Nonprofit · EIN 52-1812095
THEATRE LAB
Tax-exempt · WASHINGTON, DC 20001
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $2,346,492 | $2,043,070 | $303,422 | $2,487,734 | $1,033,341 | $1,454,393 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $1,850,227 | $1,884,391 | -$34,164 | $2,346,035 | $1,195,064 | $1,150,971 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $1,719,858 | $1,759,964 | -$40,106 | $2,543,539 | $1,358,404 | $1,185,135 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $1,254,875
- of which government grants
- $176,195
- Membership dues
- $2,590
- Program service revenue
- $920,187
- Investment income
- $99,363
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$190,298
- Other revenue
- $72,067
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $315,601
- Other salaries and wages
- $744,110
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,277,484
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $10,297
- Occupancy
- $258,895
- Depreciation
- $3,541
- Program services (functional)
- $1,769,231
- Management and general (functional)
- $200,119
- Fundraising (functional)
- $73,720
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $2,346,035
- Total assets, end of year
- $2,487,734
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,033,341
- Net assets, end of year
- $1,454,393
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $16,898
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $941,619
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $512,774
- Gross receipts
- $2,564,231
- Employees
- 88
- Volunteers
- 55
- Year formed
- 1993
- State of legal domicile
- DC
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEBORAH GOTTESMAN | CO EXEC DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 40 | $162,601 | $18,697 |
| FRANCIS BUZZ MAURO | CO EXEC DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 40 | $153,000 | $19,134 |
| Laura Einstein | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Adrianne Marsh | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DENISE HANNA | vice chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Alexis Ronickher | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Dr Roberto Ifill | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Rae Vann | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ibby jeppson | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ELLEN PERRY | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| nia graham | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Mary Mitchelson | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Lisa Brown | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JULIE LLOYD | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Elizabeth Davenport | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
7 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LIZ WHISNANT | secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Luna Samman | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| tracy gray | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Matt Bassett | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Megan Robbins | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Will Tiao | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TERRESITA EDWARDS | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 22 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEBORAH GOTTESMAN | CO EXEC DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 40 | $148,943 | $24,387 |
| FRANCIS BUZZ MAURO | CO EXEC DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 40 | $139,098 | $25,817 |
| Laura Einstein | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Adrianne Marsh | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DENISE HANNA | vice chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Alexis Ronickher | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Dr Roberto Ifill | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Rae Vann | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ibby jeppson | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ELLEN PERRY | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| nia graham | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Mary Mitchelson | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SHERRY DUNCAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JULIE LLOYD | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Elizabeth Davenport | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LIZ WHISNANT | secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Luna Samman | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| tracy gray | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Matt Bassett | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Megan Robbins | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE DEYOUNG | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TERRESITA EDWARDS | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 18 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEBORAH GOTTESMAN | CO EXEC DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 40 | $145,612 | $20,069 |
| FRANCIS BUZZ MAURO | CO EXEC DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 40 | $131,319 | $22,841 |
| Laura Einstein | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BETSY HAGUE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DENISE HANNA | vice chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KRISTINA DUNPHY | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARY GOLDSMITH | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Rae Vann | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ibby jeppson | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ELLEN PERRY | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| nia graham | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HARRY KNIGHT | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SHERRY DUNCAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JULIE LLOYD | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| AMANA SIMMONS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LIZ WHISNANT | secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Luna Samman | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| tracy gray | trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 900 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001-4308
- In care of
- % THE ORGANIZATION
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Mary Mitchelson, 900 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC 200014308
- Signed the 990
- Mary Mitchelson, TREASURER
- Phone
- (202) 824-0449
- Website
- WWW.THEATRELAB.ORG
- Return prepared by
- SE McMASTER & ASSOCIATES PLLC
Mission
THE THEATRE LAB PROVIDES CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS TO ADULTS AND YOUTH IN THE AREAS OF ACTING FOR THE STAGE AND SCREEN, DIRECTING, PLAYWRITING, MUSICAL THEATRE, AND DRAMA CRITICISM. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CONDUCTS EXTENSIVE OUTREACH PROGRAMMATIC AND EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE REAL LIFE BENEFITS OF THEATRE EDUCATION TO MEMBERS OF TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS: SPECIFICALLY FINANCIALLY DISADVANTAGED YOUTH AND ADULTS, INCARCERATED AND SEVERELY AT-RISK YOUTH, SENIORS, AND HOMELESS WOMEN
Program accomplishments
- The Theatre Lab offers theatre training to children, adults and seniors across the Washington, DC area. Since inception, The Theatre Lab has taught thousands of students at all levels of experience. The Theatre Lab's faculty has grown to include more than 50 of the area's most accomplished professional theatre artists. Major segments of The Theatre Lab's programs are as follows: "Life Stories" outreach - free drama outreach programs for seniors, incarcerated and at-risk youth, veterans and military families, people in addiction recovery, low-income DCPS students, homeless women and children, and other historically underrepresented populations. "Life Stories" participants receive the acting and storytelling training necessary to create original dramatic works for the stage and screen from their life experiences. In an atmosphere of collaboration and creativity, participants develop advanced communication, problem solving, and teamwork skills that translate into success at home, at work, and in the larger community. Most important, they build confidence in themselves as people who have a story worth telling and a voice that deserves to be heard. Youth programs - The Theatre Lab offers popular summer acting camps and musical theatre institutes for kids and teens. The kids' camp is a unique two-week actor training program for children in 1st-6th grade taught by some of Washington's top theatre professionals, and is designed to immerse young artists in the creative process- from learning the basic techniques of realistic acting to developing mime and improvisational skills. The Theatre Lab also offers four-week programs in musical theatre and Shakespeare, culminating in full productions, for children in 7th and 8th grades. The teens' acting institute is a four-week intensive training program for young adults aged 13-19. The program is designed to help teens build fundamental acting skills through classwork and participation in a public performance. The curriculum includes audition seminars, improvisational workshops, voice and movement training, and scene study, as well as special programs designed to give interested students insight into the working of the professional theatre community. The musical theatre institute for teens is a program for 13-19 year-olds, which culminates in a full production of a full-length musical. The program is an intensive four-week training program in which participants rehearse and perform a full musical production. The musical theatre institute is offered twice each summer. The institute provides young artists with intensive voice, movement, and acting training as they explore challenging, socially relevant material from the contemporary musical theatre world. In 2025, The Theatre Lab introduced the Advanced Musical Theatre Intensive, a program for older high school, college-age, and early career students (ages 16-26) in which they spend one week rehearsing and performing a staged reading of a complex musical. The Theatre Lab also offers a series of afterschool and weekend scene study and TV/film classes for kids and teens year-round. Adult classes - The Theatre Lab offers approximately 80 6-week courses/year for adults in the general population in acting, musical theatre, directing, film and tv acting, playwriting and more. Since 2020, The Theatre Lab has also offered adult 6-week synchronous classes online, approximately 8/year. Honors program - in 2006, The Theatre Lab launched a year-long intensive training program for students interested in a professional acting career. The Honors Conservatory serves 10 students each year. The Theatre Lab is a key partner in the Arts Institute for Creative Advancement, a collective impact initiative of the DC Arts Education Alliance, in which young adults receive training and apprenticeships in technical theatre. In 2025, The Theatre Lab served an enrollment of 1,715 students in its adult curriculum, 860 students in its youth programs, and 10 students in its honors program. The Theatre Lab's Life Stories outreach program reached 844 youth and adults. Most of The Theatre Lab's youth classes are available at free or reduced price for financially disadvantaged participants. In 2014, The Theatre Lab inaugurated the Life Stories Institute, a four-day intensive workshop designed to give theatre artists, educators, and service providers from across the country training in the Life Stories curriculum. The Institute served 21 students in 2025.Expenses $1,769,231 · revenue $920,187
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 52-1812095
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1994
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A250)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $2,487,734
- Income (IRS master file)
- $2,564,231
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $2,346,492 | $2,043,070 | $2,487,734 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $1,850,227 | $1,884,391 | $2,346,035 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $1,719,858 | $1,759,964 | $2,543,539 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $1,748,195 | $1,560,830 | $2,700,837 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 52-1812095).
Questions about THEATRE LAB
- What is the EIN of THEATRE LAB?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THEATRE LAB is 52-1812095.
- Is THEATRE LAB tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1994.
- Are donations to THEATRE LAB tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THEATRE LAB file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of THEATRE LAB due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did THEATRE LAB last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of THEATRE LAB?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Mary Mitchelson.
- Who are the officers and directors of THEATRE LAB?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 22 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $162,601 (DEBORAH GOTTESMAN, CO EXEC DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does THEATRE LAB have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $2,346,492, expenses of $2,043,070 and total assets of $2,487,734 at year end.
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