Dear Friends,

This year is personally significant to me. This was my first curatorial slate at On the Boards and it felt like whatever the experimental performance equivalent is of a deb ball. In many ways it was a love letter to Seattle, with artists I admire: Timothy White Eagle, Degenerate Art Ensemble, and dani tirrell. I was also thrilled to bring artists whom I love but hadn’t yet set foot on the OtB stage, like Shamel Pitts and Dynasty Handbag, and bring some favorites back like Javaad Alipoor, Paul Budraitis, and Miguel Gutierrez. Laugh/crying in a darkened room with you all, witnessing art, does it get better than that?

When I arrived in town, the Seattle Times quoted me talking about the importance of arts and culture ecosystems. The return of NWNW after a six-year hiatus is one of the ways we are dedicated to putting that sentiment into action. We also do that through the 2 commissions, 4 residencies, 6 premieres and the 139 artists we supported this season.

This year has also been significant for the organization. It’s the first time since the shutdown in 2020 that we’ve seen you, our audiences, return in earnest. And we’ve been able to live our values: by introducing pay-what-you-can ticketing, continuing artist and student discounts, and expanding our Covid safer seating. I am immensely grateful to get to share this art with so many (17,732 of you to be exact). 

We couldn’t do this without you. Thank you.

Megan Kiskaddon

Executive Director 

The 23/24 season has been one of mission-focused rebuilding to ensure the future of radical, boundary-pushing art in Seattle. On the Boards creates a space where artists and audiences take risks. Your gift supports behind-the-scenes work to make that risk-taking sustainable.

This season, your generosity also made possible:

The return of the Northwest New Works Festival

This long standing, beloved festival has been a platform for emerging and experimental artists in the Pacific Northwest. Its return after a 6-year hiatus marks a revival of innovation that defines On the Boards. 

This year’s program was a testament to our shared belief in the power of performance. The festival, curated by the local and wonderful Roya Amirsoleymani, Kemi Adeyemi and Fox Whitney, represents a diversity of artists, live mediums, and viewpoints on our time. This year, we saw new work by Akoiya Harris, Amaya Zhané, BLUE SCREEN, ILVS STRAUSS, Luna Castillo, Soeine Bac, and Sonam Tshedzom Tingkhye.


Artist fees that meet or exceed NPN and W.A.G.E. standards

At On the Boards, we believe artists should be paid fairly and equitably. Your support helps ensure this commitment. These nationally recognized standards from NPN and W.A.G.E provide clear benchmarks. By meeting or exceeding them we hope to: 

  • Value the work of artists. 

  • Strengthen the cultural economy of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest

  • Foster a more sustainable arts ecosystem

Theater upgrades to meet the needs of artists working today

  • Theater wide replacement of theatrical curtains

  • Sound system upgrades in the Studio Theater

COVID-Safe(r) Seating 

Thanks to your support, we were able to partner with Clean Air Events to ensure that audiences, many attending live performances again for the first time in years, could feel secure and supported in doing so. 

Your commitment made it possible for us not just to respond to the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, but to innovate with Far-UV technology.

Pay-What-You-Can Ticketing 

Rooted in our belief that contemporary performance should be available to everyone, regardless of financial means, this flexible pricing model invited more people into OtB. With Pay-What-You-Can, audiences could choose a ticket price that matched their circumstances, removing cost as a barrier to experiencing art.

Your support also helped us continue one of our core commitments: offering discounted tickets for students and artists. We introduced True Cost ticketing to make visible the financial realities of what it takes to put on a performance, and provide an option for patrons to consider supporting at that level.

13 new film releases on OtB.tv

This season, we added performances from Degenerate Art Ensemble, Vanessa Goodman, Allie Hankins, Elisa Harkins, Dana Michel, Christopher K. Morgan, Will Rawls, Annie Saunders and Becca Wolff, Timothy White Eagle, and Pamela Z.

These 13 new additions showcased diverse voices, aesthetics, and disciplines, offering audiences worldwide a front row seat to experimental work being created right here in Seattle. 

Increased benefits for cultural workers

From production staff and box office teams to artists, technicians and administrators, these are the people who make the OtB experience possible every day. Your support this year made it possible for us to offer increased benefits such as a DEI fund, commute benefit, professional development funds, and cost-of-living increases.

Navigating NEA withdrawal of funding and federal executive orders.

We took a strong public stance against anti-trans and anti-DEI executive orders and ensured our community that our commitment is unwavering. We remain steadfast in our mission to support diverse, contemporary, experimental performance. 

After NEA funding was revoked, we launched a campaign rooted in community-centric emergency fundraising to close the gap. The Seattle community rose to the occasion and we are so grateful.

Thank you, all of you, for your generous contributions!

The Casablanca Circle

Shari Behnke, The Lorna Jordan Foundation, Carl and Renee Behnke (in memory of John Behnke).

The Marquee Society

4Culture, Adobe Systems Inc, ArtsFund, Aseem Agarwala, Drew Behnke and Chloe Thomas, Jennifer and Christopher Roberts, John C. Robinson and Maya Sonenberg, Lauren Luttrell, Leslie and Dale Chihuly, Merrill Wright, Microsoft Corporation, Raynier Foundation, Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, The Marie Lamfrom Foundation, The Morgan Fund, The Nesholm Family Foundation, Tyler Engle, Zane and Allison Behnke.

The Velvet Fog Club 

Anonymous, Brian Valentine and Gianna Puerini, Caitlin Pontrella and Don Beeson, Charlie and Barbara Wright, Cindy Gantz, David and Dana Taft, Erica Tiedemann and Bill Way, Estelle Thyer, Hoedemaker/Pfeiffer, John Hoedemaker, Kim and Jon Shirley, Lucy Potter and Jacob Tenace, Marissa Betz-Zall and Brian Ernst, National Performance Network, Norie Sato and Ralph Berry, Patrice and Kevin Auld, Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund, Wyman Youth Trust.

The Raven Assembly

Abigail Halperin and Christian Swenson, Alexander (Ash) and Jennifer Higgins, Ali Amadon and Eric Grossman, Alison Heald and Alfred Lee, Amanda McKamey, Anthony White and Christopher Petrie, Bill and Lori Price, Brady Walkinshaw, Capitol Group, Cecilia Paul and Harry Reinert, Chuan Nguyen (in memory of Essie Jacobs), Corey Gutch, Dave Holt, Deborah and Kenny Austin, Frank Video and Katya Malysheva, Greg Bishop, James Rogers, Jane Hedreen and David Thyer, Jeanie Chunn and Brian Flegel, Jerry Fulks and Stephanie Saland, Joey Jagod, JP Morgan Chase Foundation, Julia Anderson, Karsten Roberts, Kate Nagle-Caraluzzo, Lance Milliman, Linden Rhoads, Manja Sachet, Maribeth O'Connor and Chuck Nordhoff (in memory of John Behnke), Mark Foltz and Brooke Brod, Marriam Leve, Mary Ann Peters, Michael Parham and Hyeok Kim, Mike and Liz Hilton, Noisy Creek, Peter Vogt and Katarina Powell, Rich and Leanne Reel, Robert R. McGinley, Seth Grizzle, Spafford Robbins and Raymond Gastil, Stephen Leung, Steve Hoedemaker and Thomas Swenson, Sue Buske, Sylvia Wolf and Duane Schuler, The Vandeventer Foundation, Tim Pfeiffer, Tom and Cyndy Israel, Tracey Cataldo, Tylie Cramer and Maurizio Chiaramonte, Walter Parsons, Winslow Hermson.

The Neon Noir Guild

Aaron and Angelina Allen-St. John, Catherine Nueva España, Cathy and Max Sarkowsky (in memory of John Behnke), Chris Lloyd, Christine Chang and Josh Mateo, Hillary St. John, Jeffrey Fracé, Kay and John Stimson (in memory of John Behnke), Kelly Jo MacArthur, Kevin Geiger and Jeremie Berg, Knute Sears, Marge Levy and Larry Lancaster, Marguerite Kennedy, Michael Gore, Molly Sides, Nancy and Joe Guppy, Nina Bozicnik and Jessica Henske, Paula Riggert, Peggy Piacenza, Peter Haley, Peter Skinner (in memory of John Behnke), Tamar Benzikry and Ronnie Stern, Yazmin Mehdi.

The Green Room League

Alexia Diorio, Allison Richards (in memory of John Behnke), Amber Lessard and Will Tickle (in memory of John Behnke), Andrea Wagner, Andrew Torrance and Denis Kautsman-Kofanov, Andy Spletzer and Heidi Kaufmann Spletzer, Carl Sander, Carol Lowe, Chad Urso McDaniel, Charlie Hellstern, Constance Rice, Crispin Spaeth and Dale Sather, Cyrus Despres, Danielle Biselli, David Alvarado, Duncan Manville and Laura Clinton, Dustin Kiskaddon, Ellen Ziegler, EPS Fund, Eric Kelly (in memory of John Behnke), Garrett and Kelly Plescow Moore, Gary Williams, George and Laurie Schuchart, Google, Heather Wilde, Holly Jacobson, Jaclyn Mena, Jake Santelli and Julian Hagood, Jay Hamilton, Jean and Kevin Kelly (in memory of John Behnke), Jesse Simpson, John and Tina Kucher, John Spoden, Judith Wood, Julianne Simpson, Karl Roebke, Keith Mitro, Ken Thompson and Otts Bolisay, Kim Colaprete and Chavi Hohm, Lanny French, LeAnne Moss (in memory of John Behnke), Lillian Whitsitt, Linda Finn, Lizzy Auld, Madeline Barch, Maggie Hooks, Marika Roberts, Mary Metastasio, Melissa Irish, Mike Ramey, Nordstrom, Olivia Gunn, Phila Engaged Giving, Rebecca Adams, Richard and Susan Prentke, Robert Welland and Mary Casey, Ryan Connor and Jonathon Loos, Ryan Purcell and Liza Schoenfeld, Sally Bowie, Sara Jinks, Sean Kennedy, Sophia McDonnell, Steve LeBrun, Terese Freedman and James Coleman, Théa-Martine Gauthier, Theresa Barreras, Timothy White Eagle, Tina LaPadula and Boyd Post, Toby Crittenden, Tom and Mary Mara, W. Scott Davis, Wendy Fisher Grimm, Zoltan Pekic

The Cue Crew

Aaron Green, Aaron Swartzman, Aarron Kemp, Adam Kennedy, Adriana Swiderek, AL Cooley, Alana DeRiggi ,Alexandra Sideroff, Alexia Plazola, Alianna Jaqua, Alice Lee, Alina Tello-Cordon, Alissa Pegram, Allexa Laycock, Allison Bailey, Allison Narver, Amanda Pype, Amani Loutfy, Amberlynn Pauley, Amy Chasanov, Amy Shatzkin, Amy-Ellen Trefsger, Andrea John-Smith, Andrew Luthringer and Bridget Sachse, Andy and Nancy Jensen, Anjali Grant, Ann De Vuono, Ann Yamane, Anna Mansbridge, Anna Marandi, Anna Yoshida, Anne Focke, Anonymous, Anonymous, Anonymous (in memory of John Behnke), Anonymous, Anonymous, Anonymous, Antonino Ferrante, Ashley Seni, Ashley Toia, Audrey Querns, Ayn Dietrich, Azad Naeemi, Balaramdas Stern, Barbara Luecke, Barry Fishman, Bebe Miller and David Gray, Becky and Rob Witmer, Becky Kelley, Benjamin Swenson-Klatt, Brandon and Vania Bynum, Brice Reinhardt, Brook Boeskov, Bryanna Mannis, Calandra Childers, Calie Swedberg, Calley Dodero, Cara Diaconoff, Carl Winters, Carol Dean, Carolyn Law and Andrew Weisbecker, Carrie and Kevin Bartasawicz, Cassie Cohen, Catalina Kenevan, Catherine Berkenfield, Catherine Cooper, Catherine Sobel, Cécile Casanova, Charlotte Pfeiffer, Chester Bennett, Christabel Escarez, Christine Tran, Christl Marcontell and Daniel Pinsker, Colleen Bollen, Corinne Hollister, Cynthia Camlin, Daniel Peabody, Daniel Quinn, Danielle Bellamy, Danielle Goldberg-Hoss, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, David Reid, Deborah Przepasniak, Devin Glaser, Dianne Shiner, Dominic Cadez, Dominique Grandmougin, Donald Byrd, Donna Brown and Jane Erskine, Doug Mora, Eden Redmond, Eleanor Toews, Elizabeth Brown, Elizabeth Cunningham, Elizabeth Hershman-Greven, Emilia Sanchez, Emily Batlan, Emily Fortuna, Emily Lawrence-Pine, Emma Roffey, Eric Fassler, Erik Brand, Erin Fetridge, Erin Weible, Eugene Rhoden, Evan Cartwright, Farzaneh Darabi, Gabriel Scheer, Gabriella Arrastia, Gail Crumpton, Gail Williams, Gary Luke, Gillian Rose, Glen Park, Granville Emerson, Greg Drohan, Gretchen Durkin, Harrison Clark, Heather Kravas & Jason Starkie, Helene Ruri Yampolsky, Hilary Northcraft, Hutch Hagendorf, Ian Cunningham, Ian McCluskey, Ingrid Sparrow, Isaac Walters, Isabelle Wroblewski, Jade Curtis, James Movius, Jamila Taylor, Jane Doumit, Janeen Ponyicsanyi, Janet Galore and Demi Raven, Jared Brodin, Jared Candelaria, Jarydd Morgan, Jayson Young, Jeffery Reid, Jeffrey Azevedo, Jen Graves and David Quigg, Jenni Stephenson, Jennifer and Robert O'Twomney, Jennifer Domoto, Jennifer McIntyre, Jennifer Salk and David Ehrich, Jensen Ghidella, Jessica Emerson, Jessica Jobaris, Jessica Kelly, Jessica Lucas, Jil Smith, Jo Robinson, John Deshazo, John Howard, John Jolley, John Unangst, Jon MacLaren, Jonathan and Carol Buchter, Jonathan Shultis, Jonella Windell, Joran Grant, Jordan Kiga, Jordan Somers, Joseph Hernandez, Josephine Young, Joshua Kohl and Haruko Nishimura, JR Melero, Jude Epic, Julia Buck, Kaitlyn Boulding, Kara Hitchko, Kara Ireland, Karen Keeley, Karen Ko, Kari Palmer and Rob Weinsheimer, Karin Kallander, Katherine Bicknell, Katherine Spinner, Kathryn Schoolcraft, Kathy Bussert-Webb Kathy Fridstein and Mark Manley, Katy Albert, Keegan O'Connor, Kelli Garces, Kelli Kennedy, Kelly Mulligan, Kelly ONeil, Kelly Warner-King, Kim Kambak, Kim MacDonald, Kimberly Mustafa, Kristen Blomquist, Kristina Paget, Kristine Knutson, Lance Sobel, Lara McIntosh, Laura Gene Middaugh, Laura Stocker, Lauren Edlund, Lauren Edson, Lauren Wilson, Leslie Rowans, Linda Lowry, Lisa Macias, Lisa Stewart, Lora Plaskon, Lorraine Lau, Lucianne Hackbert, Luke Garcia, Lydia Anne, Lynn Ann Kister, Lynn Resnick, Lynne Marvet, Maisha Manson, Margaret Berger, Margaret Sutro, Mark White, Marlie Somers, Mary Coss, Masao Kikuchi, Maxwell Huang-Hobbs, Meegan McKiernan, Megan Barnard, Megan Brown, Meghan Auld and Nick San Marzano, Meko McDaniel, Michael Bunner, Michael Radow, Michael Seiwerath, Michelle Lynch, Mike Winters, Monique Courcy, Morgan Mentzer, Nathalie Tomaszewski, Nichole Hart, Nicole Brennan, Nicole Jackson, Nicole Zarfos, Nikki Honey, Nikolai Lesnikov, Norman Suda, Olive Toppeta, Parham Rahbar, Patricia Borman, Paulette Elster, Peter Biggs, Peter Hornyack, Phebe O'Neill, Philip Bouie, Pooria Manoochehri, Quinn Redman, Rain Snowden, RaLuna Narvaez, Randall Ersoz, Randy and Joselynn Engstrom, RayKayle Martinez, Renata Almeida, Renee Lamberjack, Richard ET White, Richard Weiner, Rita Robinson, Robert Downing, Robert Horsley, Robert Sindelar, Robert Strah, Roxanne Dahl, Roxanne Nihiline (Cudzilo), Roya Amirsoleymani, Ryan Newstrum, Saara Snow, Sally Brock, Sam Rock, Samuel Keng, Sandra King, Sarah Bluvas, Sarah Nelson, Sarah Rix, Sarah Wilke, Sav Madigan, Scott Chaplin, Scott David, Sepideh Forouhar, Seth Geiser, Shakira Searle, Shane B Donohue, Shannon Gatta, Sharon Carroll, Sharon Park, Shaudi Vahdat and James Caudill, Shawn Landis, Sheli Potmesil, Shelley Mackaman, Shelli Park, Sheri Brown, Signe Dortch, Silviana Ciurea Ilcus, Stella Torres, Stephanie Guiland, Stephanie Huston, Stephanie Wooten, Stephenie Landry, Steve Minor, Steve Mooney, Sung Park, Sunniva Zaratkiewicz, Susan Wright, Suz Babayan, Suzanne Comeau, Syd Fredrickson, Tanya Miller, Tekla Cunningham, Terri King, Theodore Bogart, Thomas Johnson, Tito Titus, Tonya Peck and Alex Dunne, Truman Buffett, Vafa Ghazi, Valerie Bush, Vaughn Bell, Vic Marchi, Vikramaditya Prakash, Virginia Faller, Volha Isakava, Wendy Wharton, Whitney White, Yana Goddard, Yumi Iwasaki

In-Kind Supporters

Adobe Systems Inc, Campari America, Revel Rouser Events, Clean Air Events, Solea Wine, The Stranger

The 24/25 season was sponsored by John C. Robinson and Maya Sonenberg.

With matching gifts from Adobe, Google, JP Morgan Chase, Microsoft, Nordstrom, and Starbucks. 

Pay-what-you-can and reduced cost access is supported by 4Culture.