THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY THEATER ANNOUNCES THE DEPARTURE OF ITS CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHEILA LEWANDOWSKI

AFTER 20+ YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE ORGANIZATION AND THE PERFORMING ARTS FIELD

THE ORGANIZATION WILL IMPLEMENT A NEW LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE AND LAUNCH A MULTI-YEAR REVISIONING PROCESS

March 31, 2025 – It is with mixed emotions and profound gratitude that The Chocolate Factory Theater announces the departure of its Co-Founder and Executive Director Sheila Lewandowski, after more than twenty years of dedicated service to the Queens-based incubator for experimental performance. Lewandowski will step down on June 30, 2025.

In her role as Founding Executive Director, Lewandowski was an artistic collaborator on many of the organization’s projects (including many works preceding the opening of the venue itself); and grew the organization from a tiny volunteer-led operation with a $25k annual budget to an established incubator for experimental performance with a full-time staff of five, a $1+million annual budget, and an international reputation for the quality and impact of its programs. Lewandowski’s tireless advocacy efforts over decades led to the purchase of the organization’s new permanent facility in Long Island City in 2017, and have profoundly impacted the performing arts field as a whole.

The Chocolate Factory’s Board of Directors state:

“With gratitude, the Board of The Chocolate Factory has accepted Sheila Lewandowski’s decision to step back from the leadership of The Chocolate Factory. Since founding the organization with Brian Rogers more than two decades ago, she has been a champion of this institution’s potential.”

“Indefatigable, fierce, and visionary, Sheila not only led The Chocolate Factory but has become a leader in the field. Further – her work did not end at our doors – she has been a passionate believer in the future of our neighbourhood and borough – its diverse residents, businesses, and creative possibilities.”

“Sheila’s advocacy with governments across multiple administrations and other funders has led The Chocolate Factory to its new home, and positioned it beautifully to soon commence a renovation, honouring its idiosyncratic spaces while creating a center for artists and audiences into the future. This will extend the vital role this small, but mighty institution will play in the evolution of the performing arts in Long Island City and New York. The Chocolate Factory will always be a home for artists – in our content, and in our process. Thank you Sheila.”

Lewandowski states:

“I will forever be a founder along with the Artistic Director Brian Rogers who was my former life, artmaking and work partner. Today, I am choosing to celebrate what comes next for The Chocolate Factory without me at the helm.”

“I have such gratitude for the artists who dedicate their lives to making and sharing their work. It is through culture and the arts that we can know one another, challenge oppression, change minds, laugh, cry, dance, sing and be alive. The Chocolate Factory is a place for such sharing and it needs to continue and to be supported. I will always support it.”

Upon Lewandowski’s departure in June 2025, Co-Founder and Artistic Director Brian Rogers will assume the role of Artistic Executive Director; with long-time team members Madeline Best and Regine Pieters taking on new leadership responsibilities.

Concurrently, The Chocolate Factory will launch a multi-year process of evaluation and re-visioning. As we plan for the departure of our founding ED (and for a capital renovation which will necessitate the closure of our facility for several years, presenting short term challenges and long term rewards) – and simultaneously anticipates an uncertain and downward-shifting funding landscape – we deeply understand that our ways of working, and being, will need to fundamentally change. This moment of transition, and the likelihood that The Chocolate Factory will need to restructure and refocus if it hopes to survive and continue to meaningfully support its artistic community, makes this is an ideal and necessary moment for the organization to deeply consider everything about itself, and to plan for a sustainable – and perhaps very different – path forward.

Rogers states: “Sheila is part of the DNA of The Chocolate Factory, and that can never change. We built this place together, and it’s now much bigger than either of us, and better than I could have hoped for.”

Sheila’s full statement:

On June 30, 2025 I will exit my position as Executive Director of theater et al, Inc. dba The Chocolate Factory Theater after 28 years of building the company, its five venues, and its new permanent home on 24th Street in Long Island City.

I will forever be a founder along with the Artistic Director Brian Rogers who was my former life, artmaking and work partner. Today, I am choosing to celebrate what comes next for The Chocolate Factory without me at the helm.

In thinking about leaving, these words by Maya Angelou have helped, “you want humility. Humility comes from inside out. It says someone was here before me and I’m here because I’ve been paid for. I have something to do and I will do that because I’m paying for someone else who has yet to come.” Space was made for me, and I must always make space for others and celebrate them, their processes and accomplishments.

This was not an easy decision for me. The Chocolate Factory Theater was/is my baby. My mother was very proud of her ‘grandbaby theater’ even though she was never a fan of experimental performance. She joyfully needled me right until she passed on in 2022 about the work I made and supported. She was proud that I dedicated my life to beauty, truth, justice and free expression and read every communication from The Chocolate Factory. She even watched the videos of every show on the website (free for all) when she became too ill to leave the house and then we would discuss the work (sometimes she grumbled about different shows). I think it was her way of being a part of my life. She was an artist and instilled in her three daughters the understanding that culture and art is life and I know that statement to be true.

I have such gratitude for the artists who dedicate their lives to making and sharing their work. It is through culture and the arts that we can know one another, challenge oppression, change minds, laugh, cry, dance, sing and be alive. The Chocolate Factory is a place for such sharing and it needs to continue and to be supported. I will always support it.
Early in 2023 I thought about not waiting too long to leave. I thought about wanting to enjoy and support the staff, artists and Board in whatever ways that makes sense to them as they design and build The Chocolate Factory’s next chapter. It is not easy to gauge the right time or way to leave.

“You can only lose what you cling to.” – Buddha

I approached the staff and Board in June 2023 and the Board jumped into action to create a transition plan working closely with the staff and me. It’s been a supportive process.

I know you’ll ask – so here is a quick update on the renovation. The work to move the renovation project forward is VERY CLOSE. With grace and humility, I look forward to supporting the Chocolate Factory through the fulfillment of this decades long dream and to witnessing the power of artists working in the renovated theater!.

Do step in and up to support The Chocolate Factory and the hundreds of artists working there each year. Brian, Madeline Best, Regine Pieters, Shana Crawford and Gerard Minaya along with a dedicated Board chaired by Diane Eisenstat are moving things forward centering artists and community. This is an incredible moment of which to be part, and I can’t wait to enjoy all that happens next – in my new title that will include ‘emerita’.

What’s next for me? I don’t know what it will be like not to think about The Chocolate Factory Theater every minute. I will take the time to explore projects that allow me to invest my life and work experiences to advance social justice and create opportunities for all people to be equitably and equally valued and treated; and, for all to have affordable (to them) access to services, housing, health care, and to live in peace with joy. I count opportunities to engage in culture and the arts as necessary to living in peace with joy.

“Growth requires movement. And often, the only way forward is through an exit door.” – Alicia Keys

I look forward to reaching out to my expansive, creative and courageous community for support and ideas about the future and will be in touch very soon to help the Chocolate Factory raise some much-needed funds as they navigate the trials and tribulations of a major capital project!

Shared with love and respect,
Sheila

Full statement from The Chocolate Factory Theater’s Board of Trustees:

It is with gratitude that the Board of The Chocolate Factory has accepted Sheila Lewandowski’s decision to step back from the leadership of The Chocolate Factory. Since founding the organization with Brian Rogers more than two decades ago, she has been a champion of this institution’s potential.

Indefatigable, fierce, and visionary, Sheila not only led The Chocolate Factory but has become a leader in the field. Further – her work did not end at our doors – she has been a passionate believer in the future of our neighbourhood and borough – its diverse residents, businesses, and creative possibilities.

Sheila’s advocacy with governments across multiple administrations and other funders has led The Chocolate Factory to its new home, and positioned it beautifully to soon commence a renovation, honouring its idiosyncratic spaces while creating a center for artists and audiences into the future. This will extend the vital role this small, but mighty institution will play in the evolution of the performing arts in Long Island City and New York. The Chocolate Factory will always be a home for artists – in our content, and in our process. Thank you Sheila.

Her term will finish this Spring, officially departing on June 30, but alongside us as needed. Brian Rogers will step into a newly defined position as Artistic Executive Director, and our team is re-shaping their roles, as we strategize the coming years of renovation and return.

Sheila’s contributions to The Chocolate Factory’s vital and critically important artistic programs, and to the organization’s national and international reputation as an important incubator for experimental performance, will not be soon forgotten.

We are also thrilled Sheila has agreed to be our honoree at the 2025 Gala this autumn.

Sheila recently appeared on the It’s In Queens podcast to discuss her departure.

“Chocolate Factory Theater Co-Founder Lewandowski To Exit Leadership Role In June” – Shane O’Brien, LIC Post