What SpeakEasy Stage Company does

SpeakEasy Stage Company is a non-profit theatre founded in 1992 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, where it operates as a resident company of the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. The organization produces 28 weeks of new plays and musicals annually across its mainstage season (currently Season 36), supplemented by development programming including the Proximity Series (paired readings with emerging directors and mid-career playwrights), the Bob Jolly Moving Series, the Don't Look Back musical series, and a BIPOC playwright initiative. Its productions have earned national recognition, including Tony Award nominations for The Sound Inside (2020) and Little Bear Ridge Road (2026), and a Drama Desk Award for Heroes of the Fourth Turning (2020).

The company is led by Producing Artistic Director Dawn M. Simmons and, beginning with the recent appointment of an inaugural Executive Director, a formalized executive leadership structure. Its programming emphasizes new work and emerging artists, with long-running partnerships that include Boston Conservatory at Berklee, StageSource, and the Elliot Norton Awards. Audience development programs include Pay-What-You-Can performances, student, senior, EBT, and MassHealth discounts, Front Row programming for the deaf community, and accessibility services. The organization serves approximately 500 local artists annually and runs an Emerging Artist Program plus internship opportunities.

Revenue is generated through a multi-stream non-profit model: single ticket and subscription sales, individual and corporate donations, foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships. Identified funding sources include the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Boston Cultural Council, Bank of America, the Shubert Foundation, Berkshire Bank, the Liberty Mutual Foundation, and the Yawkey Foundation. The 2024 reference to funding cuts from the National Endowment for the Arts and Massachusetts Cultural Council indicates a meaningful public-funding exposure layer.

Name

SpeakEasy Stage Company

Legal name

SpeakEasy Stage Company

Website

https://speakeasystage.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SpeakEasy Stage Company is a Boston-based non-profit theatre founded in 1992 that produces 28 weeks of new plays and musicals annually at the Calderwood Pavilion, serving local audiences, artists, donors, and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theatre / Performing Arts

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Live theatre productions
• Non-profit performing arts
• Theatrical season subscriptions
• Community theatre programs
• Accessible performing arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual tickets and season subscriptions to theatrical productions. Subscriptions offered as Seated Subscription (fixed dates/seats) or FlexPass (6 tickets to use flexibly).
2. Donations and Memberships: Philanthropic contributions through various giving levels: Friends Circle ($100-$999), Producers Circle ($1,000-$10,000+). Includes benefits like playbill recognition, event invitations, and opening night access.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate partner programs at Bronze ($1,000), Silver ($2,500), Gold ($5,000), and Platinum ($10,000+) levels with marketing and hospitality benefits including ad placements, social media recognition, and complimentary tickets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SpeakEasy Stage Company is a non-profit theatre organization that produces 28 weeks of contemporary plays and musicals each season at the Nancy and Ed Roberts Studio Theater in the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. The company sells individual tickets, season subscriptions, and group tickets, while generating additional revenue through donations and corporate sponsorships to support its productions and community programs.

Product overview

SpeakEasy Stage Company is a non-profit theatre company that produces 28 weeks of new plays and musicals each season at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. The company's offerings center on MainStage Productions (Season 36 features Covenant, Little Bear Ridge Road, and By Any Other Name), supplemented by community programs including The Boston Project (new works initiative for Boston-set plays), Dramaturgy Resources, Cultivating Creativity Programs, Discussions & Forums, Education Programs (Student Matinees, Fellowships, Internships), the SuperSize subscription add-on, Accessibility Services (Open Captioning, Audio Description, Sensory Friendly Performances), and the Thomas Derrah Emerging Artists Fund. The company also operates a Prop Co-Op for props rental to other theatre companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MainStage Productions Core theatrical productions featuring 28 weeks of new plays and musicals each season at the Nancy and Ed Roberts Studio Theater in the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, featuring Boston premieres of contemporary cutting-edge plays and musicals for theatre audiences.
• Season 36 Productions Season 36 includes three main productions: Covenant (Sep 25-Oct 17, 2026 by York Walker), Little Bear Ridge Road (Jan 29-Feb 20, 2027 by Samuel D. Hunter, 2026 Tony Nominee for Best Play), and By Any Other Name (May 7-29, 2027 by Deborah Zoe Laufer & Daniel Green).
• Season Subscriptions Annual subscription program offering two options: Seated Subscription (fixed performance dates with guaranteed same seats and no-fee exchanges) and FlexPass (6-ticket pass for flexibility across multiple shows or all on one show, with priority seating and no-fee exchanges).
• The Boston Project New works initiative that supports the creation and development of new plays set in Boston, commissioning playwrights and providing dramaturgical support for Boston-based plays that explore what it means to live in the city.
• Education Programs Student Matinee Series, internships, fellowships, and the SpeakEasy Fellowship Program providing hands-on experience and mentorship for high school students, college students, and recent graduates in theatre management and arts administration.
• Accessibility Services Services including Open Captioning, Audio Description, Touch Tours, Sensory Friendly Performances, and Assisted Listening Devices to make productions accessible to all patrons, with 25+ accessible performances per season.
• Group Sales Group ticket sales for parties of 10+ including school groups, corporate events, and social outings, managed through the Marketing Manager.
• Thomas Derrah Emerging Artists Fund Named award program providing opportunities and financial support for emerging artists, honoring Thomas Derrah's dedication to teaching and inspiring young artists.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Corporate partner sponsorship program at Bronze ($1,000), Silver ($2,500), Gold ($5,000), and Platinum ($10,000+) levels with marketing and hospitality benefits including ad placements, social media recognition, and complimentary tickets.
• Discussions & Forums Post-show conversations and panels designed to fit the themes of each production, offering audiences opportunities to engage further with the material through academic and community expert discussions.

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Boston Center for the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome venue partnership - SpeakEasy Stage is the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion Resident Theatre Company at the Boston Center for the Arts. The company performs at the Nancy and Ed Roberts Studio Theater.
• Reunion BBQminorOthersRestaurant partner at 439 Tremont Street offering dining discounts/recommendations for theatre patrons before and after shows.
• MIDAminorOthersRestaurant partner at 782 Tremont Street offering Italian dining options for theatre patrons.
• Berkshire BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold level corporate sponsor providing critical investment in exchange for marketing recognition and hospitality benefits.
• Boston VeterinarycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold level corporate sponsor with marketing and hospitality benefits.
• WBURminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoston public radio partner offering $10 discount on tickets for WBUR members.
• WGBHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoston public media partner offering $10 discount on tickets for WGBH members.
• Boston Conservatory at BerkleecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership providing professional development and collaboration opportunities for students.
• Huntington Community Membership Initiative (HCMI)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCross-organization ticket discount program offering $20 tickets to cultural organization members.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Huntington Theatre Company: Boston's largest non-profit theatre and SpeakEasy's most direct local peer. Both operate in the Greater Boston market producing contemporary and classic plays; the Huntington is also a SpeakEasy partner (HCMI discount program) and direct competitor for audiences, donors, and local artists.
• American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.): Harvard-affiliated professional theatre in Cambridge producing new work, premieres, and bold contemporary programming. Directly comparable in mission (new American plays, equity commitments) and geography (Boston metro) to SpeakEasy Stage.
• Lyric Stage Company of Boston: Boston-based non-profit theatre producing plays and musicals in an intimate in-the-round venue. Closely comparable scale, model (ticket sales + donations), and Boston geography to SpeakEasy Stage.
• Company One Theatre: Boston-based non-profit theatre committed to producing bold, contemporary, and socially engaged work with a strong equity and community access focus. Shares SpeakEasy's programming philosophy and audience overlap in the Boston market.

Broad incumbents

• Berkeley Repertory Theatre: Major Tony-winning regional non-profit theatre known for premiering new plays and musicals. Larger scale than SpeakEasy but highly comparable in producing-driven model and reputation for launching award-bound work.
• Roundabout Theatre Company: Major NYC non-profit theatre producing new and classic works with multi-venue operations. Compares on producing contemporary plays and audience development, though at significantly larger scale.
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Tony-winning Chicago non-profit renowned for bold, contemporary programming and ensemble-driven productions. Comparable artistic mission and donor-supported model, though much larger in scale and budget.
• Goodman Theatre: Chicago's oldest and largest not-for-profit theater, producing new plays, classics, and musicals. Shares the regional non-profit producing model and contemporary work focus with SpeakEasy Stage.

Regional players

• TheaterWorks Hartford: Connecticut-based non-profit producing contemporary plays in an intimate venue. Closely comparable to SpeakEasy in scale, intimate-venue model, and programming of bold new work, though serving a different metro market.
• Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company: Washington, D.C.-based non-profit theatre focused on bold, contemporary, provocative new plays. Compares on artistic mission and intimate producing model, but operates in a different regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/26400847613

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 SpeakEasy Stage Company