The Shakespeare Center Of Los Angeles Inc

What The Shakespeare Center Of Los Angeles Inc does

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles Inc (SCLA, EIN 13-3167013) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theater organization founded in 1985-1986 and headquartered at 1238 W 1st Street, Los Angeles. SCLA produces contemporary interpretations of Shakespeare and other works on its mainstage, including The Tempest: An Immersive Experience (2023) which was named one of the "nine top Los Angeles theater offerings for 2023" by the Los Angeles Times. The organization operates an integrated portfolio combining professional theater with three distinct workforce development and education programs: Will Power After School (paid arts employment for youth ages 14-24 at LAUSD partner schools), Veterans in Art (paid technical theater vocational training for veterans in partnership with The Veterans Collective and US Vets), and Will Power to Schools (nationally-recognized arts integration curriculum and teacher professional development for LAUSD Title 1 schools).

The organization supplements live theater with educational media, including MACBETH: A Virtual Live-Action Graphic Novel, a 55-minute HD film featuring Emmy-winning actor Keith David broadcast via PBS KLCS. Revenue is diversified across ticket sales, three-tier memberships ($120-$500/year), donations (including in-kind and stock), merchandise sales through Shakespeare's Market, fee-based teacher professional development, and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, U.S. Department of Education, and U.S. Department of Justice. The Čapek Initiative, a co-development partnership with the Consul General of the Czech Republic and Prague's Svanda Theater, represents a newer international creative venture centered on Karel Čapek's R.U.R.

SCLA markets through community outreach, LAUSD school partnerships, email newsletters, social media, and earned media coverage. The organization is currently operating through a capital renovation of its headquarters under an ongoing Comprehensive Campaign, while continuing mainstage productions and programmatic operations.

Name

The Shakespeare Center Of Los Angeles Inc

Legal name

The Shakespeare Center Of Los Angeles Inc

Website

https://shakespearecenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 that produces contemporary Shakespearean theater and runs paid workforce development programs for underserved youth, military veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals in Los Angeles, alongside arts education for LAUSD Title 1 schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Theater

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Theatre Services & Design (Scenic/Costume/Props/Stage Management) (MPAGABAO)

Keywords

• Live theater productions
• Arts education programs
• Workforce development initiatives
• Shakespeare performance company
• Community arts nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales & Mainstage Productions: Revenue from mainstage theatrical productions and student matinee performances. Productions include contemporary interpretations of Shakespeare and other great works.
2. Memberships: Annual membership tiers ($120-$500/year) providing exclusive benefits, discounts, and recognition. Three tiers: Member, Patron, and Partner with escalating perks including tickets to mainstage experiences.
3. Donations & Fundraising: Individual donations supported by EIN 13-3167013. Website-based donation portal. In-kind and stock donations accepted.
4. Shakespeare's Market Merchandise: E-commerce sales of branded merchandise including apparel, graphic novels, gifts, and educational materials. Prices range from $2 to $75.
5. Arts Education Programs: Fee-based professional development seminars for teachers earning salary point credit, and classroom curriculum materials.
6. Grants & Government Funding: Funding from National Endowment for the Arts, U.S. Department of Education, and U.S. Department of Justice for workforce development and arts programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) is a nonprofit theater organization that produces contemporary interpretations of Shakespeare and other great works as mainstage productions, while delivering arts education programs (Will Power to Schools, Student Matinees) and paid workforce development programs for underserved youth (Will Power After School) and U.S. military veterans (Veterans in Art). It also distributes branded merchandise, memberships, and educational media such as MACBETH: A Virtual Live-Action Graphic Novel.

Product overview

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) is a nonprofit theater organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on Shakespearean productions and arts education. The core offerings include Mainstage Productions (professional theatrical productions of Shakespeare and great works), complemented by workforce development programs (Will Power After School, Veterans in Art) and arts education initiatives (Will Power to Schools, Student Matinees). Additional products include MACBETH: A Virtual Live-Action Graphic Novel educational media, merchandise through Shakespeare's Market, and tiered Memberships. The organization operates as a unified portfolio where productions serve both entertainment and programmatic purposes, directly supporting employment and training for youth and veterans.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Productions Award-winning, contemporary interpretations of Shakespeare's plays and other great works produced for general audiences, including special Student Matinee performances for Title 1 schools.
• Will Power to Schools

Quantifiable outcome

• Created thousands of summer arts-based employment opportunities for poverty-threshold youth
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Consul General of the Czech RepubliccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for development of new English language adaptation of R.U.R. (1921 play by Karel Čapek that gave the world the word 'robot'), in conjunction with renovation project.
• Svanda Theater (Czech Republic)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on R.U.R. adaptation with theater director Daniel Hrbek. The production aims to stimulate conversation about AI rewards and risks.
• After Hours Theatre CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producers of The Tempest: An Immersive Experience (2023), contributing to the immersive production that was named one of nine top LA theater offerings.
• The Veterans CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide more arts programming to veterans on the West LA VA campus through Veterans in Art ensemble performances.
• US VetscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Veterans in Art program to create original performance ensemble combining Shakespeare and veteran-written content.
• LAUSD Title 1 SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner schools including Hollywood High School, Los Angeles High School for the Arts, and SEED LA Academy hosting Will Power After School workforce development programs.
• PBS KLCS Public MediamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBroadcast partner for MACBETH: A Virtual Live-Action Graphic Novel, extending educational content reach throughout Los Angeles and beyond.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• A Noise Within: Pasadena-based classical repertory theater producing Shakespeare and other great works, with robust education and outreach programs. Closest direct comparator to SCLA in the LA region for repertoire and mission-driven programming.
• Cornerstone Theater Company: LA-based community-engaged theater company producing original work with and for underserved communities. Closest peer to SCLA's workforce development and underserved-population mission alongside producing work.
• American Players Theatre: Wisconsin-based classical repertory theater producing Shakespeare alongside other great works, with an emphasis on immersive outdoor staging. Comparable classical-focused repertory model with touring/educational extensions.
• Oregon Shakespeare Festival: One of the largest and oldest dedicated Shakespeare festivals in the U.S., producing a multi-play repertory season plus extensive education programs. Closest U.S. peer for scale of Shakespeare-focused programming and education integration.
• South Coast Repertory: Costa Mesa-based regional repertory theater with a strong new-works program and substantial education/outreach initiatives. Comparable regional theater operating model with community engagement emphasis.
• Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum: Topanga Canyon-based repertory theater with a deep Shakespeare focus and immersive outdoor productions. Closest LA-area peer for Shakespeare-specific programming and educational outreach.

Broad incumbents

• Center Theatre Group: Operates the Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, producing large-scale classical and contemporary work. Broader incumbent competitor for LA audiences, donors, and institutional partnerships.
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Chicago-based nonprofit theater with a national profile, extensive new-work programming, and youth education/community programs. Comparable large nonprofit theater with education integration.
• Geffen Playhouse: Westwood-based professional theater producing a mix of classics and new works, with education and community engagement programs. Major LA theater competitor for ticket buyers and corporate sponsorships.
• Denver Center for the Performing Arts: Large LORT-class regional theater complex producing classical and contemporary seasons, with sizable education and workforce-adjacent programs. Comparable multi-vertical performing arts nonprofit model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/shakescenterLA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-shakespeare-center-of-los-angeles

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 The Shakespeare Center Of Los Angeles Inc