Nu Sass Productions

What Nu Sass Productions does

Nu Sass Productions is a 501c3 nonprofit theater organization founded in 2009 by Aubri O'Connor and Emily Todd in Washington, DC. The company develops and produces theater that centers marginalized genders across three integrated production branches: Nu Sass (mainstage plays), The Sirens of Sin (gender-inclusive jukebox musical burlesque), and Pinky Swear Productions (original and feminist-forward musicals). Beyond mainstage programming, Nu Sass operates the annual District Fringe Festival, the NU DRAFTS new-play reading and bar-crawl series for emerging DC/Baltimore playwrights, and the Backyard Arts solo-performance program. The organization employs gender-blind casting and anti-discrimination hiring practices, and reports creating 200+ positions for artists, administrators, and volunteers in 2025. Its core staff is small (1-10 employees), supplemented by contract artists, designers, and volunteers, with published stipend schedules (~$500 designers, ~$600 directors, $400-700 actors).

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: ticket sales (general admission $25-30, discounted $10-15, date-night packages $60, plus pay-what-you-will options) distributed via the nusass.com website and third-party platforms (our.show, OnTheStage); tax-deductible donations processed through Zeffy and Democracy Engine; and grants from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, The Share Fund, and the National Endowment for the Arts, with supplementary Rent Party fundraising events. In 2025 the company opened its own Nu Sass Theatre at 1100 H St NW, expanding beyond its prior reliance on partner venues such as Caos on F, Sitar Arts Center, Van Ness Main Street, Spooky Action Theater, and the DC Comedy Loft / Bier Baron. In February 2026 the organization lost its primary performance space and is currently fundraising to sustain the 2026 season. The company has received industry recognition including a 2022 St. Louis Theatre Circle Award for Outstanding Play (Brontë Sister House Party), a 2017 Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival Play Contest win (To Fall In Love), and O'Neill Semi-Finalist and Bay Area Playwrights Festival 2025 Finalist status for Everything Devoured, and holds a Candid Gold Seal of Transparency.

Name

Nu Sass Productions

Legal name

Nu Sass Productions

Website

https://nusass.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nu Sass Productions is a 501c3 nonprofit theater company in Washington, DC that produces plays, musicals, and burlesque centered on marginalized genders, operating three branches (Nu Sass, The Sirens of Sin, Pinky Swear Productions) and serving DC-area audiences and artists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theater Production

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts (MPAGABAI), Artist Booking, Talent Buying & Agency Services (MPAGAAAF)

Keywords

• Live theater production
• Burlesque entertainment
• Musical theater
• Community theater
• Theatrical performances

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 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 theatrical performances at various price points including general admission, date night packages, student/senior discounts, and pay-what-you-will options.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations through Democracy Engine platform, supporting Nu Sass Plays, The Sirens of Sin Burlesque, Pinky Swear Productions Musicals, and the Artistic Director Challenge.
3. Grants: Support from DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, The Share Fund, and other grantors supporting specific productions and operations.
4. Rent Party Events: Community fundraising events featuring local musicians with proceeds supporting Nu Sass Productions and theatre operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nu Sass Productions is a 501c3 nonprofit theater company that develops and produces live theatrical performances including plays, musicals, and burlesque shows centered on marginalized genders. The organization operates three production branches—Nu Sass (mainstage plays), Pinky Swear Productions (original musicals), and The Sirens of Sin (gender-inclusive burlesque)—along with the District Fringe Festival and the NU DRAFTS reading series for emerging playwrights, based in Washington, DC.

Product overview

Nu Sass Productions is a 501c3 nonprofit theater organization that operates three simultaneous branches: Nu Sass (mainstage plays), Pinky Swear Productions (original musicals), and The Sirens of Sin (burlesque). The company supports marginalized genders in theater arts, employing gender-blind casting and anti-discrimination hiring practices. The organization produces plays at its Nu Sass Theatre space, presents the annual District Fringe Festival, runs the NU DRAFTS reading series for emerging playwrights, and offers Backyard Arts solo performances. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in Washington, DC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Sirens of Sin: Gender inclusive jukebox musical burlesque productions produced by Nu Sass Productions.
• Pinky Swear Productions

Products and services

• Nu Sass Mainstage Plays Original and established theatrical plays produced for general theater audiences and artists from marginalized genders, with gender-blind casting and anti-discrimination hiring, performed at venues in Washington, DC.
• The Sirens of Sin Burlesque

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ artist positions created in 2025 alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pinky Swear ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-production partner producing original and feminist-forward musicals. Co-producing The H Twins (March-April 2026) at Spooky Action Theater and The Unsinkable Witch of Pungo (October 2026). Pinky Swear Productions is a sister company under the Nu Sass umbrella.
• Spooky Action TheaterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Venue partner hosting The H Twins co-production (March-April 2026) at 1810 16th St NW, Washington, DC.
• Uncle Funsy ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-production partner for Wombat Drool (March 2025) and previously Gwen & Ida (2019). Uncle Funsy is a DC-based theater company collaborating on original productions.
• Van Ness Main StreetminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Venue partner and community sponsor supporting productions including Brontë Sister House Party (2026).
• Theatre PrometheusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-production partner for The Pliant Girls (October-November 2024) at Montgomery College Community Arts Center.
• Democracy EnginecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Donation processing platform enabling 100% of donations to go directly to Nu Sass (as stated on website).
• ZeffycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Donation platform used for fundraising campaigns including Nu Sass Plays, Sirens of Sin, and Pinky Swear Productions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company: Major DC theater known for provocative, contemporary work and innovative programming. Comparable as a DC theater producing bold, identity-forward work that overlaps thematically with Nu Sass's mission.
• Studio Theatre: Established DC theater company with multiple performance spaces and a larger operating budget. Comparable as a DC-based contemporary theater operating in overlapping genres and serving similar local audiences.
• Round House Theatre: Established DC-area theater producing contemporary plays and new works. Comparable as a Mid-Atlantic theater developing new plays and competing for the same DC audience base.
• Arena Stage: One of the largest regional theaters in DC, producing American and contemporary works. Comparable as a major DC theater competing for audience share and producing plays that may overlap thematically.

Direct peers

• Brave Spirits Theatre: DC-based small theater company where several Nu Sass company members (e.g., Amber Gibson) previously performed. Comparable as a small, artist-run DC theater focused on classical and contemporary work.
• Capital Fringe Festival: DC's longstanding fringe festival where Nu Sass has presented multiple productions since 2012. Directly comparable as a DC-based experimental/fringe performance platform serving similar audiences.
• Spooky Action Theater: DC-based small theater company that serves as a venue partner for Nu Sass (hosting The H Twins, 2026). Comparable as a small experimental DC theater sharing artists and audiences with Nu Sass.
• Pinky Swear Productions: Sister company under the Nu Sass umbrella that produces original and feminist-forward musicals in Washington, DC. Directly comparable as a DC-based, gender-inclusive theater company co-producing with Nu Sass.

Regional players

• Annapolis Shakespeare Company: Regional theater company in the DC/Mid-Atlantic corridor where Nu Sass actors have performed. Comparable as a Mid-Atlantic theater producing classical and contemporary works with overlapping artist pools.

Emerging players

• The Coil Project: Small DC variety/performance project whose founding artistic director (Erik Harrison) is a Nu Sass company member. Comparable as an emerging DC experimental performance platform with overlapping artist networks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nu-sass-productions

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Nu Sass Productions