Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← OPERA THEATRE OF SAINT LOUIS

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by OPERA THEATRE OF SAINT LOUIS.

Totals

Total revenue
$34,927,077
Total expenses
$14,408,506
Contributions and grants received
$17,397,358
Grants paid
$82,900
Program service revenue
$1,232,381
Investment income
$16,219,874
Other revenue
$77,464
Total assets, end of year
$131,146,403
Total liabilities, end of year
$2,027,915
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$129,118,488
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$10,551,030
Management and general expenses
$1,742,051
Fundraising expenses
$2,115,425
Program service expenses (Part III)
$10,551,030

Program services were 73.2% 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

    $950,842

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $372,545

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $16,073,971

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $259,015

  • 2a · Program service revenue: OPERA PROGRAMS

    total $1,232,381 · related or exempt $1,232,381

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $2,856,150 · excluded $2,856,150

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $52,000 · personal property $54,150

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $16,543 · personal property $14,197

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $35,457 · personal property $39,953

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $75,410 · excluded $75,410

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $46,100,914

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $32,737,068 · other assets $122

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $13,363,846 · other assets -$122

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $13,363,724 · excluded $13,363,724

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $84,205

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

    $950,842

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $383,131

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$298,926 · excluded -$298,926

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER ACTIVITIES

    total $287,901 · related or exempt $287,901

  • 11b · Other revenue: PROGRAM ADVERTISING

    total $13,079 · unrelated business $13,079

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $300,980

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $82,900 · program services $82,900

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0 · program services $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $772,109 · program services $83,159 · management and general $281,235 · fundraising $407,715

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $6,303,378 · program services $5,190,516 · management and general $284,228 · fundraising $828,634

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $82,351 · program services $82,021 · management and general $0 · fundraising $330

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $504,191 · program services $429,447 · management and general $23,642 · fundraising $51,102

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $404,655 · program services $318,274 · management and general $24,763 · fundraising $61,618

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $38,232 · management and general $38,232

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $100,131 · management and general $100,131

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $117,882 · management and general $117,882

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $580,540 · program services $293,579 · management and general $125,478 · fundraising $161,483

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $738,542 · program services $505,838 · management and general $115,843 · fundraising $116,861

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $261,328 · program services $28,458 · management and general $157,689 · fundraising $75,181

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $267,997 · program services $120,044 · management and general $64,695 · fundraising $83,258

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $424,486 · program services $424,486

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $538,435 · program services $248,592 · management and general $117,429 · fundraising $172,414

  • 17 · Travel

    total $813,884 · program services $769,271 · management and general $29,309 · fundraising $15,304

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $74,086 · program services $33,186 · management and general $17,884 · fundraising $23,016

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $322,516 · program services $77,689 · management and general $185,934 · fundraising $58,893

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $165,270 · program services $66,051 · management and general $49,774 · fundraising $49,445

  • 24a · Other expenses: ORCHESTRA

    total $1,207,134 · program services $1,207,134

  • 24b · Other expenses: COSTUMES, SCENERY & PROPS

    total $541,229 · program services $541,229

  • 24c · Other expenses: INSTRUMENTS

    total $34,490 · program services $34,490

  • 24d · Other expenses: ALL OTHER EXPENSES

    total $32,740 · program services $14,666 · management and general $7,903 · fundraising $10,171

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,180 · end of year $99,825

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $2,825,982 · end of year $7,861,525

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $2,135,804 · end of year $7,558,777

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $466,391 · end of year $238,769

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $22,935 · end of year $248,230

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

    $8,942,533

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

    $5,348,157

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $3,192,341 · end of year $3,594,376

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $104,555,200 · end of year $110,322,146

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $816,959 · end of year $1,222,755

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $145,931 · end of year $330,117

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $1,031,559 · end of year $1,059,166

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $673,099 · end of year $638,632

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $5,367,343 · end of year $4,771,151

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $106,798,860 · end of year $124,347,337

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

OPERA THEATRE'S MISSION IS TO SHAPE A VIBRANT FUTURE FOR OPERA BY CONNECTING, INSPIRING, AND ENTERTAINING OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE POWER AND BEAUTY OF THE ART FORM; TO FOSTER THE NEXT GENERATION BY EMPOWERING A DIVERSE GROUP OF ARTISTS, ARTISANS, AND ADMINISTRATORS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL; AND TO MAKE OPERA ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE THROUGH INNOVATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE STORYTELLING THAT REFLECTS, ENGAGES, AND STRENGTHENS THE ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY AND ATTRACTS NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES.

Activities or mission (Part I)

OPERA THEATRE'S MISSION IS TO SHAPE A VIBRANT FUTURE FOR OPERA BY CONNECTING, INSPIRING, AND ENTERTAINING OUR COMMUNITIES; TO FOSTER THE NEXT GENERATION; AND TO MAKE OPERA ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE.

  • THE 2025 FESTIVAL SEASON WAS OTSL'S 50TH, AND INCLUDED FOUR BRAND NEW PRODUCTIONS, INCLUDING STRAUSS'S DIE FLEDERMAUS, DONIZETTI'S DON PASQUALE, BRITTEN'S A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, AND THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THIS HOUSE BY COMPOSER RICKY IAN GORDON AND LIBRETTISTS LYNN NOTTAGE AND RUBY AIYO GERBER. IN ADDITION, THE SEASON FEATURED TWO CONCERTS, CENTER STAGE AND OUR SONGS. THE MAIN STAGE PERFORMANCES FEATURED EARLY CAREER SINGERS IN CHORUS, FEATURE, AND PRINCIPAL ROLES ALONGSIDE ESTABLISHED PERFORMERS IN PRODUCTIONS LED BY WORLD RENOWNED CONDUCTORS, STAGE DIRECTORS, AND DESIGNERS. THE ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ACCOMPANIES ALL PERFORMANCES. SETS, PROPS, COSTUMES, AND LIGHTING ARE CREATED LOCALLY BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS AND CRAFTSPEOPLE. THE 27 PERFORMANCES SAW 14,490 TICKETS SOLD, AND 2,253 GIVEN AWAY AS PART OF THE PHYLLIS' SEATS INITIATIVE TO BRING NEW PEOPLE TO OPERA. ATTENDEES CAME FROM ACROSS THE REGION, COUNTRY, AND GLOBE.

    Expenses $9,697,805 · Grants $43,500 · Revenue $1,445,973

  • IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 THE EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS REACHED MORE THAN 75,000 STUDENTS IN 312 SCHOOLS ACROSS 42 STATES AND CANADA. PROGRAMS INCLUDED: A DIGITAL STREAMING OPERA PROGRAM IN PRIVATE, PAROCHIAL, AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE WORLD; DOCENT PRESENTATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY; ARTS INTENSIVE PROGRAMS IN LOCAL SCHOOLS CULMINATING IN STUDENTS CREATING AND PERFORMING THEIR OWN WORLD PREMIERE OPERAS; VOCAL INSTRUCTION AND COACHING FOR HIGH SCHOOLS STUDENTS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS CULMINATING IN A PUBLIC RECITAL AND SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS; CAMPS FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS; AND TRAILBLAZERS IN OPERA-AN INTERACTIVE LESSON SERIES SPOTLIGHTING GROUNDBREAKING PAST AND PRESENT BLACK OPERA SINGERS AND COMPOSERS.

    Expenses $492,503 · Grants $39,400 · Revenue $40,280

  • NEW WORKS COLLECTIVE IS A PROGRAM DEDICATED TO EXPAND THE AMERICAN OPERA CANON WITH ORIGINAL, INNOVATIVE PRODUCTIONS THAT AUTHENTICALLY REPRESENT STORIES OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE NEW WORKS COLLECTIVE IS A DYNAMIC GROUP OF ST. LOUIS-BASED ARTISTS, ACTIVISTS, AND EDUCATORS THAT IS TASKED WITH IDENTIFYING AND COMMISSIONING WORKS THAT ARE RELEVANT AND RELATABLE FOR THE BROADER ST. LOUIS REGION. IN 2025 THE COLLECTIVE SELECTED THREE CREATIVE TEAMS FROM A BROAD, NATIONWIDE OPEN CALL. THE CYCLE OF THREE NEW WORKS SELECTED BY THE COLLECTIVE PREMIERED IN FEBRUARY 2025 TO SOLD OUT AUDIENCES AT THE KIRKWOOD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. THE THREE PREMIERES WERE BLACK COFFEE BY COMPOSER CONCERT BLACK AND LIBRETTIST ALICIA REVE LIKE, FAMILY STYLE BY COMPOSER MEILINA TSUI AND LIBRETTIST MELISA TIEN, AND KANDAKE BY COMPOSER TIM AMUKELE AND LIBRETTIST JARROD LEE.

    Expenses $360,722 · Revenue $34,029

As filed on the 2024 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Ann McFarland Sullins

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kim Eberlein

    BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Lelia J Farr

    VICE-CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Lori Samuels

    VICE-CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mont S Levy

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Adrienne Davis

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Allison W Roberts

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Annemarie Schumacher

    BOARD MEMBER BEG 06/25

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Arnold W Donald

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Ashley Budde

    EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Barry Kirk

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Crystal Allen Dallas

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Cynthia J Brinkley

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • David Hagee

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • David Meiners MD

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • David Sewall MD

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Amber Simpson

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Donald M Suggs

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Dwight A McBride

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Lannis Hall

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Richard Cote

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Edes Gilbert

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Ellen Richter

    EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Frank Jacobs

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Franklin F Wallis

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Gabe Angieri

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Gina G Hoagland

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • J David Levy Jr

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jamie Craft

    EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jane Clark

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Janice Seele

    EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jim Berges

    PREVIOUS CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • John H Russell

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • John Rhea

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Joseph Shepard

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kenneth Kranzberg

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mabel L Purkerson MD

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Marcela Manjarrez

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Maria Guadalupe Taxman

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mark Throdahl

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mary Schoolman

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mary Susman

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mrs Ronald A Holtman

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Nomi K Neidorff

    IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Phoebe Dent Weil

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rex Sinquefield

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Robert L Scharff

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Robin Wentworth

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Spencer B Burke

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Stephen L Trampe

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Tania Beasley-Jolly

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Thelma Steward

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Timothy Wentworth

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Win Reed

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Andrew Jorgensen

    GENERAL DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $298,251
    From this org
    $282,941
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,310
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $282,941
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $14,002
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,308
    Filer's total
    $298,251
  • Michelle L Myers

    DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $142,216
    From this org
    $126,463
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,753
    Hours/week
    40
  • Nicole Ambos Freber

    MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

    Total calculated
    $239,261
    From this org
    $198,951
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,310
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $198,951
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $10,746
    Nontaxable benefits
    $29,564
    Filer's total
    $239,261
  • Anh Le

    DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & PR

    Total calculated
    $131,537
    From this org
    $116,492
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,045
    Hours/week
    40
  • James Robinson

    ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $135,470
    From this org
    $129,794
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $5,676
    Hours/week
    40
  • Linda Schulte

    DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $132,394
    From this org
    $118,467
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,927
    Hours/week
    40
  • Rhonda Henderson

    CONTROLLER

    Total calculated
    $115,034
    From this org
    $110,492
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,542
    Hours/week
    40
  • Stephen M Ryan

    DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS

    Total calculated
    $169,503
    From this org
    $130,908
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $38,595
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $130,908
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,755
    Nontaxable benefits
    $30,840
    Filer's total
    $169,503

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. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 1a · Housing allowance or residence for personal use
  • 1a · Health or social club dues or initiation fees
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 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

The filer's explanations (Part III)

SCHEDULE J, PART I, LINE 1A HOUSING ALLOWANCE OR RESIDENCE FOR PERSONAL USE
THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR IS PROVIDED WITH HOUSING DURING THE ORGANIZATION'S FESTIVAL SEASON. THE BENEFIT IS SEASONAL AND IS NOT INCLUDED IN TAXABLE COMPENSATION.
SCHEDULE J, PART I, LINE 1A HEALTH OR SOCIAL CLUB DUES OR INITIATION FEES
THE GENERAL DIRECTOR, ANDREW JORGENSEN, IS PROVIDED WITH A MEMBERSHIP TO A LOCAL SOCIAL CLUB. USE IS EXCLUSIVELY FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES. NO HEALTH, FITNESS, OR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED WITH THE MEMBERSHIP. NO PORTION OF THE CLUB DUES IS INCLUDED IN TAXABLE COMPENSATION.

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
12 August 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.1
Source object
202602249349301015

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.