New Professional Theatre

What New Professional Theatre does

New Professional Theatre (NPT) is a New York-based nonprofit theatre company founded by Sheila Kay Davis that develops and showcases work by emerging and established playwrights, with a stated focus on African American and minority writers. Its three operating pillars are (1) full theatre productions staged at partner venues including the Apollo Theater, Duke Theatre, and Aaron Davis Hall; (2) an annual Writer's Festival that provides cash grants, staged readings, dramaturgy, business seminars, and introductions to agents and producers; and (3) an Education Program serving New York City public school students through mentoring, college preparation, and original issue-based plays such as PRESSURES. Since inception, NPT reports having served more than 1,000 playwrights, with alumni outcomes including Pulitzer Prize for Drama winners Katori Hall (2021) and Michael R. Jackson (2022), and Tony-winning actress/playwright Tonya Pinkins.

The organization's business model combines earned revenue from ticket sales at venue partners with contributed revenue from grants and donations supporting playwright development and education programming. Distribution is venue-mediated rather than self-operated: NPT co-presents or licenses productions into established theatres (Apollo Theater, Duke Theatre, Aaron Davis Hall, New 42 Studios) and delivers educational programming directly into NYC public schools, including a four-school tour in April 2023. Geographic reach is primarily New York City, with one documented out-of-state extension via a Theatre Conference at Bethune Cookman University in April 2023. The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its digital footprint is a Wix-hosted website plus Facebook and Instagram profiles, consistent with a nonprofit rather than a technology company.

Revenue, headcount within the disclosed 11-50 range, and budget are not publicly disclosed. There is no reported venture or institutional funding, no parent company, and leadership consists of the founder/artistic director and a long-tenured literary manager (Mark Dundas Wood, in role since 2000). Strategic activity over 2022-2025 shows a steady cadence of new productions, expanding institutional partnerships (Apollo Theater, Bethune Cookman University, Blackberry Productions), and an emerging co-development model with external producers, indicating incremental rather than rapid scaling.

Name

New Professional Theatre

Legal name

New Professional Theatre

Website

https://newprofessionaltheatre.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

New Professional Theatre is a New York-based nonprofit founded by Sheila Kay Davis that develops African American and minority playwrights through full productions at partner venues, an annual Writer's Festival offering cash grants and dramaturgy, and an Education Program serving NYC public school students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Theatre & Playwright Development

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE), Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC)

Keywords

• Theatre productions
• Playwright development
• Dramaturgy services
• Arts education
• Cultural programming

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from sale of tickets to theatre productions and performances
2. Grants and Funding: Support for developing playwrights through cash grants and artistic programs

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

New Professional Theatre (NPT) develops, produces, and stages live theatrical works by predominantly African American and minority playwrights, and provides complementary cash grants, staged readings, and dramaturgy services to support playwright career advancement. The organization also runs the NPT Education Program, which delivers mentoring, homework assistance, college preparation, volunteerism, and Broadway outings to New York City Public School students. Productions are mounted at established venues including the Apollo Theater, Duke Theatre, and Aaron Davis Hall at City College.

Product overview

New Professional Theatre (NPT) is a theatre production company founded by Sheila Kay Davis that operates as a multi-faceted arts organization supporting multicultural vitality and diversity. The core offerings include full theatre productions (such as JEFFREY MANOR, BREATHE, and PRESSURES), an annual Writer's Festival providing cash grants and dramaturgy support, and an Education Program for NYC Public School students. The company develops and promotes work by emerging and established writers, particularly African American playwrights, through showcases, productions, international collaborations, symposia and seminars. Since inception, NPT has served over 1000 playwrights with productions, cash grants, dramaturgy, business seminars and access to agents and producers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatre Productions Full theatrical productions and showcases of works by emerging and established writers, with a focus on African American and minority playwrights. Productions are staged for paying audiences at partner venues such as the Apollo Theater, Duke Theatre, and Aaron Davis Hall at City College.
• Writer's Festival Annual festival celebrating and supporting playwrights through cash grants, staged readings, dramaturgy, and literary support. Notable festival-supported writers include Colman Domingo, Katori Hall (Pulitzer Prize for Drama 2021), and Michael R. Jackson (Pulitzer Prize for Drama 2022).
• Education Program In-school and on-campus arts education offering for underserved students, providing mentoring, homework assistance, college preparation, volunteerism, and Broadway outings to NYC Public School students, with additional Theatre Conference programming delivered at HBCUs such as Bethune Cookman University.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1000+ playwrights served with productions, grants, dramaturgy, and industry access
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bethune Cookman UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023NPT produced a Theatre Conference at Bethune Cookman University in April 2023 focused on sustainable careers in show business. The HBCU partnership supports NPT's educational mission and provides access to student audiences.
• Blackberry ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2022Blackberry Productions co-presented BREATHE with NPT on June 17, 2022 at Aaron Davis Hall. The collaboration brought together diverse creative teams for the production exploring NYPD-community relationships.
• Apollo TheatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Professional Theatre produces JEFFREY MANOR by Tonya Pinkins at the Apollo Theater Salon Series. The partnership provides NPT access to a prestigious historic venue for showcasing minority playwrights' work to new audiences.
• Duke TheatrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMultiple NPT productions have been presented at Duke Theatre including Single Black Female and The In-Gathering, providing venue access for playwright development.
• New 42 StudiosminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew 42 Studios hosted a reading of GIDDY UP! by Karis Clark on June 22, 2024, providing development space for the young playwright's work.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Roundabout Theatre Company: One of NYC's largest nonprofit theatre companies producing a mix of new works and classics; comparable producing model but at much greater scale and broader artistic remit.
• Signature Theatre: Tony Award-winning NYC theatre company focused on playwright-in-residence model and new work development; comparable in playwright-centric mission, though at significantly larger scale.
• Manhattan Theatre Club: Tony Award-winning NYC theatre company producing new plays and musicals; comparable in producing model and NYC venue partnerships, though at substantially larger scale.

Direct peers

• The Lark: NYC-based nonprofit dedicated to playwright development through new work programs, readings, and international collaborations; closely comparable in dramaturgy and playwright support focus.
• Negro Ensemble Company: Historic African American theatre company producing new works by Black playwrights; directly comparable mission of sustaining Black theatrical voices and playwright development pipeline.
• New York Theatre Workshop: Off-Broadway NYC theatre company known for developing new plays and championing emerging playwrights; comparable in playwright development pipeline and producing model, though at a larger scale.
• National Black Theatre: NYC-based nonprofit theatre company focused on developing Black playwrights and producing new work; directly comparable mission, geographic footprint, and operating model to NPT.
• Classical Theatre of Harlem: NYC-based nonprofit producing theatre focused on diverse voices and historically underrepresented perspectives; similar operating scale, regional NYC venue model, and playwright development emphasis.
• Harlem Stage: NYC performing arts presenting organization supporting African American and minority artists across theatre, dance, and music; comparable mission of cultivating diverse artists and audiences in NYC.

Emerging players

• The Movement Theatre Company: NYC-based nonprofit theatre company producing new works by Black and other historically excluded playwrights; comparable mission focus but newer and at smaller scale than NPT.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/newprofessionaltheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/sheilakaydavis
• Pinterestpinterest.com/wixcom
• Xx.com/newproftheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-professional-theatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 New Professional Theatre