Round House Theatre
Round House Theatre is a nonprofit regional theatre founded in 1976 in Bethesda, Maryland, producing a mainstage season of plays and musicals in a 344-seat venue, serving over 30,000 patrons and 5,000 education students annually through ticket sales, rentals, donations, and arts education programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersBethesda, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Round House Theatre does
Round House Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional regional theatre founded in 1976 and headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, with an Education Center and administrative offices in Silver Spring. The organization produces a mainstage season of new plays, modern classics, and musicals in its 344-seat Bethesda theatre, alongside an education division serving more than 5,000 students annually through summer camps, year-round classes, the Teen Performance Company, and in-school programming across Montgomery County. Revenue is generated across five streams: ticket sales and season subscriptions, venue and classroom rentals, donations and contributed income (including support from the Maryland State Arts Council, Montgomery County, the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, and the National Endowment for the Arts), on-site food and beverage at Jerry's Place, and tuition-based education programs.
The theatre operates a multi-channel go-to-market approach combining a box office (phone, in-person, and cart.roundhousetheatre.org e-commerce), season subscriptions, group sales, venue rentals, and community access programs including Free Play (free tickets for students age 13 through college), On The House (complimentary group tickets for 501(c)(3) nonprofits), and Teen Nights. Differentiated programs include the Equal Play commissioning initiative (30 new plays by women and BIPOC playwrights), the Resident Artist program with two-year residencies and the Fair Play pay scale, and the National Capital New Play Festival. Under Artistic Director Ryan Rilette (since 2012) and Executive Director Ed Zakreski (since 2016), the organization grew its annual operating budget from $4 million to $10 million, completed a $14 million Full Circle Capital Campaign and renovation, and produced 18 of its top 20 highest-grossing productions.
Round House Theatre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Round House Theatre
- Legal name
- Round House Theatre
- Website
- https://roundhousetheatre.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Round House Theatre is a nonprofit regional theatre founded in 1976 in Bethesda, Maryland, producing a mainstage season of plays and musicals in a 344-seat venue, serving over 30,000 patrons and 5,000 education students annually through ticket sales, rentals, donations, and arts education programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Round House Theatre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Theatre / Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Fine Arts Schools (61161)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)
Keywords
Where Round House Theatre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bethesda
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Round House Theatre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Single tickets and season subscriptions for theatrical performances. The 2025-2026 season includes productions such as The Inheritance, Rules for Living, Nothing Up My Sleeve, and Sally & Tom. Subscriptions are available for the 2026-2027 50th Anniversary Season.
- Venue Rental: Round House rents its spaces including a 344-seat theatre, lobby, lounge, and event room to external groups for events, performances, and gatherings. Theatre facility rental ranges from $4,100-$8,750 depending on commercial/corporate vs nonprofit status and on/off season. Event Room rental is $140-$220/hour. Education Center classrooms are $110-$160/hour.
- Donations and Contributions: Individual giving, corporate giving, and planned giving programs. The Development Department (240.641.5352) manages fundraising. The 'Theatre for Everyone' initiative includes various giving levels with benefits.
- Food and Beverage (Jerry's Place): On-site bar and café operated as Jerry's Place, named in honor of former Artistic Director Jerry Whiddon. Offers specialty cocktails, beer, wine, food items from Founding Farmers. Opens 90 minutes before performances.
- Education Programs: Summer theatre camps for grades K-12, classes, performance companies, school programs, and internships. Teaching artist positions and teen educator programs. The Education Center is located at 925 Wayne Avenue in Silver Spring.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Play - Free tickets for students age 13 through college |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | On The House - Free tickets for nonprofit organizations |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Teen Nights - Discounted tickets for teens |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Theatre Rental (Commercial/Corporate) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Theatre Rental (Nonprofit/Individual) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Lobby Rental (Commercial/Corporate) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Lobby Rental (Nonprofit/Individual) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Event Room Rental |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Education Center Classroom Rental |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Jerry's Place Food and Beverage |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Round House Theatre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Round House Theatre is a nonprofit professional regional theatre that produces an annual mainstage season of new plays, modern classics, and musicals in its 344-seat Bethesda theatre. It also operates theatre arts education programs (summer camps, year-round classes, the Teen Performance Company, and in-school programs) at its Silver Spring Education Center, and rents its theatre, lobby, lounge, event room, and classrooms to corporate and nonprofit clients for external events.
Product overview
Round House Theatre operates as a professional regional theatre offering live theatrical performances and comprehensive arts education programs. The core product is its mainstage season of plays and musicals at its 340-350 seat Bethesda theatre. Education offerings include Summer Theatre Camps for grades K-12, Teen Performance Company, School Programs, and Classes at the Silver Spring Education Center. Accessibility initiatives include Free Play (free student tickets), On The House (nonprofit group tickets), and relaxed performances. Artistic programs include the Equal Play commissioning initiative, National Capital New Play Festival, and Resident Artist program. Additional services include Jerry's Place bar/cafe, space rentals, and special events. The theatre serves over 5,000 students annually through its education programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Jerry's Place: The bar and cafe at Round House Theatre, named in honor of Jerry Whiddon who served as Artistic Director from 1985-2005. Features a contemporary menu and full-service bar with locally sourced offerings.
Products and services
- Mainstage Theatre Season (Subscriptions and Single Tickets) Annual season of professional theatrical productions — new plays, modern classics, and musicals — performed on the 344-seat Bethesda stage with thrust and proscenium configurations; available through single tickets and season subscriptions.
- Summer Theatre Camps Theatre arts day camps for grades K-12 offered during summer months at locations in Silver Spring and Bethesda, Maryland, available as lead-teacher and assistant positions.
- Teen Performance Company Pre-professional ensemble program for teenagers offering performance opportunities and world-premiere productions.
- Theatre Arts Classes Year-round theatre arts classes for various age groups and skill levels held at the Silver Spring Education Center.
- School Programs On-site classes and satellite theatre education programming delivered to schools throughout Montgomery County, Maryland.
- Space Rentals (Theatre, Lobby, Event Room, Classrooms) Rental of the 344-seat theatre (thrust/proscenium), lobby (up to 200 guests), lounge (15-20 guests), event room (up to 65 guests), and Education Center classrooms (five classrooms plus sprung-floor rehearsal space) for external performances, corporate events, nonprofit galas, and meetings, with separate commercial/corporate and nonprofit/individual rate tiers.
- Jerry's Place Bar & Café On-site bar and café named for former Artistic Director Jerry Whiddon, offering specialty cocktails, beer, wine, and a contemporary food menu supplied by Founding Farmers; opens 90 minutes before performances and serves rental-event attendees.
Quantifiable outcome
- 253 Helen Hayes Award nominations with 60 wins
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Round House Theatre
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Round House Theatre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Round House Theatre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.
- The Salt LineminorLocal Bethesda restaurant at 7284 Woodmont Avenue. Restaurant partner for Round House, bringing coastal spirit and seafood to Bethesda Row near the theatre.
- Q by Peter ChangminorRestaurant partner at 4500 East-West Hwy #100, on the same block as Round House. Offers modern, refined Szechuan Chinese cuisine.
- Founding FarmerscoreProvides food for Jerry's Place bar and café. Preferred caterer for rental events at Round House. Locally-sourced offerings including thematic cocktails and snack/meal options.
- Mayorga CoffeeminorCoffee sponsor for Jerry's Place. Provides Artesano medium roast and decaf medium roast coffee options.
- Provisions CateringminorPreferred caterer for rental events at Round House Theatre.
- LAZ ParkingminorOperates the parking garage underneath Round House Theatre and 7501 Wisconsin Avenue. Provides discounted parking for Round House patrons ($6 flat rate for evening/weekend performances).
- Olney Theatre CentermajorMulti-season collaboration announced in 2022 for joint productions. Includes co-production of INK (2023-2024 season).
- Barrington Stage CompanymajorCo-produced Next to Normal with Round House Theatre (2023-2024 season).
- Metro WeeklyminorLocal LGBTQ+ publication featuring cover stories on Round House productions including The Inheritance.
- Washington PostmajorMajor daily newspaper providing reviews and coverage of Round House productions including Topdog/Underdog, Next to Normal, and The Mountaintop.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Round House Theatre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Arena Stage: One of the largest regional theatres in the DC area, producing a season of new plays, classics, and musicals. Directly comparable to Round House in market, programming mix, and EDIA positioning, but operates larger venues and a longer subscription history.
- Shakespeare Theatre Company: Major DC regional theatre with a focus on classical and contemporary work. Overlaps directly with Round House in audience, donor base, and DC-area subscriber pool; Ed Zakreski's prior employer.
- Olney Theatre Center: Maryland-based regional theatre with overlapping DC-area audience. Active co-production partner with Round House (e.g., INK) and most direct peer by geography and scale.
- Signature Theatre: Arlington, VA-based professional theatre known for musicals and new work. Competes with Round House for DC-area subscribers, particularly in Virginia, and overlaps in resident artist programming.
- Studio Theatre: DC-based contemporary theatre producing new work and modern classics. Directly comparable in scale, programming philosophy, and target audience within the Washington metro area.
- Ford's Theatre: Historic DC theatre producing a season of plays and musicals with a strong education and community engagement mission. Comparable in mission scope and the combination of performance and educational programming.
- Barrington Stage Company: Pittsfield, MA-based regional theatre with a similar new-work development model. Active co-production partner with Round House (Next to Normal); directly comparable in size and artistic mission.
Regional players
- Center Stage: Baltimore-based professional regional theatre with a similar mix of classics, musicals, and new work. Comparable in scale and educational programming, but serves a different metropolitan market within the broader Mid-Atlantic region.
Broad incumbents
- Goodman Theatre: One of the largest regional theatres in the U.S. based in Chicago, with a much larger operating budget and subscriber base. Comparable in programming mix and mission, but operates at materially greater scale.
Emerging players
- TheaterWorks Hartford: Hartford, CT-based regional theatre producing contemporary and new work. Comparable in scale and EDIA programming, with an emerging-players profile and similar subscription/community mix.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Round House Theatre social profiles
Digital presenceRound House Theatre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Round House Theatre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Round House Theatre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Round House Theatre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Round House Theatre
What does Round House Theatre do?
Round House Theatre is a nonprofit professional regional theatre that produces an annual mainstage season of new plays, modern classics, and musicals in its 344-seat Bethesda theatre. It also operates theatre arts education programs (summer camps, year-round classes, the Teen Performance Company, and in-school programs) at its Silver Spring Education Center, and rents its theatre, lobby, lounge, event room, and classrooms to corporate and nonprofit clients for external events.
Is Round House Theatre a public or private company?
Round House Theatre is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Round House Theatre founded?
Round House Theatre was founded in 1976. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Round House Theatre based?
Round House Theatre is headquartered in Bethesda, United States, in the North America region.
How does Round House Theatre make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are venue Rental, donations and Contributions, food and Beverage (Jerry's Place) and education Programs.
Who are Round House Theatre's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Arena Stage, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Olney Theatre Center, Signature Theatre, Studio Theatre, Ford's Theatre and Barrington Stage Company. Center Stage is listed as a regional player. Goodman Theatre is listed as a broad incumbent. TheaterWorks Hartford is listed as an emerging player.
Does Round House Theatre have an API?
No public API is recorded for Round House Theatre.
What industry is Round House Theatre in?
Round House Theatre's product category is Live Theatre / Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAB, Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies, with a secondary code of MPAGABAH, Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama). Its NAICS code is 71111.