What Level Forward does

Level Forward is a New York-based public benefit entertainment company founded in 2018 by co-founders Adrienne Becker (CEO) and Abigail Disney. The company develops, produces, and finances feature films, documentaries, and Broadway theatrical productions centered on social impact themes including racial justice, gender equity, mental health, and Indigenous heritage. Its portfolio includes Tony Award-winning productions (Oklahoma! 2019, Parade 2023), Tony-nominated shows (Slave Play, Good Night and Good Luck, Romeo + Juliet), the Sundance/NHK Award-winning film LADY, and Oscar-nominated projects, supported by a talent network that includes Taika Waititi, Mitski, George Clooney, and King Princess.

The company operates an integrated ecosystem around its core production business. Complementary offerings include More To Talk About (Anthem Award-winning programming platform with live conversations and panels), Storytelling Forward (a guided storytelling workshop for artists), Forward Partners (advisory and capital services for mission-aligned projects), the Impact Advisory Group (nonprofit consortium for social strategy), and an Impact Dashboard (metrics and analytics tracking social outcomes). Distribution is multi-channel: Broadway and Off-Broadway theater partnerships (Roundabout Theatre Company, The Billie Holiday Theatre, Hi-ARTS), streaming platforms (WaterBear first-look deal, AMC Networks, Amazon Prime, HBO Max), and festival circuits (Sundance, Tribeca, Toronto, SXSW).

Revenue is generated through one-time licensing of productions, theatrical ticket revenue, co-production arrangements with Broadway producers and studios, licensing/royalty income from musicals (including The Queen's Gambit musical with Mitski), and programming/partnership revenue. Production budgets have scaled into the $5-15 million range for films. The company has 11-50 employees, has narrowed losses over five years of consistent revenue growth, and continues to expand its project slate and distribution footprint.

Name

Level Forward

Legal name

Level Forward

Website

https://levelforward.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Level Forward is a NYC-based public benefit entertainment company that produces and finances socially-impactful films, documentaries, and Broadway productions, including Tony Award winners Oklahoma! and Parade, serving mission-aligned audiences, theatergoers, and streaming platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theatrical & Film Production

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Theatrical production
• Broadway musicals
• Film production
• Entertainment financing
• Impact entertainment

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Theatrical Productions: Producing Broadway and off-Broadway theatrical productions including Oklahoma!, Parade, Good Night and Good Luck, Romeo + Juliet, and more. Revenue generated through ticket sales, Broadway partnerships, and co-production arrangements.
2. Film Production & Distribution: Producing narrative and documentary films with social impact themes, distributing through streaming platforms and theatrical releases. Films include Lady (Sundance winner), Mountains, Rebel Hearts, On The Record, and more.
3. Programming & Impact Campaigns: More To Talk About programming including conversations, panels, and events that accompany theatrical and film releases. Revenue through partnerships and sponsorship.
4. Licensing & Royalties: Revenue from musical adaptations and licensing deals including The Queen's Gambit musical (Mitski), Parade, and other Broadway productions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Level Forward is a public benefit entertainment company that develops, produces, and finances high-quality theatrical productions (Broadway and off-Broadway), narrative feature films, and documentary features centered on social impact themes. The company partners with major theater companies, studios, and streaming platforms to bring award-winning content to market while balancing artistic vision, stakeholder return, and social progress.

Product overview

Level Forward is an Oscar-nominated, Tony Award and Anthem Award-winning public benefit entertainment company operating as a single integrated offering rather than a modular platform. The core product is its portfolio of productions spanning feature films (LADY, Mountains, Holler), documentary features (Rebel Hearts, On The Record, Body Parts), Broadway plays (Good Night and Good Luck, 12 Angry Black Women, Slave Play), and Broadway musicals (Oklahoma!, Parade, How To Dance In Ohio, Romeo + Juliet). These productions are supported and amplified by complementary offerings: the More To Talk About programming initiative for audience engagement, the Storytelling Forward workshop for artist development, Forward Partners for investment advisory, the Impact Advisory Group for social strategy, and an Impact Dashboard for metrics tracking. The company functions as both a production house and impact organization, with productions serving as the central product while the supporting services create additional value for stakeholders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• More to Talk About: Anthem Award-winning programming platform featuring conversations on social justice topics
• Storytelling Forward
• Forward Partners
• IAG Portal (Impact Advisory Group)

Products and services

• Broadway & Theatrical Productions Broadway and off-Broadway theatrical productions including plays and musicals with social impact themes, co-produced with major theater companies including Roundabout Theatre Company, The Billie Holiday Theatre, and Hi-ARTS. Productions feature high-profile talent and premiere at major Broadway venues.
• Oklahoma! (Broadway Revival) Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of the classic musical Oklahoma!, directed by Daniel Fish with choreography by John Heginbotham, featuring innovative staging and reimagined orchestration.
• Parade (Broadway Musical) Tony Award-winning Broadway musical revival exploring themes of injustice and social progress.
• Slave Play (Broadway Play) Broadway play by Jeremy O. Harris that received a record 12 Tony nominations, the most for any play in Broadway history. Includes programming initiatives like BLACK OUT nights.
• Good Night and Good Luck (Broadway Production) Broadway production featuring George Clooney, telecast live from Broadway on CNN, and nominated for five Tony Awards.
• Romeo + Juliet (Broadway Production) Tony Award-nominated Broadway production of Romeo + Juliet.
• 12 Angry Black Women (Off-Broadway) Off-Broadway theatrical production commissioned through The Democracy Cycle at PAC NYC, co-produced with The Billie Holiday Theatre and Hi-ARTS.
• The Vagina Monologues Theatrical production in partnership with Roundabout Theatre Company.
• Girl, Interrupted (Stage Production) Upcoming stage production featuring King Princess in her theatrical debut with original music by Aimee Mann, adapted from the memoir Girl, Interrupted.
• Feature Film & Documentary Productions Feature films and documentary features with social impact themes including narrative films (Lady, Mountains, Holler) and documentaries (Rebel Hearts, On The Record, Body Parts). Distributed via streaming platforms including Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and AMC Networks, with festival premieres at Sundance, Tribeca, TIFF, and SXSW.
• LADY (Feature Film) Sundance/NHK Award-winning feature film.
• Mountains (Feature Film) Feature film receiving Tribeca Festival Special Jury Mention and Toronto International Film Festival official selection. Distributed on Amazon Prime.
• Rebel Hearts (Documentary) Documentary feature selected at Sundance Film Festival and Hot Docs in 2021.
• On The Record (Documentary) Sundance Film Festival official selection documentary distributed on HBO Max.
• Body Parts (Documentary) Documentary feature premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in 2022 and distributed on Amazon Prime.
• Holler (Feature Film) Feature film selected at Toronto Film Festival and SXSW Film Festival in 2020. Distributed on Amazon Prime.
• Mother Justice Series Narrative short film series centered on Black Motherhood, co-created and co-produced with Population Media Center.
• More To Talk About Anthem Award-winning programming initiative featuring live conversations, panels, and discussions accompanying productions to drive social dialogue and community engagement around artistic works. Includes programming partnerships with AMC Networks and Roundabout Theatre Company.
• Storytelling Forward Guided storytelling workshop providing prompts, provocations, and practical skills that empower and equip artists for narrative change and social impact through creative works.
• Forward Partners Investment and advisory services that provide capital and expertise to mission-aligned entertainment projects balancing artistic vision, stakeholder return, and social progress.
• Impact Advisory Group Consortium of non-profit organizations advising on impact strategy, measurement, and stakeholder return for entertainment projects with social good objectives.
• Cycles (Streaming Series) Series distributed on the WaterBear streaming platform under a first-look distribution deal.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12 Tony nominations for Slave Play - most Tony-nominated play in Broadway history
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Roundabout Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for The Vagina Monologues production and Her Pen is Sharp programming. Level Forward collaborates with Roundabout on theatrical productions and programming content.
• Waititi ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew feature film V in development with Taika Waititi's production company. Represents a significant new project partnership for Level Forward.
• WaterBearcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFirst-look distribution deal with WaterBear. Cycles series available on WaterBear platform. WaterBear signs first-look deal with Level Forward for content distribution.
• Population Media CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creators and co-producers of Mother Justice series - narrative short films centered on Black Motherhood. Partnership for impact production and distribution.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner organization for programming related to mental health advocacy and awareness.
• AMC NetworkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Movies & Movements on Motherhood programming in honor of International Day for Maternal Health and Rights and Black Maternal Health Week.
• Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) / The Democracy CyclecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioners of 12 Angry Black Women through The Democracy Cycle program. Also partnered with Civis Foundation for production support.
• The Billie Holiday TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of 12 Angry Black Women with Level Forward and Hi-ARTS. Partnership for Off-Broadway theatrical productions.
• Hi-ARTScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of 12 Angry Black Women with Level Forward and The Billie Holiday Theatre.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Killer Films: Christine Vachon's independent production company producing film and theater with socially engaged, often progressive content (Boys Don't Cry, Carol, If Beale Street Could Talk). Closely matches Level Forward's combination of art-house film, social themes, and award-driven strategy.
• Plan B Entertainment: Brad Pitt's production company producing prestige film and select Broadway (Slave Play was co-produced with Level Forward) with social impact undertones. Direct peer in combining Hollywood talent with mission-driven storytelling.
• Annapurna Pictures: Independently financed production company focused on auteur and socially resonant films (Moonlight, Hereditary, If Beale Street Could Talk). Comparable as a privately held, prestige-leaning production entity.
• Second Stage Theater: Off-Broadway and Broadway nonprofit producer (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal) known for developing new and socially engaged work. Comparable to Level Forward's Broadway producing model with a mission-oriented bent.
• Manhattan Theatre Club: Long-running Broadway and Off-Broadway producer developing new plays and musicals (The Humans, Proof). Comparable as a producing entity operating at similar Broadway scale and prestige level.
• Impact Partners: Financier and producer of documentary and narrative films with social impact focus (An Inconvenient Truth, Food, Inc., The Cove). Most direct overlap on impact-driven film financing and producing.

Broad incumbents

• A24: Major independent film and television studio known for prestige, often progressive-leaning content (Moonlight, Lady Bird, Past Lives). Larger and broader than Level Forward but competes in the same indie/awards ecosystem.
• Roadside Attractions: Independent film distribution and production company handling specialty and socially resonant releases. Comparable in indie film distribution muscle but operates at larger scale.
• FilmNation Entertainment: Independent film production, financing, and distribution company handling prestige and mid-budget films. Comparable operating model across film financing and distribution.
• Broadway Video: Lorne Michaels' production company producing film, television, and select Broadway (Hamilton, Mean Girls). Larger incumbent that overlaps with Level Forward's Broadway production capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/levelforwardinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/levelforwardinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/level-forward
• Instagraminstagram.com/levelforward

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Level Forward