Moxie Theatre

What Moxie Theatre does

MOXIE Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional theatre organization founded in 2004 and based in San Diego, California, operating a single 99-seat venue in the Aztec Shopping Center in the Rolando neighborhood near San Diego State University. The organization exclusively produces plays written by women+ (100% of mainstage works), presenting a season of typically four productions from October through June, currently Season 22 'Ungovernable' running October 2026 to June 2027. Supporting programming includes the Lamoise New Works Festival for playwright development, free community events such as the annual PRIDE Play Reading, and post-show First Sunday Q&A discussions.

The company's revenue model combines earned and contributed income streams typical of small nonprofit arts organizations. Earned revenue comes from individual ticket sales (with $20 RUSH tickets available one hour before showtime) and season subscriptions, distributed online through OvationTix and at the venue box office, plus 99-seat theatre space rental for external productions and events. Contributed revenue comes from a tiered individual donor program spanning $250 (Advocates) to $20,000+ (Legends), a 'Movement Maker' monthly giving program, corporate/organizational sponsorships of seasons and individual productions/roles, and planned giving through the Joan Nelson Legacy Circle (bequests, IRA, 401(k)/403(b), and donor-advised funds). Tax-deductible contributions are supported by 501(c)(3) status (Tax ID 20-1080613).

Beyond mainstage productions, MOXIE operates an education vertical comprising the School of MOXIE (classes for all ages), Moxie in the Schools (Common Core-supported K-12 programming across San Diego County), and student internship/fellowship programs. The organization employs approximately eight staff members and is led by Executive Artistic Director Desireé Clarke Miller, governed by a Board of Directors whose membership includes academics, attorneys, and civic leaders from the San Diego region. MOXIE reports measurable social impact: 50%+ of artistic and technical positions held by BIPOC theatre makers, ~48.58% of artist compensation paid to BIPOC artists, ~69.97% paid to women and underrepresented genders, and the company attributes part of the national doubling of women-written plays on American stages (16% to 32%) to awareness-raising by organizations like itself.

Name

Moxie Theatre

Legal name

MOXIE Theatre

Website

https://moxietheatre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MOXIE Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional theatre founded in 2004 in San Diego, California, operating a 99-seat venue that exclusively stages plays written by women+, supported by education, community, and philanthropic programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theatre / Performing Arts

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Corporate Venues & Location Rentals (Hotels, Ballrooms, Unique Venues) (MPAGAHAO), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Live theatre productions
• Nonprofit performing arts
• Theatrical education programs
• Community theatre venue
• Play development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales & Subscriptions: Revenue from individual ticket sales for productions and season subscriptions. Online ticket sales are available through OvationTix, with in-person purchases at the box office. The company offers subscription packages for the season with VIP experience benefits.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals in various tiers (Advocates $250+, Catalysts $500+, Trailblazers $1,000+, Igniters $2,500+, Visionaries $5,000+, Champions $10,000+, Legends $20,000+). Monthly giving program called 'Movement Maker'. One-time and recurring donation options available.
3. Sponsorship: Corporate and organizational sponsorship packages where sponsors can support a season or specific production. Sponsorship tiers include opportunities to sponsor designers, actors, directors, playwrights, and season/program sponsorships.
4. Space Rental: The 99-seat theatre venue is available for rent for theatrical productions, special events, and community gatherings.
5. Planned Giving & Estate Gifts: Legacy giving program through the Joan Nelson Legacy Circle including bequests in wills, beneficiary designations for insurance policies, IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and donor advised funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MOXIE Theatre operates a 99-seat professional nonprofit performing arts venue in San Diego that produces live theatrical productions featuring plays written entirely by women+ playwrights. The core business spans mainstage productions across a full October-June season, season subscriptions, theatrical education for students and adults, new play development through the Lamoise New Works Festival, and venue rental for external producers.

Product overview

MOXIE Theatre operates as a single-venue professional nonprofit theatre with an integrated portfolio of live theatre productions and educational services. The core offering is mainstage productions featuring plays written by women+, supported by season subscription packages. The theatre extends its mission through the School of MOXIE (classes for professionals and beginners), Moxie in the Schools (county-wide educational outreach), and the Lamoise New Works Festival (playwright development program). Community engagement is fostered through First Sunday Q&As and Pride Play Readings. Additional revenue streams include theatre space rental and comprehensive donor/sponsorship programs supporting the nonprofit mission of creating diverse images of women+ in theatre.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Theatre Productions

Quantifiable outcome

• Doubled the national percentage of plays by women from 16% to 32%
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Berkeley Repertory Theatre: California-based Tony-winning nonprofit regional theatre with comparable nonprofit structure and season-based programming. Comparable in operating model and education/community engagement scope, though significantly larger venue capacity.
• Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company: Washington DC-based nonprofit theatre known for producing bold, provocative new plays. Comparable in mission-risk programming and progressive artist development, though it operates at a larger scale and broader programming scope.
• New York Theatre Workshop: Off-Broadway nonprofit theatre producing new work and developing new voices. Comparable as a peer-tier nonprofit producing theatre with similar playwright development focus, though serving a New York audience.
• Geffen Playhouse: Los Angeles-based nonprofit professional theatre comparable in nonprofit structure and programming scope. Serves a Southern California demographic similar to MOXIE's San Diego base, with larger venue capacity.
• San Diego Repertory Theatre: Nearby San Diego professional regional theatre operating from the Lyceum Theatre. Comparable as a peer-sized nonprofit professional theatre serving the same San Diego audience base, though broader in programming than MOXIE's women+ focus.
• Cygnet Theatre: San Diego-based professional nonprofit theatre operating in Old Town. Comparable in organizational size, nonprofit funding model, and competition for the same San Diego performing arts audience and donor base.

Broad incumbents

• The Old Globe: Preeminent San Diego regional theatre with multiple stages and a long history. Operates at significantly larger scale than MOXIE but competes for the same institutional donors, subscribers, and audience in the San Diego market.
• La Jolla Playhouse: Major Tony Award-winning regional theatre operating in San Diego. Larger and more established, with broader programming and Broadway transfer pipeline, but competing for the same San Diego discretionary arts dollar and donor base.

Emerging players

• Luna Stage Theatre Company: New Jersey-based nonprofit producing socially engaged new works with a focus on underrepresented voices. Comparable in size and mission-driven programming around underrepresented playwrights, though operating in a different region.

Direct peers

• Women's Project Theater: New York-based nonprofit dedicated to producing and developing new work by women+ artists. Most direct conceptual peer given category-exclusive women+ mission, though MOXIE operates at a smaller venue scale and different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights3 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MOXIETheatreCo

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Moxie Theatre