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← LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE COMPANY

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE COMPANY.

Totals

Total revenue
$3,397,699
Total expenses
$4,766,243
Contributions and grants received
$2,068,816
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$1,189,948
Investment income
$22,777
Other revenue
$116,158
Total assets, end of year
$5,984,593
Total liabilities, end of year
$921,438
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$5,063,155
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$2,388,464
Management and general expenses
$2,284,579
Fundraising expenses
$93,200
Program service expenses (Part III)
$2,388,464

Program services were 50.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $503,678

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $540,520

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,024,618

  • 2a · Program service revenue: SINGLE TICKETS

    total $728,440 · related or exempt $728,440

  • 2b · Program service revenue: SCENE SHOP

    total $317,055 · related or exempt $317,055

  • 2c · Program service revenue: SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $76,422 · related or exempt $76,422

  • 2d · Program service revenue: EDUCATION & OUTREACH

    total $68,031 · related or exempt $68,031

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $22,777 · excluded $22,777

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $1,155 · excluded $1,155

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $43,865

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $503,678

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $90,917

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$47,052 · excluded -$47,052

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $87,686

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $87,686 · excluded $87,686

  • 11a · Other revenue: CREDIT CARD CHARGES

    total $74,369 · excluded $74,369

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $74,369

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $97,647 · program services $97,647

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,179,096 · program services $1,209,161 · management and general $883,323 · fundraising $86,612

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $12,028 · program services $10,587 · management and general $1,383 · fundraising $58

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $215,821 · program services $51,720 · management and general $161,613 · fundraising $2,488

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $267,440 · program services $174,966 · management and general $82,181 · fundraising $10,293

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $3,357 · management and general $3,357

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $164,740 · management and general $164,740

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $510,842 · program services $192,147 · management and general $275,469 · fundraising $43,226

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $50,209 · program services $49,809 · management and general $400

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $112,548 · program services $31,072 · management and general $78,003 · fundraising $3,473

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $48,249 · program services $16,337 · management and general $23,084 · fundraising $8,828

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $26,951 · program services $26,951

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $394,937 · program services $179,631 · management and general $215,306

  • 17 · Travel

    total $50,333 · program services $46,556 · management and general $3,531 · fundraising $246

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $138,181 · management and general $132,106 · fundraising $6,075

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $86,328 · management and general $86,328

  • 24a · Other expenses: PRODUCTION MATERIALS

    total $258,868 · program services $254,958 · management and general $668 · fundraising $3,242

  • 24b · Other expenses: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $146,453 · program services $46,578 · management and general $82,670 · fundraising $17,205

  • 24c · Other expenses: CREDIT CARD FEES

    total $93,132 · program services $344 · management and general $90,417 · fundraising $2,371

  • 24d · Other expenses: SPECIAL EVENTS: DIRECT

    total -$90,917 · fundraising -$90,917

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,000,007 · end of year $73,432

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $940,502 · end of year $611,680

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $3,879,021 · end of year $2,169,166

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $82,908 · end of year $44,411

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $2,128 · end of year $2,128

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $60,487 · end of year $9,840

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $9,276,425

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $6,724,262

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $788,028 · end of year $2,552,163

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    beginning of year $580,110 · end of year $498,746

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $23,027 · end of year $23,027

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $369,579 · end of year $225,111

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $13,967 · end of year $47,581

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $150,000

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $580,110 · end of year $498,746

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,819,266 · end of year $2,918,271

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $4,573,296 · end of year $2,144,884

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE COMPANY IS A NATIONAL LEADER IN THE CREATION AND PRESENTATION OF INNOVATIVE, CUTTING-EDGE THEATRICAL WORK. LOOKINGGLASS INTERWEAVES MOVEMENT, CIRCUS ARTS AND NARRATIVE IN ORIGINAL AND CAPTIVATING WAYS. GUIDED BY AN ARTISTIC (SEE SCH O) VISION CENTERED ON THE CORE VALUES OF COLLABORATION, TRANSFORMATION, AND INNOVATION, LOOKINGGLASS SEEKS TO REDEFINE THE THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE AND MAKE THEATRE ART THAT IS EXHILARATING, INSPIRATIONAL, AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. LOOKINGGLASS SHARES ITS THEATRICAL DEVELOPMENT TECHNIQUES WITH CHICAGO'S DIVERSE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE EXTENSIVE OUTREACH OF ITS EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING.

Activities or mission (Part I)

LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE COMPANY COMBINES A PHYSICAL AND IMPROVISATIONAL REHEARSAL (SEE SCH O) PROCESS CENTERED ON ENSEMBLE WITH TRAINING IN THEATRE DANCE, MUSIC, AND THE CIRCUS ARTS. WE SEEK TO DEFINE THE LIMITS OF THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE AND TO MAKE THEATRE EXHILARATING, INSPIRATIONAL, AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.

  • FOUNDED IN 1988 BY A GROUP OF NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY GRADUATE STUDENTS, LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE COMPANY IS A NATIONWIDE LEADER IN THE CREATION AND PRESENTATION OF NEW, CUTTING-EDGE THEATRICAL WORKS. LOOKINGGLASS HAS RECEIVED THE TONY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING REGIONAL THEATRE, MACARTHUR AWARD FOR CREATIVE AND EFFECTIVE INSTITUTIONS, ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FROM THE LEAGUE OF CHICAGO THEATRES, AND 58 JOSEPH JEFFERSON AWARDS. LOOKINGGLASS HAS REACHED OVER 4 MILLION AUDIENCES WORLDWIDE THROUGH ITS MORE THAN 100 PRODUCTIONS STAGED AND THE PBS PRESENTATION OF LOOKINGGLASS ALICE.LOOKINGGLASS IS BOTH NURTURED BY AND ACTIVELY SHAPES THE LOCAL CULTURE OF COLLABORATION, EXPERIMENTATION, AND IDEALISM. DRIVEN BY 32 ENSEMBLE MEMBERS AND 16 ARTISTIC ASSOCIATES, LOOKINGGLASS PRODUCTIONS ARE CENTERED ON ENSEMBLE WITH TRAINING IN THEATRE, DANCE, MUSIC, AND CIRCUS ARTS. LOOKINGGLASS' SIGNATURE NEW WORK DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY, GGLASSWORKS, FUELS THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF ITS BODY OF WORK, INCLUDING 73 WORLD PREMIERE PLAYS TO DATE. AT ANY GIVEN TIME, GGLASSWORKS HAS UPWARDS OF 20 PLAYS IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT.LOOKINGGLASS' LIVE EXPERIENCES BRING VIEWERS INTO A SHARED AWARENESS OF THEIR PRESENCE, HOLDING SPACE FOR IMAGINATIVE PARTICIPATION AND HELPING AUDIENCES TO PICTURE THEIR LIVES TRANSFORMED, LEAVING THEM CHANGED, CHARGED, AND EMPOWERED. WITH ITS FLEXIBLE THEATRE ARRANGEMENT, LOOKINGGLASS OFTEN CONFIGURES AUDIENCE SEATING TO ENHANCE THE SENSATION OF PARTICIPATION AND BELONGING IN THE ONSTAGE ACTION. IN A TYPICAL SEASON, LOOKINGGLASS OFFERS UPWARDS OF 200 PERFORMANCES IN ITS THEATRE, AS WELL AS ONLINE, AND IN CREATIVE, OFFSITE EVENTS, CONNECTING WITH 50,000 OR MORE GUESTS. LOOKINGGLASS PRODUCTIONS HAVE TOURED 17 U.S. CITIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH REGIONAL THEATRES.

    Expenses $2,319,506

  • LOOKINGGLASS' DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT SERVES A BROAD AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY ACROSS THE CHICAGOLAND REGION, BRINGING THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THEATER INTO CLASSROOMS, COMMUNITIES, AND NEIGHBORHOODS. IN-HOUSE ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS DEEPEN THE EXPERIENCE OF THEATRE, CULTIVATING CURIOSITY AND BUILDING COMMUNITY. TEACHING ARTISTS BRING LOOKINGGLASS' CORE VALUES OF COLLABORATION, INVENTION, AND TRANSFORMATION INTO EVERY SETTING. FOR MANY PARTICIPANTS, LOOKINGGLASS' PROGRAMS OFFER THE ONLY AVAILABLE SOURCE OF QUALITY THEATRE ARTS EDUCATION, WHICH CULTIVATES CONFIDENCE, COMPREHENSION, AND SELF-EXPRESSION, GROWING THE CAPACITY FOR TELLING AND UNDERSTANDING STORIES, AND SUPPORTING COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION WITH PEERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT OFFERS FIVE PROGRAMS DURING A TYPICAL SEASON: RESIDENCIES IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS: LOOKINGGLASS' FLAGSHIP EDUCATION PROGRAM, RESIDENCIES PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED THEATRE EDUCATION PROGRAMS BOTH DURING AND AFTER SCHOOL. A MULTI-SESSION RESIDENCY MAY FOCUS ON ARTS INTEGRATION PROGRAMMING FOR CORE CURRICULUM SUBJECTS OR DRAMA SKILLS SUCH AS PLAYWRITING, ACTING, AND ENSEMBLE-BUILDING. EVERY LOOKINGGLASS RESIDENCY REINFORCES AND BUILDS UPON NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEARNING STANDARDS IN ARTS EDUCATION AND RELATED SUBJECT AREAS. LOOKINGGLASS DEPLOYS A RIGOROUS ASSESSMENT PRACTICE TO CONTINUALLY INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ITS PROGRAMMING. LOOKINGGLASS HAS DIRECTLY ENHANCED THE LIVES OF OVER 200,000 CHICAGO YOUTH THROUGH ITS PROGRAMS.YOUNG ENSEMBLE: COMPRISED OF A GROUP OF CHICAGO-AREA YOUNG ADULTS, AGES 13-18, THE YOUNG ENSEMBLE IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING THEATER SKILLS, LIFTING VOICES, AND DEVELOPING CREATIVITY THROUGH COLLABORATION. MUCH LIKE LOOKINGGLASS' OWN PRODUCTIONS, YOUNG ENSEMBLE SHOWS WEAVE TOGETHER LANGUAGE, VISUAL SPECTACLE, MUSIC, AND THE UNIQUE TALENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE ENSEMBLE TO DEVELOP COMPELLING WORKS. INCLUSIVE, RIGOROUS, AND ENDLESSLY CREATIVE, THE YOUNG ENSEMBLE BUILDS NOT ONLY BETTER ARTISTS, BUT BETTER COLLABORATORS, THINKERS, AND LEADERS. EACH YEAR THE YOUNG ENSEMBLE PRODUCES AND PERFORMS IN A FULL-SCALE PRODUCTION DIRECTED BY LOOKINGGLASS ENSEMBLE MEMBERS.LOOKINGGLASS OUTDOORS: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT, LOOKINGGLASS BRINGS FREE CIRCUS PERFORMANCES TO PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES ACROSS THE CITY.LOOKINGGLASS SUMMER CAMPS FOR YOUTH AND TEENS ACROSS CHICAGO PROVIDE ARTS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPLORE THEMES FROM UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS.COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNER RESIDENCIES: THESE ACTIVITIES PAIR LOOKINGGLASS TEACHING ARTISTS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS THE GOALS, CHALLENGES, NEEDS, AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE INDIVIDUALS THEY SERVE, HELPING TO EFFECT TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE. LAST SEASON, LOOKINGGLASS OFFERED RESIDENCIES TO GROUPS FROM: ART ON SEDGWICK, ARTS FOR BRAIN HEALTH COALITION, BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF CHICAGO, CHICAGO HELP INITIATIVE, LATINOS PROGRESANDO, AND STRENGTHENING CHICAGO'S YOUTH.COMMUNITY PARTNER TICKETS: IN AN ORDINARY SEASON, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS WITH OVER 250 COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS TO LOOKINGGLASS' SEASON. GUESTS ENGAGE IN A POST-SHOW DISCUSSION WITH LOOKINGGLASS ARTISTS, CAST, AND CREW. OFTEN OFFERED IN TANDEM WITH ITS RESIDENCIES, THIS PROGRAM GIVES PARTICIPANTS IN LOOKINGGLASS' EDUCATION PROGRAMMING THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT ITS THEATRE AND SEE ITS ARTISTS AT WORK. RECENT PARTNERS INCLUDED: ART ON SEDGWICK, BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF CHICAGO, CHICAGO HELP INITIATIVE, MY BLOCK MY HOOD MY CITY, STRENGTHENING CHICAGO'S YOUTH, AND LATINOS PROGRESANDO.

    Expenses $68,958

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • KASEY FOSTER

    ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & ENSEMBLE MEMBER, LOOKINGGLASS

    Total calculated
    $97,647
    From this org
    $90,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,647
    Hours/week
    40

  • STEVE ARMSTRONG

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • DEANN BAYLESS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • MICHAEL BELSLEY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • MOLLY BERAN

    TREASURER & CHAIR OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • DAVID CATLIN

    DIRECTOR & ENSEMBLE MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • LESTER CONEY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • CHANON DICARLO

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • CHARLES FRANKEL

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • LUIS GUTIERREZ

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • MICHAEL HARRINGTON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • LINDSAY HEARN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • LINDSAY KNIGHT

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • BRENDA LANGSTRAAT BUI

    DIRECTOR & GOVERNANCE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • ABBIE ROTH

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • YASMEEN SOIN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • CATIE WALSH HEADTKE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • ALEXANDRA BRADBURY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • TURIYA LUZADDER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • MARCI MASUR

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • DAVID SCHWIMMER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • JIMMY OH

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • NAHEED ALI

    DIRECTOR & DEVELOPMENT CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • CAROLYN RAVICHANDRAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • DIANE WHATTON

    CHAIRPERSON EMERITUS

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • BOB PALFFY

    CO-CHAIR, FACILITIES COMMITTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • LEE GOLUB

    CO-CHAIR, FACILITIES COMMITTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • RICHARD CHAPMAN

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • JILL REZNICK MEIER

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • STEVE WEISS

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • ANTHONY FLEMING III

    DIRECTOR & ENSEMBLE MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
9 July 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.5
Source object
202631959349300113

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