RATTLESTICK THEATER
Rattlestick Theater is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Off-Broadway company founded in 1994 in NYC's West Village that produces new plays and runs artist-development programs (Van Lier Fellowship, Terrence McNally Incubator, Global Forms festival) for playwrights, directors, and immigrant and BIPOC artists.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersWest New York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What RATTLESTICK THEATER does
Rattlestick Theater, legally Rattlestick Productions, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theater company founded in 1994 and based at 224 Waverly Place in New York City's West Village. The organization produces ambitious new plays intended to inspire empathy and provoke conversation on social issues, and operates a portfolio of artist-development programs: the Van Lier New Voices Fellowship (annual fellowships for two playwrights of color under 30, with $35,000 stipends and $5,000 artistic funds), the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator (three early-career playwrights receive $10,000 stipends plus a three-week development workshop), the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Playwright-in-Residence program (three-year residency), a Directing Fellowship in partnership with Yale School of Drama, the Waverly Performance Studio for experimental work, and the Global Forms annual all-immigrant arts festival.
The company's core offering is live theatrical performance using traditional stagecraft at its single West Village venue, supplemented by co-productions with partner theaters (Atlantic Theater Company, Lucille Lortel Theatre, StoryBridge Productions). The technology stack is conventional — live performance production infrastructure — with no proprietary software, AI capabilities, or digital product layer identified. The 1854 building is undergoing a major 2025-2026 renovation that includes an ADA-accessible elevator, expanded lobby, flexible staging, and facade upgrades, with re-occupancy targeted for Fall 2026.
The business model is nonprofit and multi-stream. Revenue derives from ticket sales and admissions, individual donations (Waverly Club monthly recurring giving, Honor Roll $1,000+ annual membership tiers, capital campaign naming opportunities from $25 to $250,000), corporate sponsorships, foundation grants (Mellon, Ford, Shubert, Howard Gilman, Tow, NYC DCLA, NYSCA, New York Community Trust, Jerome Foundation, Lucille Lortel Foundation), and a $500,000 capital campaign challenge grant. The organization is led by Artistic Director Will Davis — the first transgender person to run an off-Broadway theater — and Managing Director Maegan Morris, supported by approximately 10 core staff and external contractors. Over its 30+ year history, Rattlestick has produced more than 125 new plays and launched the careers of multiple Tony, Pulitzer, Peabody, and WGA award-recognized playwrights.
RATTLESTICK THEATER firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RATTLESTICK THEATER
- Legal name
- Rattlestick Productions, Inc.
- Website
- https://rattlestick.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Rattlestick Theater is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Off-Broadway company founded in 1994 in NYC's West Village that produces new plays and runs artist-development programs (Van Lier Fellowship, Terrence McNally Incubator, Global Forms festival) for playwrights, directors, and immigrant and BIPOC artists.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RATTLESTICK THEATER industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts / Live Theater
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts (MPAGABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG)
Keywords
Where RATTLESTICK THEATER is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
RATTLESTICK THEATER business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Rattlestick relies heavily on individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants. They offer various giving programs including the Waverly Club (recurring monthly donations), Honor Roll ($1,000+ annual donors), capital campaign contributions, and tribute/dedication donations.
- Waverly Club Recurring Donations: Monthly giving program where supporters contribute recurring donations to fund bold experimentation, collaborative development, and new theatrical work creation.
- Capital Campaign: Major fundraising campaign for the renovation of the theater at 224 Waverly Place, with naming opportunities ranging from $25 (bathroom wall) to $250,000 (stage). Includes a $500,000 challenge grant.
- Ticket Sales and Admissions: Revenue from theatrical productions, special events like Ratcracker holiday fundraiser, and performance-related programming.
- Honor Roll Membership: Annual giving program at $1,000+ levels with benefits including complimentary tickets, behind-the-scenes access, and opportunities to underwrite productions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | $500,000 Challenge Grant |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Naming Opportunities |
| Subscription | Annual | Honor Roll Membership ($1,000+) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
RATTLESTICK THEATER product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rattlestick Theater is a nonprofit Off-Broadway theater company in New York City's West Village that produces new plays and develops playwrights through fellowship, residency, and incubator programs. The organization commissions and stages original theatrical work while providing creative space and stipends to emerging and established playwrights, directors, and performance artists. Operations are funded through a mix of individual donations, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and earned revenue from ticket sales.
Product overview
Rattlestick Theater is an Off-Broadway nonprofit theater company founded in 1994, producing ambitious new plays that inspire empathy and provoke social change. The company operates as a single unified venue (currently undergoing renovation) offering live theatrical productions alongside multiple development programs: the Van Lier New Voices Fellowship (annual fellowship for playwrights of color under 30), the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator (early-career playwright support), the Mellon Foundation Playwright in Residence, the Directing Fellowship (Yale partnership), Waverly Performance Studio (experimental work development), and Global Forms (annual immigrant arts festival). The company also operates donor programs including The Waverly Club (monthly giving) and The Honor Roll (annual giving recognition), plus produces the Ratcracker annual fundraiser event. All programming supports the company's mission to foster bold new theatrical voices and create provocative work for social change.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Terrence McNally Theater: The renamed home of Rattlestick Theater at 224 Waverly Place, honoring the late Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally
- The Waverly Club
- The Honor Roll
Products and services
- Live Theatrical Productions
Quantifiable outcome
- Produced over 125 new plays since 1994
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use RATTLESTICK THEATER
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
RATTLESTICK THEATER technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
RATTLESTICK THEATER partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Terrence McNally FoundationcorePartnership to rename Rattlestick's building as The Terrence McNally Theater and co-produce the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator. The Foundation provides funding and programmatic support for early-career playwrights, reflecting McNally's commitment to mentorship and bold new voices.
- Tom Kirdahy ProductionscoreCo-producer of the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator, providing additional mentorship, workshop opportunities, and industry connections for early-career playwrights selected for the program.
- Lucille Lortel Theatre FoundationcoreProvides management services to Rattlestick Theater. Lucille Lortel Foundation also collaborates on productions including Global Forms festival (7th iteration presented in conjunction with Lucille Lortel Theatre).
- Atlantic Theater CompanycoreCo-producer of Indian Princesses by Eliana Theologides Rodriguez, scheduled for New York premiere at Atlantic's Linda Gross Theater in May-June 2026. Partnership exemplifies sustained artistic relationships and long-term development support.
- StoryBridge ProductionscoreCo-producing partner for The Call, a bold new queer African musical. StoryBridge is dedicated to centering BIPOC and queer stories as catalysts for social change, partnering with Rattlestick to bring this work to New York audiences.
- David Geffen School of Drama at Yale UniversitycoreCollaborates with Rattlestick on the Directing Fellowship, providing one graduate director per year with an artistic home and vital artistic/administrative role at the theater for 12 months.
- Grande/Morris CastingminorCasting consultant providing casting services for Rattlestick productions.
- Advance NYCminorDevelopment consultant providing fundraising and development expertise.
- A.D. Hamingson & AssociatesminorCapital Campaign consultant supporting the renovation and building project.
- Architecture Outfit (AO)coreLead architect for renovation project. Has worked on notable NYC performing arts projects including New York Theatre Workshop, Symphony Space, and Theatre Row.
- Cirgenski+CompanycoreProject Manager and Owner's Representative for renovation. Chris Cirgenski has over 40 years of diverse experience in NYC development, project management, construction, and architecture.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
RATTLESTICK THEATER competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
RATTLESTICK THEATER social profiles
Digital presenceRATTLESTICK THEATER financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RATTLESTICK THEATER leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
RATTLESTICK THEATER funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RATTLESTICK THEATER M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RATTLESTICK THEATER
What does RATTLESTICK THEATER do?
Rattlestick Theater is a nonprofit Off-Broadway theater company in New York City's West Village that produces new plays and develops playwrights through fellowship, residency, and incubator programs. The organization commissions and stages original theatrical work while providing creative space and stipends to emerging and established playwrights, directors, and performance artists. Operations are funded through a mix of individual donations, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and earned revenue from ticket sales.
Is RATTLESTICK THEATER a public or private company?
RATTLESTICK THEATER is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was RATTLESTICK THEATER founded?
RATTLESTICK THEATER was founded in 1994. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is RATTLESTICK THEATER based?
RATTLESTICK THEATER is headquartered in West New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does RATTLESTICK THEATER make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are waverly Club Recurring Donations, capital Campaign, ticket Sales and Admissions and honor Roll Membership.
Does RATTLESTICK THEATER have an API?
No public API is recorded for RATTLESTICK THEATER.
What industry is RATTLESTICK THEATER in?
RATTLESTICK THEATER's product category is Performing Arts / Live Theater. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAI, Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts, with a secondary code of EDAMAAAG, Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater). Its NAICS code is 71111 and its SIC code is 7900.