Cleveland Play House

What Cleveland Play House does

Cleveland Play House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional regional theatre founded in 1915 and headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. It performs mainstage productions across three state-of-the-art venues — the Allen Theatre, Outcalt Theatre, and Helen Theatre — located at Playhouse Square, with shared box office and venue operations managed in partnership with the Playhouse Square Foundation. The organization serves four primary segments: general Northeast Ohio theatre audiences, K-12 students and families, graduate acting students, and schools and community organizations. Its product portfolio includes a subscription season of mainstage productions (Anytime, Classic, and Value tiers priced $191-$255 post-discount), the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program jointly administered with Case Western Reserve University since 1996, the trauma-informed CARE education program reaching more than 10,000 children weekly across Cleveland, Lorain, Western New York, and Nevada, summer camps, student matinees, group sales, and the annual New Ground Theatre Festival for new play development. Supporting functions include marketing, group sales, audience services, and a full production department (technical direction, costume shop, scenic, properties, lighting, and sound). The MFA program selects 8 actors per cohort from over 1,000 applicants and offers full tuition waivers, living stipends, and AEA membership upon graduation; it was ranked among the top 10 MFA Acting programs globally by The Hollywood Reporter in 2025.

The organization generates revenue through five streams: ticket sales (approximately 50% of the operating budget via subscriptions and individual tickets), individual and institutional donations, corporate sponsorships, grants (Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, Ohio Arts Council, The Cleveland Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, U.S. Department of Education), and the MFA program. Pricing reflects a tiered subscription model with accessibility overlays including $15 student tickets, $5 Ohio Direction Cardholder admission, 50% military discounts via Blue Star Theatres, and 20%+ group sales discounts for organizations of 10 or more. Distribution channels include a physical box office at 1407 Euclid Avenue, an online ticketing platform, a dedicated group sales department, and a digital marketing presence spanning website, email newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, YouTube, and Pinterest. The organization holds no patents or proprietary technology assets, is not backed by venture capital, has no subsidiaries or parent company, and operates from three Cleveland facilities (performance venues at 1407 Euclid Avenue, administrative offices at 1901 E. 13th Street, and a production center at 7401 Shoreway Commerce Parkway).

Cleveland Play House was founded in 1915 and is recognized as America's first professional regional theatre; it received the 2015 Regional Theatre Tony Award from the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League. Over its history it has produced more than 1,600 productions with cumulative attendance exceeding 12 million, including 100+ world and American premieres. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Dr. Ethan Karp and led day-to-day by Managing Director Rachel L. Fink. It is a founding member of both the League of Resident Theatres (LORT, 1966) and Theatre Communications Group (TCG).

Name

Cleveland Play House

Legal name

Cleveland Play House

Website

https://clevelandplayhouse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1915

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cleveland Play House is a 110-year-old nonprofit regional theatre in Cleveland, Ohio, operating three venues at Playhouse Square and serving general audiences, K-12 students, and graduate acting students through mainstage productions, the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program, and the CARE trauma-informed education program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theatre / Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Professional theatre productions
• Live performing arts
• Theatre education programs
• Season ticket subscriptions
• Community arts engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Ticket sales for individual performances and season subscriptions provide approximately 50% of the operating budget. Revenue is generated through direct sales via box office and online platforms.
2. Individual and Institutional Donations: Annual fund donations, major gifts, and planned giving from individual donors and institutional supporters including foundations and corporations.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Production and season sponsorships, special event sponsorships, and naming rights opportunities for corporate partners.
4. MFA Program: Master of Fine Arts in Acting program in partnership with Case Western Reserve University. Each student receives full tuition waiver, yearly living stipend, and health insurance.
5. Grants: Funding from government arts councils (Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, Ohio Arts Council), federal grants (U.S. Department of Education), and private foundations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Cleveland Play House produces and presents live professional theatre productions at three state-of-the-art venues (Allen, Outcalt, and Helen Theatres) at Playhouse Square in Cleveland. Its portfolio includes mainstage season productions, the annual New Ground Theatre Festival for new play development, season subscriptions, group ticket sales, and a comprehensive suite of theatre education programs including the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program, the CARE trauma-informed K-12 program, student matinees, and summer camps. The organization operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3), deriving approximately 50% of its operating budget from ticket sales and the remainder from donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

Cleveland Play House is America's first professional regional theatre (founded 1915) and recipient of the 2015 Regional Theatre Tony Award. The organization operates as a single, unified live theatre company offering mainstage productions at three Playhouse Square venues (Allen, Outcalt, and Helen theatres). The portfolio includes seasonal subscription packages, individual show tickets, and education programs comprising the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program (in partnership with Case Western Reserve University), the CARE trauma-informed school program, summer camps, student matinees, and the annual New Ground Theatre Festival for new play development. The organization generates revenue through ticket sales (providing approximately 50% of operating budget) and institutional donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• InsideCPH: Behind-the-scenes content, videos, articles, and lobby displays that can be viewed before, during, or after performances
• New Ground Theatre Festival
• CARE
• CWRU/CPH MFA

Products and services

• Mainstage Theatre Productions Professional theatre productions performed across three state-of-the-art venues (Allen, Outcalt, and Helen Theatres) at Playhouse Square, including classic comedies, new works, American musicals, and world/American premieres. Targeted at general theatre audiences, subscribers, and group patrons in Northeast Ohio.
• Season Ticket Subscriptions Subscription packages including the Anytime Series (full flexibility for any performance date), Classic Series (weekday or Saturday matinees), and Value Series (four preview performances); offers up to 25% savings, free exchanges, pre-paid parking access, and benefits such as complimentary tickets. Sold to individual consumers and households through the box office and online ticketing platform.
• Group Sales Group ticket booking service for organizations, schools, and corporate groups of 10 or more, offering 20% or more savings on tickets, student pricing at $15 per ticket, complimentary tickets for groups of 20+ (one for group leader), and one complimentary motorcoach driver ticket. Targeted at schools, community organizations, and corporations organizing group theatre outings.
• 2026/2027 Season (Private Lives, Annie, The Da Vinci Code, Working: a musical) The 2026-27 season subscription package featuring a mix of classic comedy and American musicals including Private Lives, Annie, The Da Vinci Code, and Working: a musical. Targeted at individual subscribers and group bookers.
• New Ground Theatre Festival Annual festival celebrating playwriting that invites actors, directors, and dramaturgs to workshop new plays, providing insights to visiting playwrights. Targeted at playwriting enthusiasts, theatre artists, and audiences interested in new work development.
• CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program Three-year Master of Fine Arts in Acting program jointly administered by Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Play House, ranked among the top 10 MFA acting programs in the world by The Hollywood Reporter (2025). Eight actors chosen every two years from over 1,000 applicants nationwide; students receive full tuition waiver, yearly living stipend, health insurance, and earn AEA membership. Targeted at aspiring professional actors.
• CARE (Compassionate Arts Remaking Education) Research-based, trauma-informed theatre education program for students in grades K-12 that fosters social-emotional learning skills and reduces adverse effects of chronic trauma. Serves 7,075 children weekly in Cleveland and approximately 10,000+ children across all program locations (Cleveland, Lorain, Western New York, Nevada). Targeted at K-12 schools and community organizations.
• Summer Camps Arts and Theatre Exploration Camp for grades K-5 and Theatre Immersion Camp for grades 6-12, including one to three multi-week sessions with optional aftercare and sibling discounts. Pricing ranges from $720 to $1,780 per multi-session package. The Theatre Immersion Camp includes tickets to a show at Playhouse Square. Targeted at K-12 students and families.
• Walter & Jean Kalberer Student Matinees Full-length professional mainstage shows offered as matinee performances at $15 per ticket for students, chaperones, and teachers, with groups of 50+ receiving complimentary chaperone tickets and Title 1 schools accommodated. Includes post-show discussions with cast, crew, or artists. Targeted at K-12 schools.
• Inside CPH Audience engagement program featuring behind-the-scenes videos, social media dialogue, educational articles, lobby displays, and community events connected to current productions. Includes pre- and post-show talkbacks. Targeted at general theatre audiences seeking deeper engagement with productions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50%+ of operating budget covered by ticket sales
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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.

• Case Western Reserve UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996Jointly administered Master of Fine Arts in Acting Program since 1996. Combines CWRU's academic resources with CPH's professional theatre training. Students receive full tuition waiver, yearly living stipend, and health insurance. Graduates earn MFA degree and AEA membership.
• Playhouse Square FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCleveland Play House performs in three state-of-the-art venues (Allen, Outcalt, Helen Theatres) at Playhouse Square. Box office operations and venue management are shared with Playhouse Square.
• Villa Maria CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARE program partnership bringing trauma-informed theatre education to Western New York students. Approximately 2,400 children served weekly through this partnership.
• Actors' Equity AssociationcoreOthersThird-year MFA students earn AEA membership through performance work at CPH. CPH was founding member of League of Resident Theatres (LORT) in 1966 for collective bargaining.
• Theatre Communications GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPH is a founding member of TCG, the national trade association for nonprofit professional theatre. Participates in Blue Star Theatres program supporting military families.
• League of Resident Theatres (LORT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPH is a founding member of LORT, a management collective for collective bargaining with Actors' Equity Association and other artist unions since 1966

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Goodman Theatre: Tony-winning professional regional theatre in Chicago producing a mix of classic and new work across multiple stages. Comparable as a Midwest-based repertory theatre of similar scale producing mainstage and education programming.
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Tony-winning ensemble-based professional regional theatre in Chicago known for new work and a resident company. Comparable in scale, regional repertory model, and Tony recognition, with adjacent new-play development work to CPH's New Ground Theatre Festival.
• Great Lakes Theater: Cleveland-based LORT-member professional classical theatre producing Shakespeare and classics. Direct in-market competitor for Northeast Ohio audiences, donors, and press attention.
• Berkeley Repertory Theatre: Tony-winning nonprofit professional regional theatre in Berkeley, CA producing plays and musicals year-round. Directly comparable as a LORT-member regional theatre with strong education programming (Berkeley Rep School of Theatre) and similar scale; CPH's Managing Director previously led the school for 16 years.
• Guthrie Theater: One of America's largest nonprofit professional regional repertory theatres, based in Minneapolis with a three-stage complex. Comparable in producing mission, repertory model, Midwest geography, and Tony-eligible scale.
• Actors Theatre of Louisville: Nonprofit regional repertory theatre in Louisville best known for the Humana Festival of New American Plays. Comparable in producing scale, new-play development emphasis (parallel to CPH's New Ground Festival), and education programming.
• Oregon Shakespeare Festival: One of America's largest professional regional repertory theatres producing Shakespeare, classics, and new work in rotating repertory. Comparable in producing scale, repertory repertoire, and educational community programming.
• Arena Stage: Tony-winning nonprofit regional repertory theatre in Washington, DC operating three stages. Closely comparable to CPH in scale, three-venue multi-format programming, and Tony-recognized regional producing profile.
• Yale Repertory Theatre: Tony-winning nonprofit regional theatre affiliated with Yale School of Drama, combining professional production with graduate training. Closely comparable to the CWRU/CPH academic-affiliation + repertory producing model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cleveplayhouse
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ClevelandPlayHouse#play/all
• Facebookfacebook.com/clevelandplayhouse
• Instagraminstagram.com/cleveplayhouse
• Pinterestpinterest.com/cleveplayhouse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cleveland-play-house

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Cleveland Play House