Thrown Stone Theatre Company

What Thrown Stone Theatre Company does

Thrown Stone Theatre Company is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) professional theatre founded in 2016 and headquartered in Ridgefield, Connecticut, with operating residency at the 232-seat Crystal Theatre in South Norwalk. It is self-positioned as Connecticut's only professional theatre exclusively dedicated to new plays, operating a full pipeline from commission through development workshops to world premiere productions. The company is led by Co-Artistic Directors Jonathan Winn (also Executive Director) and Jason Peck, supported by a 6-person staff.

The company's product portfolio includes world premiere and regional premiere productions (e.g., The Waterfall, The Vessel, Fools' Paradise, The Good District), the annual CT Short Play Fest featuring 11 new short plays per year, the ESCAPE annual full-length play commission (2026 awarded to Dana Schwartz for Gentlemen Hosts), and ongoing new play development services including workshops, readings, and submissions programs. Distribution operates through three venue channels: the in-residence Crystal Theatre (regional, Norwalk), Off-Broadway co-productions at WP Theater (national/Off-Broadway, The Waterfall January 2026), and 59E59 Theaters (Off-Broadway, The Vessel August 2026). Development partners include The Old Globe and The New Harmony Project for workshop support.

Revenue is generated through four streams: ticket sales ($12-$100 per ticket, pay-as-you-go), tiered individual donations ($25 Quartz to $10,000+ Executive Producer), corporate sponsorship packages ($1,500 Supporting to $10,000 Producing), and foundation grants from organizations including Lucille Lortel Foundation, Burry Fredrik Foundation, Connecticut Office of the Arts, the Hoffman Foundation, and Fairfield County Bank. Major episodic underwriting has come from philanthropist Dee Dee Colabella. Marketing spans owned digital channels (website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, email), earned media partnerships (WSHU Public Radio, 068 Magazine), and community partnerships (Norwalk Arts and Culture Commission, Greater Norwalk Chamber, local libraries). The company is a member of the National New Play Network and the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut.

Name

Thrown Stone Theatre Company

Legal name

Thrown Stone Theatre Company

Website

https://thrownstone.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Thrown Stone Theatre Company is a 6-person, Connecticut-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) professional theatre that develops, commissions, and produces new plays from emerging and professional playwrights, operating in residence at Crystal Theatre in Norwalk and expanding to Off-Broadway via WP Theater and 59E59 partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theatre Productions

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC)

Keywords

• New play development
• Live theatrical productions
• Playwright commissions
• Off-broadway theatre
• Community theatre productions

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from performances at Crystal Theatre in Norwalk, CT and 59E59 Theaters in New York for Off-Broadway productions.
2. Individual Donations: Tiered donor program with benefits including Quartz ($100+), Amethyst ($500+), Emerald ($1,000+), Sapphire ($2,500+), Diamond ($5,000+), and Executive Producer ($10,000+) with escalating benefits including private events, backstage tours, closed rehearsals, and Associate Producer credits.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship packages at Supporting ($1,500), Contributing ($3,000), Sustaining ($5,000), and Producing ($10,000) levels with digital, print, and event marketing benefits.
4. Partnership Revenue: Co-production arrangements with organizations like WP Theater for Off-Broadway productions; venue partnerships for production presentations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Thrown Stone Theatre Company is Connecticut's only professional theatre exclusively dedicated to new plays, operating across the full lifecycle from commission and development through workshops to world premiere productions. The company produces live theatrical performances at the 232-seat Crystal Theatre in South Norwalk, CT and at Off-Broadway venues in New York (59E59 Theaters, WP Theater), and runs an annual CT Short Play Fest featuring 11 new short plays in a single day. Its portfolio includes commissioned works, regional and world premieres, an annual ESCAPE playwriting commission, and an emerging-playwright mentorship program.

Product overview

Thrown Stone Theatre Company is Connecticut's only professional theatre exclusively dedicated to new plays, operating from commission through development to production. The company's portfolio includes world premiere productions (The Waterfall, The Good District, Fools' Paradise, The Vessel), the annual CT Short Play Fest festival program, the ESCAPE Commission award for playwrights, new play development services with workshops and readings, and individual/corporate sponsorship programs. The company recently launched its new residency at The Crystal Theatre in South Norwalk and is producing its first Off-Broadway production in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CT Short Play Fest: Annual one-day festival featuring eleven new short plays performed by a single cast in two sessions - one for emerging playwrights and one for professionals.

Products and services

• The Waterfall Off-Broadway two-hander by Phanésia Pharel about generational divides around family, womanhood, and the American Dream, co-produced with WP Theater in New York. Targeted at theatre audiences seeking bold new dramatic works.
• The Vessel Off-Broadway production by Brendan George about three minimum-wage parks employees at the center of a viral spectacle inspired by true events at Hudson Yards. Directed by Peter Charney. Presented through Through the Tollbooth Co. in association with Thrown Stone.
• The Good District World premiere play by Tony Meneses about a fractured family squatting in a beachfront home so 13-year-old Alisha can attend an elite school. Directed by Dexter J. Singleton. Scheduled for The Crystal Theatre.
• CT Short Play Fest Annual one-day festival featuring eleven new short plays performed by a single ensemble cast. Afternoon session showcases emerging playwrights (ages 14-22) and evening session features professional playwrights. Includes Audience Choice awards and celebrity judges. Targeted at theatre audiences and playwright development.
• Fools' Paradise World premiere play by Co-Artistic Director Jonathan Winn, performed at The Crystal Theatre in South Norwalk as the inaugural production at Thrown Stone's new residency venue. Targeted at theatre audiences.
• ESCAPE Annual Playwriting Commission Annual full-length play commission awarded to a playwright exploring the theme of escape, including a monetary award and developmental support through Thrown Stone's production pipeline. Targeted at professional playwrights seeking commission support.
• New Play Development Services End-to-end new play development services including commissioning playwrights, hosting developmental workshops and readings, and producing world premiere productions. Connecticut's only professional theatre offering this full commission-to-production pipeline. Targeted at playwrights seeking professional development support.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

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Has API

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Core technology

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Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• WP TheatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for The Waterfall Off-Broadway premiere (January-March 2026). WP Theater is the nation's oldest and largest theater company dedicated to developing, producing, and promoting the work of Women+. This partnership represents Thrown Stone's biggest milestone and first Off-Broadway production.
• The Crystal TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidence venue in South Norwalk, CT. 232-seat community theatre where Thrown Stone presents productions. Fairfield County's premier children's and community theatre since 1987.
• National New Play NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of professional theaters collaborating to develop, produce, and extend the life of new plays. Thrown Stone is an Associate Member supporting national new play ecosystem through collaboration, festivals, and travel banks.
• Norwalk Arts and Culture CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner that stewards Norwalk's public art collection, cultural assets, and creative community while overseeing the state-designated Arts and Culture District.
• WSHU Public RadiosupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner and underwriter providing NPR news, classical music, and cultural programming to Fairfield County with corporate matching for donations.
• Greater Norwalk Chamber of CommercesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator and membership-based business organization committed to economic vitality of Norwalk and mid-Fairfield County.
• 068 MagazinesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner reaching over 60,000 readers in Fairfield County 068 zip codes, promoting local businesses and cultural events.
• 59E59 TheatersmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOff-Broadway venue hosting The Vessel production (August 2026) presented by Through the Tollbooth Co. in association with Thrown Stone.
• Keeler Tavern Museum & History CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator host for site-specific productions including The Suburbs workshop performances in the Walled Garden.
• The Old GlobesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner providing workshop space for The Waterfall in 2023 as part of new play development.
• The New Harmony ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner providing workshop support for The Waterfall in May 2025.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rattlestick Playwrights Theater: Off-Off-Broadway theater in NYC dedicated to producing new plays and supporting playwrights; directly comparable as a small professional company focused on new work development and production.
• WP Theater (Women's Project Theater): Nation's oldest and largest theater company dedicated to developing, producing, and promoting the work of Women+; already a co-production partner with Thrown Stone on The Waterfall and shares the new-play development mission.
• MCC Theater: Off-Broadway theater in NYC committed to developing and producing bold new work by living playwrights; closely aligned new-play mission with comparable scale and donor-driven model.
• Playwrights Horizons: NYC institution dedicated to producing new work by American playwrights; comparable new-play commissioning, development, and Off-Broadway production pipeline.
• Atlantic Theater Company: Off-Broadway company producing new plays with an established playwright development program; shares the small-organization, new-work-focused profile of Thrown Stone.

Regional players

• Hartford Stage: LORT-member regional theater in Hartford, CT producing a mix of classics and new works; comparable Connecticut-based professional theater with overlapping donor base and audience.
• Yale Repertory Theatre: LORT-member regional theater in New Haven, CT with strong new-play development ties through Yale School of Drama; comparable new-play commissioning and Connecticut regional footprint.
• Long Wharf Theatre: Connecticut-based professional theater with a long history of developing new plays and producing regional premieres; comparable CT footprint and mission alignment.
• TheaterWorks Hartford: Hartford-based professional theater producing contemporary plays and new works; shares the Connecticut regional new-play mission and overlapping donor market.

Broad incumbents

• Second Stage Theater: Larger Off-Broadway producing organization with a dedicated new-work program; broader portfolio but operates in the same Off-Broadway new-play category and represents the next-tier aspirational peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/thrownstone_org
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCl9oMyqaifMZkwNfQr-YEyA
• Facebookfacebook.com/thrownstoneorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thrownstone
• Instagraminstagram.com/thrownstone_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Thrown Stone Theatre Company