2022-05-16T16:29:54-05:00 2021-06-30 390919055 RITZ HOLMAN LLP 330 E KILBOURN AVE SUITE 550 MILWAUKEE WI 53202 990 2020-07-01 391634828 FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE FIRS 4142672940 325 W WALNUT STREET MILWAUKEE WI 53212 DARREN GOLDSTEIN TREASURER 4142672940 2022-05-16 1 DARREN GOLDSTEIN 999009999 KATY L SOMMER P00273273 4142711451 2022-05-16 2 AAL1 IAL1 2020 2022-09-23 18:48:47Z CARYN ESTEN 325 W WALNUT STREET MILWAUKEE WI 53212 4675701 0 X WWW.FIRSTSTAGE.ORG X 1987 WI 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, AND IN 20/21, THEY REACHED ALMOST 26,200 AUDIENCE MEMBERS.2) OUR THEATER ACADEMY TRAINING FOSTERS LIFE SKILLS (E.G. CONFIDENCE, RESPECT, FRIENDSHIP, SUPPORT, MOTIVATION, ETC.) WHILE IT TEACHES STAGE SKILLS. IN 20/21, OUR ACADEMY HAD OVER 1,300 ENROLLMENTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 745 CHILDREN IN GRADES K-12.3) OUR DYNAMIC THEATER-IN-EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROMOTE LEARNING THROUGH THEATER, AND IN 20/21, OUR TEACHING ARTISTS CREATED A LIBRARY OF 30 PRE-RECORDED WORKSHOPS TO BE USED BY 89 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN. 27 27 165 100 0 0 2655230 4003625 2345424 438079 103575 47070 49427 -8827 5153656 4479947 0 0 0 0 2818237 2137704 0 0 340937 2484281 752956 5302518 2890660 -148862 1589287 4489826 6621805 1092065 1326705 3397761 5295100 X 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 0 1 263259 21200 FIRST STAGE KNOWS THAT THE ARTS CAN BE USED AS A POWERFUL VEHICLE FOR IN-SCHOOL LEARNING, RATHER THAN DETACHED FROM TRADITIONAL CURRICULUM AS AN "EXTRA." DRAMA IN PARTICULAR EFFORTLESSLY LENDS ITSELF TO INTEGRATION WITH LITERATURE AND LANGUAGE ARTS. FIRST STAGE DOES NOT GO INTO CLASSROOMS TO TEACH DRAMA, BUT RATHER FIRST STAGE USES THEATER AS AN EFFECTIVE MEDIUM TO TEACH ACADEMIC SUBJECT MATTER. FIRST STAGE HAS THE UNIQUE ABILITY TO USE THEATER ACTIVITIES TO PRESENT CURRICULUM EFFECTIVELY TO ALL TYPES OF LEARNERS VISUAL, AUDITORY AND KINESTHETIC. IN ADDITION, CLASSROOM TEACHERS HAVE AN ONGOING CONCERN ABOUT STANDARDIZED TESTING. IN RESPONSE, FIRST STAGE OFFERS PROGRAMS THAT BOOST CRITICAL LITERACY SKILLS, INCREASE STATE STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES AND HELP TEACHERS LEARN NEW AND CREATIVE WAYS TO TEACH. AS SCHOOLS ARE FORCED TO SPEND LESS ON ARTS PROGRAMMING, THESE PROGRAMS CLEVERLY BLEND THE ARTS WITH EXISTING CURRICULUM MAKING IT A WIN-WIN FOR TEACHERS THAT ARE UNDER PRESSURE TO COVER A GREAT DEAL OF MATERIAL AND FOR STUDENTS THAT THRIVE WHEN THEY ARE ALLOWED TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND USE THEIR NATURAL CREATIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM. THE THEATER-IN-EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE ALSO RUN BY SKILLED AND NATIONALLY RESPECTED LEADERS. PROGRAMMING DIRECTOR, JULIA MAGNASCO SERVED ON THE BOARD OF THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES/USA THE UNITED STATES CENTER FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THEATRE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE. AS A PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION WITH OVER 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE FIELD, TYA/USA IS KNOWN FOR ITS NATIONAL FESTIVAL AND CONFERENCE, AND TYA TODAY, A NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY RESPECTED MAGAZINE FOR THE FIELD OF THEATRE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. MS. MAGNASCO WAS ALSO SELECTED AS ONE OF THE FORTY UNDER FORTY AWARD RECIPIENTS BY THE MILWAUKEE BUSINESS JOURNAL IN 2017.IN THE 2020/2021 FISCAL YEAR, FIRST STAGE REACHED 89 SCHOOLS AND 74% OF ALL CITY OF MILWAUKEE SCHOOLS. AND THROUGH COMMUNITY SUPPORT, 70 OF THESE SCHOOLS RECEIVED FIRST STAGE'S SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP PACKAGE FOR FREE. THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM WAS BEGUN IN 2020/2021 TO REACH SCHOOL CLASSROOMS DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, WHEN SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED OR WHEN VISITORS WERE NOT ALLOWED IN SCHOOLS AND FIRST STAGE TEACHING ARTISTS COULD NOT PROVIDE PROGRAMMING IN-PERSON. INSTEAD, FIRST STAGE'S TEACHING ARTISTS PRE-RECORDED 30 WORKSHOPS TO CREATE A VAST LIBRARY OF CURRICULUM AND PROGRAMMING. THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM THEN INCLUDED UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THIS WORKSHOP REPOSITORY. EXAMPLES OF THESE WORKSHOPS INCLUDE: THE EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM (GRADES K-3): THESE 20-30 MINUTE WORKSHOPS UTILIZED PICTURE BOOKS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN DRAMA-BASED ACTIVITIES WHILE REINFORCING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF FUNDAMENTAL LANGUAGE COMPREHENSION SKILLS. EACH STORY WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO CHAPTERS, ENDING WITH PROMPTS MEANT TO ENCOURAGE CREATIVE THINKING, PROBLEM SOLVING, AND MAKING PERSONAL CONNECTIONS. THE INTRO TO ACTING RESIDENCY (GRADES 4-8): THE 15-MINUTE WORKSHOPS INTRODUCED STUDENTS TO THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS OF THEATER AND HELPED STUDENTS DEVELOP THEIR ACTOR TOOLS OF BODY, VOICE, AND IMAGINATION. STUDENTS DOVE INTO THE STORY OF THE LION KING, AS THEY EXPLORED A KEY ELEMENT OF THE DRAMA PROCESS EACH SESSION AND WERE ENCOURAGED TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE ALONG WITH THE TEACHING ARTISTS. SESSIONS CONCLUDED WITH A PROMPT MEANT TO HELP STUDENTS PUT INTO PRACTICE THE SKILLS THEY JUST LEARNED AND INCLUDED GROUP ACTIVITIES FOR THE CLASS TO ENGAGE IN TOGETHER. THE ARTS INTEGRATED WORKSHOPS (GRADES 5-9): THESE 30 TO 50-MINUTE WORKSHOPS USED DRAMATIC ACTIVITIES TO TEACH LESSONS THROUGHOUT THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULA AND WERE DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS AND THE NATIONAL CORE ARTS STANDARDS IN THEATRE. EACH WORKSHOP WAS DIVIDED INTO SMALLER CHAPTERS, ENDING WITH PROMPTS THAT TEACHERS COULD USE TO ASSESS FOR UNDERSTANDING. FOR EXAMPLE, AFTER ACTIVELY EXPLORING RUBY BRIDGES' STORY, STUDENTS WERE ASKED TO CREATE A STORYBOARD SEQUENCING KEY MOMENTS IN HER STORY TO DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW RUBY'S STRENGTH AND COURAGE INFLUENCED A NATION.AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, FIRST STAGE EVALUATED ITS MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMMING EFFECTIVENESS: 72% OF THE SCHOOL EDUCATORS FELT THAT THE VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS STRONGLY CONNECTED TO THE RELATED KEY ACADEMIC STANDARDS. 72% OF THE SCHOOL EDUCATORS FELT THAT THE VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS SUPPORTED THE STANDARD BASED SKILLS THEY WERE TEACHING THEIR STUDENTS. 56% OF THE SCHOOL EDUCATORS OBSERVED THEIR STUDENTS BEING ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE VIRTUAL WORKSHOP SESSIONS. 52% OF THE SCHOOL EDUCATORS REPORTED THAT THEY USED SOME, IF NOT ALL, OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS FIRST STAGE MADE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT FURTHER LEARNING OF THE WORKSHOPS' KEY ACADEMIC STANDARDS. 535131 356754 THEATER ARTS HAVE AN INTRINSIC POTENTIAL TO TEACH IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS SELF-CONFIDENCE, DISCIPLINE, COMMITMENT, AND TEAMWORK. HAVING ACCESS TO THEATER PROFESSIONALS WITH THE UNIQUE ABILITY AND PASSION FOR WORKING WITH CHILDREN, FIRST STAGE FOUNDED THE THEATER ACADEMY IN 1992. THE GOAL OF THE ACADEMY IS TO TEACH "LIFE SKILLS THROUGH STAGE SKILLS." ACADEMY CLASSES HELP CHILDREN BUILD CHARACTER, DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND INCREASE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE. THE THEATER ACADEMY HAS BEEN PROVEN TO HELP STUDENTS IN SCHOOL BY IMPROVING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE SCORES (SELF-AWARENESS, RESPECT FOR SELF AND OTHERS, TEAMWORK, ETC.) AND INSTILLING 21ST CENTURY WORKFORCE SKILLS (COLLABORATION, CRITICAL THINKING, INCREASED COMMUNICATION, FLEXIBILITY AND CREATIVE THINKING). FIRST STAGE ACADEMY OFFERS A JOURNEY OF SELF-DISCOVERY AND HELPS CHILDREN MAXIMIZE THEIR OWN POTENTIAL IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT SURROUNDED BY ADULT MENTORS AND POSITIVE PEERS. IN NON-COVID YEARS, ACADEMY CLASSES ARE OFFERED YEAR-ROUND. IN MOST TYPICAL SEASONS, FIRST STAGE OFFERS CLASSES WITH CONTACT HOURS RANGING FROM 8 TO 140 HOURS EACH, FOR OVER 2,300 ENROLLMENTS OR APPROXIMATELY 1,650 CHILDREN, ABOUT 46% OF WHICH ARE FROM THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE AND 19% OF WHICH ARE IN NEED OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN ORDER TO ATTEND. DUE TO THE NEED TO LIMIT CAPACITY (FOR ANY IN-PERSON CLASSES DUE TO SPATIAL DISTANCING FOR COVID SAFETY AND FOR ANY VIRTUAL ACADEMY CLASSES BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF HAVING TOO MANY FACES IN A ZOOM CLASSROOM), THE 2020/2021 SEASON NECESSITATED A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF ENROLLMENTS TO 1,304 FOR APPROXIMATELY 745 CHILDREN. MORE THAN 50% OF CLASSES WERE HELD VIRTUALLY. IN-PERSON CLASS SIZES WERE REDUCED BY 50% IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CDC SAFETY PROTOCOLS. DESPITE THESE LIMITATIONS, FIRST STAGE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH ITS PLEDGE TO NEVER TURN AWAY A STUDENT DUE TO A FAMILY'S INABILITY TO PAY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH CLASSES. IN 2020/2021, 57 STUDENTS RECEIVED 145 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MORE THAN $17,000 OF FINANCIAL AID AWARDS.FIRST STAGE'S THEATER ACADEMY HOLDS CLASSES YEAR-ROUND. SEVERAL OF ITS MORE UNIQUE PROGRAMS ARE DESCRIBED BELOW, AS WELL AS ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE RECENT SEASON: IN 2020/2021, FIRST STAGE OFFERED IN-PERSON PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE CLASSES AT THE MILWAUKEE YOUTH ARTS CENTER FOLLOWING CDC PROTOCOLS. THESE CLASSES PROVIDED STUDENTS (THIRD GRADE AND UP) THE OPPORTUNITY TO BROADEN PERFORMANCE SKILLS AND PERFORM A POPULAR SHOW AS THEIR FINAL (VIRTUAL) PRESENTATION IN A TIME WHEN THERE WERE LESS ON-STAGE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FIRST STAGE YOUNG PERFORMERS. ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CLASSES IN 2020/2021 WAS THE VIRTUAL MASTER CLASS SERIES. MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LEARNED SPECIFIC THEATER TOPICS FROM PROFESSIONAL THEATER ARTISTS, INCLUDING AUDITIONING, ACTING FOR THE SINGER, COMEDY WRITING AND SATIRE, AND PUPPETRY. AS DISCUSSED ABOVE IN THEATER PRODUCTIONS, FIRST STAGE YOUNG COMPANY THE THEATER ACADEMY'S ADVANCED ACTOR TRAINING PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHICH HAD 60 MEMBERS IN 2020/2021 PRODUCED THE TWO GENTLEMENT OF VERONA AND THE CRUCIBLE. AND INSTEAD OF TRAVELING TO CEDAR CITY, UTAH IN OCTOBER AS IT HAS SINCE 2008 TO COMPETE IN THE SHAKESPEARE COMPETITION AT SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY, A PORTION OF THE YOUNG COMPANY PRESENTED SCENES AND MONOLOGUES VIRTUALLY FOR THE COMPETITION AND FOR FIRST STAGE AUDIENCES. THE YOUNG COMPANY WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE ITS FUNDRAISING TRADITION BY HOLDING ITS 11TH ANNUAL (AND SECOND VIRTUAL) BARD-O-THON IN APRIL OF 2021. IN CELEBRATION OF SHAKESPEARE'S BIRTHDAY, THE FIRST STAGE THEATER ACADEMY CHALLENGES MEMBERS OF THE YOUNG COMPANY TO STRETCH THEIR ARTISTIC ENDURANCE BY PERFORMING AS MANY MEMORIZED SHAKESPEAREAN MONOLOGUES IN A ROW AS POSSIBLE. FIFTY-FIVE YOUNG COMPANY MEMBERS PERFORMED A TOTAL OF 556 MONOLOGUES IN 2020/2021'S BARD-O-THON, AND A PRESENTATION OF SOME OF THEIR WORK WAS VIEWED IN A FACEBOOK LIVE EVENT. THIS FUNDRAISER COLLECTED MORE THAN $17,000 IN PLEDGES FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO HELP SUPPORT SHAKESPEARE PROGRAMMING AT FIRST STAGE. FIRST STAGE'S NEXT STEPS PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2012 AS A MUSICAL THEATRE AND ACTING PROGRAM DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR STUDENTS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION IN A WELCOMING AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. DURING THE SUMMER, NEXT STEPS ACADEMY CLASSES ARE USUALLY HELD AS WEEKLONG SESSIONS. IN ADDITION, DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, CLASSES ARE USUALLY HELD AS ONE-HOUR SATURDAY CLASSES AT THE MILWAUKEE YOUTH ARTS CENTER OR AS WORKSHOPS IN COMMUNITY CLASSROOMS, AS REQUESTED. HOWEVER, DURING 2020/2021, TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, FIRST STAGE TRANSITIONED ALL NEXT STEPS CLASSES TO THE ONLINE ZOOM PLATFORM. ALL CLASSES CONTINUED TO BE TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION TRAINING AND FOLLOWED THE SAME THEATER-BASED CURRICULUM THE EXPLORATION OF ACTING, SINGING, DANCING AND IMPROVISATION, THROUGH WHICH STUDENTS IMPROVED THEIR SOCIAL UNDERSTANDING, FINE AND GROSS MOTOR SKILLS, EMPATHY, CONVERSATION SKILLS, PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND CONFIDENCE. IN 2020/2021, NEXT STEPS HAD 11 UNIQUE STUDENTS WITH 47 ENROLLMENTS. FIRST STAGE'S STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD WAS CREATED IN 2013/2014 OUT OF A NEED FOR THE STUDENT'S VOICE TO BE HEARD IN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT ACADEMY PROGRAMMING AND POLICIES. BY 2014/2015, THE SAB DOUBLED IN SIZE AND ADDED AN OPPORTUNITY BEGINNING IN 2015/2016 FOR TWO REPRESENTATIVES TO SIT ON THE FIRST STAGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. EACH SUMMER, THEATER ACADEMY STUDENTS EMBARK ON THEIR KID-TO-KID CAMPAIGN. OVER THE COURSE OF 8 WEEKS, THE STUDENTS DONATE THEIR DOLLARS AND COINS, HOLD FUND-RAISERS, MAKE CHALLENGES TO ONE ANOTHER, ETC., TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH OFFERS FINANCIAL AID TO STUDENTS WHO NEED FINANCIAL SUPPORT. THE STUDENT'S ANNUAL KID-TO-KID CAMPAIGN RAISES SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. 1247346 60125 IN 1987, FIRST STAGE BEGAN AS A SMALL THEATER COMPANY WITH A GOAL OF PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL THEATER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES. NOW IN ITS 34RD SEASON, FIRST STAGE IS ONE OF THE NATION'S ACCLAIMED PROFESSIONAL THEATERS FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES, AND THE SECOND LARGEST THEATER COMPANY IN MILWAUKEE. IN A NORMAL NON-COVID SEASON, FIRST STAGE OFFERS A SEASON OF PROFESSIONAL THEATER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES WITH TITLES CHOSEN FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL CONTENT, SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE, AND THEIR ABILITY TO SPARK CONVERSATION AT HOME AND IN CLASSROOMS. CLASSROOM TEACHERS USE FIELD TRIPS TO FIRST STAGE AS MEANS TO HELP DEVELOP LITERACY AND ENHANCE LEARNING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM, INCLUDING TEACHER ENRICHMENT GUIDES AND WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALIGN EACH PLAY TO KEY COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS AND WISCONSIN MODEL ACADEMIC STANDARDS. THE 2020/2021 FISCAL YEAR WAS NOT A USUAL THEATRICAL SEASON FOR FIRST STAGE. IN A TYPICAL YEAR, FIRST STAGE WOULD NORMALLY OFFER A NINE OR TEN-PLAY SEASON, WITH OVER 460 PERFORMANCES AND NEARLY 110,000 AUDIENCE MEMBERS BETWEEN PUBLIC AND SCHOOL SHOWS. BUT DUE TO THE LIMITATIONS NECESSITATED BY THE COVID PANDEMIC, FIRST STAGE'S THEATER PRODUCTIONS WERE ALL PERFORMED VIRTUALLY, WITH MOST EVEN BEING REHEARSED VIRTUALLY. DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, THROUGH 46 PRE-RECORDED- OR LIVE-STREAMED PERFORMANCES, FIRST STAGE WAS STILL ABLE TO REACH 26,212 TOTAL AUDIENCE MEMBERS AND CAST 86 YOUNG PERFORMERS THROUGH ITS AGE-APPROPRIATE CASTING. AS FIRST STAGE IS COMMITTED TO PRESENTING PROFESSIONAL THEATER PRODUCTIONS, REGARDLESS OF CHALLENGES, THE ORGANIZATION PIVOTED AWAY FROM THE PHYSICAL THEATER SPACE IN 2020/2021 AND PROVIDED INNOVATIVE THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES FOR REMOTE VIEWING. SEVERAL EXTRAORDINARY EXAMPLES ARE LISTED HERE: WITH PERMISSION FROM OUR FRIENDS AT CHARACTER ARTS, LLC, FIRST STAGE FILMED CHRISTMASTOWN COMES TO FIRST STAGE, WRITTEN BY JOSE CASAS, JEFF FRANK, AND SAMANTHA MONTGOMERY. FIRST STAGE STAFF (FROM NEARLY EVERY DEPARTMENT) AND BOTH YOUNG AND ADULT PERFORMERS TOLD THE STORY OF HOW THE FOLKS IN SANTA'S CHRISTMASTOWN, WHEN THEY HEARD FIRST STAGE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PRODUCE RUDOLPH'S STORY THAT YEAR, DECIDED TO HELP. MISFIT TOYS, THE ELVES, SAM THE SNOWMAN, AND THE BUMBLE CAME TO FIRST STAGE TO SPREAD HOLIDAY CHEER TO THE STAFF. THIS HOLIDAY SHOWPIECE, THOUGH FUNNY AND HEARTWARMING, PROVIDED A WINDOW INTO THE STRUGGLES OF LIVE THEATER DURING A DIFFICULT TIME. FIRST STAGE PARTNERED WITH MILWAUKEE'S INDIAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL TO PRODUCE COPPER HORNS IN WATER BY TY DEFOE. THIS BEAUTIFUL NEW PIECE WAS PART OF FIRST STAGE'S AMPLIFY SERIES, WAS BASED IN AN ANISHINAABE STORYTELLING TRADITION, AND WAS PERFORMED MOSTLY BY STUDENTS FROM THE SCHOOL AND ONE ADULT. UNMUTED BY ALVARO SAAR RIOS, WITH MUSIC AND LYRICS BY DEBORAH WICKS LA PUMA, WAS ALSO PART OF THE AMPLIFY SERIES. PERFORMED ENTIRELY BY YOUNG PERFORMERS, UNMUTED TOLD THE STORY OF A GROUP OF STUDENTS IN A VIRTUAL GYM CLASS, PLAYING A GAME OF SECRET OR DARE, WHEN THEIR TEACHER IS ACCIDENTLY KICKED OUT OF THE ZOOM ROOM. THE STUDENTS SHARE THEIR LOVE OF TUESDAY TACOS, THEIR FRUSTRATIONS WITH ONLINE SCHOOL, AND WHAT THEY MISS MOST. THE PRODUCTION WAS PERFORMED IN ENGLISH WITH SOME SPANISH LYRICS. A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND PLAY, THE QUEST FOR SOLOMON'S TREASURE, BY JOHN MACLAY AND JEREMY TARDY, WAS STREAMED OVER SEVEN EPISODES IN THE FALL OF 2021. THE PRODUCTION TOLD THE STORY OF A LONG-RUMORED LOST TREASURE IN MILWAUKEE. EACH 15-20 MINUTE EPISODE ENDED WITH A NEW CLUE BEING REVEALED AND WITH THE NEXT EPISODE OPENING WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER TO SOLVE THE CLUE. THIS ORIGINAL SERIES WAS A LITTLE BIT GOONIES, A LITTLE BIT NATIONAL TREASURE, AND A WHOLE LOT MILWAUKEE. IN ESCAPE FROM PELIGRO ISLAND, A CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE PLAY BY FINEGAN KRUCKEMEYER, PERFORMANCES WERE LIVE-STREAMED WITH AUDIENCES AT HOME VOTING TO DECIDE WHAT OUR UNLIKELY YOUNG HERO WOULD DO AFTER BEING STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND.OTHER PRODUCTIONS DURING THE 2020/2021 SEASON INCLUDED: FIRST STAGE YOUNG PERFORMER VIRTUAL SHOWCASE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MILWAUKEE BLACK THEATER FESTIVAL. A READING OF APOLLO AND THE TRIALS OF HERCULES A PLAY BY JOE FOUST AND JOHN MACLAY. THE GIRL WHO SWALLOWED A CACTUS BY ERIC COBLE AND PERFORMED BY MILWAUKEE ACTRESS AND FIRST STAGE THEATER AND THEATER ACADEMY ALUMNA KAREN ESTRADA. SCENES AND MONOLOGUES FROM THE UTAH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL'S HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION, PRESENTED BY FIRST STAGE'S YOUNG COMPANY, AN ADVANCED ACTOR-TRAINING PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, PRESENTED BY THE YOUNG COMPANY. THE CRUCIBLE BY ARTHUR MILLER, PRESENTED BY THE YOUNG COMPANY. SHE KILLS MONSTERS BY QUI NGYUEN. AND ADVENTURES WITH THE THREE LITTLE PIGS INSPIRED BY THE THREE LITTLE PIGS BY JAMES MARSHALL. 2045736 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 8 0 1 165 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 X 27 27 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 WI X X DEB MOODY 4142672940 325 W WALNUT ST MILWAUKEE WI 53212 ALEX KRAMER PAST PRESIDENT 0.90 X X 0 0 0 LAUREN PAGENKOPF DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 DARREN GOLDSTEIN TREASURER 0.90 X X 0 0 0 CARYN ESTEN PRESIDENT 0.90 X X 0 0 0 TAMI MARTIN SECRETARY 0.90 X X 0 0 0 NICOLE ANGRESANO DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 SUZANNE CLAUSING DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 BRIAN GILPIN DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 ERIC MAASSEN DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 CHRISTOPHER MARSCHKA VICE PRESIDENT 0.90 X X 0 0 0 SAGAR MURTHY DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 MELISSA NELSON DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 KATHLEEN DOHEARTY DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 CORRIE PRUNUSKE DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 DAN KEMPKEN DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 KRISTEN SEVERSON VICE PRESIDENT 0.90 X X 0 0 0 KRISTIN SHEEHAN DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 BRENT SULLIVAN DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 KAREN GUY VICE PRESIDENT 0.90 X X 0 0 0 SALLY CARTWRIGHT DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 ELEANOR HANNON DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 KATE KETELHOHN DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 TIM LANTZ DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 LAURA ORR DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 JEFF SPENCE DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 SCOTT STIVERSON DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 CHRISTINE TOWNSEND DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 ELIZABETH CORRY MANAGING DIR 40.00 X 102111 0 12024 JEFF FRANK ART DIRECTOR 40.00 X 102537 0 19502 DEBBIE MOODY FINANCE DIR 40.00 X 76848 0 5676 281496 0 37202 2 0 0 0 0 930577 189868 1466849 1416331 61203 4003625 ACADEMY INCOME 611600 356754 356754 TICKET SALES 711110 60125 60125 THEATER IN EDUCATION 611600 21200 21200 438079 31651 31651 500 500 126815 111396 15419 15419 15419 61903 189868 74752 -12849 -12849 3218 9606 -6388 -6388 OTHER REVENUE 900099 9910 9910 9910 4479947 457020 0 19302 320828 119939 148677 52212 1356686 1028583 151423 176680 333170 240571 33765 58834 127020 91132 18836 17052 13500 13500 35760 35760 103818 42548 57360 3910 25080 18980 2113 3987 71990 41483 26845 3662 14978 14978 256607 236919 11984 7704 3477 3336 100 41 10658 1183 9330 145 3860 3860 68009 55588 10603 1818 22684 16907 5502 275 ADMINISTRATIVE 67585 42879 10089 14617 PRODUCTION EXPENSE 42637 42637 EDUCATION AND ACADEMY M 12313 12313 2890660 2045736 503987 340937 1349148 1771632 79624 769165 682541 541483 174114 977576 9000 21012 16650 210578 207145 1457328 1256098 240277 201230 1616610 1997151 89145 136399 17777 3374 4489826 6621805 185132 169527 180176 162046 563700 726330 163057 268802 1092065 1326705 X 2086478 4186451 1311283 1108649 3397761 5295100 4489826 6621805 1589287 308052 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 2935773 2446592 2403963 2655230 4003625 14445183 3083297 3139037 3165660 2596446 503200 12487640 6019070 5585629 5569623 5251676 4506825 26932823 113718 107355 158214 308313 313356 1000956 0 113718 107355 158214 308313 313356 1000956 25931867 29508 29339 45058 41282 42061 187248 29508 29339 45058 41282 42061 187248 9833 10627 3221 3606 9910 37197 6058411 5625595 5617902 5296564 4558796 27157268 0.95490 0.96630 0.00690 0.00550 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 741688 145086 31170 855604 737727 31731 27770 741688 726214 41573 30060 737727 720964 51150 45900 726214 645078 76886 1000 720964 1.00000 0 0 58024 58024 0 1056812 978066 78746 342492 220008 122484 201230 OTHER LIABILITIES 262164 CAPITAL LEASE 6638 268802 X 4795867 308052 225 308277 4487590 -7643 -7643 4479947 2898528 225 7643 7868 2890660 0 2890660 PART V, LINE 4: THE BOARD-DESIGNATED ENDOWMENT IS MADE UP OF TWO PARTS. THE FIRST PART, APPROXIMATELY 20% OF THE QUASI-ENDOWMENT, IS AVAILABLE FOR USE BY THE ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY RESERVE FUNDS, ALLEVIATE BUDGET SHORTFALLS, AND TO PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS FOR NEW BUSINESS INITIATIVES APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE SECOND PART, APPROXIMATELY 80% OF THE QUASI-ENDOWMENT, IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM STABILITY TO THE ORGANIZATION AND ANNUAL CASH FLOW FROM INVESTMENT INCOME TO FUND ONGOING OPERATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT FOR FIRST STAGE. PART X, LINE 2: THE ORGANIZATION IS EXEMPT FROM INCOME TAX UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND IS CLASSIFIED AS OTHER THAN A PRIVATE FOUNDATION. MANAGEMENT HAS REVIEWED ALL TAX POSITIONS RECOGNIZED IN PREVIOUSLY FILED TAX RETURNS AND THOSE EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN IN FUTURE TAX RETURNS. AS OF JUNE 30, 2021, THE ORGANIZATION HAD NO AMOUNTS RELATED TO UNRECOGNIZED INCOME TAX BENEFITS AND NO AMOUNTS RELATED TO ACCRUED INTEREST AND PENALTIES. THE ORGANIZATION DOES NOT ANTICIPATE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO UNRECOGNIZED INCOME TAX BENEFITS OVER THE NEXT YEAR. PART XI, LINE 4B - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: ACADEMY MERCH EXPENSE AND SALES TAX TO COMPLETE COST OF GOODS SOLD -7,643. PART XII, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: ACADEMY MERCH EXPENSE AND SALES TAX TO COMPLETE COST OF GOODS SOLD 7,643. ANNUAL BALL 162784 127145 35639 32712 0 1413 4911 5072 ANNUAL WINE EVENT 86746 60482 26264 17211 11674 875 340 4 2241 2241 544 251771 189868 61903 49923 13087 5786 5956 74752 -12849 X 43446 FMV X 3 16717 FMV X COSTUME SUPPLIES 2 1040 FMV 0 1 0 FORM 990, PART III, LINE 3 THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC STRUCK IN MARCH 2020, RIGHT IN THE HEIGHT OF FIRST STAGE'S SPRING IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND AFTER THE OPENING WEEKEND OF ONE OF OUR TOP SELLING THEATER PRODUCTIONS. THE ORGANIZATION WAS FORCED TO CANCEL NEARLY 600 IN-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS, CLOSE ALL FUTURE PERFORMANCES OF "THE LEGEND OF ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS AND "GRETEL!, AND CANCEL REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES OF OUR LAST SHOW OF THE 2019/2020 SEASON "THE AMAZING LEMONADE GIRL." AS THE PANDEMIC CONTINUED THROUGH 2020/2021, FIRST STAGE'S ROLE DID NOT CHANGE; ONLY THE MANNER IN WHICH THE ORGANIZATION REACHED STUDENTS, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES CHANGED. FIRST STAGE PIVOTED ITS PROGRAMMING TO VIRTUAL PLATFORMS. THEATER IN EDUCATION PROGRAMMING CONTINUED TO REACH STUDENTS THROUGH ITS ON-LINE LIBRARY OF WORKSHOPS AND ART-INTEGRATED CONTENT. THEATER ACADEMY CLASSES MOVED ON-LINE AS WELL, OR MAINTAINED IN-PERSON CLASSES WITH LIMITED CAPACITY AND SPATIAL DISTANCING. AND FIRST STAGE PROVIDED THEATER PRODUCTION EXPERIENCES ON-LINE (SOMETIMES LIVE STREAMED, SOMETIMES PRE-RECORDED) VIA ITS WEBSITE AND YOU TUBE PAGE. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERED SELECTED SCENES AND SONGS FROM PRIOR PRODUCTIONS, YOUNG COMPANY PRESENTATIONS, CHOOSE-YOUR-OWN ADVENTURE PLAYS, A RUDOLPH-INSPIRED SHORT HOLIDAY FILM, AND SEVERAL OTHER PIECES. THESE PRODUCTION PIECES WERE PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC FREE OR AT VERY REDUCED PRICES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 4 BYLAWS WERE REVISED IN JUNE 2021. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B LINE 11B EXPLANATION - THE 990 IS JOINTLY PREPARED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND THE FIRM RITZHOLMAN CPAS. WHEN THE PRELIMINARY 990 IS COMPLETE, AN ELECTRONIC COPY IS PROVIDED TO MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. THESE MEMBERS REVIEW THE 990 AND MAKE COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS FOR CHANGES TO THE PREPARERS. ANY NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS ARE MADE, AND THE FINAL DRAFT OF THE 990 IS THEN REVIEWED BY THE TREASURER FOR ACCURACY. THE APPROVED FINAL COPY OF THE TAX RETURN IS THEN MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AFTER RESPONDING TO ANY INQUIRIES BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE 990 IS PRINTED AND SIGNED BY THE PREPARERS AND THE TREASURER OR OTHER APPROVED OFFICER OF THE BOARD BEFORE BEING FILED WITH THE IRS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE ORGANIZATION'S FISCAL YEAR RUNS FROM JULY 1 TO JUNE 30. HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY OF THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITY FOR THE ORGANIZATION OCCURS DURING THE THEATRICAL SEASON, WHICH RUNS FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH MAY. IT IS DURING THIS TIMEFRAME THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS. AT THE FIRST BOARD MEETING OF THE SEASON, IN SEPTEMBER, THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY IS DISTRIBUTED TO EACH DIRECTOR. THE DIRECTOR MUST COMPLETE THE SIGNATURE PAGE OF THE POLICY, CONFIRMING THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE POLICY, AND RETURN THAT PAGE TO THE GENERAL MANAGER. ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD WHO REFUSES OR FAILS TO SIGN SUCH A STATEMENT SHALL BE PROHIBITED FROM PARTICIPATING IN DISCUSSION OR ACTION BY THE BOARD. IF THEN DURING THE YEAR A DIRECTOR LEARNS OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THEY MUST DISCLOSE IT TO THE BOARD. SUCH A CONFLICT WILL BE ENTERED INTO THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING. AT FUTURE DISCUSSIONS OR VOTES TO WHICH THIS CONFLICT IS RELATED, THE DIRECTOR IS RECUSED FROM THE MEETING. TO ENSURE THE UTMOST EFFICACY OF THIS POLICY, THE GENERAL MANAGER CONDUCTS PERIODIC REVIEWS TO ENSURE THE SIGNING OF THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT AND ALSO REVIEWS THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE BOARD ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION. SUCH REVIEW IS INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES AT ALL TIMES TO BE OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF ITS PUBLIC CHARITABLE PURPOSES, RATHER THAN FOR THE BENEFIT OF ONE OR MORE PRIVATE PERSONS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE RESULTS FROM TCG ARE ALSO USED BY THE BOARD AND MANAGING DIRECTOR TO SET SALARIES FOR ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES OF THE ORGANIZATION. NO DIRECTORS FROM THE BOARD ARE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR WORK AS A BOARD MEMBER. THE ORGANIZATION'S MANAGING DIRECTOR POSITION IS A PAID-EMPLOYEE POSITION. THIS POSITION'S BENEFITS(INSURANCE ETC) ARE THE SAME AS FOR ANY OTHER FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND EMPLOYEE OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE SALARY, HOWEVER, IS NEGOTIATED EVERY THREE YEARS WITH THE BOARD PRESIDENT AND THE BOARD TREASURER. DATA USED TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT SALARY SHOULD BE INCLUDES PUBLISHED CENSUS AND SURVEY RESULTS FROM OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, BOTH CHARITABLE AND NOT, AS WELL AS NATIONAL SURVEY RESULTS FROM THE THEATER COMMUNICATIONS GROUP (TCG) OF OTHER THEATERS NATIONWIDE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 FIRST STAGE HAS BOTH PHYSICAL AND ELECTRONIC VERSIONS OF ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THESE DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST TO THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE OR GENERAL MANAGER. IN ADDITION, THE FORM 990 IS PUBLISHED EACH YEAR ON GUIDESTAR.ORG, WHICH RECEIVES THE 990 FROM THE IRS. MILWAUKEE YOUTH ARTS CENTER INC 325 W WALNUT ST MILWAUKEE WI 53212 113665475 HOUSES THE ADMINISTRATIVE, ACADEMY, AND WI 501(C)(3) 509(A)(3), TYPE 1 NO 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 MILWAUKEE YOUTH ARTS CENTER INC D 9000 AGREEMENT MILWAUKEE YOUTH ARTS CENTER INC K 131250 AMOUNT BILLED MILWAUKEE YOUTH ARTS CENTER INC O 349926 ACTUAL INCURRED MILWAUKEE YOUTH ARTS CENTER INC P 1750 ACTUAL INCURRED MILWAUKEE YOUTH ARTS CENTER INC Q 2566 ACTUAL INCURRED