SoHo Playhouse

What SoHo Playhouse does

SoHo Playhouse is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit theater organization operating from a landmark 1826 building at 15 Vandam Street in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood. Founded as a theater in 2004 under Producing Artistic Director Darren Lee Cole, the organization functions as both a producing house and a receiving house (venue rental), housing two complementary performance spaces: a 178-seat proscenium Mainstage and a 55-seat cabaret/bar called the Huron Club. Its programming centers on the International Fringe Encore Series (since 2007) and Lighthouse Festival, which curate exceptional works from fringe festivals into off-Broadway runs, augmented by self-produced shows, three weekly open mic programs (Cuckoo's Open Mic, Thursday Night Mic, Lifeboat Mic), and a youth summer theater camp (SoHo Playhouse Jr.) for children ages 6-12.

The company generates revenue through four primary streams: ticket sales processed via OvationTix (Mainstage) and Audience View (Huron Club), venue rentals to independent producers (roughly half of productions), a full-service bar at the Huron Club, and a tax-deductible donor membership program with six tiers ranging from ACE ($100+) to DIAMOND ($100,000+). Distribution occurs through a direct box office (Wed-Sat, 3pm to curtain), 24/7 online ticketing, and a venue rental program targeting independent artists and producers. The audience spans theatergoers, comedy enthusiasts, independent producers, philanthropic donors, and families seeking youth programming, with the venue's cultural heritage — including its role as the 1963-1970 home of Edward Albee's Playwrights Unit Workshop — serving as a core brand asset. The organization is led by a lean management team (Producing Artistic Director, Creative Producer, Box Office Manager, Director of Development) and governed by a board of trustees including professionals in tax, real estate, and finance.

Name

SoHo Playhouse

Legal name

SoHo Playhouse

Website

https://sohoplayhouse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SoHo Playhouse is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) theater in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood operating a 178-seat Mainstage and 55-seat Huron Club, producing and renting venue space for off-Broadway plays, comedy, fringe festival transfers, open mics, and youth programming, funded by ticket sales, rentals, bar revenue, and donor memberships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theater & Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

akta.pro primary industry

Broadway & Commercial Theatre Productions (MPAGABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE), Lounge Bars & Hotel Bars (THAFAEAI)

Keywords

• Off-broadway theater
• Live performance venue
• Venue rental services
• Theater productions
• Comedy cabaret shows

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticket sales for Mainstage productions and Huron Club shows, with pricing not publicly disclosed (quote-based). Box office handles in-person sales Wednesday-Saturday from 3pm to curtain.
2. Venue Rentals: The SoHo Playhouse operates as a split receiving house and producing house, with half of productions being rentals. The Mainstage (178-seat proscenium theater) and Huron Club (55-seat cabaret) are available for rental. Rental costs are determined by project needs.
3. Donations and Membership Program: Non-profit 501(c)(3) organization accepting tax-deductible donations. Annual membership tiers: ACE ($100+), JACK ($1,000+), CLUB ($10,000+), SPADE ($50,000+), HEART ($75,000+), DIAMOND ($100,000+). Supports general operations, administrative staff, and ongoing upkeep.
4. Huron Club Bar Revenue: Full-service bar and cabaret beneath the theater generating revenue from craft cocktails, beer, wine, and beverages. Opens 30 minutes prior to performances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SoHo Playhouse is a nonprofit Off-Broadway theater that produces and presents live performances — plays, comedy, cabaret, magic, and variety — at its 178-seat Mainstage and 55-seat Huron Club cabaret/bar in SoHo, Manhattan. It also operates venue rentals for independent producers, weekly open mic nights, a children's summer theater camp (SoHo Playhouse Jr.), and curatorial programs (International Fringe Encore Series and Lighthouse Series) that extend successful fringe festival productions into Off-Broadway runs.

Product overview

SoHo Playhouse is a split receiving house and producing house offering two primary venue spaces: the Mainstage (178-seat proscenium theatre) and the Huron Club (55-seat cabaret and bar). The venue also operates SoHo Playhouse Jr. (youth summer theatre camp), three open mic nights (Cuckoo's Open Mic, The Thursday Night Mic, and Lifeboat Mic), and manages the International Fringe Encore Series and Lighthouse Series for emerging artists. A donor membership program offers multiple tiers from $100 to $100,000 annually. All productions utilize OvationTix and Audience View ticketing systems, and discounted parking is available through LAZ Parking partnership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Theater Venue A 178-seat proscenium theater at 15 Vandam Street, Manhattan, used for productions, readings, workshops, rehearsals, events, concerts, and meetings. The stage measures 23.5 feet wide by 20 feet deep with 9'2" height from deck to grid. Available for both in-house productions and rental by independent producers.
• Huron Club Cabaret and Bar A 55-seat cabaret and full-service bar located beneath the theater, suitable for pre-show parties, dinners, and underground entertainment. Stage measures 17 feet wide by 6 feet deep with 8 feet height. Has a separate entrance from Vandam Street and serves craft cocktails, beer, wine, and beverages that open 30 minutes prior to performances.
• Cuckoo's Open Mic A weekly variety open mic held every Wednesday at SoHo Playhouse. Features singers, songwriters, comedians, magicians, burlesque performers, poets, cabaret performers, and performance artists. Each performer receives 7 minutes on stage.
• The Thursday Night Mic A weekly open mic held every Thursday at SoHo Playhouse, billed as possibly the latest show in town. Doors at 10:30pm with the mic starting at 11pm, focused generally on standup comedy. Performers can do 5 minutes free, 6 minutes with a drink, and 7 minutes with two drinks or a $10+ drink.
• Lifeboat Mic A gender-inclusive open mic centering women comics, poets, and musicians, hosted by Ro McQuaid in the Huron Club every Saturday at 3pm. First 5 minutes free, 7 minutes with purchase of a drink. Non-men are prioritized for stage time.
• SoHo Playhouse Jr. (Youth Theater Camp) Youth programming featuring a summer theater camp for children ages 6–12. Camps explore theater through play, collaboration, and performance in small groups (maximum 15 campers), culminating in a mini-performance on the SoHo Playhouse stage.
• Donor Membership Program Annual membership tiers for SoHo Playhouse supporters offering tax-deductible donations under the venue's 501(c)(3) status. Tiers include ACE ($100+), JACK ($1,000+), CLUB ($10,000+), SPADE ($50,000+), HEART ($75,000+), and DIAMOND ($100,000+), with perks such as dress rehearsal invitations, drink passes at Huron Club, backstage tours, talkbacks with creative teams, and engraved seat plaques.
• International Fringe Encore Series A curatorial series providing opportunities to emerging artists who show exceptional talent at Fringe Festivals, offering extended runs Off-Broadway for exceptional productions. Began in 2007 and is a signature program in partnership with the NYC Fringe Festival.
• Lighthouse Series A festival series at SoHo Playhouse that recognizes outstanding works, identifying and elevating exceptional productions such as the 2024 Lighthouse Series winner 'Hungry Women'.

Quantifiable outcome

• Many Fringe Encore Series shows have gone on to Off-Broadway productions, Netflix specials, regional productions, and Amazon specials
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OvationTixcoreTechnology or IntegrationTicketing technology partner providing online ticket sales platform integrated with SoHo Playhouse website, available 24/7 for both Mainstage and Huron Club shows.
• LAZ ParkingminorOthersDiscounted parking available at 294 Hudson Street through pre-book parking link or by showing SoHo Playhouse ticket/confirmation to garage manager.
• The New SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution where Ro McQuaid performed her debut solo show LESBIANS! as senior thesis, connecting theater and academia.
• NYC Fringe FestivalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnnual partner providing exceptional talent to SoHo Playhouse's International Fringe Encore Series, which extends successful fringe productions into Off-Broadway runs. DESI SNL won Top Grossing Show and Outstanding Ensemble at 2026 NYC Fringe Festival.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• The Flea Theater: Off-Broadway NYC indie theater known for producing experimental and new work by emerging artists in downtown Manhattan. Directly comparable as a small-capacity Off-Broadway producing house championing new voices and unconventional programming.
• DR2 Theatre: Off-Broadway venue in Manhattan that produces and rents its spaces to independent shows. Highly comparable as a small NYC Off-Broadway receiving/producing house operating on a similar revenue mix of rentals and self-produced shows.
• Second Stage Theater: Off-Broadway nonprofit producing theater in NYC operating the Tony Kiser Theater and Hayes Theater. Directly comparable as a nonprofit producing house that transitions work between Off- and On-Broadway, with a similar focus on contemporary American playwrights.
• The Public Theater: Iconic Off-Broadway producing theater in NYC operating multiple venues (including a 178-seat mainstage). Compares directly to SoHo Playhouse as a nonprofit producing house supporting new work and emerging artists, with a similar mix of self-produced and externally curated programming.
• Theatre Row: NYC Off-Broadway venue complex in the theater district housing multiple small theater companies. Comparable as an Off-Broadway venue operator providing affordable rental infrastructure for emerging producers and independent productions.
• 59E59 Theaters: Off-Broadway three-venue complex on East 59th Street focused on new work and international productions. Directly comparable as a curated Off-Broadway venue operator providing turnkey rental and producing support to independent artists.
• New World Stages: Multi-venue Off-Broadway complex in Manhattan hosting long-running independent productions. Comparable to SoHo Playhouse as an Off-Broadway operator providing rental infrastructure for independent producers in NYC.
• Atlantic Theater Company: Off-Broadway NYC theater company producing new plays at the Linda Gross Theater and Atlantic Stage 2. Comparable as a small-footprint Off-Broadway producing house focused on bold new work with a similar artist-development mandate.
• Signature Theatre (NYC): Off-Broadway NYC nonprofit that produces residencies of living playwrights at its home on 42nd Street. Compares as an Off-Broadway producing institution with strong donor programming and a curatorial focus on artist development.
• Playwrights Horizons: Off-Broadway nonprofit theater in NYC dedicated to developing and producing new work by contemporary playwrights. Direct comparable as a producing-focused Off-Broadway institution developing emerging voices and providing a launchpad for new scripts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sohoplayhouse
• Facebookfacebook.com/sohoplayhousenyc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soho-playhouse

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 SoHo Playhouse