Shakespeare Theatre Company

What Shakespeare Theatre Company does

Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) is a nonprofit classical theatre organization founded in 1986 and headquartered in Washington, DC. It operates two purpose-built and historic performance venues in the Penn Quarter — Harman Hall (761 seats) and Klein Theatre (437 seats) — plus the Forum and Rehearsal Halls on Barracks Row. STC produces a six-show mainstage season of Shakespeare, classical revivals, and contemporary plays (the 26/27 season includes The Score with Brian Cox, Frida…A Self Portrait, A Midsummer Night's Dream, A Raisin in the Sun, Romeo and Juliet, and Follies), frequently through co-productions with peer regional theatres (Signature Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Theatre Royal Bath) and with licensed properties (Cameron Mackintosh). The company also runs an MFA-acting Academy in partnership with George Washington University, a year-round School Programs unit serving K-12 audiences, a Camp Shakespeare summer program, and a Professional Development workshop line selling into federal agencies and corporate clients. The organization is led by Artistic Director Simon Godwin and Executive Director Angela Gieras, and serves roughly 165,000 people annually across all 50 states.

STC's revenue model is a hybrid of earned and contributed income typical of LORT-tier regional theatres. Earned revenue comes from single-ticket sales, multi-play subscriptions (offering up to 35% savings, priority seating, and free exchanges), group sales (35% discount for 10+ patrons), venue rentals, Camp Shakespeare tuition ($449-$1,389), MFA tuition, gift certificates, and B2B workshop fees. Contributed revenue is the larger and more strategic pillar: individual donations across giving circles from $150 to $100,000+, a multi-year planned giving Society of 1616, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants (notably a $75,000 dollar-for-dollar match from the Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation). Go-to-market is primarily direct-to-consumer through an online ticketing portal, a box office (phone and in-person), email and earned media, and event-driven demand creation via signature events (Gala, Will on the Hill bipartisan congressional event, Mock Trial), the STC Salon education series, and the Young Prose Night under-35 program. Donor benefits extend into a Bard Card restaurant-discount network of 20+ Penn Quarter partners, creating an additional retention layer beyond the subscription itself.

Name

Shakespeare Theatre Company

Legal name

Shakespeare Theatre Company

Website

https://shakespearetheatre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Shakespeare Theatre Company is a Washington, DC nonprofit founded in 1986 that produces a classical and contemporary season across two venues (Harman Hall and Klein Theatre), supplemented by an MFA program with George Washington University, camps, school programs, and corporate training, serving 165,000 patrons annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Live Theatre

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB), Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Classical theatre productions
• Live performing arts
• Theatre education programs
• Season subscriptions
• Arts nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Single tickets and season subscriptions for mainstage productions at Harman Hall and Klein Theatre. Subscriptions offer up to 35% savings with benefits including priority seating and free exchanges.
2. Season Subscriptions: Full season and flexible 3, 4, and 5-play packages with savings up to 35% off single ticket prices.
3. Individual Donations: Gifts from individual donors supporting productions and educational programming, with various giving circles ($150 to $100,000+) offering corresponding benefits.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partnerships supporting specific productions, student education programs, and signature events with logo recognition and hospitality benefits.
5. Camp and Classes Revenue: Camp Shakespeare summer program (ages 6-18) with tuition ranging from $449 to $1,389, and year-round classes for youth, teens, and adults.
6. Venue Rentals: Rental of Harman Hall, Klein Theatre, Forum space, and Rehearsal Halls for external events, meetings, and performances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Shakespeare Theatre Company produces and presents a seasonal lineup of classical and contemporary theatrical productions at two Washington, DC venues — Harman Hall (761 seats) and Klein Theatre (437 seats). Beyond mainstage productions, STC runs educational and community programming including an MFA acting program in partnership with George Washington University (STC Academy), youth summer camps (Camp Shakespeare), K-12 school programs, corporate professional development workshops, ticketing and subscription products, and signature fundraising events such as Will on the Hill and the Mock Trial.

Product overview

Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) is a performing arts organization operating two theatres in Washington D.C. (Harman Hall and Klein Theatre) that produces world-class theatrical productions ranging from classical Shakespeare to contemporary plays and musicals. The organization offers a multi-faceted portfolio including main stage productions (The Score, Frida...A Self Portrait, A Midsummer Night's Dream, A Raisin in the Sun, Romeo and Juliet, Follies), educational programs through STC Academy (MFA program, Camp Shakespeare, School Programs, Professional Development workshops), community programming (STC Salon, Young Prose Night), donor programs (Bard Card), ticketing products (Gift Certificates, Group Sales), venue rentals, and special events (Gala, Will on the Hill, Mock Trial). The 26/27 Season runs from September 2026 through June 2027.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Score
• Frida...A Self Portrait
• A Midsummer Night's Dream
• A Raisin in the Sun
• Romeo and Juliet
• Follies
• STC Academy (MFA Program)
• Camp Shakespeare
• School Programs
• Professional Development Workshops
• STC Salon
• Young Prose Night (YPN)
• Bard Card
• Gift Certificates
• Group Sales
• Venue Rentals
• STC Gala
• Will on the Hill
• Mock Trial
• STC Academy Summer Repertory

Quantifiable outcome

• 165,000 people served annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oregon Shakespeare FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOregon Shakespeare Festival is producing STC's production of A Raisin in the Sun in association with STC, bringing the regional theatre company's acclaimed production to Washington DC audiences.
• Signature TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSignature Theatre is co-producing Follies with STC, combining resources and creative teams for this major Stephen Sondheim production featuring 32 cast members and 14-piece orchestra.
• Cameron MackintoshcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduced originally on Broadway by Harold Prince, Follies is presented by special arrangement with Cameron Mackintosh, the renowned theatrical licensing and production company.
• Theatre Royal BathcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Score originated at Theatre Royal Bath and is brought to STC as their exclusive American engagement, featuring Brian Cox in his volcanic portrayal of Bach.
• Penn Quarter Restaurants (20+ partners)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBard Card program partners with local restaurants including a.kitchen+bar, Ambar, Asia Nine, Jaleo, Zaytinya, and others to offer discounts to STC donors and subscribers.
• McLean Community CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCamp Shakespeare partners with McLean Community Center to offer one-week and two-week camps at their location, extending STC's educational reach beyond DC.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Oregon Shakespeare Festival: One of the largest and oldest professional classical theatre companies in the US, producing a multi-play Shakespeare and classics season in Ashland, Oregon. Directly comparable repertory model, classical programming focus, and education mission; STC is already co-producing with OSF (A Raisin in the Sun).
• Arena Stage: Washington DC's other major resident regional theatre, producing American classics and new works across its own multi-venue campus. Competes directly with STC for DC patrons, donors, corporate sponsors, and group sales in the same metro.
• Signature Theatre (Virginia): Arlington, VA-based Tony-winning regional theatre focused on musical theatre and new works; already STC's co-production partner on Follies. Comparable repertory scale, DC-metro donor pool, and educational programming.
• Folger Shakespeare Library: DC-based institution dedicated to Shakespeare scholarship and performance, operating its own theater and education programs. Competes with STC for Shakespeare-focused audiences, K-12 programming contracts, and cultural-tourism funding in Washington.
• Guthrie Theater: Major regional theatre in Minneapolis operating multiple stages and producing a classics-heavy repertory season with extensive education programming. Comparable scale, mission, and nonprofit operating model.
• American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.): Harvard-affiliated professional theatre in Cambridge producing classical and new work, with strong MFA training and education programs. Comparable institutional scale, repertory programming, and academy partnership model to STC Academy/GWU.
• Round House Theatre: Bethesda, MD-based regional theatre producing a multi-play season of classics and contemporary work. Directly competes in the DC-metro subscriber/donor market with overlapping group-sales and education offerings.
• Goodman Theatre: Chicago's flagship nonprofit resident theatre producing a classics-heavy repertory season with extensive education and new-play development programs. Comparable scale, mission, and multi-venue operating model.
• Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey: Madison, NJ-based professional classical theatre company with a multi-play Shakespeare and classics season and a noted summer training institute. Closest programmatic analogue to STC outside of DC; directly comparable in repertory structure and education emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• Kennedy Center: National performing arts center in Washington DC presenting a broad portfolio of theatre, dance, opera, and music across multiple venues. Overlaps with STC for DC patrons, corporate sponsors, and group sales but at significantly larger scale and broader artistic mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/shakespeareindc
• Facebookfacebook.com/shakespeareindc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shakespeare-theatre-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Shakespeare Theatre Company