STRIVE TO BE A DYNAMIC LEADER IN THE PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF CONTEMPORARY THEATRE IN THE SOUTHEAST. WE PASSIONATELY CONNECT OUR DIVERSE AUDIENCES TO ACCESSIBLE AND RELEVANT PLAYS THAT ARE NEW TO OUR REGION. WE ALSO CULTIVATE NEW ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES FOR CONTEMPORARY THEATRE THROUGH INNOVATIVE ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 10.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 55%
- Employees
- 100
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $60,186, president
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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or 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)
- $1.3 million spent. During 2024-25, Horizon had a banner year for our 40th season, providing over 220 performances of 7 exceptional contemporary theatre productions, including 5 regional premieres, for nearly 27,000 Atlantans diverse in age, race and income at affordable ticket prices, reaching 6,000 youth with our artist development and education programs, and employing over 225 of the highest caliber of local professional theatre artists and technicians. The plays were supported by engagement activities that deepen the experience meet and greets with artists nightly, talkbacks, lobby displays, and online resources. We are immensely proud of the artistic success and our ability to draw strong audiences, including our largest subscription audience ever. Horizon kicked off its 2024-25 Season in July 2024 with Atlanta premiere of THE GAME by Tony-nominated playwright Bekah Brunstetter (screenwriter of This Is Us and author of Horizons The Cake and Broadways The Notebook), directed by Caroline Jane Davis. In this comedy about love in the age of technology, five women come together in a support group to win back their partners who are obsessed with a popular online game. Featuring stories of women diverse in age, race, and backgrounds, the play connected with women and men of all ages and demographics who flooded the stage after performances to share with the actors stories about their own lives and the challenge of connection today.In August/September 2024, we produced WILD WITH HAPPY by the acclaimed writer/actor Coleman Domingo (Academy Award nominee for Rustin), an outrageously funny and immensely touching look at Black love, loss and family about a mans search for his moms final resting place. Directed by Artistic Associate Thomas W. Jones II, the cast was comprised of top-notch Atlanta theatre professionals and had audiences both howling and weeping at its story of a grieving son and his flamboyant mother and aunt.In Fall of 2024, we brought audiences the captivating, critically-acclaimed musical from Londons West End, AMELIE. This delightful and magical adaptation of the beloved French film about a waitress in a Parisian caf who discovers the extraordinary in the ordinary was led by the artistic team of last seasons hit NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 and featured many actor/musician cast members from that show. It reached large audiences with its hopeful story of the power of kindness as shy Amelie secretly improvises small but surprising acts of kindness that bring joy to those around her.The holidays were celebrated with the 14th year family-favorite MADELINES CHRISTMAS led by director Spring Mason of Atlanta Childrens Theatre. This unique production brought together thirty young actresses (8-12 years old) from across Metro Atlanta with three professional actors in a holiday adventure based on the classic childrens book. The show is a family affair as two casts of young ladies split forty performances over the month of December and parents pitch in backstage, front of house and with PR. This has become Horizons Nutcracker a free theatre training opportunity for talented young girls who audition for the program. The production brought affordable, high quality theatre for families to nearly 5,000 including many sold out shows.January 2025 kicked off with the return for the third time of the hit NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 for another sold-out run. The musical had swept the previous seasons Atlanta professional theatre awards, the Suzi Awards, winning Outstanding Musical and 7 other awards. The theatre was once again transformed into an immersive environment in which a diverse cast of 20 actors/musician swirled through the audience for an exciting and visceral experience. Audience members, particularly those in their 20s and 30s, clamored to sit at the onstage bar and be surrounded by the action. THE GREAT COMET also attracted repeat attendees with fans coming 5 or more times.The extraordinary, award-winning solo play, I CARRY YOUR HEART WITH ME continued our season in March 2025, directed by Horizon Co-Artistic Director, Lisa Adler. This taut, emotional mystery starred veteran Atlanta actress and long-time Horizon artist, Carolyn Cook, who won the Suzi Award for Outstanding Actor for her portrayal of a top-secret Vietnam-era stenographer. The show riveted audiences with its powerful story about military families and returning servicemen and POWS in the Viet Nam war. The play acknowledged and honored the sacrifices of veterans of our wars, reaching military family members of all ages who had direct experience with themselves or loved ones in war. Many audience member attended who had fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, daughters and sons in Viet Nam, Korea, WWII, Iraq and Afghanistan, and they shared their stories every night with the actor and our staff after the show.The season concluded in May/June 2025 with Alexis Scheers LAUGHS IN SPANISH a hilarious, fast-paced comedy-romance, and our first production written, directed, starring and designed by almost exclusively Latino artists. Featuring themes of Latino love, family and aspiration, this comic story of a Latina/Jewish womans complicated relationship with her mother had Latino audiences filling the houses, dancing in seats and singing along to songs in Spanish. They were excited to be represented in a comedy in which audiences saw love, joy and celebration in their community at a time when Latinos are combatting negative stereotypes of their cultureHorizons commitment to the next generation of playwrights continued with our 27th annual NEW SOUTH YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL in June 2025, an intensive, week-long experience for a highly diverse cohort of 24 college students, competitively selected, offered at no charge to these talented young writers. Gathered from around the country, the writers attended seminars, panel discussions, and readings of their works, were mentored by veteran playwrights and screenwriters, and cre
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 October 13, 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 September 1984.
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 October 21, 2026.
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