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Nonprofit · EIN 75-1626595

HIP POCKET THEATRE

Tax-exempt · FORT WORTH, TX 76136

Financials

$420K$429K2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of HIP POCKET THEATRE by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$420,231$429,182-$8,951$311,220$59,442$251,778
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$362,820
of which government grants
$14,000
Program service revenue
$47,950
Investment income
$0
Net income from fundraising events
$9,461
Other revenue
$9,461

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$45,950
Other salaries and wages
$81,718
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$145,768
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Accounting fees
$20,242
Occupancy
$22,982
Travel
$18,688
Depreciation
$4,059
Program services (functional)
$296,984
Management and general (functional)
$64,222
Fundraising (functional)
$67,976

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$262,967
Total assets, end of year
$311,220
Total liabilities, end of year
$59,442
Net assets, end of year
$251,778
Land, buildings and equipment
$23,325
Net assets without donor restrictions
$250,159
Net assets with donor restrictions
$1,619
Gross receipts
$422,230
Employees
5
Volunteers
181
Year formed
1976
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 December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
John T SimonsArtistic Director
Officer
25$45,950$7,317
Nikki DeShea SmithDirector
Trustee or director
5$13,068$0
Quentin McGownDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Holly EllmanPresident
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Lauren Ivy ChiongDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Paul HamiltonDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Thad IsbellDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
John KeyDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Marian EastmanDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
John LeachDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Barbara MeeceDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Leslie ZvittDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Jesse BorriesSecretary
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Aaron ButlerDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
Yvonne Duque-GuerreroDirector
Trustee or director
1$0$0
3 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Brian PierceDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Tracy BushVice President
Officer
1$0
Jequari MooreTreasurer
Officer
1$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
PO BOX 136758, FORT WORTH, TX 76136-0758
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
Holly Ellman, PO Box 136758, Fort Worth, TX 76136
Signed the 990
Holly Ellman, President
Phone
(817) 246-9775
Return prepared by
618 Consulting PLLC

Mission

Hip Pocket Theatre is an experimental theater ensemble rooted deep in the heart of Texas, committed to widening the vision and scope of theater, relying on the imagery of fantasy and fable, original adaptation, and scripts that mainly draw their inspiration from legends and history of Fort Worth and the Southwest. The performance focus is interdisciplinary, combining traditional theatrical elements with original score, drama, mime, dance, puppetry, as well as environmental and visual installations.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • Season 49 opened not in the actual theater, but in the BackYard concessions area with a rough and tumble performance of Sam Shepard's The Mad Dog Blues, directed by Christina Cranshaw with original music written and performed nightly by Chris Curtis. Following, was a rousing rendition of Federico Garcia Lorca's play, The Billy Club Puppets, directed by Yvonne Duque-Guerrero with original acoustic music composed and performed by Darrin Kobetich. "The brilliance of The Billy Club Puppets lies in the way it buries so much bruising misery under verbal high jinks and physical comedy. Hip Pocket's production creates just the right balance between the silly and the darkly thought-provoking." - Manuel Mendoza, The Dallas Morning News. After this, Old Mother West Wind "came down from the purple hills to the green meadows" to share her homespun wisdom. Adapted from the Thornton Burgess short story by Johnny Simons, Lake Simons took over the directing duties this time around. Original music was written by Douglas Balentine in 1979, when this play was originally offered at the original Hwy. 80 location. For this performance, Douglas' music was transcribed and re-created by Joe Rogers and John Dyers, who shared music directorship as well as performing duties each night. Emily Scott Banks returned again in 2025 to adapt and direct George Bernard Shaw's Heartbreak House. "Director Emily Scott Banks uses the high-energy cast to great effect: conversations are full of bluster, posing, quips, digs, an declarations. But too, Banks takes care to show us the layers of the play...."- Jan Farrington, Onstage NTX. In place of the fifth and final show, Hip Pocket hosted internationally-acclaimed Bread and Puppet traveling theater for a one night only performance to great success. Although fewer performances were offered in 2025, HPT launched additional programming geared to local artists: Moonlit Readings and the Cowtown Puppet Slam, both of which offered up-and-coming artists an opportunity to present their work to the community and at the same time, allow the community to experience a new generation of local artistry, bringing new and varied audience members to Hip Pocket.
    Expenses $262,279 · revenue $47,950
  • In the outreach department of the theater, Hip Pocket established The Diane Simons Mentorship Program in honor of co-founder Diane Simons who passed early in the 49th season. This program introduced 77 youths to the arts by way of a ticket give-away to high school and college age youth. This program allowed five technicians a golden opportunity to be mentored by professional theater technicians and to network with dozens of others in the area of stagecraft. Another branch of the outreach in 2025 was the continuation of the annual Twilight Soiree Puppet Pageant, having completed its third year in 2025. The program includes two weeks of free puppet-building workshops led by New York-based puppeteers Erin Orr and Chris Green, culminating in three days of performances. Nearly 50 community members participated this year; 18 attended workshops and performed. Thirty-one performers, including nine children, took part, ranging in age from 3 to 73. Each free show drew 45-55 attendees, nearing capacity. To expand audiences, this year's event will feature staggered performances. A distinctive and vital component of Hip Pocket's legacy is our ongoing collaboration with hundreds of local musicians each year. These artists provide pre- and post-show entertainment at no additional cost to our patrons, enriching the audience experience while supporting regional talent. We are proud to remain one of the most affordable theater options in the DFW metroplex, despite our growing funding needs. Tarrant County College and HPT joined forces once again to offer ASL students the opportunity to interpret performances again in the 49th season with the goal of increasing visits from patrons who otherwise would avoid attending theater due to accessibility barriers. A new partnership with the White Settlement Chamber of Commerce expanded in 2025 to host the WSCC biannually with the goal of highlighting local businesses, encouraging more community involvement, and increasing visibility to the theater.
    Expenses $34,705 · revenue $36,631

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 yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
75-1626595
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
1979
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$311,220
Income (IRS master file)
$422,230

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025–––IRS
990December 2024–––IRS
990December 2023$288,491$305,790$259,777IRS
990December 2022$326,615$231,592$291,272IRS
990December 2021$261,052$212,041$186,572IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990December 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS publishes only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years appear here as 990.tax collects the monthly files. 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.

Questions about HIP POCKET THEATRE

What is the EIN of HIP POCKET THEATRE?
The employer identification number (EIN) of HIP POCKET THEATRE is 75-1626595.
Is HIP POCKET THEATRE tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1979.
Are donations to HIP POCKET THEATRE tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does HIP POCKET THEATRE 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 HIP POCKET THEATRE 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 HIP POCKET THEATRE 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 HIP POCKET THEATRE?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Holly Ellman.
Who are the officers and directors of HIP POCKET THEATRE?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 18 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $45,950 (John T Simons, Artistic Director).
How much revenue does HIP POCKET THEATRE have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $420,231, expenses of $429,182 and total assets of $311,220 at year end.

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