San Juan Community Theatre

What San Juan Community Theatre does

San Juan Community Theatre (SJCT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community performing arts organization incorporated in 1984 by George Thorson, Edward Weed, Mary Weed, Frank Klingberg, Frank Kelly, and John O. Linde, and opened to the public on June 30, 1989, in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, Washington. It operates the largest indoor theatre venue in San Juan County — the 275-seat Whittier Theatre (with a 30-foot stage depth, 8-foot apron, and 15-person orchestra pit) — together with the 75-seat Gubelman "black box" Theatre and a separate Performing Arts Resource Center (PARC) facility located less than a mile outside town that houses two rehearsal spaces, a dance studio, a full-size build room, a two-story prop room, a furniture room, and an entire-floor costume shop. SJCT produces multiple fully-staged productions annually, hosts touring professional artists (e.g., Duende Libre jazz trio, Marc "Skippy" Price, Sea Grass), broadcasts National Theatre in HD and Metropolitan Opera performances via its HD Streaming Series, and runs youth and adult education programs including Family Theatre (K-6 students performing alongside parents), Summer Musical Theatre Camp (audition-based, ages 7-18), On Book! Readers Theatre, the annual Playwrights Festival, and a High School Internship Program.

The technology stack is modest and entirely non-proprietary: online ticketing runs on the third-party Ludus platform (sjct.ludus.com), email marketing runs on Constant Contact (5,000+ subscribers), and the costume shop accepts physical donations. No proprietary software, AI/ML systems, patents, or data flywheels are disclosed.

The business model is a diversified non-profit revenue mix across five streams: (1) ticket sales (adult $25–$36, student $15–$20, student rush $5, with select Pay-What-You-Can performances such as Family Theatre); (2) Producers' Club business sponsorships (Kings Market, Heritage Bank, Banner Bank, Roche Harbor Resort, San Juan Brewery, San Juan Interiors, Friday Harbor Suites, and others, receiving recognition across posters, programs, lobby signage, website, and the weekly newsletter); (3) donations and fundraising (one-time gifts, monthly giving at $5–$100/month tiers with perks, endowment fund giving, Ovation Legacy Society planned giving); (4) CATS-organized fundraising events (Elegant Edibles, Attic Treasures, Home Tours, Pig War Jamboree, Opening Night Parties, Teddy Bear Picnic, Holiday Festival, raffles); and (5) facility rental to outside organizations such as the Friday Harbor Film Festival, SuperPod Orca Conference, and TedX events. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via online ticketing, on-site box office (Tuesday–Friday 11am–2pm plus one hour pre-show), phone sales, weekly email, and the bi-annual ArtsNotes print piece mailed to 6,000+ island households; institutional grant funding comes from Arts WA, NEA, Murdock Trust, San Juan Islands Community Foundation, Town of Friday Harbor, and Creative West. The customer base comprises San Juan Island residents and families (primary), K-12 youth (primary), local business sponsors (secondary), and island visitors/tourists (secondary), with annual attendance exceeding 14,000 theatre-goers. SJCT is governed by a Board of Trustees (2024–2025: President Scott Sluis, Past President Joanne Nieman, Treasurer Susan Mazzarella, Secretary Roy Cox, and five additional trustees), led by Executive Director D. Lee Grooms and Executive Artistic Director Nathan Kessler-Jeffrey (since January 2018), supported by a nine-person staff and more than 250 volunteers, with the CATS auxiliary operating as a fundraising support group and a wholly internal endowment fund (George O. & Sidney M. Thorson Memorial Endowment, est. 1997).

Name

San Juan Community Theatre

Legal name

San Juan Community Theatre

Website

https://sjctheatre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

San Juan Community Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community theatre in Friday Harbor, Washington, operating the 275-seat Whittier Theatre, the 75-seat Gubelman Theatre, and the PARC production facility to deliver year-round performances, youth education programs, and community fundraisers for San Juan Island residents and visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE)

Keywords

• Community performing arts
• Live theatre productions
• Youth theatre education
• Facility rental venue
• Donor fundraising programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Friday Harbor, Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from ticket sales for performances across both the Whittier Theatre (275 seats) and Gubelman Theatre (up to 75 seats). Ticketing handled via sjct.ludus.com online platform and at the box office.
2. Producers' Club Business Sponsorship: Business sponsorship program where local businesses sponsor specific theatre events or the full season, receiving recognition in show posters, lobby signage, pre-show curtain speeches, programs, the SJCT website, and the weekly email newsletter. Reach: over 14,000 theatre-goers annually.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Multiple giving programs including one-time gifts, monthly giving (monthly donor tiers from $5 to $100/month with perks), endowment fund giving, and Ovation Legacy Society planned giving. Also accepts underwriting contributions from individuals or groups to offset costs of specific events.
4. CATS Fundraising Events: The Community Arts Theatre Society (CATS) auxiliary organizes multiple annual fundraisers including Elegant Edibles bake sales, Attic Treasures sales, Home Tours, Pig War Jamboree, Opening Night Parties, Teddy Bear Picnic, Holiday Festival, and raffles.
5. Facility Rental: Both theatres and the entire building are available to rent to outside organizations, generating rental revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

San Juan Community Theatre operates two performance venues — the 275-seat Whittier Theatre and the up-to-75-seat Gubelman 'black box' Theatre — producing community theatre productions, hosting touring professional artists, and running youth and adult education programs. The organization also operates the Performing Arts Resource Center (PARC) for rehearsals and production, and supports programming through ticket sales, donations, business sponsorships (Producers' Club), facility rentals, and fundraising events organized by its CATS auxiliary.

Product overview

San Juan Community Theatre is a community performing arts organization operating as a platform of interconnected venues and programs. The core consists of two performance venues: the Whittier Theatre (275-seat main stage) and the Gubelman Theatre (up to 75-seat 'black box'), supported by the Performing Arts Resource Center (PARC) for rehearsals and production needs. The theatre produces multiple fully-staged productions annually, hosts touring professional artists, and operates educational programs including Family Theatre, Summer Musical Theatre Camp, On Book! Readers Theatre, and the Playwrights Festival. Fundraising auxiliaries include CATS (Community Arts Theatre Society) and the Ovation Legacy Society. Additional services include a Costume Shop, HD Streaming Series of national performances, and the annual Holiday Festival fundraiser.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CATS: Community Arts Theatre Society - a support group/auxiliary that produces fundraising events to benefit the theatre
• Whittier Theatre
• Gubelman Theatre
• PARC

Products and services

• Whittier Theatre
• Gubelman Theatre
• Performing Arts Resource Center (PARC)
• Family Theatre Program
• Summer Musical Theatre Camp
• On Book! Readers Theatre
• Playwrights Festival
• HD Streaming Series
• Holiday Festival
• Ovation Legacy Society
• Producers' Club Business Sponsorship
• Facility Rental Service

Quantifiable outcome

• 14,000+ theatre-goers reached annually through sponsored events
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Integration2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kings MarketcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal grocery store listed as a Producers' Club business sponsor, receiving recognition across SJCT publications, posters, website, and weekly newsletter for supporting performing arts on San Juan Island.
• Roche Harbor ResortcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerResort listed as a Producers' Club business sponsor, featured in SJCT's show posters, programs, website, and newsletter reaching 5,000+ subscribers and 14,000+ annual theatre-goers.
• San Juan InteriorscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInterior design business listed as a Producers' Club business sponsor, receiving marketing exposure through SJCT's extensive promotional channels.
• Heritage BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional bank listed as a Producers' Club business sponsor, featured in SJCT show posters, programs, website, and newsletter.
• Banner BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional bank listed as a Producers' Club business sponsor, receiving recognition across SJCT's promotional materials.
• Friday Harbor SuitescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel listed as a Producers' Club business sponsor, receiving visibility among island visitors and residents attending SJCT events.
• San Juan BrewerycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal brewery listed as a Producers' Club business sponsor, featured in SJCT marketing materials reaching a broad island audience.
• Friday Harbor High School and Middle SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool partnership where SJCT venues host school productions including A Midsummer Nights Dream, Stepsisters, Alice in Wonderland, Charlotte's Web, and others. SJCT also offers high school internship programs for technical theatre training.
• Spring Street International SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational school partnered with SJCT for annual theatre productions presented in SJCT venues, providing students with performance opportunities and the theatre with programming.
• Friday Harbor Film FestivalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFilm festival uses SJCT's Whittier Theatre as a venue for its events, demonstrating venue rental partnership.
• AACT (American Association of Community Theatre)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSJCT is a proud member of AACT, an organization focused on 'Improving Communities One Theatre at a Time,' connecting SJCT to a national community theatre network.
• PrintonyxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal printing business listed as a Producers' Club business sponsor, receiving marketing exposure through SJCT's promotional channels.
• Browne's Home CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHome improvement store listed as a Producers' Club business sponsor, featured in SJCT marketing materials.
• Islanders InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal insurance agency listed as a Producers' Club business sponsor.
• San Juan ShindigsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal event planning/business listed as a Producers' Club business sponsor.
• Savi Powered by Harborstone Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services product listed as a Producers' Club business sponsor, receiving recognition in SJCT's marketing channels.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Oregon Shakespeare Festival: One of the largest and oldest non-profit repertory theatres in the U.S., producing Shakespeare and contemporary work across multiple venues. Comparable as a much larger non-profit repertory theatre model that SJCT's presenting/touring strategy partly mirrors.
• Utah Shakespeare Festival: A Tony Award-winning regional repertory festival operating in a small/rural market (Cedar City, Utah), combining professional productions with educational outreach. Comparable in rural-market repertory model and education programming scale.

Direct peers

• Taproot Theatre Company: A 501(c)(3) community theatre in Seattle that produces mainstage plays, runs educational programming, and operates multiple performance venues. SJCT's Artistic Director Nathan Kessler-Jeffrey was previously Education and Outreach Director at Taproot, making it the most directly comparable peer by both model and personnel.
• Illinois Shakespeare Festival: A professional regional repertory festival where SJCT's Director of Education Penelope Haskew previously worked. Directly comparable in repertory-theatre programming model and summer-season festival format that SJCT emulates with Island Songs and touring concerts.
• Sierra Repertory Theatre: A regional repertory theatre in California's Sierra foothills operating multiple venues with a mix of touring artists, mainstage productions, and education programs. Directly comparable as a mid-sized community repertory theatre running both producing and presenting operations.
• Peninsula Players Theatre: America's oldest professional resident summer theatre, located in Door County, Wisconsin—a small, tourism-dependent community analogous to San Juan Island. Comparable as a rural-market repertory theatre sustaining year-round programming in a geographically isolated setting.
• A.D. Players: A 501(c)(3) community theatre in Houston, Texas that produces mainstage productions alongside extensive education and outreach programs for youth. Comparable in non-profit structure, education-program emphasis, and producing-theatre operating model.
• American Players Theatre: A classical repertory theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin that produces Shakespeare and classics alongside education programs in a rural setting. Comparable as a non-profit repertory theatre operating in a small/rural community with strong educational programming.
• Portland Stage: Maine's largest professional regional theatre, producing a season of plays alongside education and community engagement programs. Comparable as a non-profit repertory theatre balancing producing and touring-artist programming with educational outreach.

Others

• American Association of Community Theatre (AACT): The national non-profit association of which SJCT is a member, focused on 'Improving Communities One Theatre at a Time.' Listed as a peer because it represents the ecosystem and best-practice network that SJCT operates within, rather than as a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sjcomtheatre?lang=en
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChniYKDTtjgq_QJOEwEfsRg
• Facebookfacebook.com/sanjuancommunitytheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/sanjuancommunitytheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/san-juan-community-theatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 San Juan Community Theatre