What Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation does

Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit regional theater organization founded in 1933 and headquartered at a 1937-built historic venue at 10 Main St, Ogunquit, Maine. Operating under the trade name "America's Foremost Summer Theatre," the Foundation produces Broadway-caliber mainstage productions, children's theater, themed dining experiences, and gala events during a 21-week season running May through December. In 2026 the slate includes Hello, Dolly! (with Tony-winner Beth Leavel), City of Angels, The Producers, the world premiere of John Mellencamp's Small Town, and Disney's Mary Poppins staged at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH.

The Foundation generates revenue across multiple streams: single and season ticket sales (carrying a $6 Restoration Fee and $5 Service Fee per ticket), annual memberships starting at $100, tax-deductible donations and planned giving, corporate sponsorships, concessions and merchandise, and special-event packages such as the $200-$300 Harmonia Gardens dinners and the Sutton Foster-led 2026 Gala. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the Tessitura ticketing platform, a phone/in-person box office, and a group sales program for 20+ patrons that imposes a 60-day deposit schedule. The Foundation also partners with Concord Theatricals, Music Theatre International, casting agency ARC, and a network of Maine lodging and dining sponsors (Cliff House, Norseman Resort, Old Village Inn).

The organization supports 198 jobs (62 direct, 136 indirect), drives $7.2M in wages, and contributes $21.5M annually to Maine's economy, serving 100,000+ visitors from local, national, and international markets. Leadership is provided by Executive Artistic Director Bradford T. Kenney (in his 20th season) and Managing Director Deborah Warren, with governance by a Board of Directors drawn from senior leadership of Starwood Hotels, AEW, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Fidelity, and other regional enterprises. The Foundation operates a New Works Program stewarding new American musicals and an Arts Academy providing youth education including Disney's Newsies Jr. and The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition.

Name

Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation

Legal name

Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation

Website

https://ogunquitplayhouse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit regional theater founded in 1933 in Ogunquit, Maine, producing Broadway-caliber mainstage productions, children's programming, themed dining, and gala events for 100,000+ annual visitors across a 21-week season.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theater and Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Live theatrical productions
• Broadway-caliber musicals
• Performing arts education
• Regional theater operations
• Theater membership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ogunquit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from single tickets, season passes, and group sales for mainstage productions and children's theatre performances. Each ticket includes $6 Restoration Fee and $5 Service Fee.
2. Memberships: Annual membership programs at various levels ($100+) that provide exclusive benefits including waived exchange fees, priority access, and special recognition.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations supporting world-class productions, historic theater maintenance, and future of American theatre. Includes planned giving and campaign fundraising.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Partnerships with local businesses providing financial support in exchange for recognition, advertising, and hospitality benefits.
5. Concessions and Merchandise: Beverages, snacks, and branded merchandise sold in the lobby, Gazebo Bar, and Patio Bar. Gift kiosk with show-specific specialties.
6. Special Events: Premium dining experiences (Harmonia Gardens dinner at $200-$300), gala events, and educational programs generating additional revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation produces and presents Broadway-caliber mainstage theatrical productions at its historic 1937 venue at 10 Main St, Ogunquit, Maine, with an extended May-through-December season that includes commissioned world premieres through its New Works Program, children's theatre productions, and select programming at partner venue The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH. The foundation also operates the Arts Academy youth education program, themed dining experiences (Harmonia Gardens), annual gala fundraisers, annual membership tiers, gift certificates, and a charitable donation request program that distributes in-kind ticket vouchers to local 501(c)(3) nonprofits.

Product overview

Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation is a nonprofit regional theater organization operating as America's Foremost Summer Theatre. The company produces Broadway-caliber theatrical productions at its main venue in Ogunquit, Maine, and at The Music Hall, with a season extending from May through December. The product portfolio centers on mainstage productions including Hello, Dolly!, City of Angels, The Producers, Small Town (a John Mellencamp world premiere), and Mary Poppins. The company extends its offerings through the Arts Academy (youth education programs including Disney's Newsies Jr. and The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition), annual gala events, themed dining experiences at Harmonia Gardens, membership programs, group sales, gift certificates, and charitable donation programs. Revenue is generated through ticket sales, donations, corporate sponsorships, and membership fees. The Playhouse reaches over 100,000 guests annually and maintains a year-round operational schedule of 21 weeks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Theatrical Productions Broadway-caliber productions staged at Ogunquit Playhouse's main venue at 10 Main St, Ogunquit, ME (and at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH for select holiday programming), featuring professional casts and Tony Award-winning performers across a 21-week May-through-December season.
• Children's Theatre Productions Youth productions such as Disney's Newsies Jr. and The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition staged for families and school-age audiences, all seats priced at $30.
• Arts Academy Youth Education Programs Education and training programs for young performers taught by working theatre professionals, including Disney's Camp Rock and other youth theatrical workshops designed to develop performance skills and confidence.
• Annual Gala Fundraising Events Fundraising events featuring performances by celebrity entertainers, with program advertising opportunities for sponsors and supporters.
• Themed Dining Experiences (Harmonia Gardens) Special theatrical-themed dining events presented in partnership with Old Village Inn, tied to current mainstage productions, with all-inclusive dinner and show packages.
• Annual Membership Programs Annual membership tiers ($100 and above) that provide exclusive benefits including waived exchange fees, priority access, and special recognition for frequent theatergoers.
• Gift Certificates Theater gift certificates that are valid for theatrical productions and never expire, available for purchase through the Playhouse box office.

Quantifiable outcome

• $21.5 Million annual economic impact on Maine's economy
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ARC (Actors, Resources, Connections)coreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive casting agency partnership with over 40 years of combined Broadway experience. ARC handles all auditions and casting for mainstage productions.
• The Music HallcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Mary Poppins holiday production (December 2026) at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH. Special arrangement with Music Theatre International for this presentation.
• Concord TheatricalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensing partner for productions including City of Angels and Hello, Dolly! through special arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC.
• Clay Hill FarmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor - dining experience on 10 private acres in Maine's natural beauty. Cross-promotion of dining and theater experiences.
• Cliff House MaineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury lodging sponsor with spacious suites, full kitchen, dining area, dramatic terraces, and ocean vistas at Shore Road, Cape Neddick.
• Bank of AmericaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial partner with personalized financial guidance services. Local presence at 100 Federal St, Boston, MA.
• Harvard Pilgrim HealthcareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare sponsor providing health plans and care programs with compassionate customer service.
• Old Village InnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Harmonia Gardens dining experience tied to Hello, Dolly! production. Historic venue since 1830s in Ogunquit.
• Brickyard Hollow Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDining partner offering expansive menu including craft pizza, starters, salads, entrees, and desserts at 335 Main St, Ogunquit.
• Jonathan's OGTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDining partner since 1976, serving farm to table Maine seafood and classic cuisine at 92 Bourne Ln, Ogunquit.
• Norseman ResortminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnly beachfront hotel on Ogunquit Beach, offering access to Maine's most beautiful 3-mile stretch of beach.
• Morgan StanleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial sponsor helping individuals, businesses, and institutions build, preserve, and manage wealth. Located at 100 Middle St, Portland, ME.
• Kennebunk SavingsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMutual savings bank sponsor serving southern Maine and seacoast New Hampshire with 15 branch locations.
• Consigli ConstructionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConstruction sponsor - leading construction company and general contractor cultivating dedicated teams and quality craftsmanship.
• Sutton FostercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo-time Tony Award-winning performer featured at 2026 Gala Event celebrating Ogunquit Playhouse's First Century.
• Beth LeavelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTony Award-winning actress starring as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! (June 18 - July 18, 2026).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cape Playhouse: Historic summer-stock theater in Dennis, Massachusetts (founded 1927), presenting Broadway-caliber productions in a New England coastal setting. Closely mirrors Ogunquit's model of a regional repertory theater pairing professional productions with a vacation destination.
• Paper Mill Playhouse: Millburn, New Jersey regional theater and longtime Broadway-premiere incubator (Newsies, The Other Josh Cohen). Comparable as an East Coast regional theater producing both new works and revivals with a similar nonprofit operating model.
• Westport Country Playhouse: Historic Connecticut regional theater (founded 1931) producing a Broadway-caliber mainstage season plus education and new works programming. Closely comparable in mission, nonprofit structure, and New England coastal market positioning.
• Barrington Stage Company: Pittsfield, Massachusetts nonprofit regional theater with an active new-works development program. Directly comparable in scale, regional New England footprint, and mix of musicals plus developmental programming.
• Walnut Street Theatre: Philadelphia's oldest theater (opened 1809) operating as a nonprofit producing Broadway musicals and plays on a year-round schedule. Comparable as a historic regional theater in a major tourist market producing professional productions.
• Goodspeed Musicals: The Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut, produces new and revived musicals and is credited with launching several Broadway hits. Directly comparable as a Northeast nonprofit regional theater focused on musical theater development and production.
• Williamstown Theatre Festival: Berkshire-based summer professional theater producing plays and musicals with notable new-work development. Comparable as a New England seasonal professional theater producing both classics and premieres.
• North Shore Music Theatre: Beverly, Massachusetts theater producing large-scale Broadway musicals under a resident company model. Similar in producing professional mainstage musicals with youth programming and seasonal scheduling in New England.
• The 5th Avenue Theatre: Seattle-based nonprofit producing large-scale Broadway musicals and a new-works program. Highly comparable in operating model, scale trajectory (grew from $10M to $30M under Bernie Griffin), and stage of development — and is directly connected via shared board leadership.

Broad incumbents

• Muny (Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis): America's oldest and largest outdoor musical theater, producing a summer season of large-scale Broadway musicals. Comparable as a nonprofit presenting Broadway-caliber productions at scale, though larger and free/lower-priced than Ogunquit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/OgunquitPlayhouse
• Facebookfacebook.com/OgunquitPlayhouse
• Instagraminstagram.com/ogunquitplayhouse
• TikToktiktok.com/@ogunquitplayhouse
• Xx.com/OgunquitPH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ogunquit-playhouse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation