Deaf West Theatre

What Deaf West Theatre does

Deaf West Theatre Company, Inc. is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit theater company founded in 1991 in Los Angeles, operating with 1–10 employees from a Northridge headquarters and a Studio City mailing address. The company produces live theatrical performances that integrate American Sign Language with spoken English, making productions accessible to both Deaf and hearing audiences simultaneously. Its core products include mainstage productions (Elephant Shoes, Green Day's American Idiot, Spring Awakening, Big River, Fidelio, Oedipus, Our Town), the National Deaf High School Theatre & Film Festival, and ASL-integrated music video collaborations with Disney Animation, Disney Music, Apple TV+, and Capitol Records.

Revenue is generated through four streams: ticket sales from live theater co-productions with partner venues such as Two River Theater, Center Theatre Group, and the LA Philharmonic; donations and contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations; merchandise sales through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop ($25–$125 per item, limited to 1,000 units per design); and media licensing from studio collaborations. Distribution spans regional live performances, a global e-commerce shop, and streaming platforms (Disney+, Apple TV+, YouTube). The company is governed by a Board of Directors led by Co-President PJ Mattiacci and President Emeritus Ed Waterstreet, with Artistic Director DJ Kurs (since 2012) and Managing Director Jeff Perri (since 2022) leading day-to-day operations.

Name

Deaf West Theatre

Legal name

Deaf West Theatre Company, Inc.

Website

https://deafwest.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Deaf West Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 that produces ASL-integrated theatrical performances accessible to Deaf and hearing audiences, operates the National Deaf High School Theatre & Film Festival, and partners with Disney, Apple TV+, and major LA theaters on co-productions and accessible media content.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Theater

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG), Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE), Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI), Accessible Media Production (Alt Formats, Captioning, Audio Description) (EDALAGAC)

Keywords

• ASL-integrated theater
• Deaf accessible productions
• Bilingual theatrical performances
• Nonprofit performing arts
• Deaf arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Northridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from live theater performances, including Broadway productions, regional theater co-productions, and special performances.
2. Donations and Contributions: Non-profit funding through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants to support mission-driven work.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including commemorative pins, ornaments, posters, and limited edition items through the online shop.
4. Media Partnerships and Licensing: Collaborations with major studios like Disney for ASL adaptations of popular content, creating new revenue streams while expanding accessibility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Deaf West Theatre is a nonprofit performing arts company that creates and produces live theatrical productions integrating American Sign Language (ASL) with spoken English, making performances accessible to both Deaf and hearing audiences simultaneously. The company also operates the National Deaf High School Theatre & Film Festival, educational and community programs, and sells commemorative merchandise tied to its productions.

Product overview

Deaf West Theatre operates as a non-profit theater company offering a portfolio of live theatrical productions that integrate American Sign Language with spoken English. Their core products include mainstage theatrical productions (such as Elephant Shoes, Green Day's American Idiot, and Spring Awakening), the National Deaf High School Theatre & Film Festival for youth development, and educational programs including the Ed Waterstreet & Linda Bove Initiative. The company also provides accessibility services through ASL-integrated music video collaborations with major studios like Disney, Apple TV+, and Capitol Records, and sells commemorative merchandise including anniversary items, ornaments, posters, and enamel pins designed by Deaf artists. Their productions serve both deaf and hearing audiences through a unique blend of spoken word, ASL, and projected text.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National Deaf High School Theatre & Film Festival (NDHSTF): A premier national platform celebrating the creativity, talent, and storytelling of young Deaf performers from across the United States.

Quantifiable outcome

• Productions have earned multiple Tony Award nominations including Best Revival of a Musical for Spring Awakening
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• Disney Animation StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Deaf West Theatre partnered with Disney Animation Studios on Songs in Sign Language, a collection reimagining hit songs from Encanto, Frozen 2, and Moana 2 in American Sign Language. The collaboration featured Deaf performers from Deaf West and over 20 Disney animators, with content released on Disney+ during National Deaf History Month.
• Two River TheatercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-production of Elephant Shoes, a world premiere musical running June 4-28, 2026 at Two River Theater in Red Bank, NJ. The production was directed by Jeff Calhoun and featured a mixed combination of spoken word, ASL, and projected text.
• Center Theatre GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-production of Green Day's American Idiot at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles (October-November 2024), directed by Snehal Desai. Also co-produced Spring Awakening and Pippin at CTG venues.
• Los Angeles PhilharmonicmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Collaborative production of Beethoven's Fidelio with Gustavo Dudamel conducting, conceived for both hearing and Deaf operagoers. Included an encore production and European tour.
• The Getty VillamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Co-production of a fresh and thrilling new adaptation of Oedipus at The Getty Villa, directed by Jenny Koons with ASL adaptation by Alexandria Wailes and Andrew Morrill.
• National Research GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership on a comprehensive study project examining representation and accessibility in media and entertainment, including a roundtable discussion with prominent Deaf creatives.
• GoogleminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with Deaf West alumni Daniel Durant for advocacy video 'Communication Does Not Have to be a Barrier' demonstrating authentic Deaf representation in arts.
• Disney MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Multiple collaborations including ASL music video of 'I See the Light' from Tangled for Disney 100 celebration, and 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' for International Day of Sign Languages.
• Capitol RecordsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Collaboration on ASL music video for international singer/songwriter Calum Scott's song 'Biblical,' featuring five Deaf artists.
• Apple TV+majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Created accessible music video 'You're All I Need To Get By' from Apple's CODA film, featuring an all-Deaf cast with creative direction focused on story and camera movement for accessibility.
• Pasadena PlayhousemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Co-production of Our Town with the Pasadena Playhouse, directed by Sheryl Kaller.
• Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing ArtsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Co-production partner for multiple productions including Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo, Spring Awakening, and Sleeping Beauty Wakes at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.
• deafpower.meminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Deaf artists Christine Sun Kim and Ravi Vasavan to create limited edition enamel pins inspired by Deaf culture, with all proceeds supporting Deaf West's mission.
• California School for the Deaf, RiversidemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the National Deaf High School Theatre & Film Festival (March 4-8, 2026), providing facilities and supporting deaf youth education.
• The Fountain TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production of Cyrano, which won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Production and was a world premiere.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pasadena Playhouse: Historic Southern California theater and official State Theater of California. Co-produced Our Town with Deaf West in 2016, sharing comparable regional producing scale and Los Angeles area operations.
• National Theatre of the Deaf: Historic Deaf theater company founded in 1967 that produces performances integrating ASL with spoken English. Most directly comparable peer to Deaf West Theatre, sharing the same mission of bridging Deaf and hearing worlds through theater.
• Berkeley Repertory Theatre: Tony Award-winning regional theater in the San Francisco Bay Area known for innovative productions. Comparable producing scale and artistic reputation, with similar regional theater ambitions and Tony-nominated output.
• Center Theatre Group: Major Los Angeles theater organization operating the Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre. Direct co-production partner with Deaf West on American Idiot and Spring Awakening, making it a closely aligned producing peer.
• Los Angeles Philharmonic: Major orchestra that co-produced Fidelio with Deaf West and Gustavo Dudamel. A producing partner with similar arts mission and comparable co-production collaboration pattern for accessible programming.
• Two River Theater: New Jersey regional theater company co-producing the Elephant Shoes world premiere with Deaf West. A direct co-production peer sharing similar producing scale and regional theater positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Roundabout Theatre Company: Major New York nonprofit theater company producing Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. Larger established peer with similar Tony-recognized Broadway ambitions and nonprofit producing structure.
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Tony Award-winning Chicago theater company known for innovative productions and ensemble work. Larger nonprofit theater peer with comparable mission-driven producing approach and Broadway transfer history.

Emerging players

• Gallaudet University Theatre Arts Department: Academic theater program at the premier US university for Deaf and hard of hearing students. Comparable as a training ground and producer of Deaf-centered theatrical content, though primarily academic in scope.
• ASL Films: Production company specializing in feature films and content created in American Sign Language. Comparable as a Deaf-led media company expanding accessibility-focused content, though focused on film rather than theater.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/deafwest
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtRoAwr8Fgyf7yDpTPqR9ag
• Facebookfacebook.com/deafwesttheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deaf-west-theatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/deafwest
• TikToktiktok.com/@deafwest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Deaf West Theatre