The American Conservatory Theater

What The American Conservatory Theater does

The American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional theater company founded in 1965 and headquartered at 415 Geary Street in San Francisco, with secondary performance and training facilities at 1127 Market Street (Strand Theater) and 30 Grant Avenue. As a LORT-member regional theater, A.C.T. operates a multi-vertical platform combining professional mainstage productions, an extensive conservatory training operation, and community programming. The company has staged more than 350 productions for a cumulative audience exceeding 7 million and reaches over 250,000 individuals annually through performances and training.

A.C.T.'s core offerings span three product lines. The performance business includes mainstage productions, limited engagements (e.g., EXPANSIVE 2026, Paranormal Activity stage adaptation), conservatory shows, family-friendly productions, and InterACT audience engagement events held across its two primary venues. The education business includes the Young Conservatory (grades 3-12), Studio A.C.T. (adults 19+), San Francisco Semester, Summer Training Congress, and A.C.T.@Work professional development, all anchored at the 30 Grant Avenue training facility and backed by an 8,500+ title performing arts library. The new works program commissions playwrights (Christopher Chen, Lauren Yee, Anne Washburn) and runs script submissions. Venue rentals to third-party producers and event organizers comprise a secondary commercial stream across all three spaces.

The business model is a hybrid earned/contributed nonprofit structure. Earned revenue derives from subscription packages ($20-$50 YC tickets, premium mainstage pricing not disclosed), conservatory tuition ($1,980 for 2026-27 YC Cabaret, $1,500 for Twelfth Night), rush ticket sales, and venue rentals. Contributed revenue flows through the Prospero Society (major donors), Friends of the YC, Rising Leaders Council, ACTivate Pass, corporate sponsorships, and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and Grants for the Arts. Pricing for mainstage subscriptions is not publicly disclosed. Marketing is conducted via the company website (act-sf.org), standard social channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube), email, earned media, and community partnerships with organizations such as Larkin Street Youth Services and Urban Alchemy. Distribution is direct via box office (415.749.2228), online ticketing, and in-person registration at training facilities. The Board of Trustees is chaired by Jeffrey S. Minick with Joaquín Torres as Board President, and includes senior executives from Roblox, Apple, Google, Yahoo, Mozilla, Slack, Walmart, Uber, Cisco/Meraki, Pillsbury, and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman.

Name

The American Conservatory Theater

Legal name

American Conservatory Theater

Website

https://act-sf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

A.C.T. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit LORT-member professional theater company founded in 1965 in San Francisco, operating two mainstage venues and a conservatory that serves 250,000+ patrons, students (grades 3-12 through adults), and community members annually through productions, training programs, and education initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theater & Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

Keywords

• Live theater productions
• Performing arts education
• Professional acting training
• Youth theater conservatory
• Nonprofit theater company

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from mainstage productions, limited engagements, and conservatory shows. Tickets range from $20-$50 for Young Conservatory productions, with rush tickets available for $15 or 50% off full price. Season subscriptions and mini-packages provide recurring ticket revenue.
2. Tuition and Training Programs: Revenue from conservatory programs including Young Conservatory classes, Studio A.C.T., San Francisco Semester, Summer Training Congress, and A.C.T.@Work professional development. YC Cabaret Program tuition is $1,980 for the 2026-27 season; individual class registrations include a $20 student registration fee.
3. Individual Donations and Membership: Donor contributions through various giving programs including annual fund, Prospero Society (major donors), Friends of the YC, Rising Leaders Council, and ACTivate Pass.
4. Foundation and Government Grants: Support from National Endowment for the Arts and Grants for the Arts. Additional foundation funding through dedicated grant programs.
5. Corporate Support: Corporate sponsorships and partnerships with businesses supporting productions and programs.
6. Venue Rentals: Revenue from renting theater spaces including Toni Rembe Theater, Strand Theater, and 30 Grant Studio for external events and productions.
7. Tax-Deductible Contributions: A.C.T. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Tax ID: 94-6135772), allowing donors to make tax-deductible contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The American Conservatory Theater is a nonprofit professional theater company that produces and presents live theatrical productions on its San Francisco stages and delivers a layered portfolio of theater education and training programs. Its mainstage productions run seasonal schedules across the Toni Rembe Theater and Strand Theater, while its conservatory spans Young Conservatory (grades 3-12), Studio A.C.T. (adults 19+), San Francisco Semester, Summer Training Congress, and A.C.T.@Work professional development. Revenue is supplemented by venue rentals, donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

The American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) is a nonprofit regional theater company offering a comprehensive portfolio of live performance and theater education products. The core offerings include mainstage productions at two San Francisco venues (Toni Rembe Theater and Strand Theater), supported by conservatory training programs spanning youth education (Young Conservatory for grades 3-12), adult training (Studio A.C.T.), professional development (A.C.T.@Work), and seasonal intensives. Additional products include new works development, script submissions, limited engagements, family-friendly productions, InterACT audience events, a performing arts library, and theater tours. The portfolio is structured as a unified platform combining live performance programming with extensive educational and community engagement modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Young Conservatory: Internationally recognized professional theater training program for students in grades 3-12.
• Studio A.C.T.
• San Francisco Semester
• Summer Training Congress
• A.C.T.@Work Professional Development

Products and services

• Mainstage Productions

Quantifiable outcome

• 350+ productions performed for 7+ million audience members over the organization's history
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Larkin Street Youth ServicesminorOthersCommunity partner listed in A.C.T.'s EDI Resources. Larkin Street Youth Services supports homeless youth and is part of A.C.T.'s commitment to community engagement and social responsibility.
• Urban AlchemyminorOthersListed as A.C.T. Partner in EDI Resources under SF Bay Area Harm Reduction section. Urban Alchemy provides safety services at A.C.T. venues, with staff listed under Safety Services on the staff page.
• National Endowment for the ArtscoreOthersSupported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, a major federal arts funding agency that supports artistic excellence and access to the arts.
• Grants for the ArtscoreOthersSupported in part by a grant from Grants for the Arts, a San Francisco-based organization that funds arts and culture programs in the city.
• Theatre Communications GroupcoreOthersA.C.T. is a constituent of Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for nonprofit professional theater, providing networking, resources, and advocacy.
• Theatre Bay AreacoreOthersA.C.T. is a member of Theatre Bay Area, which provides general auditions and networking for Bay Area theater professionals.
• League of Resident Theatres (LORT)coreOthersA.C.T. operates under agreement between LORT and Actors' Equity Association. LORT EDI Committee membership provides mentorship for BIPOC leaders in the Performance Arts Industry.
• Berkeley Repertory TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint A.C.T. & Berkeley Rep general EPA auditions held May 4 at A.C.T. and May 5 at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, demonstrating collaborative relationship for actor casting.
• We See You White American TheaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA.C.T. has expanded its EDI plans and commitments with input from We See You White American Theater principles and the Bay Area BIPOC Equity Action Plan.
• BIPOC Equity Action PlanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA.C.T. incorporated Bay Area BIPOC Equity Action Plan into its EDI strategic planning, demonstrating commitment to local equity initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Oregon Shakespeare Festival is a large LORT-affiliated regional repertory theater producing classical and contemporary work. A.C.T.'s Interim Executive Director David Schmitz previously led OSF, evidencing functional comparability in scale and operating model.
• Berkeley Repertory Theatre: Berkeley Rep is a Tony Award-winning regional theater based in Berkeley, CA, producing mainstage seasons and operating in the same Bay Area market as A.C.T. The two organizations even conduct joint auditions, confirming direct operational overlap.
• California Shakespeare Theater: Cal Shakes is a Bay Area-based repertory theater producing Shakespeare and contemporary work. A.C.T. board member Jay Yamada also serves on its board, indicating close network ties and overlapping regional theater mission.
• San Francisco Playhouse: San Francisco Playhouse is a smaller SF-based professional theater producing mainstage seasons. A.C.T.'s Production Manager Elizabeth Newton previously worked there, indicating direct professional overlap in the same market.

Broad incumbents

• Center Theatre Group: Center Theatre Group operates the Ahmanson, Mark Taper Forum, and Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles, one of the largest LORT theatrical operations in the country. Director of Dramaturgy Joy Meads came from CTG, signaling comparable artistic infrastructure.
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Steppenwolf is a Tony Award-winning, multi-stage regional theater based in Chicago with LORT status. Multiple A.C.T. staff previously served there, including Interim ED David Schmitz and dramaturg Joy Meads, evidencing peer scale and talent circulation.
• Roundabout Theatre Company: Roundabout is a major New York-based nonprofit producing Broadway and Off-Broadway work through LORT contracts. Pam MacKinnon has directed productions at Roundabout, confirming direct artistic and operational comparability.
• Guthrie Theater: The Guthrie is a large LORT regional theater in Minneapolis operating multiple stages with a major training program. Comparable in scale, LORT status, and integrated conservatory-style training mission.
• Arena Stage: Arena Stage is a LORT regional theater in Washington D.C. producing plays and new works. Artistic Director Pam MacKinnon has directed there, evidencing recognized operational comparability.

Emerging players

• San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company (SFBATCO): SFBATCO is a smaller Bay Area producing entity co-founded by A.C.T. board member Rodney Earl Jackson. The organization presents productions at A.C.T. venues and represents an emerging, ethnically-focused regional peer with overlapping audience and venue base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ACTSanFrancisco
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ACTSanFrancisco
• Facebookfacebook.com/ACTSanFrancisco
• Instagraminstagram.com/actsanfrancisco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-conservatory-theater

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 The American Conservatory Theater