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Nonprofiteer
← FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE INC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE INC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

Totals

Total revenue
$5,216,935
Total expenses
$5,801,600
Contributions and grants received
$3,505,455
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$1,500,309
Investment income
$111,092
Other revenue
$100,079
Total assets, end of year
$5,942,910
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,699,443
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$4,243,467
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$4,425,328
Management and general expenses
$825,843
Fundraising expenses
$550,429
Program service expenses (Part III)
$4,425,328

Program services were 76.3% 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.

  • 1a · Federated campaigns

    $697,306

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $49,663

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $43,735

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $2,714,751

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $1,013,189

  • 2a · Program service revenue: TICKET SALES

    total $687,414 · related or exempt $687,414

  • 2b · Program service revenue: ACADEMY INCOME

    total $459,984 · related or exempt $459,984

  • 2c · Program service revenue: SCHOOL GROUPS

    total $240,381 · related or exempt $240,381

  • 2d · Program service revenue: THEATER IN EDUCATION

    total $112,530 · related or exempt $112,530

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $59,218 · excluded $59,218

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $2,272 · excluded $2,272

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $351,127

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

    securities $299,253

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $51,874

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $51,874 · excluded $51,874

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $163,611

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

    $49,663

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $87,486

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $76,125 · excluded $76,125

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $26,668

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $13,922

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $12,746 · related or exempt $12,746

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER REVENUE

    total $8,936 · related or exempt $8,936

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $8,936

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $399,026 · program services $282,067 · management and general $66,371 · fundraising $50,588

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,333,180 · program services $1,628,220 · management and general $400,052 · fundraising $304,908

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $410,902 · program services $310,092 · management and general $57,208 · fundraising $43,602

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $243,582 · program services $169,985 · management and general $41,765 · fundraising $31,832

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $525 · management and general $525

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $18,000 · management and general $18,000

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $30,960 · program services $21,948 · management and general $5,749 · fundraising $3,263

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $449,324 · program services $412,988 · management and general $20,842 · fundraising $15,494

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $29,058 · program services $24,934 · management and general $1,994 · fundraising $2,130

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $126,528 · program services $85,418 · management and general $27,816 · fundraising $13,294

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $123,175 · program services $123,175

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $734,462 · program services $651,374 · management and general $47,151 · fundraising $35,937

  • 17 · Travel

    total $64,351 · program services $63,811 · fundraising $540

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $13,508 · program services $2,224 · management and general $5,303 · fundraising $5,981

  • 20 · Interest

    total $2,687 · management and general $2,687

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $172,103 · program services $127,356 · management and general $25,816 · fundraising $18,931

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $29,731 · program services $22,001 · management and general $4,460 · fundraising $3,270

  • 24a · Other expenses: ADMINISTRATIVE

    total $185,304 · program services $137,125 · management and general $27,796 · fundraising $20,383

  • 24b · Other expenses: PRODUCTION EXPENSE

    total $162,171 · program services $162,171

  • 24c · Other expenses: ARTISTIC FEES

    total $139,214 · program services $139,214

  • 24d · Other expenses: BAD DEBT EXPENSE

    total $71,933 · management and general $71,933

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $61,876 · program services $61,225 · management and general $375 · fundraising $276

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $818,833 · end of year $363,679

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $769,755 · end of year $27,851

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $299,723 · end of year $878,723

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $196,641 · end of year $1,826

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $30,854 · end of year $25,337

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $108,203 · end of year $41,200

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

    $2,226,336

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

    $1,578,591

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $681,443 · end of year $647,745

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $1,970,512 · end of year $2,911,057

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    beginning of year $106,566 · end of year $98,776

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $1,039,743 · end of year $946,716

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $117,410 · end of year $243,659

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $272,687 · end of year $392,603

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    end of year $150,000

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $972,221 · end of year $913,181

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $4,064,304 · end of year $2,847,766

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $595,651 · end of year $1,395,701

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE, INC. DOES BUSINESS AS FIRST STAGE. OUR MISSION IS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BY CREATING EXCEPTIONAL THEATER EXPERIENCES

Activities or mission (Part I)

FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE, INC. DOES BUSINESS AS FIRST STAGE. OUR MISSION IS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BY CREATING EXCEPTIONAL THEATER EXPERIENCES THROUGH OUR THREE MAIN ACTIVITIES:1) OUR PROFESSIONAL THEATER PRODUCTIONS ENGAGE, ENLIGHTEN, AND ENTERTAIN.2) OUR THEATER ACADEMY TRAINING FOSTERS LIFE SKILLS (E.G. CONFIDENCE, RESPECT, FRIENDSHIP, SUPPORT, MOTIVATION, ETC.) WHILE IT TEACHES STAGE SKILLS. 3) OUR DYNAMIC THEATER-IN-EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROMOTE LEARNING THROUGH THEATER.

  • DURING THE 2023/24 SCHOOL YEAR, FIRST STAGE OFFERED ITS THEATER IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO 82 SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS, 56% OF WHICH ARE WITHIN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE. THEATER IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDED FIELD TRIP PACKAGES, WHICH PAIR A CLASSROOM'S FIELD TRIP TO A WEEKDAY MATINEE THEATER PERFORMANCE WITH IN-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS; ARTS-INTEGERATED WORKSHOPS, WHICH INCORPORATE DRAMA-CENTRIC ARTS INTO THE CURRENT CLASSROOM CURRICULUM TO HELP STUDENTS MAKE A DEEPER CONNECTION TO THE MATERIAL AND HELP THEM EXPLORE THEIR CREATIVITY; THEATER SKILLS WORKSHOPS, CUSTOMIZABLE SESSIONS WHICH INCLUDE TRAINING IN ACTING, IMPROVISATION, MUSICAL THEATER, CREATIVE DRAMA, AND STORY DRAMA; AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, WHICH PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CLASSROOM TEACHERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DRAMATIC ARTS AND THEIR UNIQUE ABILITY TO INSTILL PASSION FOR LEARNING AND TRANSFORM YOUNG MINDS WITH LIFE SKILLS THROUGH STAGE SKILLS. OVER 1500 WORKSHOPS WERE OFFERED, PROVIDING LEARNING OPPORTUNITES TO 10,230 STUDENTS.

    Expenses $472,535 · Revenue $112,530

  • OUR FIRST STAGE THEATER ACADEMY REMAINS ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST HIGH-IMPACT THEATER TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH, TEACHING LIFE SKILLS THROUGH STAGE SKILLS TO YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 3-18 WITH A STAFF OF PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS. TOTAL ENROLLMENTS IN THE 2023/24 SEASON WAS 1,402 WITH A TOTAL OF 937 UNIQUE STUDENTS OVER 130 UNIQUE CLASS OFFERINGS. IN ADDITION, FIRST STAGE OFFERS THE NEXT STEPS PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. THIS PROGRAM WAS ABLE TO SERVE 18 STUDENTS OVER THE SEASON. FIRST STAGE WILL NOT TURN ANYONE AWAY FROM THE THEATER ACADEMY DUE TO INABILITY TO PAY. WE OFFER THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM OFFERING FINANCIAL AID SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AS NEEDED. IN 2023/24, 139 SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED TOTALING $60,419.

    Expenses $827,016 · Revenue $459,984

  • THE FIRST STAGE PROFESSIONAL THEATER PRODUCTIONS WELCOME 74,854 AUDIENCE MEMBERS ACROSS 312 PERFORMANCES DURING THE 2023/24 SEASON. AMONG THESE PERFORMANCES INCLUDED OUR SENSORY FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES, WITH ONE OFFERED PER PRODUCTION. MORE THAN 900 AUDIENCE MEMBERS WERE SERVED THROUGH OUR SENSORY FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES. FIRST STAGE ALSO PROVIDED THEATER PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE AT NO OR LITTLE COST TO 2,523 YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES THROUGH OUR "PAY WHAT YOU CHOOSE" PERFORMANCES, "FIRST STAGE FOR $5" TICKET OFFERS, AND A SELECT NUMBER OF FREE PREVIEW PERFORMANCE TICKETS GIVEN TO OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS AND THEATER ACADEMY FAMILIES WHO RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID.

    Expenses $3,125,777 · Revenue $949,477

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Christopher Marschka

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Darren Goldstein

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Ellen Basting Dizard

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Laura Orr

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Christine Bestor Townsend

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Alexis Dahmer

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Alicia Pilarski Do

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Ashley Wroblewski

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Brent Sullivan

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Brian Gilpin

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Corrie Prunuske

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Dan Kempken

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Jeff Spence

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Jeremy Tardy

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • John East-Scott

    STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Justin Mertz

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Melissa Nelsen

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Sagar Murthy

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Sally Cartwright

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Scott Stiverson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Shantanu Singh

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Suzanne Clausing

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Tim Lantz

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Kate Schmitt

    FINANCE DIR

    Total calculated
    $49,880
    From this org
    $44,536
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $5,344
    Hours/week
    40

  • Elizabeth Corry

    PAST MANAGING DIR

    Total calculated
    $90,595
    From this org
    $90,595
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Jeff Frank

    ART DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $169,236
    From this org
    $143,588
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,648
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $118,588
    Bonus
    $25,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,648
    Filer's total
    $169,236

  • Daniel Grambow

    MANAGING DIR

    Total calculated
    $35,109
    From this org
    $30,221
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,888
    Hours/week
    40

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

  • 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.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
8 May 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202501289349300345

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