About
The Chocolate Factory Theater is an artist-centered organization, built by and for artists. Co-founders Sheila Lewandowski and Brian Rogers began making work together in 1995 and quickly saw the need for a creative home to support their work and the work of fellow experimental performance-based artists. The Chocolate Factory therefore has grown and developed within and through a creative process that centers the development of new work, as guided by makers.
Mission & History
Founded in 2004, The Chocolate Factory Theater (CF) supports the creation of new work by dance, theater and interdisciplinary artists from its post-industrial facility in Long Island City, Queens. We encourage risk-taking and innovation within the experimental performing arts community by responding to artists’ needs with space, time, money and administrative support throughout their careers. As an artist-founded, artist-run institution—and one of the few remaining spaces wholly devoted to experimental performance in New York City—we believe that the ideas generated within our walls have the potential to improve the lives of New Yorkers, shape broader cultural movements, and inspire change.
Each year, CF builds a robust Artistic Program comprising 8-10 commissioned premieres by interdisciplinary artists; 6-8 early stage creative residencies; a number of contextually-relevant interdisciplinary events (organized by guest curators) including cinema, music, and literature-focused gatherings; and organizational partnerships intended to deepen and expand connections between specific interdisciplinary artist communities.
As a team of practicing artists themselves, CF staff engages with its artist community from a place of direct understanding, as partners in a shared endeavor—making the process of developing new work within our spaces incredibly unique. Artists receive exclusive 24/7 access to our spaces and technical equipment for a period of 1-6 weeks, culminating in premiere performances for the public. We literally hand artists the keys and—in addition to substantial financial, administrative and technical support—provide a level of flexibility, trust, autonomy and appreciation that is rare in New York City. CF has earned a strong reputation—among its artist community, its peer institutions, and the field at large – as an organization that is truly “by artists, for artists”.
CF is nationally and internationally acclaimed for the strength of its artistic programming, which draws thousands of visitors to its Western Queens neighborhood each year. CF has cultivated a devoted multigenerational audience (many of whom self-identify as artists based in NYC, but include arts-goers from all five boroughs and a growing number of national and international visitors) whose most common unifying trait is an attraction to risk-taking, experimentation, and interdisciplinarity.
Staff & Board
Board of Trustees
Staff
Supporters









Lily Auchincloss Foundation
CATES Tutoring NYC
Harkness Foundation
The Henry Luce Foundation, the Willem de Kooning Foundation, and Teiger Foundation through the Coalition of Small Arts New York
Jerome Foundation
New York Community Trust
New York Foundation for the Arts
NYC Council Member Julie Won
The Chocolate Factory Theater Trustees
The McGue Millhiser Trust
Mental Insight Foundation
Mertz Gilmore Foundation
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr.
Robert Rauschenberg Foundation
Rise Light and Power
Select Equity Group Foundation
Shubert Foundation
Emma A. Sheafer Charitable Trust
Shine Electronics
Trust for Mutual Understanding
Mertz Gilmore Foundation
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr.
Robert Rauschenberg Foundation
Rise Light and Power
Select Equity Group Foundation
Shubert Foundation
Emma A. Sheafer Charitable Trust
Shine Electronics
Trust for Mutual Understanding
For a copy of our most recent audited financial statement and 990, download here.
Space & Technical

Download Vectorworks drawings of our lighting grid here.
Please direct all technical and space-related questions to Madeline Best.