Wam Theatre Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

See schedule oprogramming mainstage performances: each year, wam undertakes the ambitious double-goal of producing a high quality theatrical engagement with local artists, while donating a percentage of the box office revenue to one or more charities that serve the unmet needs of women and girls here in berkshire county and beyond.fresh takes reading series: curated by wam theatre's associate artistic director, talya kingston, fresh takes gives a stage to ground-breaking works that tell women's stories onstage. These plays have been successfully presented elsewhere but are new to berkshire audiences. Education program: wam has developed an education program that provides a safe and supportive place for community members from all circumstances and generations to cultivate their own aspirations through focused and imaginative empowerment activities. Accountability work: as a civic organization that embraces intersectional feminism (feminism that acknowledges how multiple forms of discrimination overlap), wam understands that to address one piece of systemic discrimination means we have to address them all. This is on-going personal and professional work at wam for the staff and board. 2024 season- the spring was welcomed by the return of wam's fresh takes play reading series. Fresh takes presented new works by women and explored the complex and intersectional identities that make up contemporary america: identities that people project onto us, the ones that are handed down to us, and the ones we decide ourselves. Performed on sundays in march and april at the foundry in west stockbridge, the plays included be here now by deborah zoe laufer and far far better things by geetha reddy.- our summer program presented at the mount in lenox was fragments of outside - sections of the work created by artistic director gene coreno. The work grapples with incremental changes of time and the faster moving changes of climate and an inward journey during a climate disaster interwoven with women's subterranean journey through the identities of maiden, mother, crone.- in the fall, wam produced a our mainstage production galileo's daughter at the elayne p. Bernstein theatre at shakespeare & company. This script highlighted the story of a forgotten woman of history through the vibrant voice of a contemporary female playwright. This project was produced in partnership with central square theatre in boston allowing us to not only extend the life of the story, but to create deeper and more supportive experiences for all of the artists on the team.- throughout the season, wam provided equitable paid work to more than 50+ diverse theatre artists, creatives, and arts administrators who continue to be impacted by the ripple effects of the pandemic.- as we continue to expand our creative and community programing community engagement: community engagement is a central part of wam theatre's activist mission. In 2023, facilitated the following programming: - teen ensemble: over spring break, ensemble members embarked on a creative project that valued process over product. Together they explored individual self-expression, community building and social emotional learning through theatre games and activities. They presented their work in a site specific performance called "spilling the tea"- elder ensemble: local women ages 65+ fostered deep connection and support while exploring themes of autonomy and freedom through devised theatre.- free community workshops and story circles: last autumn, the public was invited to gather at the wam creative hub and online to experience the process of devising theatre. Community members were welcomed to wam, where they shared ideas, dreams, and imaginings, collectively envisioning a better tomorrow. We also presented a bi-lingual devising workshop and an online devising workshop to enhance accessibility to often under represented groups.- improved accessibility initiatives: over the past season, we have continued to expand i

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 69.9%; rating input score 70
• Program expense ratio: 52.6%; rating input score 53
• Fundraising efficiency: $3.21 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -32.7%; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.42; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 1.09; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 23.1%; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.6% per year; rating input score 100; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.1% per year; rating input score 100; 58th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 18.2% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings