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SHAKESPEARE THEATRE

EIN 52-1405988 WASHINGTON, DC

Revenue 2024
$20,417,623
Expenses 2024
$25,021,598

Program services were 69.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
A650
Classification
1000
Street
516 8TH ST SE

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY CREATES, PRESERVES AND PROMOTES CLASSIC THEATRE-AMBITIOUS, ENDURING PLAYS WITH UNIVERSAL THEMES-FOR ALL AUDIENCES. THROUGH THE CREATION OF PROVOCATIVE, IMAGINATIVE, AND ACCESSIBLE THEATRE, STC IGNITES A DIALOGUE THAT CONNECTS THE UNIVERSALITY OF CLASSIC WORKS TO THE SHARED HUMAN EXPERIENCES OF THE MODERN WORLD.

Activities or mission (Part I)

SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY CREATES WORLD-CLASS (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION)

  • PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS: AT STC, A CLASSICAL PLAY IS DEFINED NOT ONLY BY THE CALIBER OF ITS LANGUAGE, BUT BY THE TIMELESSNESS OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCES AND DILEMMAS IT ADDRESSES AND THE PROFOUND QUESTIONS IT POSES. FAMILY, LOVE, POWER, CORRUPTION, ARE ALL THEMES WITH RELEVANCE TO PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND, WHICH ARE ESPECIALLY TIMELY IN LIGHT OF CURRENT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1985, STC HAS STAGED MORE THAN 150 PRODUCTIONS, INCLUDING EVERY PLAY IN SHAKESPEARE'S RECOGNIZED CANON, AND REACHED OVER 2.5 MILLION AUDIENCE MEMBERS. STC PRODUCES 6-7 MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS ANNUALLY. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR SIMON GODWIN CULTIVATES A SEASON OF NEW AND CLASSIC THEATRE RANGING FROM SHAKESPEARE PLAYS TO NEW REVIVALS AND WORLD PREMIERES, NEW COMMISSIONS, MUSICALS, AND INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATIONS, TELLING VITAL STORIES IN AUDACIOUS, NEW WAYS THAT SPEAK TO A WIDE AUDIENCE.SHAKESPEARE IS OUR MUSE, AND STC'S FRESH TAKES ON WELL-KNOWN PLAYS SOLIDIFIED STC'S REPUTATION AS T "THE NATION'S FOREMOST SHAKESPEARE COMPANY" (THE WALL STREET JOURNAL) (PRODUCING "A REPERTORY OF CLASSICS THAT NO NEW YORK THEATRE OF SIMILAR SIZE AND SCALE CAN MATCH" (THE NEW YORK TIMES). STC HAS ATTRACTED MAJOR RECOGNITION INCLUDING THE 2012 REGIONAL THEATRE TONY AWARD AND 100+ HELEN HAYES AWARDS.THE THEATRE COMMISSIONS ADAPTATIONS OF CLASSIC PLAYS SUCH AS AESCHYLUS'S "THE ORESTEIA" IN 2019, ADAPTED BY ELLEN MCLAUGHLIN AND "PETER PAN AND WENDY," AN ADAPTATION OF J.M. BARRY'S EARLY 20TH C. NOVEL BY AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHT LAUREN GUNDERSON. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR SIMON GODWIN HAS EXPANDED INTO AMERICAN CLASSICS, PRODUCING JAMES BALDWIN'S "THE AMEN CORNER" IN 2020, THE FIRST MAJOR PRODUCTION SINCE ITS 1955 PREMIERE AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY AND THORNTON WILDER'S PULITZER PRIZE WINNING OUR TOWN IN 2022. EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSIVITY ARE CORE TO STC'S MISSION. TO MAKE THE THEATRE MORE ACCESSIBLE, STC OFFERS FREE OR DISCOUNTED TICKETS TO STUDENTS, VETERANS, SENIORS, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT COULD NOT ATTEND OTHERWISE. STC'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND INCLUDE DISCUSSIONS CURATED BY STC'S STAFF, PODCASTS FEATURING INTERVIEWS WITH ARTISTS AND DIRECTORS FROM CURRENT PRODUCTIONS, PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL ARTISTS AND ART ORGANIZATIONS, WORKSHOPS, AND MORE.OUR TICKET AND SUBSCRIPTION SALES SHOW WE'RE DOING WORK THAT AUDIENCES ARE CLAMORING FOR: BETWEEN FY19 AND FY24, OUR SINGLE TICKET SALES ROSE 194% AND SUBSCRIPTIONS INCREASED BY 122%, BUCKING NATIONAL TRENDS IN THE THEATRE INDUSTRY.

    Expenses $16,004,043 · Revenue $9,531,341

  • EDUCATION PROGRAMSSTC'S LEARNING DEPARTMENT HAS PROVIDED ARTS EDUCATION EXPERIENCES TO MORE THAN 100,000 CHILDREN AND ADULTS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES. THROUGH ACCESSIBLE, HIGH-CALIBER EDUCATION PROGRAMS LED BY PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS, STC TOUCHES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS, AND THROUGH STC ACADEMY, ITS GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM, STC FOSTERS THE NEXT GENERATION OF CLASSICAL ARTISTS. RENAMED STC LEARNING, THE LEARNING TEAM MAINTAINS LONGTIME PARTNERSHIPS WITH ALL DC PUBLIC AND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS SCHOOLS IN MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA. WORKING WITH LOCAL TEACHERS, STC INTEGRATES COMMON CORE-ALIGNED THEATRE ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMMING INTO INDIVIDUAL CLASSROOMS. FOLLOWING SUCCESS DURING THE PANDEMIC, STC HAS DEVELOPED INNOVATIVE ONLINE PROGRAMS TO SERVE STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. STC OFFERS A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. THE LEARNING DEPARTMENT OFFERS THREE LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: 1) STUDENT MATINEES, THE LARGEST EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, BRING STUDENTS FROM THE DC, MARYLAND, AND VIRGINIA TO THE THEATRE FOR AN STC MATINEE AT VERY LOW COST, PROVIDING MANY STUDENTS THEIR FIRST INTRODUCTION TO LIVE THEATRE. PERFORMANCES ARE SUPPLEMENTED BY PRE-SHOW EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND POST-SHOW TALKBACKS; 2) WORKSHOPS PROVIDE TEACHING ARTISTS TO LOCAL CLASSROOMS FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS STUDYING SHAKESPEARE, USING PERFORMANCE-BASED ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE ACTIVE LEARNING; AND 3) RESIDENCIES PROVIDE A CLASSROOM WITH 10 TEACHING ARTIST-LED WORKSHOPS, DURING WHICH STUDENTS EXPLORE PLAYS THROUGH A VARIETY OF LENSES INCLUDING SET DESIGN, COSTUMES, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, TEXT DISSECTION, AND MORE. STUDENTS THEN CHOOSE ONE OF THESE PLAYS AND CREATE A SCENE BASED ON WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED IN THEIR WORKSHOPS; THE WORK CULMINATES WITH STUDENTS FROM EACH CLASS PERFORMING THEIR SCENE AT A "FESTIVAL DAY" FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. STC ALSO OFFERS A VARIETY OF YEAR-ROUND ACTING CLASSES FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS, 10 WEEKS OF CAMP SHAKESPEARE EACH SUMMER FOR AGES 5 18, AND ADULT CLASSES IN ACTING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR BOTH AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL ACTORS. REGULAR FREE PROGRAMS INCLUDE DISCUSSIONS AND "ASIDES," STC'S DRAMATURGICAL MAGAZINE PRODUCED FOR EACH PLAY.STC'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS BUILD CONNECTIONS WITH DC RESIDENTS AND LOCAL ARTISTS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HOWARD UNIVERSITY AND THE NATIONAL MUSEUM FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE, ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC PROGRAMMING WAS PROVIDED THROUGH A MONTH-LONG "AMEN BALDWIN! FESTIVAL" TO COMPLEMENT THE FIRST PRODUCTION OF JAMES BALDWIN'S AMEN CORNER SINCE IT PREMIERED AT HOWARD IN THE 1950S. THE FESTIVAL OFFERED A FILM SERIES, PERFORMANCES, EXHIBITIONS, LECTURES, AND MORE. STC REGULARLY PROVIDES DEMONSTRATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR LOCAL FESTIVALS AND OFFERS VOLUNTEER AND APPRENTICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS.IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, STC HAS A MASTER OF FINE ARTS DEGREE TO TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF ACTORS. THE ACADEMY FOR CLASSICAL ACTING (ACA) IS FULLY ACCREDITED AND HIGHLY COMPETITIVE. NOW IN ITS 25TH YEAR, THE ACA TYPICALLY ACCEPTS ONLY 18-20 APPLICANTS EACH YEAR TO ENSURE RIGOROUS, INTENSIVE TRAINING. STUDENTS OFTEN SERVE AS UNDERSTUDIES IN MAJOR STC PRODUCTIONS, AND ALUMNI PERFORM IN PROFESSIONAL THEATRE COMPANIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

    Expenses $1,275,122 · Grants $89,838 · Revenue $1,303,121

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Anita Antenucci

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10
  • Abbe David Lowell

    VICE-CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10
  • Michael Paese

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Emily Lenzner

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Simon Godwin

    ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $490,835
    From this org
    $364,737
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $126,098
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $364,737
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $100,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,098
    Filer's total
    $490,835
  • Angela Gieras

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (NEW-PARTIAL YEAR)

    Total calculated
    $96,072
    From this org
    $95,577
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $495
    Hours/week
    40
  • Nicholas W Allard

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Michael Bahar

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Jeffrey D Bauman

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Michael Beriss

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Rohit Bhayana

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Landon Butler

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Monica Dixon

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Steve Elmendorf

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Mark Epstein

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Stephanie Erkiletian

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Nicole Francis Reynolds

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Scott Frisch

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Michelle Gillis

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Barbara Harman

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Janene Jackson

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Scott Kaufmann

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Sudhakar Kesavan

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Sharapat Kessler

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Michael R Klein

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

The first 25 listed. Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $20,417,623
    Expenses
    $25,021,598
    Contributions
    $8,009,990
    Grants paid
    $89,838
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $28,744,148
    Expenses
    $25,833,247
    Contributions
    $11,932,549
    Grants paid
    $35,167
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $15,190,951
    Expenses
    $19,205,034
    Contributions
    $7,499,661
    Grants paid
    $36,875

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2024 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported
  • 2023 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported
  • 2022 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported
  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $22,720,775
    Expenses
    $20,201,085
    Assets (EOY)
    $68,738,785
  • 2021 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported
  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $14,219,917
    Expenses
    $10,426,674
    Assets (EOY)
    $71,331,764
  • 2020 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported
  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $13,307,263
    Expenses
    $19,693,885
    Assets (EOY)
    $65,973,767
  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $18,108,545
    Expenses
    $22,126,263
    Assets (EOY)
    $71,167,205
  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $24,192,285
    Expenses
    $21,437,608
    Assets (EOY)
    $75,300,729

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Related organizations

From Schedule R Part II, where a filer lists the tax-exempt organizations it is related to by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Declared as related by

Taxable family

From Schedule R Parts I, III and IV: entities that legally are the filer, and taxable partnerships, corporations and trusts it is related to. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money.

Disregarded entities on its 2024 return

  • HARMAN CENTER LLC

    REAL ESTATE PROPERTY · DE

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 29 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.