The Shakespeare Theatre

What it reported doing in 2024

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.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 85%; rating input score 85
• Program expense ratio: 69.1%; rating input score 69
• Fundraising efficiency: $3.09 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 97.4%; rating input score 97; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -22.5%; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.62; rating input score 71; 71st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.28; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6%; rating input score 43; 43rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -1.6% per year; rating input score 0; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 0.9% per year; rating input score 100; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -1.8% per year; rating input score 0; 6th percentile among comparable filings