Vineyard Theatre

What Vineyard Theatre does

Vineyard Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Off-Broadway theatre company founded in 1982 and headquartered at 108 East 15th Street in Union Square, Manhattan, with an additional Rehearsal Studio at 101 East 15th Street. The organization develops and produces new plays and musicals, premiering three works per season in its 132-seat Dimson Theatre and operating an artistic development pipeline that includes the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, Susan Stroman Directing Award, Colman Domingo Award, the Daryl Roth-Vogel Commission, studio residencies, and an annual Works in Progress Reading Series. Over its 40+ year history, Vineyard has transferred 11 productions to Broadway, including Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning work, and supports more than 150 artists and 700 students annually through mainstage programming, education partnerships with five NYC public high schools, and community initiatives.

The organization's revenue model is a hybrid of earned and contributed income typical of mid-sized US nonprofit theatres. Earned revenue streams include individual ticket sales (Rush at $20, Good Neighbor at $35, full-price), venue rentals (Dimson Theatre and Rehearsal Studio, with subsidized rates of $10/hour for qualifying artists and nonprofits), and subscription memberships at three tiers ranging from $40 to $440 per year. Contributed revenue streams include the Maker Program for individual donors ($1,800 to $10,000+), corporate sponsorships ranging from $25,000 to $500,000 per season, and foundation grants from a concentrated set of major funders including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Shubert Foundation, Edgerton Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, Audible, and the New York State Council on the Arts. The source material indicates ticket sales cover approximately 30% of the annual budget, with the balance funded through philanthropic and sponsorship channels.

Vineyard Theatre has no disclosed proprietary technology platform. Its distribution is anchored by a Union Square physical venue, the vineyardtheatre.org e-commerce and ticketing site, and community-distribution partners including The Point, Westbeth, and Artistic Freedom Initiative for Pay-It-Forward ticket redistribution. The company maintains 11-50 employees and is led by Artistic Director and Managing Producer Sarah Stern, with an artistic team including Associate Artistic Directors Jason Aguirre and Miriam Weiner, Senior Business Manager Kat Hamilton, and Interim General Manager Moogie Brooks. The board is chaired by Annette Stover with Mark Lerner as President.

Name

Vineyard Theatre

Legal name

Vineyard Theatre

Website

https://vineyardtheatre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vineyard Theatre is a 501(c)(3) Off-Broadway theatre company in NYC that develops and produces new plays and musicals, serving general theatre audiences, NYC public high school students, developing artists, and corporate sponsors from its 132-seat Union Square venue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Off-Broadway Theatre

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG), Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

Keywords

• Off-broadway productions
• New play development
• Theatrical venue rentals
• Performing arts education
• Arts fundraising programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Individual ticket sales for productions including single tickets, rush tickets ($20), and Good Neighbor Program tickets ($35). Ticket sales cover approximately 30% of annual budget.
2. Membership Programs: Annual membership programs including Single Membership ($220), Dual Membership ($440), and Under 40/Theatre Artist Membership ($40 enrollment). Members receive priority booking, no ticketing fees, and discounts on concessions.
3. Maker Program: Philanthropic giving program with tiers: SceneMaker ($1,800+), PlayMaker ($2,800+), ChangeMaker ($5,000+), and Artistic Director's Circle ($10,000+). Includes premium tickets, donor benefits, and recognition.
4. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate membership and sponsorship packages ranging from $25,000 to $500,000 per season, including complimentary tickets, advertising, gala tables, and client entertainment benefits.
5. Space Rentals: Rental of Dimson Theatre (132-seat) and Rehearsal Studio. Subsidized rehearsal space at $10/hour for qualifying nonprofits, BIPOC artists, and emerging artists.
6. Foundation and Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from foundations (Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Shubert Foundation, etc.) and individual donors supporting the non-profit's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Vineyard Theatre develops and produces world-premiere plays and musicals at its 132-seat Off-Broadway Dimson Theatre in Union Square, New York, supporting each production with development programs, residencies, and artist awards. The company also operates venue rentals (Dimson Theatre and a Rehearsal Studio), arts education programming for NYC public high school students, and community access initiatives such as the Good Neighbor Program and Pay-It-Forward tickets. Operations are sustained through ticket sales, memberships, individual and foundation donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Vineyard Theatre is an Off-Broadway theatre company operating as a single unified organization rather than a platform-with-modules architecture. The company develops and produces new plays and musicals through its mainstage productions, supported by artistic development programs (paula vogel playwriting award, susan stroman directing award, colman domingo award, studio residencies and commissions). The organization offers venue rentals through its Dimson Theatre (132-seat) and Rehearsal Studio, operates membership and corporate sponsorship programs for audience engagement, delivers education programs for NYC public high school students, and runs community initiatives including Good Neighbor Program, Pay-It-Forward, and Affinity Nights. Works in Progress Reading Series provides developmental support for emerging playwrights. All offerings function as integrated programs within a single institutional mission rather than discrete software products or modular add-ons.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Productions World-premiere Off-Broadway plays and musicals developed and produced by Vineyard Theatre at its 132-seat Dimson Theatre, with three new works premiering each season. Productions frequently transfer to Broadway, regional, and international stages. Targeted at theatre audiences seeking bold, original new work.
• Artistic Development Programs Readings, workshops, residencies, and developmental lab productions that support playwrights, directors, composers, and actors at all stages of development. Includes the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, Susan Stroman Directing Award, Colman Domingo Award, studio residencies, and commissions (including the Daryl Roth-Vogel Commission). 150+ artists are supported each season.
• Dimson Theatre Rental Rental of the 132-seat Off-Broadway theatre space for productions, readings, workshops, live-audience events, and fundraisers. Located at 108 East 15th Street in Union Square. Inquiries handled by the General Manager.
• Rehearsal Studio Rental Hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly rental of a 36.5 x 22 ft column-free rehearsal studio with sprung wooden floors, 50-person seating capacity, and air purification systems. Subsidized rehearsal space at $10/hour is available for qualifying nonprofits, BIPOC artists, and emerging artists.
• Membership Program Annual season membership program with Single ($220), Dual ($440), and Under 40/Theatre Artist ($40 enrollment + $30/ticket) tiers. Members receive priority booking before public on-sale, no ticketing fees, and 20% off additional guest tickets, concessions, and merchandise.
• Education Programs Arts education programming for NYC public high school students including student matinees, theatre intensives, the Vineyard Theatre Student Ensemble (VTSE), and internship opportunities. Partners with five NYC public high schools and serves 700+ students annually; participants are 28.3% more likely to enroll in college than peers.
• Community Initiatives Programs including the Good Neighbor Program (subsidized $35 tickets, with 18% of every performance's tickets allocated), Pay-It-Forward (donated tickets to community partners such as The Point, Westbeth, and Artistic Freedom Initiative), and Affinity Nights (BIPOC Night, LGBTQ+ Night, Under 40 Night).
• Corporate Sponsorship Customizable corporate sponsorship packages at $25,000 to $500,000 per season, offering complimentary tickets, gala tables, advertising in programs, client entertainment, employee events, and logo placement.
• Works in Progress Reading Series Annual reading series featuring playwrights, composers, and directors presenting works-in-progress to audiences for development and feedback. The 2026 series is currently scheduled.

Quantifiable outcome

• 28.3% higher college enrollment rate for students participating in Vineyard education programs compared to peers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Union Square PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partnership for neighborhood initiatives. Vineyard Theatre is a member of the Union Square community and collaborates on community programs.
• The PointminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Pay-It-Forward program, receiving donated tickets to distribute to community members who otherwise may not have access to theatre.
• WestbethminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Pay-It-Forward program, receiving donated tickets for artists and community members.
• Artistic Freedom InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Pay-It-Forward program supporting artists and asylum seekers through access to theatre experiences.
• Developing ArtistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing training, performance and creative expression opportunities for VTSE students and young artists through REBEL VERSES Youth Arts Festival.
• Fordham UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in Student Makers ambassador program for 2025-2026 season.
• Marymount Manhattan CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in Student Makers ambassador program for 2025-2026 season.
• New York UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in Student Makers ambassador program for 2025-2026 season.
• Pace UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in Student Makers ambassador program for 2025-2026 season.
• Daryl RothmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Daryl Roth-Vogel Commission was created in 2022 in partnership with Daryl Roth and Paula Vogel for a mid-career playwright to create new work. Eisa Davis is the inaugural recipient.
• Royal Shakespeare CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTarell Alvin McCraney is an associate artist at the Royal Shakespeare Company, UK. Ongoing relationship through artist.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Signature Theatre Company: Off-Broadway nonprofit focused on developing new work and supporting resident playwrights, sharing Vineyard's commitment to artist development and new play incubation.
• Atlantic Theater Company: Off-Broadway company developing new work with comparable Broadway transfer record and similar-sized venue footprint in NYC.
• Manhattan Theatre Club: Off-Broadway nonprofit theatre at NY City Center producing new plays and musicals with Broadway transfer success - similar scaled Off-Broadway operating model.
• Second Stage Theater: Off-Broadway nonprofit producing new plays and musicals with multiple Broadway transfers, operating the Tony Kiser Theater - directly comparable Off-Broadway-to-Broadway pipeline.
• MCC Theater: Off-Broadway NYC company developing and producing new plays and musicals - comparable development-focused mission and scale.
• New York Theatre Workshop: Off-Broadway development-focused nonprofit theatre known for premiering new work that transfers to Broadway (e.g., Rent, Hadestown), mirroring Vineyard's new-play incubation approach.
• Playwrights Horizons: Off-Broadway theatre company in NYC dedicated to developing and producing new American plays and musicals - the closest analog to Vineyard in mission, scale, and Off-Broadway development-to-Broadway transfer model.
• Theater for a New Audience: Brooklyn-based Off-Broadway nonprofit producing new classical and contemporary work with artist-development programs - comparable NYC Off-Broadway producing nonprofit with similar scale.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Center Theater: Larger, more established NYC nonprofit producing both Off-Broadway new work (LCT3) and Broadway productions - a broader incumbent whose development arm overlaps directly with Vineyard's new-play mission.
• Roundabout Theatre Company: Major NYC nonprofit that presents both classic revivals and new work across Broadway and Off-Broadway venues - a larger portfolio incumbent that competes with Vineyard for Off-Broadway audiences and donors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vineyardtheatre
• YouTubeyoutube.com/vineyardtheatre
• Facebookfacebook.com/vineyardtheatrenyc
• Instagraminstagram.com/vineyardtheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vineyard-theatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Vineyard Theatre