Shakespeare in Clark Park

What Shakespeare in Clark Park does

Shakespeare in Clark Park (SCP) is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit theater company founded in fall 2005 by Marla Burkholder, Maria Möller, Tom Reing, and Whitney Estrin. It has produced free, outdoor Shakespeare performances in the 9-acre Clark Park in West Philadelphia's University City neighborhood every summer since its inaugural 2006 season, staging risk-taking interpretations of the Shakespeare canon with professional actors and community ensemble members. Productions are mounted in "The Bowl" area of the park, with the Annenberg Center at the University of Pennsylvania serving as the rain location; outdoor attendance has reached over 1,000 per Saturday performance.

The company's core product is its annual summer outdoor season, supplemented by touring productions, staged readings, and occasional ticketed holiday shows at partner venues such as the Louis Bluver Theatre at The Drake. Recent output has expanded beyond the original Clark Park footprint into Kensington and Germantown, and format diversification includes a circus-themed Pericles (2021), the company's first musical in Two Gentlemen of Verona (2023), the Pageant Wagon mobile staging program launched during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020), and the first-ever Hamlet co-produced with Revolution Shakespeare for summer 2026. The 2024–2025 season brought a Barrymore Award for Outstanding Outdoor Production and a Metro Philadelphia Best Local Theatre Company designation.

Revenue is generated through a typical small-arts-nonprofit mix: individual donations via the annual Red Bucket Campaign (targeting $21,000 for 2026), corporate sponsorships led by The Arts League (Gold Sponsor) with Friends of Clark Park and The Franklin Fountain, foundation grants from the Charlotte Cushman Foundation and the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and limited ticket revenue from special productions and a $10–$50-entry picnic raffle. All main summer productions remain free and open to the public. The organization is led by Producing Artistic Director Shamus, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors (President Patrick Derrickson, Secretary Catherine del Tito), and advised by an Artistic Advisory Board; it has no parent company, no institutional investment, and no private equity exposure.

Name

Shakespeare in Clark Park

Legal name

Shakespeare in Clark Park

Website

https://shakespeareinclarkpark.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shakespeare in Clark Park is a Philadelphia nonprofit theater company producing free, outdoor Shakespeare performances annually in Clark Park, serving West Philadelphia communities with professional productions, touring shows, and community engagement programs since 2005.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Community Theatre / Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD), Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC)

Keywords

• Outdoor theater productions
• Free Shakespeare performances
• Community performing arts
• Nonprofit theater company
• Staged readings events

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Red Bucket Campaign: Annual fundraising campaign where audience members donate to red buckets during performances and online. Goal of $21,000 for 21st year (2025).
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Local businesses and corporations sponsor productions in exchange for public recognition on marketing materials, website, and social media. Current sponsors include The Arts League (Gold Sponsor), Friends of Clark Park, The Franklin Fountain.
3. Ticket Sales (Selected Productions): Some productions like 'The Complete Works of Christmas Abridged' require ticket purchases through Eventbrite, while main summer Shakespeare productions remain free.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Shakespeare in Clark Park is a nonprofit theater company that produces free, outdoor performances of Shakespeare's plays each summer in Clark Park, Philadelphia, featuring professional actors and community ensemble participants. The company also offers special indoor/ticketed productions (such as Complete Christmas Abridged), touring productions, and staged readings throughout the year, supported by donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

Shakespeare in Clark Park is a nonprofit theater company offering free, outdoor professional productions of Shakespeare's plays in Clark Park, Philadelphia. The company's core product is its annual summer outdoor theater season, featuring risk-taking interpretations of classic Shakespeare works. Productions include mainstage shows like Hamlet, All's Well, and A Bottom's Dream, as well as special presentations such as the holiday show Complete Christmas (Abridged) and staged readings like new heaven, new earth. The company also runs community engagement programs including the Pageant Wagon mobile theater initiative. All mainstage productions are free to attend, supported by donations and sponsorships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shakespeare in Clark Park Mainstage Summer Productions
• Hamlet (Summer 2026)

Quantifiable outcome

• 21 years of continuous operation providing free theatre to Philadelphia
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Revolution ShakespearecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2026Creative partnership for Hamlet production (July 24-August 2, 2026). Revolution Shakespeare's Artistic Director Tai Verley and Barrymore-nominated performer Cassandra Alexander conceived the actor-driven adaptation. Tai Verley serves as adapter alongside Del and Abby Weissman.
• The Arts LeaguemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor for Hamlet production. Provides funding support in exchange for recognition on marketing materials.
• Friends of Clark ParkmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for productions. Organization dedicated to supporting Clark Park where SCP performs.
• The Franklin FountainminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for productions. Local Philadelphia business supporting the arts.
• Christ Church Neighborhood HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpace partner for Philly Theatre Week reading of 'new heaven, new earth'.
• Azuka TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner mentioned in production credits for various shows.
• Arden Theatre CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional theatre partner where SCP artists frequently perform and collaborate.
• Troy Foundry TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented 'Antonio, or What I Would' in partnership with Troy Foundry Theatre.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Arden Theatre Company: Regional Philadelphia theater company where SCP artists frequently perform and collaborate; comparable as a mid-sized professional regional theater serving the Philadelphia metro market.
• Revolution Shakespeare: Active creative partner with SCP on Hamlet 2026, also produces Shakespeare in the Philadelphia region with a similar outdoor/community focus; directly comparable mission and methodology.
• Passage Theatre: Trenton, NJ-based small professional theater producing original and adapted works for diverse audiences; comparable as a small-scale regional theater with community engagement focus in the greater Philadelphia region.
• Lantern Theater Company: Philadelphia-based small professional theater company producing classical and contemporary work; comparable as a peer-sized regional theater serving the same Philadelphia market with similar artistic scope.
• Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre: Another Philadelphia-based nonprofit producing Shakespeare works, offering direct comparison as the city's other dedicated Shakespeare-focused company with overlapping audience demographics.
• Wilma Theatre: Philadelphia-based regional theater with overlapping artistic community (Die-Cast ensemble members also work at Wilma), comparable as a producer of contemporary and classical works in the same market.
• Theatre Horizon: Philadelphia-area professional regional theater producing contemporary and classical works; comparable as a small-to-mid-sized nonprofit theater serving similar Philadelphia audiences.

Broad incumbents

• People's Light: Larger established regional theater in the Philadelphia suburbs (Malvern, PA); comparable as a professional regional theater producing classical and contemporary work for similar audiences.
• Walnut Street Theatre: One of the largest regional theaters in the Philadelphia area and the U.S.; comparable as a producer of diverse theatrical programming for Philadelphia audiences, though at much greater scale and with paid ticketing.

Regional players

• Delaware Shakespeare: Community-based outdoor Shakespeare producer in Delaware; directly comparable as an outdoor/free Shakespeare company serving a Mid-Atlantic market with similar summer-season model.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/shakespeareinclarkpark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shakespeare-in-clark-park

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Shakespeare in Clark Park