Nonprofit · EIN 74-1621647
THEATRE UNDER THE STARS INC
Tax-exempt · HOUSTON, TX 77002
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 31, 2025 | 990 | $18,758,014 | $19,696,292 | -$938,278 | $10,940,338 | $9,228,531 | $1,711,807 |
| August 31, 2024 | 990 | $16,859,844 | $18,930,819 | -$2,070,975 | $11,192,506 | $7,408,997 | $3,783,509 |
| August 31, 2023 | 990 | $16,278,498 | $18,859,678 | -$2,581,180 | $14,140,613 | $8,562,988 | $5,577,625 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $6,429,875
- of which government grants
- $200,000
- Program service revenue
- $12,050,788
- Investment income
- $425,700
- Royalties
- $43,332
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $326,721
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$191,681
- Other revenue
- -$148,349
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $86,080
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $675,407
- Other salaries and wages
- $2,497,938
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $3,911,568
- Professional fundraising fees
- $220,596
- Accounting fees
- $83,987
- Occupancy
- $555,231
- Travel
- $9,107
- Depreciation
- $388,413
- Program services (functional)
- $15,064,471
- Management and general (functional)
- $3,036,087
- Fundraising (functional)
- $1,595,734
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $11,192,506
- Total assets, end of year
- $10,940,338
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $9,228,531
- Net assets, end of year
- $1,711,807
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $2,333,748
- Publicly traded securities
- $1,381,364
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- -$3,934,993
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $5,646,800
- Gross receipts
- $24,103,836
- Employees
- 478
- Volunteers
- 75
- Year formed
- 1968
- State of legal domicile
- TX
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 August 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillary J Hart | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $253,000 | $30,147 |
| Dan Knechtges | Artistic Director Officer | 40 | $253,000 | $18,109 |
| Michael Gepner | Director of Marketing Highest-paid employee | 40 | $137,532 | $18,674 |
| Bob Schefferine | Director of Operations Highest-paid employee | 40 | $101,000 | $18,103 |
| Rita Anderson | Financial Controller Officer | 40 | $71,680 | $10,157 |
| Firoz Contractor | Financial Controller Officer | 40 | $22,000 | $818 |
| John Tobola | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Stephen Trauber | President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Franklin Jones | Immediate Past Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Meredith Philipp-Tcholakian | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Alan Ratliff | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Robert Binstock | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Thomas Brandt | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Lewis Cadwallader | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Paul Cannings | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
43 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theresa Chang | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Sig Cornelius | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Stephen Crain | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Elaine Balagia Croucher | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Connie Dalton | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| June Deadrick | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Mark Gibennus | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Reginald Hedgebeth | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| James Hickey | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Heather Hrap | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| LuAnn Katz | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Phil Kochman | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Jay Landa | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Douglas Lionberger | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Herb Listen | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Penny Loyd | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Jim Marshall | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Karen Maston | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Patrice McKinney | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Philip Morabito | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Shelly Mulanax | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Anne Neeson | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Roxann Neumann | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Bret Oliver | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Paul Kilday Paul | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Elaine Pickle | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Amy Pierce | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Katie Pryor | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Revati Rani Puranik | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Rachel Regan | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Robert Scheinerman | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| James Shaffer | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Adrian Shelley | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Yogesh Yogi Sheth | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Quentin Smith | Legal Counsel Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Jeff Smith | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Kristina Somerville | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Joemaine Spears | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Jennifer Stringer | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| David Taylor | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Trent Tellepsen | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Tom Tomlinson | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Margaret Alkek Williams | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended August 31, 2024: 66 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Knechtges | Artistic Director Officer | 40 | $301,338 | $19,913 |
| Hillary J Hart | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $290,641 | $28,548 |
| Michael Gepner | Director of Marketing Highest-paid employee | 40 | $128,236 | $17,787 |
| Melissa Jurik | Director of Development to 1/24 Highest-paid employee | 40 | $118,812 | $16,786 |
| Rita Anderson | Finance Controller Officer | 40 | $88,718 | $12,663 |
| Franklin DR Jones Jr | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Stephen Trauber | President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| John Tobola | Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Patrice McKinney | Vice-President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Meredith Philipp-Tcholakian | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Alan Ratliff | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Phillip Anderson | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Meg Basu | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Robert J Binstock | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Thom Brandt | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Nancy Choate Brownlee | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Jenee Jongbloed Bobbora | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Steve Burkett | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Paul Cannings Jr | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Zane Carson Carruth | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Sigmund L Cornelius | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Elaine Balagia Croucher | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Connie Dalton | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| June Deadrick | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Marcela E Donadio | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Mark Gibbenus | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| James Hickey | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Heather Sirdashney Hrap | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Stephanie Holcombe | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LuAnn Katz | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Philip Kochman | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Jay Landa | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Doug Lionberger | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Herb Listen | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Penny Requa Loyd | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| James Marshall | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Paige May | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Tim McGarity | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Scott McReaken | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Philip A Morabito | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Stephen Morel | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Shelly Mulanax | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Anne Neeson | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Roxann Neumann | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Bret Oliver | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| David Peck | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Robert Perkins | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Elaine Pickle | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Amy Pierce | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Julie Pradel | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Rani Puranik | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Rachel Regan | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Rob Scheinerman | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| James A Shaffer | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Adrian D Shelley | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Jeff Smith | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Quentin Smith | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Kristina H Somerville | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| David F Taylor | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Trent D Tellepsen | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Tom Tomlinson | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| James Tribble | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Donna Vallone | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Bruce Vincent | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Larry Whaley | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Margaret Alkek Williams | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended August 31, 2023: 56 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillary J Hart | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $275,732 | $33,872 |
| Dan Knechtges | Artistic Director Officer | 40 | $275,000 | $21,255 |
| Michael Gepner | Director of Marketing Highest-paid employee | 40 | $133,708 | $22,492 |
| Laura Peete | Director of Education Highest-paid employee | 40 | $105,070 | $7,256 |
| Rita Anderson | Finance Controller Officer | 40 | $90,141 | $9,016 |
| Franklin DR Jones Jr | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Stephen Trauber | President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| John Tobola | Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Patrice McKinney | Vice-President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Meredith Philipp-Tcholakian | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Alan Ratliff | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Phillip Anderson | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Robert J Binstock | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Thom Brandt | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Steve Burkett | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Paul Cannings Jr | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Zane Carson Carruth | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Sigmund L Cornelius | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Connie Dalton | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| June Deadrick | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Marcela E Donadio | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Connie Faro | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Mark Gibbenus | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| James Hickey | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Heather Sirdashney Hrap | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Lu Ann Katz | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Philip Kochman | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Jay Landa | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Doug Lionberger | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Herb Listen | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Penny Requa Loyd | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| James Marshall | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Scott McReaken | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Philip A Morabito | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Shelly Mulanax | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Anne Neeson | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Roxann Neumann | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Bret Oliver | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Elaine Pickle | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Amy Pierce | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Julie Pradel | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Rani Puranik | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Rachel Regan | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Rob Scheinerman | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Brandon Sear | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| James A Shaffer | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Adrian D Shelley | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Jeff Smith | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Quentin Smith | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Kristina H Somerville | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| David F Taylor | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Trent D Tellepsen | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Tom Tomlinson | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Bruce Vincent | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Larry Whaley | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Margaret Alkek Williams | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 800 BAGBY ST STE 200, HOUSTON, TX 77002-2532
- In care of
- % JOEL SZULC
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Hillary J Hart, 800 Bagby St 200, Houston, TX 77002
- Signed the 990
- Firoz Contractor, Financial Controller
- Phone
- (713) 558-2600
- Website
- www.tuts.com
- Return prepared by
- Blazek & Vetterling
Mission
TUTS is dedicated to enriching life through the experience of quality musical theatre, the development of future artists, and the creation of new works. Through innovative education and community outreach initiatives, TUTS positively impacts lives beyond the stage.
Program accomplishments
- The 2024 - 2025 Theatre Under The Stars Season brought more than 145,500 guests to the Hobby Center, with 145,509 tickets sold across 125 performances, reaffirming TUTS' role as Houston's home for musical theatre. The season featured an exciting mix of Broadway hits and acclaimed new productions, opening with the Tony Award-winning Dear Evan Hansen, followed by Little Shop of Horrors. The holidays were anchored by Disney's Frozen, alongside the return of the fan-favorite The Ugly Xmas Sweater Musical. The spring continued with Mean Girls, a new co-production of Waitress in partnership with Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre, and concluded with the exuberant, community-centered In the Heights.Expenses $14,093,087 · revenue $11,181,671
- Education and community outreach initiatives: Humphreys School of Musical Theatre is committed to providing the Houston area with the best theatrical training and performing arts education. It is the goal of HSMT to give all students who walk through its doors a greater understanding of musical theatre and of themselves equipping young people with the tools they need to be successful in whatever they choose to do in life. Founded in 1996, The River provides affordable, accessible arts education to individuals with disabilities and their siblings. After merging with TUTS in 2010, The River's classes and opportunities expanded to include programming for young adults. This inclusive performance troupe has performed at many notable events across the city.Expenses $971,384 · grants $86,080 · revenue $869,117
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 August, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | August 31, 2026 | January 15, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | August 31, 2025 | January 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | August 31, 2024 | January 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 74-1621647
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1969
- Accounting year ends
- August
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A650)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $10,940,338
- Income (IRS master file)
- $24,103,836
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | August 2025 | $18,758,014 | $19,696,292 | $10,940,338 | XML |
| 990 | August 2024 | $16,859,844 | $18,930,819 | $11,192,506 | XML |
| 990 | August 2023 | $16,278,498 | $18,859,678 | $14,140,613 | XML |
| 990 | August 2022 | $20,296,758 | $15,539,896 | $16,249,287 | IRS |
| 990 | August 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | August 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | August 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | August 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 74-1621647).
Questions about THEATRE UNDER THE STARS INC
- What is the EIN of THEATRE UNDER THE STARS INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THEATRE UNDER THE STARS INC is 74-1621647.
- Is THEATRE UNDER THE STARS INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1969.
- Are donations to THEATRE UNDER THE STARS INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THEATRE UNDER THE STARS INC 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 UNDER THE STARS INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending August 31, 2026) is due January 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did THEATRE UNDER THE STARS INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended August 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of THEATRE UNDER THE STARS INC?
- The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 names Hillary J Hart.
- Who are the officers and directors of THEATRE UNDER THE STARS INC?
- The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 lists 58 people; 6 received compensation from the organization, the highest $253,000 (Hillary J Hart, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does THEATRE UNDER THE STARS INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $18,758,014, expenses of $19,696,292 and total assets of $10,940,338 at year end.
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