2025-10-14T19:35:39-04:00 2024-06-30 475677171 WALTERS & SKLYAR LLP 21031 VENTURA BLVD STE 401 WOODLAND HILLS CA 91364 990 2023-07-01 812917440 WACO THEATER CENTER WACO 8184001151 5144 LANKERSHIM BLVD NORTH HOLLYWOOD CA 91601 SHAY WAFER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 8184001151 2025-10-15 true true YEFIM SKLYAR CPA P00362128 8189752040 2025-10-14 2023 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE RELIEF BEGAN ON JAN72025 SHAY WAFER 5144 LANKERSHIM BLVD NORTH HOLLYWOOD CA 91601 1338003 false X HTTPS://WACOTHEATERCENTER.COM/ X 2016 CA WACO THEATER CENTER IS A PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT PRESENTS, COMMISSIONS AND DEVELOPS ARTISTIC WORKS DEDICATED TO STORIES OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA. WACO PROVIDES ARTISTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE A PLATFORM AND VOICE TO SHOWCASE THEIR CREATIVITY, IN ORDER TO CONNECT AND INSPIRE OTHERS. 7 5 30 75 0 585535 1310612 48906 42 5400 8038 1227039 19311 1866880 1338003 0 0 1136330 787028 0 146714 2565779 1194228 3702109 1981256 -1835229 -643253 3968946 3396255 289848 304992 3679098 3091263 X WACO (WHERE ART CAN OCCUR) THEATER CENTER IS A PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT PRESENTS, COMMISSIONS AND DEVELOPS ARTISTIC WORKS DEDICATED TO STORIES OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA. CO-FOUNDED BY RICHARD LAWSON AND TINA KNOWLES, WACO PROVIDES ARTISTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE A PLATFORM TO VOICE AND SHOWCASE THEIR CREATIVITY TO CONNECT AND INSPIRE OTHERS. WACO'S ARTISTIC AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE DRIVEN BY FOUR VALUES. WE CREATE WORK THAT UNAPOLOGETICALLY: CENTERS BLACK ART AND CULTURE FROM A DIASPORIC LENS AND VOICE; INCUBATES AND LAUNCHES NEW CREATIVE IDEAS TO MEMORIALIZE THE PAST AND ENVISION THE FUTURE OF BLACK LIFE; IS COLLABORATIVE AND LEADS WITH AN UBUNTU MINDSET, "I AM, BECAUSE WE ARE- AND SERVES THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND CIVIC PRIORITIES OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND BLACK LOS ANGELES. NOW IN OUR EIGHTH SEASON, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO ELEVATE AN EMPHASIS ON THE HISTORY OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA AND CULTURE IN OUR PROGRAMMING. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE POWER false false 582383 OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM, THE ANGELS AND WARRIORS MENTORSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES WRAP-AROUND SERVICES TO FACILITATE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH FOR YOUNG PEOPLE FROM 8TH GRADE THROUGH COLLEGE. WE EMPOWER PARTICIPANTS TO IDENTIFY THEIR DREAMS, AND THROUGH MENTORSHIP, GAIN THE CLARITY,DISCIPLINE, AND SKILL TO ACHIEVE THOSE DREAMS. THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM INCLUDES OFF SITE FIELD TRIPS AND WORKSHOPS WITH GUEST ARTISTS TO FOSTER SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND AWARENESS OF THE ARTS AND FUTURE CAREERS. 782987 WACO'S FY24 PROGRAMS INCLUDED THE PRODUCTION OF STILL HERE INCLUDING A WRITTEN PUBLICATION AND LIVE EVENT EXPERIENCE FEATURING STORIES AND RESOURCES THAT CENTER BLACK WOMEN LIVING WITH AND IMPACTED BY HIV. THE MAGAZINE WILL PRINT AND DISTRIBUTE 20,000 COPIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND PRESENT LIVE EXPERIENCES INSIDE BEAUTY SALONS OF LOS ANGELES, HOUSTON AND BATON ROUGE DURING THE 2025/26 PROGRAM YEAR. STILL HERE IS A CREATIVE INTERVENTION TO REDUCE STIGMA AND EDUCATE BLACK WOMEN ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND THE GROWING RATE OF HIV DIAGNOSES IN THE COMMUNITY. THE EXPERIENCE IS POWERED BY THE VOICES OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ACTIVISTS, ADVOCATES. 32 BLACK WOMEN WRITERS WERE COMMISSIONED TO WRITE STORIES FROM VARIOUS POINTS OF VIEWS AND A TEAM OF 20 CREATIVES WERE HIRED TO COLLABORATE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIVE EXPERIENCE WHICH WILL BE PERFORMED IN LOS ANGELES, BATON ROUGE AND HOUSTON. AS A SECOND PRESENTATION OF THE WITNESS EXHIBITION AT WACO, WE COLLABORATED WITH CURATOR GENET AMBROSE OF GOOD MIRRORS INSTITUTE AND TEDWOMEN. THE EXHIBITION SAW 2500 VISITORS AND RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM PIVOTAL VENTURES, AND FEATURED NEW ARTISTS FROM LOCAL HBCU ART PROGRAMS AT SPELMAN COLLEGE AND CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY. OUR INAUGURAL TWO-WEEKEND FESTIVAL OF BLACK ART AND IDEAS, FEATURING THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORK OF FIVE LA-BASED ARTISTS. 500+ AUDIENCE MEMBERS JOINED US TO EXPERIENCE WORK FROM A DYNAMIC GROUP OF ARTIST-CITIZENS INCLUDING: JAMAAL TOLBERT, NICKOLAS VAUGHAN, SEMAJ MILLER, TASHARA GAVIN- MOORHEAD AND YAZMIN MONET WATKINS. LED BY AWARD-WINNING PLAYWRIGHTS ALESHEA HARRISS AND DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU, THE BLACK PLAYWRIGHTS GATHERING CURATED A CONVENING FOR AND BY BLACK PLAYWRIGHTS. 110 WRITERS GATHERED IN LOS ANGELES ON JUNETEENTH TO CONNECT AND BUILD COMMUNITY. THE EVENT WAS PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ARTEQUITY. WACO OFF-STAGE HUMANITY EVENT PRESENTED ON THE SHOULDERS OF LORRAINE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SUPPORT BLACK THEATER, THE DRAMA GUILD FOUNDATION AND THE LORRAINE HANSBERRY INITIATIVE. THE EVENT FEATURED A PANEL OF ARTISTS AND ACTIVISTS WITH AUDIENCE MEMBERS REFLECTING ON THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF PLAYWRIGHT LORRAINE HANSBERRY. 1365370 true true false false false false false false false false true false false true true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true false true false false false false false false false false false true 115 0 true 30 true false false false false false false false false X 7 5 true false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false CA X SHAY WAFER 8184001151 5144 LANKERSHIM BLVD NORTH HOLLYWOOD CA 91601 RICHARD LAWSON PRESIDENT 40.00 X X 125000 0 0 TINA KNOWLES-LAWSON VICE-PRESIDE 40.00 X X 125000 0 0 ANGELIKI GIANNAKOPOLOUS SECRETARY 1.00 X X 0 0 0 MELBA LFARQUHAR TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 GLYNN TURMAN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 RALPH FARQUHAR BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN WISEMAN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 250000 2 false false false 281650 1028962 1310612 PROGRAM SERVICE REVENUE 711110 42 42 42 8038 8038 OTHER INCOME 19311 19311 19311 1338003 42 27349 250000 200000 37500 12500 467713 374171 70157 23385 69315 55452 10397 3466 118572 81242 23029 14301 63107 63107 178710 178710 4633 4633 6644 6208 327 109 249326 199461 37399 12466 16705 10930 2050 3725 135624 118835 12592 4197 41627 14096 26650 881 TALENT & PRODUCTION 120221 120221 PRODUCTION COST 117745 117745 LOSS ON CANCELLED EVENT 64820 64820 SUBSCRIPTIONS 34585 26913 4066 3606 41909 35463 3188 3258 1981256 1365370 469172 146714 36010 400706 148665 156703 3013932 2150077 77410 22265 839324 432738 620757 406586 72172 259918 3968946 3396255 165619 112016 124229 192976 289848 304992 X 665307 731749 3013791 2359514 3679098 3091263 3968946 3396255 -643253 55418 X false false false X 2336515 3007290 4342126 585535 1310612 11582078 2336515 3007290 4342126 585535 1310612 11582078 4657504 6924574 48348 49 5400 8038 61835 9460 13465 19311 42236 11686149 4403705 0.59250 0.63050 X PART II, LINE 10 OTHER INCOME 22,925 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 191539 88476 103063 647785 344262 303523 406586 RIGHT OF USE-LEASE ASSET 189067 SECURITY DEPOSIT 70851 259918 LEASE LIABILITY 192976 192976 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 4, PART XIII THE ORGANIZATION IS EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL AND STATE INCOME TAXES UNDER INTERNAL REVENUE CORE (IRC) SECTION 501 (C)(3) AND THE CORRESPONDING PROVISIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA REVENUE AND TAXATION CODE, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT OF UNRELATED BUSINESS TAXABLE INCOME (UBTI) AS DEFINED BY THE IRC. THE ORGANIZATION EVALUATES UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THROUGH ITS REVIEW OF THE SOURCES OF INCOME TO IDENTIFY UBTI AND CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS, INCLUDING THOSE WHICH MAY AFFECT ITS TAX EXEMPT STATUS. THE EFFECT OF THE UNCERTAINITY WOULD BE RECORDED IF THE OUTCOME WAS CONSIDERED PROBABLE AND REASONABLY ESTIMABLE. AS OF JUNE 30, 2024, THE ORGANIZATION HAD NO CERTAIN TAX POSITIONS REQUIRING ACCRUAL. RICHARD LAWSON STUDIOS OFFICER-OWNED 53244 A&W YOUNG ARTIST/PDP false FORM 990 - ORGANIZATION'S MISSION WACO (WHERE ART CAN OCCUR) THEATER CENTER IS A PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT PRESENTS, COMMISSIONS AND DEVELOPS ARTISTIC WORKS DEDICATED TO STORIES OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA. CO-FOUNDED BY RICHARD LAWSON AND TINA KNOWLES, WACO PROVIDES ARTISTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE A PLATFORM TO VOICE AND SHOWCASE THEIR CREATIVITY TO CONNECT AND INSPIRE OTHERS. WACO'S ARTISTIC AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE DRIVEN BY FOUR VALUES. WE CREATE WORK THAT UNAPOLOGETICALLY: CENTERS BLACK ART AND CULTURE FROM A DIASPORIC LENS AND VOICE; INCUBATES AND LAUNCHES NEW CREATIVE IDEAS TO MEMORIALIZE THE PAST AND ENVISION THE FUTURE OF BLACK LIFE; IS COLLABORATIVE AND LEADS WITH AN UBUNTU MINDSET, "I AM, BECAUSE WE ARE- AND SERVES THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND CIVIC PRIORITIES OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND BLACK LOS ANGELES. NOW IN OUR EIGHTH SEASON, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO ELEVATE AN EMPHASIS ON THE HISTORY OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA AND CULTURE IN OUR PROGRAMMING. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE POWER THAT ART AND MENTORSHIP MUST BE TRANSFORMATIVE. WE FULFILL OUR MISSION THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM AREAS: PERFORMING ARTS, PRESENTING LIVE AND VIRTUAL DANCE, THEATER, MUSIC, FILM, AND INTERDISCIPLINARY EVENTS BY EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS; VISUAL ARTS, SHOWCASING THE WORK OF VISUAL ARTISTS IN OUR GALLERY ACROSS VARIOUS ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING PAINTING, DRAWING, SCULPTURE AND MORE; MENTORSHIP, BUILDING DREAMS OF THE NEXT GENERATION THROUGH MENTORSHIP, TO FACILITATE GROWTH OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM 8TH GRADE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND BEYOND; EDUCATION, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR AUDIENCES TO MOVE THE CULTURE FORWARD THROUGH PUBLIC DIALOGUE AND HANDS ON EXPERIENCES-LINKING COMMUNITIES, ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES TOGETHER. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4B WACO'S FY24 PROGRAMS INCLUDED THE PRODUCTION OF STILL HERE INCLUDING A WRITTEN PUBLICATION AND LIVE EVENT EXPERIENCE FEATURING STORIES AND RESOURCES THAT CENTER BLACK WOMEN LIVING WITH AND IMPACTED BY HIV. THE MAGAZINE WILL PRINT AND DISTRIBUTE 20,000 COPIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND PRESENT LIVE EXPERIENCES INSIDE BEAUTY SALONS OF LOS ANGELES, HOUSTON AND BATON ROUGE DURING THE 2025/26 PROGRAM YEAR. STILL HERE IS A CREATIVE INTERVENTION TO REDUCE STIGMA AND EDUCATE BLACK WOMEN ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND THE GROWING RATE OF HIV DIAGNOSES IN THE COMMUNITY. THE EXPERIENCE IS POWERED BY THE VOICES OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ACTIVISTS, ADVOCATES. 32 BLACK WOMEN WRITERS WERE COMMISSIONED TO WRITE STORIES FROM VARIOUS POINTS OF VIEWS AND A TEAM OF 20 CREATIVES WERE HIRED TO COLLABORATE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIVE EXPERIENCE WHICH WILL BE PERFORMED IN LOS ANGELES, BATON ROUGE AND HOUSTON. AS A SECOND PRESENTATION OF THE WITNESS EXHIBITION AT WACO, WE COLLABORATED WITH CURATOR GENET AMBROSE OF GOOD MIRRORS INSTITUTE AND TEDWOMEN. THE EXHIBITION SAW 2500 VISITORS AND RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM PIVOTAL VENTURES, AND FEATURED NEW ARTISTS FROM LOCAL HBCU ART PROGRAMS AT SPELMAN COLLEGE AND CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY. OUR INAUGURAL TWO-WEEKEND FESTIVAL OF BLACK ART AND IDEAS, FEATURING THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORK OF FIVE LA-BASED ARTISTS. 500+ AUDIENCE MEMBERS JOINED US TO EXPERIENCE WORK FROM A DYNAMIC GROUP OF ARTIST-CITIZENS INCLUDING: JAMAAL TOLBERT, NICKOLAS VAUGHAN, SEMAJ MILLER, TASHARA GAVIN- MOORHEAD AND YAZMIN MONET WATKINS. LED BY AWARD-WINNING PLAYWRIGHTS ALESHEA HARRISS AND DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU, THE BLACK PLAYWRIGHTS GATHERING CURATED A CONVENING FOR AND BY BLACK PLAYWRIGHTS. 110 WRITERS GATHERED IN LOS ANGELES ON JUNETEENTH TO CONNECT AND BUILD COMMUNITY. THE EVENT WAS PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ARTEQUITY. WACO OFF-STAGE HUMANITY EVENT PRESENTED ON THE SHOULDERS OF LORRAINE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SUPPORT BLACK THEATER, THE DRAMA GUILD FOUNDATION AND THE LORRAINE HANSBERRY INITIATIVE. THE EVENT FEATURED A PANEL OF ARTISTS AND ACTIVISTS WITH AUDIENCE MEMBERS REFLECTING ON THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF PLAYWRIGHT LORRAINE HANSBERRY. FORM 990, PART VI THE BOARD MEMBERS SIGN A WRITTEN CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND DISCLOSURE STATEMENT AND POLICY EACH YEAR IN WRITING. THE EMPLOYEES ARE NOTIFIED BY AGREEING TO THE ANNUAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY IN THE EMPLOYER HANDBOOK EACH YEAR. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 2 RICHARD LAWSON TINA KNOWLES LAWSON PRESIDENT TREASURER HUSBAND AND WIFE MELBA L.FARQUHAR RALPH FARQUHAR BOARD MEMBER BOARD MEMBER HUSBAND AND WIFE FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B THE 990 WAS PRESENTED IN ITS DRAFT FORM TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C THE ORGANIZATION CONSISTENTLY MONITORS COMPLIANCE WITH CONFLICT OF INTERESTS' POLICY. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A INDEPENDENT BOARD MEMBERS CLOSELY REVIEWS AVAILABLE MARKET DATA TO DETERMINE AND APPROVE COMPENSATION OF THE OFFICERS. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15B THE ARTISTIC DIRECTORS AND ED HAVE BEEN PAID EMPLOYEES FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RAISE SINCE THEIR HIRE. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION'S GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FOR PUBLIC REVIEW. THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX RETURN FILINGS ARE AVAILABLE FOR VIEW AT WWW.GUIDESTAR.ORG AND UPON REQUEST FROM THE ORGANIZATION.