Rising Sun Performance Company
Rising Sun Performance Company is a Bronx-based non-profit theatre ensemble founded in 2001 that stages original productions across NYC venues and festivals, serving indie audiences, donors, and artists through a volunteer-driven, donation-funded model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersBronx, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Rising Sun Performance Company does
Rising Sun Performance Company is a non-profit theatre organization founded in 2001 and headquartered in the Bronx, New York City, that produces live stage work primarily through an unpaid ensemble of artists supplemented by a small core staff. The company mounts original and curated productions across NYC venues — notably through a residency with Horse Trade Theater Group at the Kraine Theater, Under St. Marks, and the Red Room — and participates in festivals including FRIGID and Planet Connections, with programming that has extended to a Governors Island residency. Since founding it has staged more than 500 productions and accumulated peer recognition including 7 New York Innovative Theatre Awards nominations, 37 Planet Connections nominations with 13 wins, and five FRIGID Festival wins.
The business model is non-profit and donation-driven: revenue is assembled from ticket sales, individual donations, Patreon subscriptions, gala/benefit events (such as the 20th Anniversary Gala supported by sponsors including FINE & Rare Wine & Spirits, Tuttorosso, and Feinstein's/54 Below), and project stipends contributed by ensemble members themselves. Annual operating expenses are stated in the $20,000–$50,000 range, with ensemble members helping to raise production funding. The company operates under fiscal sponsorship through Fractured Atlas and presents programming via Eventbrite ticketing and its own online channels.
There is no evidence of venture funding, equity capital, or commercial product lines. Strategic partnerships with Horse Trade Theater Group, FRIGID, and Planet Connections anchor its distribution; a maintained Los Angeles-area presence suggests a secondary geographic footprint. The organization is volunteer-intensive, with 11–50 total participants including unpaid ensemble members, and relies on community support rather than earned commercial revenue.
Rising Sun Performance Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rising Sun Performance Company
- Legal name
- Rising Sun Performance Company
- Website
- https://risingsunnyc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Rising Sun Performance Company is a Bronx-based non-profit theatre ensemble founded in 2001 that stages original productions across NYC venues and festivals, serving indie audiences, donors, and artists through a volunteer-driven, donation-funded model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rising Sun Performance Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Off-Off-Broadway Theatre
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG)
Keywords
Where Rising Sun Performance Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bronx
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Rising Sun Performance Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from mainstage productions, festival performances, and special events sold through Eventbrite and venue box offices.
- Donations & Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations through Fractured Atlas fiscal sponsorship, one-time and recurring donation options.
- Patreon Membership: Monthly subscription program offering exclusive content and community access to patrons.
- Project Stipends: Variable honorarium/stipend payments for specific productions based on project size and scope. Some projects are volunteer-based.
- Gala & Special Events: Annual gala events (20th Anniversary Gala) with ticket sales, silent auctions, and sponsorship revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Ensemble membership - unpaid volunteer position |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Rising Sun Performance Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rising Sun Performance Company is a non-profit Off-Off-Broadway ensemble theatre company that produces mainstage plays, immersive theatrical experiences, and new play development programs in NYC. The company develops original works and revivals through readings, workshops, and mainstage productions, supported by an artist residency program (Laboratorium) and internship pipeline. Revenue is generated through ticket sales, donations, patron memberships, project stipends, and special events.
Product overview
Rising Sun Performance Company (RSP) is an award-winning Off-Off-Broadway theatre company founded in 2001, operating as a non-profit arts organization sponsored by Fractured Atlas. The company's portfolio consists primarily of theatrical productions including main stage plays (ÉLÉPHANT, F***ed Up Fairytales), pipeline plays in development (Heart, Radio Eulogy, Heels Over Head, Lakshmi Counts Her Arms and Legs, For the Love of), and immersive experiences (Shhh...It's a Speakeasy). RSP's offerings also include artist development programs such as an Internship Program offering opportunities in arts administration, design, dramaturgy, casting, and production management, plus a Laboratorium Artist Residency on Governors Island. The company operates as a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas for tax-deductible donations and uses Patreon for patron support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ÉLÉPHANT
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ productions, workshops, laboratories, and events produced since 2001
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Rising Sun Performance Company
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Rising Sun Performance Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Rising Sun Performance Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- BMGminorSponsor of the 20th Anniversary Gala
- 5th AvenueminorSponsor of the 20th Anniversary Gala
- FRIGID New YorkcoreFestival host and co-presenter for Rising Sun productions. Rising Sun regularly produces work through and participates in the FRIGID Festival.
- Betty BuzzminorSponsor of the 20th Anniversary Gala
- Hill CountryminorSponsor of the 20th Anniversary Gala
- Broadway MusminorSponsor of the 20th Anniversary Gala
- Whistle PigminorSponsor of the 20th Anniversary Gala
- BotanicalminorSponsor of the 20th Anniversary Gala
- The PitminorSponsor of the 20th Anniversary Gala
- Hamilton HallminorSponsor of the 20th Anniversary Gala
- Horse Trade Theater GroupcoreHome of 3 celebrated Off-Off & Off Broadway theaters (The Kraine, The Red Room & Under St Marks). Rising Sun has been in artist residency at Horse Trade venues since 2005.
- The FieldcoreGranted 4-month rehearsal residency in January 2007 and summer residency in 2005 for development of mainstage productions.
- Clemente Soto Velez Cultural CentercoreVenue for Planet Connections Theatre Festivity and Rising Sun mainstage productions including Elephant world premiere.
- Alliance of Resident Theatres/NYminorProud member organization supporting NYC resident theatres.
- League of Independent TheatreminorProud member organization for independent theatres in NYC.
- David Anthony PhotographyminorPhotography services for productions
- N-K PhotographyminorPhotography services for productions
- Indie SpaceminorSpace and resources for independent theatre
- Material for the ArtsminorNYC Department of Cultural Affairs program providing materials for productions
- Planet Connections Theatre FestivitycoreFestival host for Rising Sun's Elephant world premiere and other productions. Rising Sun has received 37 nominations and 13 awards from this festival.
- Durnmoose EntertainmentminorProducing entity working with Rising Sun on shows in NYC Fringe and Edinburgh Fringe.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Rising Sun Performance Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Public Theater: One of NYC's most established Off-Broadway institutions producing a mix of new work, Shakespeare, and musicals with much larger budgets and venues. Comparable in NYC focus and commitment to new play development but at significantly greater scale.
- Signature Theatre: NYC Off-Broadway theatre dedicated to playwrights' bodies of work, producing both new and revived plays. Comparable in commitment to new play development and a resident artistic community, but at substantially larger institutional scale.
- Atlantic Theater Company: Off-Broadway NYC company producing new plays and adapted works with a resident company of artists. Comparable ensemble-inspired model and NYC indie-theatre orientation, but at materially larger scale and budget.
- New York Theatre Workshop: Off-Broadway NYC theatre known for premiering major new works with an Off-Broadway producing model. Comparable in NYC indie-theatre positioning and commitment to new work, but operating at a larger institutional scale.
Direct peers
- HERE Arts Center: SoHo-based NYC indie performing arts venue producing original, multi-disciplinary work with a focus on emerging artists. Directly comparable as a NYC-based hub for new work development, indie ensemble programming, and artist residency activity.
- Theatre for the New City: Long-running NYC Off-Off-Broadway theatre producing original works, revivals, and community programming with strong festival participation. Comparable in indie producing model, NYC focus, and sustained multi-decade operation.
- The Flea Theater: Downtown NYC Off-Off-Broadway theatre known for experimental work and a resident company of artists. Comparable in scale, NYC indie positioning, and emphasis on producing bold, non-commercial programming with a tight ensemble.
- LAByrinth Theater Company: NYC ensemble-based theatre company built around a core company of artists who collaboratively develop and produce new work. Closely comparable to Rising Sun's permanent ensemble model, NYC Off-Off-Broadway positioning, and commitment to new play development.
- Horse Trade Theater Group: Operator of multiple Off-Off-Broadway venues (The Kraine, The Red Room, Under St Marks) where Rising Sun has been artist-in-residence since 2005. Comparable as a NYC indie producing/presenting organization serving similar Off-Off-Broadway artists and audiences.
- FRIGID New York: NYC theatre festival and presenting organization where Rising Sun regularly produces and has won 5 awards. Comparable as a NYC indie producing community with shared audiences, artist pools, and festival-driven revenue model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rising Sun Performance Company social profiles
Digital presenceRising Sun Performance Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rising Sun Performance Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Rising Sun Performance Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rising Sun Performance Company 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 Rising Sun Performance Company
What does Rising Sun Performance Company do?
Rising Sun Performance Company is a non-profit Off-Off-Broadway ensemble theatre company that produces mainstage plays, immersive theatrical experiences, and new play development programs in NYC. The company develops original works and revivals through readings, workshops, and mainstage productions, supported by an artist residency program (Laboratorium) and internship pipeline. Revenue is generated through ticket sales, donations, patron memberships, project stipends, and special events.
Is Rising Sun Performance Company a public or private company?
Rising Sun Performance Company is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Rising Sun Performance Company founded?
Rising Sun Performance Company was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Rising Sun Performance Company based?
Rising Sun Performance Company is headquartered in Bronx, United States, in the North America region.
How does Rising Sun Performance Company make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are donations & Fundraising, patreon Membership, project Stipends and gala & Special Events.
Who are Rising Sun Performance Company's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Public Theater, Signature Theatre, Atlantic Theater Company and New York Theatre Workshop. Direct peers are HERE Arts Center, Theatre for the New City, The Flea Theater, LAByrinth Theater Company, Horse Trade Theater Group and FRIGID New York.
Does Rising Sun Performance Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rising Sun Performance Company.
What industry is Rising Sun Performance Company in?
Rising Sun Performance Company's product category is Off-Off-Broadway Theatre. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAB, Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies, with a secondary code of MPAGABAG, Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe). Its NAICS code is 711110 and its SIC code is 7990.