Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park

What Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park does

Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park (OSP) is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) performing arts organization founded in 1985 in Oklahoma and currently headquartered in the Paseo Arts District of Oklahoma City. The company produces professional classical theatre year-round across two owned venues: a 200-seat outdoor amphitheater called Shakespeare Gardens and a 55-seat indoor Black Box theatre. Its repertoire centers on Shakespeare and other canonical works, supplemented by a script-in-hand Play Reading Series, seasonal holiday productions such as Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker and An Actor's Carol, and a touring program that delivers full productions to venues across Oklahoma.

OSP serves a diversified customer base including adult theatre patrons, K-12 and university students, emerging artists, corporate sponsors, and venue renters. Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining ticket sales ($25-$60 per ticket across multiple pricing tiers and venue types), FlexPass season bundles valid for three years, individual and corporate donations (including structured programs like the 2900 Campaign and Shakespeare Garden Society memberships), multi-tier corporate sponsorships ranging from $2,500 to $35,000+, and venue rentals for weddings, rehearsals, and community events. Educational programs including OSP Shakespeare Lab, A Day with Shakespeare student matinees, and the Youth Classical Theatre Conservatory serve 800-1,200 students annually.

Operationally, OSP supports approximately 100 jobs per season with a core staff of 11-50 and reaches roughly 10,000 patrons annually. The organization is governed by a 14-member Board of Directors and led by Executive Artistic Director Tyler Woods, who succeeded co-founder Kathryn McGill in June 2024. Major funding partners include Allied Arts, the Kirkpatrick Family Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Oklahoma Arts Council, Devon Energy, and the Boeing Company. OSP completed a major 20,000-square-foot capital renovation between 2020 and 2023 and currently operates as Oklahoma's only theatre dedicated to full-time production of classical works.

Name

Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park

Legal name

Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, Inc.

Website

https://okshakes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts & Live Theatre

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor Amphitheater & Open-Air Venue Operations (MPAGALAG), Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Classical theatre productions
• Outdoor amphitheater performances
• Performing arts education
• Shakespeare repertory theatre
• Theatrical venue rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Oklahoma City

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from indoor and outdoor theatre productions, play reading series, and touring performances. Tickets sold at varying price points with discounts for students, seniors, educators, military, and groups.
2. Sponsorships: Community sponsorships at multiple tiers (Sapphire Crown $2,500-$4,999 through Major Funding $35,000+) providing logo recognition, complimentary tickets, preview performances, and exclusive donor events.
3. Donations: One-time and recurring donations through Shakespeare Garden Circle, monthly Shakespeare Garden Society memberships, and the 2900 Campaign for financial sustainability. Endowment contributions through Oklahoma City Community Foundation.
4. Venue Rentals: Indoor Black Box Theatre and Shakespeare Gardens available for rehearsals, performances, weddings, and community events. Hourly, daily, and weekly rental options with technical equipment and staffing available.
5. FlexPasses: Season ticket bundles for outdoor Shakespeare Gardens and indoor Black Box productions. Six-packs redeemable for any mainstage production, valid for three years from purchase.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park is a nonprofit classical theatre company that produces and stages professional theatrical performances of Shakespeare and other canonical works year-round at two venues in Oklahoma City's Paseo Arts District: the 200-seat outdoor Shakespeare Gardens amphitheater and the 55-seat indoor Black Box theatre. The company also delivers statewide touring productions, K-12 educational programs, youth conservatory training, and rents its venues for weddings and community events.

Product overview

Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park operates as a year-round classical theatre company offering two main venue-based product lines: outdoor productions in the 200-seat Shakespeare Gardens amphitheater and indoor performances in the 57-seat Black Box theatre. The company's core portfolio includes mainstage productions of Shakespeare and classic works, a touring productions program that brings professional shows to venues statewide, and a Play Reading Series featuring script-in-hand readings. Educational offerings encompass the Youth Classical Theatre Conservatory (summer intensive for ages 13-17), the OSP Shakespeare Lab (classroom workshops serving 800-1,200 students annually), and A Day with Shakespeare student matinees. Seasonal specialty productions include Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker and An Actor's Carol. Supporting products include FlexPasses (season ticket bundles), gift cards, ticket exchange services, and venue rentals for external events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Productions (Indoor Theatre) Professional theatrical productions staged in the 55-seat indoor Black Box theatre featuring classical works by Shakespeare and other canonical authors, presented throughout the year for general audiences and theatre patrons.
• Mainstage Productions (Shakespeare Gardens) Professional outdoor theatrical productions staged in the 200-seat Shakespeare Gardens amphitheater featuring bold reimaginings of Shakespeare and classic works during summer seasons for general audiences.
• Touring Productions Fully staged, professional Shakespeare productions that travel to outdoor and indoor venues across Oklahoma, featuring professional casts with full costumes, props, and complete touring setup, available as single evening performances or multi-night residencies.
• Play Reading Series Script-in-hand staged readings of classical and contemporary plays with post-show cast conversations, featuring works by Shakespeare, Mary Shelley, Aphra Behn, and new commissions.
• OSP Shakespeare Lab Movement, voice, and collaborative exploration workshops that bring classical theatre craft into classrooms and community spaces across Oklahoma City, serving 800-1,200 students annually at public, private, and charter schools.
• Youth Classical Theatre Conservatory Week-long summer intensive for students ages 13-17 introducing the fundamentals of classical performance including movement, voice, Shakespearean text, ensemble work, and rehearsal processes, culminating in a final showcase.
• A Day with Shakespeare Student matinee program providing accessible opportunities for high school students to experience classic theatrical works, including post-show Q&A sessions with cast members.
• Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker Immersive holiday celebration featuring characters from Jane Austen's novels, including dancing, singing, period parlor games, and Braum's ice cream, performed annually.
• An Actor's Carol One-man physical comedy retelling of Dickens' A Christmas Carol featuring a clown character, performed annually at the Indoor Theatre.
• Venue Rentals Rental of the Indoor Theatre (55 fixed + 2 wheelchair seats) and Shakespeare Gardens (up to 200 seats) for rehearsals, performances, weddings, and community events on hourly, daily, and weekly terms.
• FlexPasses Season ticket bundles for outdoor Shakespeare Gardens or indoor Black Box productions, including 6-packs redeemable for any mainstage production and valid for three years from purchase.
• Gift Cards Gift cards for Oklahoma Shakespeare productions, education programs, and venue experiences.
• Ticket Exchange Ticket exchange service allowing patrons to exchange tickets for different performance dates for a $15 per ticket fee.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 800-1,200 students annually through Shakespeare Lab
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major, community, industry and core.

• Braum's Ice Cream & Dairy StoremajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker, providing ice cream for the holiday production.
• The Paseo GrillcommunityGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal restaurant partner in the Paseo Arts District, cross-promotional partnership with nearby venue.
• Shakespeare Theatre AssociationindustryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional membership organization for classical theatre companies. Provides networking and best practices sharing.
• Oklahoma City UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership since 2008 for productions, student opportunities, and Jack O'Meara Actors Hall of Fame. Co-productions at university venues.
• University of Central OklahomamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical partnership including productions at Mitchell Hall and ongoing educational collaboration.
• Paseo Arts AssociationcommunityStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in arts district organization supporting cross-promotion and community engagement in the Paseo Arts District.
• Arts Council of Oklahoma CityindustryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization supporting Oklahoma City's arts ecosystem and cultural programming.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nashville Shakespeare Festival: Tennessee-based regional classical Shakespeare company producing park-based summer productions plus indoor programming. Comparable in regional focus, outdoor venue model, and educational mission.
• Commonwealth Shakespeare Company: Boston-based non-profit producing free Shakespeare on Boston Common plus staged readings. Comparable in classical theatre focus, free/outdoor programming, and educational mission.
• Colorado Shakespeare Festival: Boulder, CO-based summer repertory festival producing Shakespeare and classics. Directly comparable to OSP's outdoor/indoor repertory format, university partnership model, and educational outreach focus.
• Texas Shakespeare Festival: Regional classical Shakespeare company based in Crockett, TX operating a summer festival model. Closely comparable to OSP in mission (dedicated classical repertory), seasonal programming, and reliance on a single regional market in the South-Central US.

Broad incumbents

• Utah Shakespeare Festival: Cedar City, UT-based repertory company and one of the largest US Shakespeare festivals. Comparable repertory model and educational outreach, but at substantially larger scale.
• Chicago Shakespeare Theater: Major Chicago-based Shakespeare repertory company on Navy Pier. Comparable artistic focus on classical works, but operates at much larger scale with year-round programming in a major media market.
• Alabama Shakespeare Festival: Larger, established state-level classical repertory company in Montgomery, AL. Comparable mission and repertory approach, but operates at significantly larger scale as a state-funded institution.
• Oregon Shakespeare Festival: One of the largest US classical Shakespeare repertory companies, based in Ashland, OR. Comparable artistic mission but operates at vastly larger scale with multiple indoor/outdoor venues and year-round programming.

Regional players

• Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre: OKC-based professional theatre producing contemporary and classical works. Same metropolitan market as OSP, with overlapping donor and patron base but different artistic focus.
• Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma: Oklahoma City's other major professional theatre company, producing musicals and classics. Comparable geography and audience overlap in OKC, but focuses on musical theatre rather than dedicated classical Shakespeare repertory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OKShakespeare
• Facebookfacebook.com/OklahomaShakespeare

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park