Atlanta Shakespeare Company

What Atlanta Shakespeare Company does

The Atlanta Shakespeare Company is a 501(c)(3) non-profit theater organization founded in 1984 and based at the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse, 499 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA. It produces live performances of Shakespeare's works using a proprietary "Original Practice" methodology — historically-informed Elizabethan staging, period costumes, and theatrical conventions — that differentiates it from other regional theaters. The company runs a single mainstage season at its owned venue (current example: A Midsummer Night's Dream, July 11–August 2), with on-site food and beverage service integrated into the audience experience.

Beyond mainstage performance, the company operates the Atlanta Shakespeare Academy, an education division offering workshops, in-school residencies, touring programs, homeschool programs, college internships, summer camps, student matinees, and digital learning content aligned with Georgia Performance Standards. It serves four named customer segments: K-12 students and educators (primary), general theatergoers (primary), homeschool families, and emerging theater professionals. Distribution combines direct box-office and online ticketing with institutional sales to schools, libraries, and organizations.

Revenue is generated from seven streams: ticket sales, food and beverage, donations and annual fund (including recurring "Five and Dime" giving), club memberships, corporate sponsorships, education programs, and gift cards. Funding partners include the ATL Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs (municipal), Charles Loridans Foundation (private foundation), and a core touring partnership with Theater League Kansas City. The organization maintains a multi-channel owned-media presence (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Bluesky, email newsletter) and recently launched "The Shakesplanner," a proprietary ticketing planning feature. The company has no disclosed funding rounds, no parent entity, and no AI/ML capabilities in its product or operations.

Name

Atlanta Shakespeare Company

Legal name

The Atlanta Shakespeare Company

Website

https://shakespearetavern.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Atlanta Shakespeare Company is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1984 that operates the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse in Atlanta, producing live Shakespeare performances using Original Practice methodology, alongside the Atlanta Shakespeare Academy's education programs serving K-12 students, educators, and general theatergoers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Theater

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN), Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC)

Keywords

• Live theater performances
• Shakespeare productions
• Performing arts education
• Theatrical venue hospitality
• Classical theater nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling tickets to live theatrical performances at the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse.
2. Food and Beverage: On-site food and drink service at the theater venue, including meals and beverages for audience members.
3. Donations and Annual Fund: Charitable contributions from individuals supporting the non-profit organization, including recurring 'Five and Dime' donations.
4. Club Memberships: Annual membership program offering benefits to patrons who support the company.
5. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship arrangements with local businesses and organizations.
6. Education Programs: Revenue from summer camps, workshops, residencies, and touring programs for students.
7. Gift Cards: Prepaid gift cards for tickets and concessions available for purchase.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Atlanta Shakespeare Company produces live theatrical performances of Shakespeare's works at the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse in Atlanta using Original Practice methodology, combined with the Atlanta Shakespeare Academy offering educational programs including workshops, residencies, summer camps, student matinees, and touring productions. The venue also operates on-site food and beverage service.

Product overview

Atlanta Shakespeare Company operates a platform consisting of its Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse venue hosting live theatrical productions of Shakespeare's works, combined with the Atlanta Shakespeare Academy offering diverse educational programs including workshops, residencies, touring programs, homeschool programs, college internships, and summer camps. The company also provides supporting services such as club membership, gift cards, and volunteer opportunities. A new website feature called The Shakesplanner enhances the ticketing experience for patrons.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Main Stage Performances

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Midtown Cleaners & LaundryminorOthersLocal business sponsor listed on the company's website sponsors section.
• Emory University Hospital MidtownminorOthersHealthcare institution sponsor supporting the Atlanta Shakespeare Company.
• FC+minorOthersCorporate sponsor listed among the company's supporters.
• Theater League Kansas CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational theater touring and presenting organization that partners with the Atlanta Shakespeare Company to bring productions to their venue.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Shakespeare & Company: Lenox, MA-based non-profit theater company focused on Shakespeare productions alongside a robust education and training academy. Directly comparable given its combined focus on classical performance, professional training, and education programming similar to ASC's Academy.
• Oregon Shakespeare Festival: The largest dedicated Shakespeare-producing organization in the US, operating multiple venues in Ashland, OR with a professional repertory company. Directly comparable as a Shakespeare-specialist non-profit theater with year-round productions, education programs, and national brand recognition.
• Alabama Shakespeare Festival: State-supported professional theater in Montgomery, AL producing Shakespeare alongside other classical works, with a strong education and outreach program. Comparable as a Southeastern US Shakespeare-focused theater with public funding support and school matinee programs.
• Chicago Shakespeare Theater: Non-profit theater on Navy Pier producing Shakespeare and other works, with extensive education, family, and community programs. Comparable as a Shakespeare-centered professional theater pairing ticketed performances with a sizable education division.
• American Players Theatre: Spring Green, WI-based classical theater company performing Shakespeare and other works in an outdoor/indoor repertory format. Comparable as a non-profit classical-theater organization with repertory productions, an apprentice program, and education outreach.
• Shakespeare Theatre Company: Washington, DC-based non-profit producing Shakespeare and classic plays at the Sidney Harman Hall and Klein Theatre. Closely comparable as a professional classical-theater company combining ticketed performances with education and community engagement programs.

Regional players

• Alliance Theatre: Atlanta-based non-profit regional theater producing a mix of musicals, plays, and new works, with a sizable education program. Comparable as a fellow Atlanta non-profit theater competing for the same donor, patron, and education-market audience.
• Houston Shakespeare Festival: University of Houston-affiliated summer festival producing free Shakespeare performances and education programs. Comparable as a Shakespeare-focused presenter serving a major Southern market with K-12 matinee programming similar to ASC's student offerings.

Broad incumbents

• The Old Globe: Major regional non-profit theater in San Diego producing a broad repertoire including Shakespeare alongside musicals and new works, with a sizeable education division. Comparable as an established non-profit regional theater with classical programming, institutional funding, and education programming.
• Guthrie Theater: Major regional non-profit theater in Minneapolis with a wide classical and contemporary repertoire and a large education program. Comparable as an established non-profit regional theater combining classical work, institutional funding, and education/community programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCs8xfzkTYumx5Pd_zyBmVQA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ShakespeareTavern
• Instagraminstagram.com/shakespearetavernplayhouse
• TikToktiktok.com/@shakespearetavern
• Xx.com/shakespearetav

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Atlanta Shakespeare Company