Ojai Playwrights Conference

What Ojai Playwrights Conference does

Ojai Playwrights Conference (OPC) is a California-registered nonprofit arts organization that operates one of the country's leading new play development programs, centered on an annual Summer Conference and New Works Festival held in Ojai, CA. The organization provides selected playwrights with professional resources—including workshops, rehearsals, readings, and public performances—supported by a curated network of directors, dramaturgs, and professional actors primarily drawn from the Southern California theater community. Beyond the core annual festival, OPC runs a college internship program drawing students nationally, a youth workshop initiative (Taco Tuesday Write Nights) for Ojai high school students, and a community engagement effort backed by local restaurant and lodging partnerships.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: PAY WHAT YOU CAN single tickets and festival passes for the 4-day annual festival (July 30 - August 2), online donations processed through NeonCRM (including private housing, hosted meals, and discounted hotel donations), and the youth workshop program. The organization is led by Producing Artistic Director Jeremy B. Cohen and Managing Director Elisabeth Bayer, with a 14-person staff and a 20+ member Board of Directors and Advisory Board that includes notable theater professionals such as Stephen Belber, Samuel Hunter, Sarah Treem, Mfoniso Udofia, and Zachary Quinto.

OPC has no proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capabilities; its operations run on standard nonprofit infrastructure (Squarespace website, NeonCRM donation portal, email newsletter, and social media). The organization's strategic posture is programmatic and community-driven rather than technology-driven, with no disclosed funding rounds, M&A activity, or revenue figures. Growth signals are limited to incremental program additions (youth workshops, off-cycle benefit events) and ecosystem expansion through local Ojai hospitality partnerships.

Name

Ojai Playwrights Conference

Legal name

Ojai Playwrights Conference

Website

https://ojaiplays.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ojai Playwrights Conference is a California nonprofit that runs an annual Summer Conference and New Works Festival in Ojai, developing new plays through workshops and readings. It serves playwrights, directors, dramaturgs, actors, college interns, and Ojai high school students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Playwriting & Scriptwriting Workshops (Stage) (EDAMAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Academic & Education Conference Organizers (THAHACAE), Community Theatre & Storytelling Festivals (MPAGAEAI)

Keywords

• New play development
• Playwright festival
• Theater arts programs
• Youth theater workshops
• Playwriting conferences

Headquarters

HQ city

Ojai

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. Festival Passes and Tickets: The primary revenue stream comes from selling festival passes and single tickets (PAY WHAT YOU CAN pricing) for the annual Summer Conference and New Works Festival held in July-August in Ojai, CA.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: OPC accepts donations through an online donation portal, with support opportunities including private housing, hosted meals, hosted receptions, and discounted hotel room donations from community partners.
3. Youth Workshop Program: Revenue from youth workshop programs including Taco Tuesday Write Nights for high school students in Ojai.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Ojai Playwrights Conference operates an annual Summer Conference & New Works Festival in Ojai, CA, bringing together playwrights, directors, dramaturgs, and professional actors to develop and showcase new theatrical works. The organization also runs a Youth Workshop Program (Taco Tuesday Write Nights) for high school students, a College Intern Program, and a New Play Development program supporting playwrights from submission through festival production.

Product overview

Ojai Playwrights Conference is a new play development organization recognized as one of the leading programs of its kind in the country. It operates a comprehensive ecosystem centered on the annual Summer Conference & New Works Festival, supplemented by the Youth Workshop Program for high school students, the Intern Program for college students, and structured New Play Development services. The organization supports playwrights from submission through festival production, providing a nurturing environment for theater artists to develop new work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Conference & New Works Festival Annual 4-day conference and New Works Festival bringing together playwrights, directors, dramaturgs, and professional actors in Ojai, CA to develop and showcase new theatrical works through readings, workshops, and performances open to the public via festival passes and single tickets.
• New Play Development Program Program providing resources and a nurturing, productive environment for theater artists to develop and realize new stories for the American theater, supporting playwrights from submission through festival production.
• Youth Workshop Program (Taco Tuesday Write Nights) Monthly workshop program for high school students in Ojai including workshops and Q&A sessions with OPC professional artists, supporting mentorship and education in playwriting for young aspiring theater artists.
• College Intern Program College student internship program providing immersion into the OPC artistic community as literary or directing assistants during the annual New Works Festival, with participation in writing workshops and original solo piece creation.
• Play Submissions Process Open submission process for playwrights interested in having their plays considered for future OPC seasons and new play development programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual New Works Festival featuring plays developed by selected playwrights

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• The DutchessminorOthersOne of Ojai's newest eateries - a bakery, bistro and restaurant offering Burmese-California flavors. Located at 457 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, CA 93023. OPC restaurant partner recommended to festival attendees.
• Ojai RotieminorOthersChef/farmer-driven, fast casual patio-restaurant offering French-Lebanese style rotisserie chicken, handmade sourdough, and innovative side dishes. Located at 469 E Ojai Ave., Ojai, CA 93023. OPC restaurant partner.
• Jim & Rob's Fresh GrillminorOthersCasual eatery featuring healthy Mexican and American food, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Adjacent to Lisa's Cantina with craft beers, local wines and seasonal cocktails. Located at 214 W. Ojai Ave., Ojai CA 93023. OPC restaurant partner.
• Osteria Monte GrappaminorOthersItalian restaurant featuring seasonal menu, locally grown vegetables and meat, imported Italian products and handmade pasta. Inside and patio dining with full bar. Located at 242 East Ojai Ave., Ojai, CA 93023. OPC restaurant partner.
• Papa Lennon's PizzeriaminorOthersFamily owned pizzeria in the Meiners Oaks village offering delicious pizzas, paninis, salads, pastas and special dishes with all homemade dough, sauces, dressings, and desserts. Located at 515 West El Roblar, Ojai, CA 93024. OPC restaurant partner.
• Casa Ojai InnminorOthersAffordable, comfortable and eco-friendly motel-style inn across from Soule Golf Course on the east end of town. Complimentary continental breakfast served daily. OPC host hotel partner offering special rates for OPC patrons. Located at 1302 East Ojai Ave., Ojai, CA 93023.
• Su Nido InnminorOthersAll-suites luxury boutique hotel featuring Mission Revival architecture, beautifully decorated rooms with finest linens, and in-suite kitchenettes. Located at 301 North Montgomery Street, Ojai CA 93023. OPC host hotel partner.
• Ojai Retreat & InnminorOthersFive-acre secluded/wooded hilltop property in the heart of Ojai Valley with 12 guestrooms in Main House and cottages. Most guestrooms have private garden or patio. OPC host hotel partner offering lodging for OPC events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Manhattan Theatre Club: Larger Off-Broadway theater company with a strong new play development track record (e.g., Lynn Nottage, Bruce Norris); broader portfolio but overlapping mission in developing and premiering new American plays.
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Major regional theater known for developing and premiering new American plays; broader programming footprint but overlapping new work development mission.
• Goodman Theatre: Major Chicago nonprofit theater with an extensive new play development program including the New Stages series — broader portfolio but directly comparable activity in playwright development.
• Atlantic Theater Company: Off-Broadway company with programs for new play development including commissioning and workshops — comparable mission at larger institutional scale.

Direct peers

• Playwrights Horizons: Off-Broadway theater company recognized for new play development, producing premieres of works by emerging and established American playwrights — directly comparable artistic activity.
• New Dramatists: NYC-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting playwrights through residencies, readings, and development resources — directly aligned with OPC's mission and offering set.
• Bay Area Playwrights Festival: Annual new play festival producing readings and workshops of unproduced plays by American playwrights — a regional direct peer to OPC's annual New Works Festival.
• Eugene O'Neill Theater Center (National Playwrights Conference): Operates the National Playwrights Conference, an annual new play development workshop in Waterford, CT, directly comparable to OPC's Summer Conference & New Works Festival in mission, structure, and target playwright audience.
• Sundance Institute Theatre Lab: Runs Sundance Theatre Lab, a new play development residency serving playwrights with directors, dramaturgs, and actors — same core activity and participant profile as OPC.

Others

• Yale Repertory Theatre: Lortel-eligible regional theater affiliated with Yale School of Drama; combines new play development with training programs — comparable to OPC's pairing of festival and intern pipeline.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-ojai-playwrights-conference

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Ojai Playwrights Conference