RATTLESTICK THEATER

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.

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

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

• Live theater productions
• New play development
• Playwright residency programs
• Nonprofit performing arts
• Off-broadway theater

Headquarters

HQ city

West New York

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. 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.
2. Waverly Club Recurring Donations: Monthly giving program where supporters contribute recurring donations to fund bold experimentation, collaborative development, and new theatrical work creation.
3. 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.
4. Ticket Sales and Admissions: Revenue from theatrical productions, special events like Ratcracker holiday fundraiser, and performance-related programming.
5. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Terrence McNally FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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 ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-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 FoundationcoreOthersProvides 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 CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-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 ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-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 UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates 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 CastingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCasting consultant providing casting services for Rattlestick productions.
• Advance NYCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDevelopment consultant providing fundraising and development expertise.
• A.D. Hamingson & AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCapital Campaign consultant supporting the renovation and building project.
• Architecture Outfit (AO)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLead architect for renovation project. Has worked on notable NYC performing arts projects including New York Theatre Workshop, Symphony Space, and Theatre Row.
• Cirgenski+CompanycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject 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

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rattlestick-productions-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 RATTLESTICK THEATER