Stage Raw
Stage Raw is an independent Los Angeles-based online media platform that provides free theater listings, professional reviews, and editorial coverage of the LA performing arts scene, serving theater-goers and theater companies through its WordPress website, weekly newsletter, and social media channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Stage Raw does
Stage Raw is an independently operated Los Angeles-based online media platform that provides theater listings, reviews, and editorial coverage of the LA performing arts scene. Founded in 2013 and built on a WordPress content management system, the platform aggregates free show listings submitted by theater companies, publishes professional reviews and critiques of productions, and curates editorial content including features, interviews, essays, and recurring Top 10 recommendations. The site maintains an extensive archive spanning from March 2014 through 2026, including 317+ author pages of content — a substantial body of work that constitutes the platform's primary asset.
The platform serves two primary audiences: LA theater-goers seeking show discovery and critical coverage, and Los Angeles theater companies seeking free promotional visibility for their productions. Stage Raw's go-to-market is community-led, relying on organic content discovery through search, a free weekly email newsletter, and social media distribution across Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. The site operates an annual Stage Raw Theater Awards program that extends its editorial brand into a community event.
Monetization is limited and modest in scale. Revenue is generated through advertising placements offered to theaters and performing arts organizations at rates starting at $25/week, supplemented by donations processed through Square and a Patreon support page. The company has no disclosed funding, no institutional investment, no parent company, and no evidence of acquisitions or major strategic transactions. Stage Raw operates as a small independent media outlet with a regional focus on the Greater Los Angeles theater market.
Stage Raw firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stage Raw
- Legal name
- Stage Raw
- Website
- https://stageraw.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Stage Raw is an independent Los Angeles-based online media platform that provides free theater listings, professional reviews, and editorial coverage of the LA performing arts scene, serving theater-goers and theater companies through its WordPress website, weekly newsletter, and social media channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Stage Raw industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Theater Listings and Reviews
- NAICS
- Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Theatre Services & Design (Scenic/Costume/Props/Stage Management) (MPAGABAO)
Keywords
Where Stage Raw is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Stage Raw business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Advertising: Stage Raw offers advertising placements to theater companies and related businesses. Rates start at $25/week for advertising placements on the website.
- Donations: The platform accepts donations from supporters through a Square payment link.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | One time/ perpetual license | Free Show Listings |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Stage Raw product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stage Raw is a Los Angeles-based digital media platform that publishes free theater listings submitted by LA theater companies, professional reviews of stage productions, and curated editorial content including Top 10 recommendations, artist interviews, and feature essays. The platform supplements its editorial coverage with a free weekly email newsletter, an annual theater awards program, and modest paid advertising placements.
Product overview
Stage Raw is a Los Angeles-based theater review and listings platform serving the performing arts community. The core offering consists of theater show listings (offered free to venues), published reviews of productions, and curated editorial content including the 'Our Top Ten' recommendations. The platform also operates an annual awards program, distributes a free weekly newsletter, and offers advertising services to theaters. The site functions as a comprehensive resource for Los Angeles performing arts coverage, connecting audiences with theater productions across the region.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Stage Listings Free theater show listings service for Los Angeles performing arts venues, allowing theaters to submit their productions for publication on the Stage Raw website.
- Theater Reviews Professional critique and review coverage of theatrical productions across Los Angeles, including recommendations and ratings, written by contributing critics.
- Our Top Ten Curated list of top ten recommended theater productions in Los Angeles, maintained as an editorial archive spanning 157+ pages.
- Features, Interviews and Essays In-depth features, artist interviews, and essays covering the Los Angeles theater scene, including the recurring Notes From Arden column.
- Weekly Newsletter Free weekly email newsletter delivering theater listings, reviews, and arts coverage updates to subscribers.
- Stage Raw Theater Awards
Companies that use Stage Raw
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Stage Raw technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Stage Raw partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Stage Raw competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Show-Score: Theater review aggregation and discovery platform that crowdsources ratings and professional reviews. Comparable to Stage Raw's review-led discovery model, with national rather than LA-only scope.
- Theasy: Theater event listings and editorial site. Directly comparable listings + reviews model to Stage Raw, though primarily serving New York audiences.
- Goldstar: Discount theater and live-events ticketing marketplace with editorial coverage of shows. Comparable as a theater discovery and ticketing channel competing for the same audience-theater connection Stage Raw enables through listings.
- BroadwayWorld: National theater news, reviews, and listings platform covering Broadway and regional theater. Directly comparable to Stage Raw as an editorial-led theater discovery and criticism outlet, but operating at much larger national scale.
- TheaterMania: Online theater listings, reviews, and ticketing platform focused on Broadway and major US markets. Comparable to Stage Raw in combining editorial coverage with theater discovery, though historically NY-weighted.
Broad incumbents
- Playbill: Long-standing theater media brand covering Broadway and regional productions with editorial, listings, and industry content. A broader incumbent serving the same theater-content niche Stage Raw occupies locally.
- Time Out: Global media brand covering entertainment, food, and culture including LA theater listings. Broader incumbent competing for both audience attention and theater marketing spend in LA.
Regional players
- New York Theatre Guide: NYC-focused theater listings and review platform. Highly comparable product (listings + reviews + editorial) to Stage Raw, but operating exclusively in the New York theater market rather than LA.
- LAist: LA-focused digital public media outlet covering local arts and culture including theater. Comparable regional media audience and editorial approach, with broader scope beyond theater.
Emerging players
- Performing Arts LIVE: Theater listings and editorial coverage platform with growing multi-market scope. Comparable theater-discovery use case to Stage Raw, with a more digital/multi-city focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Stage Raw social profiles
Digital presenceStage Raw financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stage Raw leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Stage Raw funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stage Raw 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 Stage Raw
What does Stage Raw do?
Stage Raw is a Los Angeles-based digital media platform that publishes free theater listings submitted by LA theater companies, professional reviews of stage productions, and curated editorial content including Top 10 recommendations, artist interviews, and feature essays. The platform supplements its editorial coverage with a free weekly email newsletter, an annual theater awards program, and modest paid advertising placements.
Is Stage Raw a public or private company?
Stage Raw is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Stage Raw founded?
Stage Raw was founded in 2013. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Stage Raw based?
Stage Raw is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Stage Raw make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Advertising is the primary driver. The others are donations.
Who are Stage Raw's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Show-Score, Theasy, Goldstar, BroadwayWorld and TheaterMania. Broad incumbents are Playbill and Time Out. Regional players are New York Theatre Guide and LAist. Performing Arts LIVE is listed as an emerging player.
Does Stage Raw have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stage Raw.
What industry is Stage Raw in?
Stage Raw's product category is Online Theater Listings and Reviews. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAM, Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking), with a secondary code of MPAGABAO, Theatre Services & Design (Scenic/Costume/Props/Stage Management). Its NAICS code is 516 and its SIC code is 2741.