Yun Theatre

What Yun Theatre does

Yun Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, bilingual (Mandarin-English) contemporary theatre company based in Seattle, Washington, founded in 2022 by Christie Zhao (Founding Artistic Director), Yuelan (Resident Composer), and Harvey Yang (Co-founder). The organization produces original devised works and new play premieres exploring Chinese-American, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and feminist experiences, with titles including Monologues of n Women (2022), Two Goldfish (2022), In Between (2023), The Gaza Monologues (2023), Young People Social Death (2024), June is the First Fall (2024), Passage (2024), America 250 (2025), and Li (2026). Programming is delivered through Seattle-area venue partnerships including Theatre Puget Sound, Seattle Public Theater, Theatre Off Jackson, 12th Ave Arts, and University Heights Center, and through co-productions with SIS Productions, eSe Teatro, Dunya Productions, and 5th Avenue Theatre.

The company's product surface spans theatrical productions, new-works development (staged readings, playwright residencies), and an education portfolio that includes Yun's Lab (a 12-week Mandarin-language theatre-making program covering directing, producing, and design), Playback Theatre training, Freeing the Voice workshops, Acting Fundamentals, and Acting & Public Speaking. Community programming extends to SeaUni, a queer and trans feminist open-mic collective in diaspora that Yun inspired and supports, plus talkbacks, drama therapy sessions, and AAPI affinity events with peer organizations.

The revenue model combines donations (Zeffy, PayPal, Zelle, Venmo; 501(c)(3) tax-deductible), ticket sales across partner venues, fees from educational workshops (e.g., Acting Fundamentals at $200–$250 per participant with early-bird discounting), and corporate sponsorship packages. Grants from 4Culture, US-China Education Trust, Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, A4 Arts Fund, and a previously rescinded NEA award supplement earned revenue. Go-to-market is event-driven: in-person performances and workshops promoted through Facebook, Instagram, WeChat communities, and email newsletter, with earned media coverage in The Seattle Times, Northwest Asian Weekly, International Examiner, South Seattle Emerald, Broadway World, and Radii China.

Name

Yun Theatre

Legal name

Yun Theatre

Website

https://yun-theatre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Yun Theatre is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) bilingual (Mandarin-English) theatre company producing original devised works and educational programs on Chinese-American, immigrant, and queer/feminist experiences for Pacific Northwest communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Theatrical Productions

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Bilingual theatre productions
• Performing arts education
• Devised theatre workshops
• Cultural community programming
• Multilingual stage performances

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

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. Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts donations through multiple channels: Zeffy (online donation platform), PayPal, Zelle, and Venmo. As a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, donations are tax-deductible. The company also runs annual fundraisers and maintains relationships with individual donors.
2. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from ticket sales for theatrical productions, staged readings, and performances at various Seattle venues including Theatre Puget Sound, Center Theatre, Theatre Off Jackson, Seattle Public Theater, and 12th Ave Arts.
3. Educational Workshops and Classes: Fees collected from educational programming including Acting Fundamentals courses, Yun's Lab training program, Playback Theatre training, Freeing the Voice workshops, and Acting & Public Speaking courses.
4. Corporate Sponsorship: Customized sponsorship packages offered to companies seeking access to the organization's audience and supporters, with marketing and networking benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Yun Theatre produces bilingual (Mandarin-English) contemporary theatrical productions and educational programming in Seattle, Washington. The company presents original devised works, new play premieres, and staged readings exploring themes of immigration, identity, and bicultural experiences, alongside educational courses in acting, public speaking, Playback Theatre, and voice training. It also operates community programs such as the SeaUni queer and feminist open mic collective.

Product overview

Yun Theatre is a bicultural, experimental theatre company based in Seattle that produces theatrical productions and provides educational programs. Their core offerings include full theatrical productions (both original devised works and new play premieres) exploring immigration, identity, and bicultural experiences, presented in Mandarin, English, or multilingual formats. Educational offerings include Yun's Lab (an immersive 12-week theatre-making program), Playback Theatre training, and acting classes for immigrant communities. The organization also runs community programs including SeaUni (a queer and feminist open mic collective) and various workshops and events. Productions often include post-show talkbacks and panel discussions to foster dialogue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SeaUni大胆开麦: Chinese queer and trans feminist collective in diaspora based in Seattle, short for Seattle Unicorn/Unity/Universe. Also means sea urchin in Chinese. A community space for marginalized groups including queer, women, and feminists.
• Yun's Lab
• Playback Theatre Training

Products and services

• Theatre Productions Full theatrical productions exploring themes of immigration, identity, bicultural experiences, and social justice. Includes original devised works, new play premieres, and adaptations presented in Mandarin, English, or multilingual formats at Seattle venues.
• New Works Development (Staged Readings) Development program for emerging playwrights and theatre artists including staged readings, workshops, and incubating new scripts through collaborative devising processes.
• Playback Theatre Training Improvisational theatre training program teaching spontaneous performance, deep listening, and community storytelling using Playback Theatre methodology.
• Freeing the Voice Workshops Voice workshops based on Kristin Linklater's Freeing the Natural Voice methodology, exploring vocal preparation for Shakespeare and contemporary texts.
• Yun's Lab 12-week immersive theatre education program covering directing, producing, stage management, costume design, set design, sound design, and lighting design. Conducted in Mandarin with public showcase.
• Acting Fundamentals Introductory acting class designed for immigrant and multilingual participants, focusing on presence and acting fundamentals with techniques emphasizing intention, relationship, and listening.
• Acting & Public Speaking Course combining acting fundamentals with public speaking techniques, tailored for immigrant communities to build confidence in voice, body language, and storytelling.
• SeaUni Open Mic Collective Chinese queer and trans feminist collective in diaspora hosting open mics and events in Seattle. Short for Seattle Unicorn/Unity/Universe, also meaning sea urchin in Chinese.
• Community Events & Workshops Various events including drama therapy, acting and improv workshops, viewpoint workshops, design workshops, play readings, and collaborative community celebrations.
• Talkbacks & Panel Discussions Post-show discussions and panel events following productions to enhance audience engagement and explore themes presented in the plays.
• Corporate Sponsorship Packages Customized sponsorship packages offered to companies seeking access to the organization's audience and supporters, with marketing and networking benefits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sold-out debut production of Monologues of n Women
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Seattle Public TheatercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-production partner for the world premiere of 'Li' by Wei He, running January 16 - February 8, 2026 at Seattle Public Theater. This is a three-way co-production with SIS Productions.
• SIS ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-production partner for the world premiere of 'Li' by Wei He, in association with Yun Theatre and Seattle Public Theater.
• eSe TeatromajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Co-presenter of 'The Gaza Monologues: a Multilingual Reading' on December 9th, 2023 at University Heights Center. eSe Teatro empowers local Latin@ artists to create, produce and promote professional theater in English, Spanish and Spanglish.
• Dunya ProductionsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Co-presenter of 'The Gaza Monologues: a Multilingual Reading' on December 9th, 2023 at University Heights Center. Dunya Theatre's mission is Creating art and performance that will inspire and impassion audiences to engage with the global struggle for social and political justice, focusing on amplifying voices of Middle East, North African, and Arab (MENAA+) communities.
• Pork Filled ProductionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for AAPI Affinity Night event, collaborating on community programming for Asian American theatre audiences in Seattle.
• Washington Ensemble TheatreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for AAPI Affinity Night event, collaborating on community programming.
• 5th Avenue TheatreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for staged reading of 'Wandering' by Max Yu in conjunction with 5th Avenue Theatre's Global Majority Night, providing platform for diverse storytelling.
• Theatre Off JacksonmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for 'Young People Social Death Archive' production (February 16-18, 2024) and 'June is the First Fall' (July 11-27, 2024), hosting Yun Theatre productions at their venue.
• Chinese Artists and Organizers Collective (离离草)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative poetry writing partner for 'In Between' production, supporting cross-cultural artistic programming.
• 戏有云 (Yun Theatre)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeaUni (Seattle Unicorn/Unity/Universe) is a Chinese queer and trans feminist collective in diaspora. SeaUni's founding was inspired and supported by Yun Theatre, and SeaUni operates as a related community organization serving similar populations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• East West Players: Los Angeles-based Asian American theatre company, the nation's largest producer of AAPI theatrical work. Highly comparable mission and programming model but operates on a different (much larger) scale and in a different geography.
• National Asian Artists Project (NAAP): New York City-based nonprofit promoting diversity in theatre through Asian American visibility. Comparable mission of amplifying AAPI voices in mainstream theatre; different geography and scale than Yun.

Broad incumbents

• 5th Avenue Theatre: Major Seattle musical theatre institution that hosted Yun's staged reading of Wandering under its Global Majority Night program. Operates at much larger scale; relevant as a venue/partner rather than a direct competitor.
• Seattle Public Theater: Established Seattle theatre company that co-produced Li (Jan 2026) with Yun. Larger generalist theatre; operates as venue partner for Yun rather than a direct cultural-mission competitor.
• Theatre Off Jackson: Seattle Asian American focused venue and producing entity. Yun has used it as a venue partner for multiple productions (Young People Social Death, June is the First Fall); they share AAPI programming focus but Theatre Off Jackson is a venue/producer.

Direct peers

• Dunya Productions: Seattle theatre company amplifying MENAA+ voices through social-justice themed work. Direct peer in multicultural/diaspora theatre; co-presented The Gaza Monologues with Yun in 2023.
• Mu Performing Arts: Seattle-based Asian American performing arts organization producing theatre, dance, and music. Comparable in mission (AAPI cultural storytelling) and Pacific Northwest footprint to Yun.
• eSe Teatro: Seattle-based bilingual (English/Spanish) theatre company empowering Latin@ artists. Yun co-presented The Gaza Monologues with eSe Teatro in Dec 2023; both are multilingual, identity-focused small ensembles.
• Pork Filled Productions: Seattle Asian American theatre company focused on accessible, irreverent productions and community programming. Yun partnered with Pork Filled on AAPI Affinity Night, signaling overlapping community and audience.
• SIS Productions: Seattle-based Asian American theatre company producing original work and co-productions. Most direct peer — Yun and SIS have co-produced Li (Jan 2026) together and share a similar community-anchored Asian-diaspora mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/yuntheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yun-theatre

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 Yun Theatre