Theater in the Open

What Theater in the Open does

Theater in the Open is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) performing arts organization headquartered at the historic Gatekeeper's House within Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts, where it has operated since 1987. The company produces free outdoor theater for the general public and runs a portfolio of youth arts education programs targeted at children and adolescents ages 6-16 across the North Shore region. Its programs include the Summer Arts Workshop (theater, improv, dance, and visual art for 300+ students each summer across two-, three-, and four-week formats priced from $630 to $1,260), year-round Spring and Fall after-school drama clubs, in-school residencies through 'TITO in your School', and touring productions delivered to K-12 schools and universities.

Name

Theater in the Open

Legal name

Theater in the Open

Website

https://theaterintheopen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Theater in the Open is a Newburyport, Massachusetts non-profit performing arts organization producing free outdoor theater at Maudslay State Park and delivering youth arts education programs to families and students across the North Shore.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education & Community Theater

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Outdoor theater productions
• Youth arts education
• Community theater programs
• Theater workshops
• Performing arts training

Headquarters

HQ city

Newburyport

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Free Public Performances: Outdoor theatrical productions at Maudslay State Park offered completely free to the public, funded through donations, grants, and revenue from ticketed shows.
2. Ticketed Shows: Some performances require ticket purchase, with revenue supporting free programming. Tickets sold through online platform.
3. Youth Arts Education Tuition: Summer Arts Workshop programs generate revenue through tuition fees: Theater Arts Workshop ($630 for 2 weeks), Performance Class ($1,260 for 4 weeks), Teen Intensive (free with scholarship support).
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Season underwriting at multiple levels (Producer Level $5,000+, Director Level $2,000+, Circle of Friends $250+) provides sponsorship revenue with advertising benefits including program ads and logo placement.
5. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the non-profit mission. One-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, and endowment fund contributions accepted.
6. Government and Foundation Grants: Funding from Massachusetts Cultural Council Cultural Facilities Fund ($22,000 grant), Department of Conservation and Recreation, Essex National Heritage Commission, and various foundations.
7. Special Events and Fundraisers: Community fundraising events including Maudslay is Haunted and other special events that generate revenue and community engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Theater in the Open produces free outdoor theatrical performances at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts, alongside a portfolio of youth arts education offerings. These include summer arts workshops, performance classes, teen intensives, ArtsEd programs, spring and fall programs, winter pantomime workshops, school residencies, and touring productions. The organization also operates a digital learning platform called 'Tis Your Cue and is developing an online Shakedown format.

Product overview

Theater in the Open offers outdoor theater performances at Maudslay State Park and youth arts education programs. Their primary digital product is 'Tis Your Cue, the world's first digital cue script generator. Education offerings include the Summer Arts Workshop (with Theater Arts Workshop, Performance Class, Teen Intensive, and ArtsEd tracks), year-round Spring & Fall Programs (drama clubs, workshops, school residencies), and touring productions. The organization is a non-profit 501(c)(3) providing free theater to the public, with 'Tis Your Cue available entirely free of charge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 'Tis Your Cue: The world's first digital cue script generator created by Artistic Director Edward Speck and computer engineer Benjamin Swanson. It takes a play script and breaks it out into each actor's individual 'part' including lines, stage directions, and cues.

Products and services

• Outdoor Theater Productions at Maudslay State Park

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 students served each summer at Summer Arts Workshop
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor, major and moderate.

• Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCR is the government agency overseeing Maudslay State Park where Theater in the Open performs and operates. The agency provides parking facilities ($5 MA residents, $20 out-of-state) and accessibility support including motorized carts for patrons. The partnership enables free public access to outdoor theater in state park facilities.
• Newburyport Arts CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal arts organization partnership supporting the cultural ecosystem of Newburyport.
• BLB Design BuildmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer Level sponsor ($5,000+) providing construction services. Built the entrance porch remodeling project (2018), restored the shed/mudroom at Gatekeeper's House (2019), and provided leadership gift for the 2025 exterior renovation project.
• M.K. Benatti JewelersmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector Level sponsor ($2,000+) supporting the organization through corporate sponsorship.
• Jeff Page PhotographermoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector Level sponsor providing photography services as part of corporate sponsorship.
• Ganesh ImportsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCircle of Friends sponsor ($500+) supporting Theater in the Open.
• The Pitman Law Offices LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCircle of Friends sponsor supporting Theater in the Open.
• ShakespearesWords.commajorTechnology or IntegrationDigital texts provider for 'Tis Your Cue, the world's first digital cue script generator. Their Shakespeare texts are used by the tool to generate actor cue scripts.
• Benjamin SwansonmajorTechnology or IntegrationComputer engineer who co-created 'Tis Your Cue with Artistic Director Edward Speck, building the digital cue script generator tool.
• The Dance PlaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudition venue location for Theater in the Open's productions (e.g., A Midsummer Night's Dream auditions held there).
• Firehouse TheaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner venue for presenting the Holiday Performance Workshop student performance in conjunction with TITO's Winter Panto.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Berkshire Theatre Group: Multi-venue regional non-profit theater in western MA with education programming and corporate sponsorship tiers. Comparable regional non-profit structure with education/outreach component.
• Gloucester Stage Company: North Shore MA professional theater producing contemporary and classic works with youth programming. Comparable regional footprint and small professional company structure.

Direct peers

• Commonwealth Shakespeare Company: Boston-based non-profit producing free Shakespeare on Boston Common alongside education and community engagement programs. Closest analogue to TITO's free outdoor model combined with school partnerships and ensemble-driven productions.
• American Players Theatre: Wisconsin-based professional theater producing classic and original works in an outdoor setting with an ensemble company. Directly comparable on outdoor theater in natural settings and ensemble-driven Shakespeare/classics focus.
• Boston Children's Theatre: Long-running New England children's/youth theater producing shows for young audiences and offering training programs. Directly comparable on the youth arts education and family performance side.
• Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival: New York-based non-profit producing outdoor Shakespeare and new works with an education program and site-specific performances. Strong analogue on outdoor theater, education, and non-profit community-based model.
• Wheelock Family Theatre: Boston-based non-profit theater producing family and youth-focused productions with education programming. Comparable mission around accessible theater for young audiences and schools.
• Shakespeare & Company: Professional theater company based in Lenox, MA producing Shakespeare, classics, and new work with an associated education program. Highly comparable regional MA theater with parallel programming and a strong education/long-running ensemble model.

Others

• New England Historic Genealogical Society / Old Sturbridge Village (educational programming): MA cultural/historical site operator with public programming, education, and ticketed events at a large outdoor property. Comparable as a regional cultural/education operator that uses a heritage site for programming and youth education.

Broad incumbents

• North Shore Music Theatre: Larger regional professional theater on the North Shore of MA producing musicals with education programs. Comparable geography and education footprint, but operates at a larger scale with a paid ticketing model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/theaterintheopen
• Instagraminstagram.com/theaterintheopen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theater-in-the-open

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 Theater in the Open