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SOUTHWEST SHAKESPEARE COMPANY INC

MESA, AZ · EIN 860764708 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE A65Z · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.swshakespeare.org
revenue
$541K
expenses
$579K
net assets
$158K
employees
2
program ratio
76%
mission · from form 990

THEATER COMPANY TO EDUCATE AND ENTERTAIN THROUGH PERFORMANCES OF WORKS OF CLASSICAL THEATRE

profile · synthesized from sources

Southwest Shakespeare Company is a nonprofit organization dedicated to classical theatre, primarily focusing on the works of Shakespeare. Based in Mesa, Arizona, it serves the local community through performances, educational workshops, and student matinees, aiming to inspire and educate audiences of all ages about the impact of classical literature.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2021

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $15K
    ON THE SECOND SATURDAY OF EVERY MAIN STAGE SHAKESPEARE PRODUCTION, DR.SUSAN WILLIS, DRAMATURG OF THE ALABAMA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL AND PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, TEACHES A DAYLONG SEMINAR ON THE PLAY WE ARE PRODUCING. THESE FUN AND INTERESTING SEMINARS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, FREE TO SEASON SUBSCRIBERS AND USUALLY FULL OF EDUCATORS WHO TAKE WHAT THEY LEARN BACK TO THEIR CLASSROOMS. MOST OF THEM EARN 10 RECERTIFICATION HOURS FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THIS IS YET ANOTHER MEANS BY WHICH WE EDUCATE OUR PATRONS AND MAKE SHAKESPEARE MORE ACCESSIBLE.
named programs · 3 · from sources

what they call their work

Flachmann Seminars
Educational seminars led by scholars focusing on classical literature and theatre practices.
Student Matinees
Offers discounted tickets for school groups to experience live theatre performances.
Touring Productions
Brings a condensed version of Shakespeare's plays directly to schools across Arizona.
activities · 6 groups

what they do

  • Community Book Clubs & Literary Engagement 4 activities
    • Educational workshops and seminars
      Offers immersive student workshops tailored for classrooms or schools, provides Flachmann seminars, and operates "Stories & Stages," a year-long program exploring plays and literature, which includes reading lists, book displays, and ticket giveaways.
    • Literature and performance engagement programs
      Operates "Stories & Stages: A Celebration of Reading and Performing Great Works of Literature," a year-long program that includes reading lists, book displays, ticket giveaways, and integrated literary and theatrical activities to promote engagement with great works.
    • Literature and theater engagement programs
      Operates "Stories & Stages: A Celebration of Reading and Performing Great Works of Literature," a year-long program that includes reading lists, book displays, and ticket giveaways to encourage engagement with literature and live theater.
    • Stories & Stages Program
      Operates "Stories & Stages: A Celebration of Reading and Performing Great Works of Literature," a year-round program that integrates literature exploration with live performance, including reading lists, book displays, ticket giveaways, and at least one new play reading annually.
  • Youth Performing Arts Camps & Classes 4 activities
    • Flachmann Seminars
      Hosts the Flachmann Seminars, a series of educational events focused on classical theater, with ongoing leadership since 2013. Provides attendees with one ticket to each of the four seminar sessions annually.
    • Flachmann Seminars and play readings
      Hosts the Flachmann Seminars, a series of educational events focused on classical theater, led by the organization since 2013, and provides opportunities for new play readings and seminar attendance as part of its programming.
    • Flachmann Seminars and play readings
      Hosts the Flachmann Seminars, a series of educational events focused on classical theatre, led by the organization since 2013. Also provides access to seminar tickets and organizes new play readings as part of its programming.
    • School and community touring productions
      Delivers abridged, engaging performances of Shakespeare’s plays—such as a vaudeville-inspired "Comedy of Errors"—to schools across Arizona through a touring troupe. Performances are 65–80 minutes long and part of an educational outreach initiative during the 2026–27 season.
  • School-Based Theatre Arts Integration 3 activities
    • Educational programs and student engagement
      Offers student matinees with discounted tickets, immersive classroom workshops, and educational residencies that complement mainstage productions. Programs are tailored to school groups and aim to deepen engagement with classical literature and performance.
    • Educational workshops and student matinees
      Offers immersive student workshops tailored to classrooms and schools, along with discounted student matinees, to complement mainstage productions and enhance arts education access for K–12 students.
    • Student Matinees and Workshops
      Offers discounted student matinees and immersive, classroom-tailored workshops that complement mainstage productions, providing interactive educational experiences for school groups.
  • Professional Theatrical Production and Performance 3 activities
    • Mainstage Theatrical Productions
      Presents professional theatrical productions of classical works, including plays by William Shakespeare, Molière, and Peter Shaffer, at established venues across Arizona on scheduled runs. Recent and upcoming productions include "Measure for Measure," "Amadeus," "Richard III," "Tartuffe," and "Julius Caesar."
    • Mainstage theatrical productions
      Presents professional productions of classical plays, including works by Shakespeare and other playwrights such as Molière and Peter Shaffer, at established theaters across Arizona on scheduled runs. Recent and upcoming productions include "Measure for Measure," "Amadeus," "Richard III," "Tartuffe," and "Julius Caesar."
    • Presenting theatrical performances
      Produces and presents live theatrical performances of classical plays, including works by Shakespeare and other playwrights, for public audiences. Examples include "Measure for Measure," "Amadeus," "Richard III," "Tartuffe," "Julius Caesar," "Whispers in the Dark," and "Comedy of Errors."
  • Discounted and Incentivized Event Access 1 activity
    • Student matinee programs
      Provides discounted tickets for student matinees to school groups, complementing mainstage productions.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Educational Theater Tours
      Conducts statewide educational tours featuring abridged, engaging productions of Shakespeare’s plays—such as a vaudeville-inspired "Comedy of Errors"—performed for school audiences. Tours include 65-80 minute performances tailored for students and reach schools across Arizona during the academic season.
    • Educational theater tours for schools
      Conducts educational theater tours, visiting schools across Arizona with productions of Shakespeare's plays, such as a vaudeville-inspired "Comedy of Errors," performing 65-80 minute cuts of the plays for students.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$541K
Contributions & grants$427K79%
Program service revenue$109K20%
Investment income$90%
Other revenue$5K
expenses
Total expenses$579K
Program expenses76%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$404K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$210K
Cash$135K
Investments$0
Liabilities$51K
Net assets$158K
Liquid reserves2.8 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +93.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

board members · 12
  • CHARLES GOLDSTEIN — VICE PRESIDE
  • CHRISTI WORSLEY — BOARD MEMBER
  • DAN CAMPBELL — TREASURER
  • DAVID GOLDSTEIN — BOARD MEMBER
  • DEBBY ELLIOTT — BOARD MEMBER
  • DEBORAH SMITH — BOARD MEMBER
  • LAURIE GOLDSTEIN — SECRETARY
  • MARY WAY — BOARD MEMBER
  • RAJ SIVANANTHAN — BOARD MEMBER
  • REBECCA DRIGGS — PRESIDENT
  • TIFFANY LOPEZ — BOARD MEMBER
  • WILLIAM WAY — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 14

who they work with

  • Arizona Commission on the Arts Partner — Listed as a partner.
  • Arts Midwest Partner — Partners with the National Endowment for the Arts on the Shakespeare in American Communities program.
  • City of Mesa Partner — Listed as a partner.
  • Mesa Arts Center Partner — Co-presents performances of "Comedy of Errors" at the Piper Theatre.
  • Mesa Arts Center Partner — Hosted the "Whispers in the Dark" performance at the Nesbitt/Elliott Playhouse.
  • Mesa Arts Center Partner — Hosted the production of "Amadeus" at the Farnsworth Studio Theatre.
  • Mesa Arts Center Partner — Serves as the home venue for performances.
  • Mesa Arts Center Partner — Venue for the "Tartuffe" performance.
  • Mesa Arts Center Partner — Venue for the Julius Caesar production
  • Mesa Public Library Partner — Partners on the "Stories & Stages" program.
  • National Endowment for the Arts Funder — Shakespeare in American Communities is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts.
  • Shakespeare Theatre Association Partner — Listed as a partner.
  • Theatre Artists Studio Partner — Hosted performances of Measure for Measure
  • Theatre League of America Partner — Listed as a partner.