Marin Shakespeare Company

What Marin Shakespeare Company does

Marin Shakespeare Company is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1989 in San Rafael, California, that produces Shakespeare and classic plays and runs an unusually broad portfolio of education and social-justice programs for a community theatre of its size. Its core operations center on two venues: the indoor 514 Fourth Street Theatre in downtown San Rafael, which also houses administrative offices, and the outdoor Forest Meadows Amphitheatre on the campus of Dominican University of California, the host-institution partner. The 2026 season includes four mainstage productions (As You Like It, Julius Caesar, The Secret Garden, and the Seeds of Time Festival) plus ancillary events such as Sonetto and Greater Clements, with ticketing handled through the Purplepass platform and a box office reachable by phone and in person.

The company's business model is a multi-stream nonprofit revenue structure with no single dominant source. Earned revenue comes from ticket sales (single tickets, season passes, $10 student matinees, and $40–$150 Sonetto admissions), education program tuition (summer camps ranging $345–$1,600, a $600 SAIL intensive, $75/hour coaching, and $100–$150/hour classroom visits), and venue/costume rentals. Contributed revenue comes from tax-deductible individual donations (general, program-designated, and planned giving including IRA QCDs and appreciated stock, processed via Bloomerang) and institutional grants from foundations such as the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, Larson Legacy Foundation, California Arts Council, and corporate sponsors such as Play On Shakespeare. The organization serves five primary customer segments: K-12 schools and students (Will Power/Play Power classroom programs, student matinees, Teen Touring Company), youth and teens ages 5-19 (camps, classes, Teen Touring Company, tech apprenticeships), incarcerated adults and veterans in 14 California state prisons, system-impacted and at-risk youth, and general adult theatre audiences.

The most distinctive element of the business is the Shakespeare in Prison program, launched in 2003 at San Quentin State Prison and now operating across 14 California state prisons in partnership with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The program delivers drama-therapy-inspired Shakespeare classes and culminating performances, supported by partnerships with Veterans Healing Veterans from the Inside Out and the in-house Returned Citizens Theatre Troupe (founded 2015), which extends programming to formerly incarcerated artists. The organization cites studies indicating its programs reduce recidivism by more than 50%, a quantifiable social outcome that underpins its grant-funding narrative. Headcount is stated as 51-100 employees, and leadership comprises Managing Director Lesley Currier, Artistic Director Jon Tracy, Education Director Elana Kepner, Production Manager Leontyne Mbele-Mbong, Technical Director Jackson Currier, Business Manager Noah Rojas-Domke, and Shakespeare for Social Justice Director Suraya Keating.

Name

Marin Shakespeare Company

Legal name

Marin Shakespeare Company

Website

https://marinshakespeare.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Marin Shakespeare Company is a San Rafael-based nonprofit theatre organization founded in 1989 that produces mainstage Shakespeare productions and runs education programs, social-justice initiatives, and Shakespeare-in-prison programs across 14 California state prisons serving schools, youth, incarcerated adults, and general audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts and Live Theatre

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

Keywords

• Live theatre productions
• Performing arts education
• Prison arts programs
• Youth theatre training
• Shakespeare social justice

Headquarters

HQ city

San Rafael

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from single show tickets, season passes, and student matinee performances purchased through the box office and Purplepass online platform.
2. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting general operations or specific programs including Education, Shakespeare in Prison, and 'Cinderella Liberator'. Accepts gifts by check, credit card, appreciated stock, and other assets.
3. Education Program Tuition: Fees for summer camps, youth classes, Teen Company, SAIL program, one-on-one coaching, and professional workshops.
4. Teen Touring Company Donations: Requested donations of $100 per performance from host locations for Teen Touring Company performances at schools and community venues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Marin Shakespeare Company produces and presents live Shakespeare and classic play productions at Forest Meadows Amphitheatre and 514 Fourth Street Theatre in San Rafael, California. It also delivers a year-round portfolio of performing-arts education programs for youth (classes, summer camps, Teen Touring Company, SAIL acting intensive, Tech Apprenticeships) and social-justice programs, most notably Shakespeare in Prison, which runs in 14 California state prisons, and the Returned Citizens Theatre Troupe for formerly incarcerated artists.

Product overview

Marin Shakespeare Company is a nonprofit theatre organization offering a diversified portfolio of programs centered on Shakespearean and classic theatre productions and arts education. The core offering consists of mainstage productions at two venues (Forest Meadows Amphitheatre outdoor theatre and 514 Fourth Street indoor theatre), supplemented by extensive education programs (youth classes, summer camps, Teen Touring Company, SAIL acting intensive, and Tech Apprenticeships), and social justice initiatives (Shakespeare in Prison programs across 14 California state prisons, Returned Citizens Theatre Troupe, and youth at risk programs). Additional offerings include venue/costume rentals, Open Access space sharing, MSC Sessions workshops, and Kaleidoscope Talks. Ticketing is handled via Purplepass, donations via Bloomerang, and class registration via Coursestorm.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Returned Citizens Theatre Troupe: A theatre troupe comprised of actors who have survived incarceration, dedicated to telling stories of importance through theatre and sharing them with the public to foster empathy and understanding.

Products and services

• Mainstage Productions Award-winning Shakespeare and classic play productions performed at Forest Meadows Amphitheatre (outdoor) and 514 Fourth Street Theatre (indoor), featuring multicultural, multi-talented casts including actors who have survived incarceration. The 2026 season includes As You Like It, Julius Caesar, The Secret Garden, and the Seeds of Time Festival.
• Youth & Teen Company Classes Year-round performing arts instruction for students ages 8-19 at 514 Fourth Street, culminating in performances with professional sets, costumes, lighting, and sound.
• Summer Camps Shakespeare camps for ages 5-19 including Shakespeare's Stories Camp (ages 5-8, $345 per 1-week session), Young Company Camp (ages 8-12, $780-$1,170), and Teen Shakespeare Intensive (ages 13-18, $1,600 for 4-week session), with culminating performances.
• Teen Touring Company Free touring Shakespeare performances to schools, senior centers, and community organizations, for actors aged 12-18. A requested donation of $100 per performance is suggested from host locations, with selection for the tour independent of donation ability.
• Shakespeare for Student Audiences Student matinee performances at Forest Meadows Amphitheatre and 514 Fourth Street with post-show Q&A sessions and Discovery Guides for educators. Student group tickets are $10 per person with financial assistance available.
• Will Power and Play Power Classroom Programs In-school drama and Shakespeare instruction programs for TK-12 classrooms, including workshops, residencies, and student performances. Classroom visits and workshops under 10 hours are $150 per classroom hour and 10+ hours are $100 per classroom hour, with some programs provided at no or low cost to schools.
• SAIL: Summer Acting Intensive Lab Nine-week professional actor training and performance program for aspiring actors 18+, including mentorship, voice work, and ensemble roles in mainstage productions. Total cost is $600 with scholarships available.
• Tech Apprenticeship Program Technical theatre training for high school and college students covering set design, lighting, costume, props, stage management, and front-of-house operations across spring, summer, and fall sessions.
• Shakespeare in Prison Programs Drama therapy-inspired Shakespeare programs in California state prisons including San Quentin, Solano, Folsom, and others, serving 14 prisons with acting classes and annual performances. Studies show programs like these reduce recidivism by more than 50%.
• Returned Citizens Theatre Troupe Theatre troupe by and for artists who have survived incarceration, telling stories and fostering community dialogue about incarceration and re-entry. Performs public events such as Breaking Open: A Night of Solo Stories and Playback Theater.
• Shakespeare for Youth at Risk Social justice programs for low-income, underserved, and system-impacted youth including in-school programs, scholarships, and workshops at juvenile halls.
• Open Access and Open Circle Free and low-cost space access programs inviting artists to use facilities for performances, rehearsals, and classroom activities.
• MSC Sessions (Professional Workshops) Multi-week professional workshops for actors age 18+ developed by Bay Area artists to reinvigorate theatre craft.
• Venue and Costume Rentals Rental of Forest Meadows Amphitheatre, 514 Fourth Street Theatre, and costumes and props to outside organizations.
• Kaleidoscope Talks Pre-show discussions and talks providing context and insight into productions.
• One-on-One Coaching One-on-one audition coaching for ages 12 to adults, priced at $75 per hour.

Quantifiable outcome

• Recidivism reduction: Studies show programs like theirs reduce recidivism by more than 50%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Veterans Healing Veterans from the Inside OutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership creating original plays with incarcerated veterans at San Quentin State Prison since 2014. Programs explore issues of importance to veterans and have included productions like 'The Field' and 'Escaping the Loop'.
• Dominican University of CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for Forest Meadows Amphitheatre venue on Dominican University campus in San Rafael, providing the primary outdoor performance venue.
• California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency overseeing 14 California State Prisons where Marin Shakespeare Company delivers Shakespeare and drama therapy programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Utah Shakespeare Festival: Regional repertory company combining Shakespeare productions with educational outreach and tours—directly comparable in mission mix and program design.
• San Francisco Shakespeare Festival: Bay Area nonprofit Shakespeare organization running touring productions, education programs, and free outdoor performances—directly overlapping Marin Shakespeare's mission and audience.
• San Francisco Mime Troupe: Bay Area nonprofit theatre with explicit social-justice mission producing free outdoor performances—directly comparable in combining theatre with social justice messaging and free community access.
• California Shakespeare Theater (Cal Shakes): Bay Area Shakespeare-focused regional theatre producing summer productions, directly comparable as a same-region Shakespeare repertory company with overlapping donor pools.
• Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Long-running regional repertory theatre producing a large Shakespeare and classic play season; comparable as a multi-venue, large-scale Shakespeare repertory company.

Broad incumbents

• TheatreWorks Silicon Valley: Regional professional theatre with new works, classics, and education programming—comparable Bay Area peer sharing the education-and-ticketed-performance model.
• American Conservatory Theater: Major San Francisco regional theatre and MFA training program—comparable as a Bay Area theatre with a broader programming mandate that includes classics and new work, plus extensive education.
• Berkeley Repertory Theatre: Larger, established Bay Area regional theatre with overlapping donor pools and education programming—comparable but with a broader, non-Shakespeare programming mandate.

Regional players

• Curiosity Theatre (formerly Santa Cruz Shakespeare): Northern California Shakespeare repertory company operating on a regional scale with similar touring and education programs—comparable North Bay/Central California Shakespeare regional peer.

Emerging players

• Penumbra Theatre Company: Regional theatre with social-justice focus serving incarcerated and system-impacted populations through arts programming—comparable in applying theatre to criminal-justice and equity outcomes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MarinShakes
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/MarinShakespeareCompany
• Facebookfacebook.com/marinshakes
• Instagraminstagram.com/marinshakes
• Pinterestpinterest.com/marinshakes

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Marin Shakespeare Company