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    Play on Shakespeare logo

    Play on Shakespeare

    ActiveArts, Culture & Humanities
    ASHLAND, ORWebsite5418468466

    About Play on Shakespeare

    To enhance understanding of Shakespeare’s plays in performance by promoting and creating contemporary modern English translations and delivering them via theatrical productions, workshops, trainings, publications, podcasts, and film.

    Focus Areas

    theatrearts & cultureliterary translationplaywright commissionseducation and trainingdramaturgy

    Who They Fund

    BIPOC artists and playwrightstheater companies and producing organizationscollege and university theater programstranslators and translation projects/native-language communities

    Funding Style

    program support

    About Play on Shakespeare

    Play on Shakespeare centers its grantmaking on contemporary modern English translations of Shakespeare and the productions that bring those translations to the stage. A clear example is its $325,000 grant to the National Asian American Theatre Company Co Inc in New York for performances of Hansol Jung’s translation of Romeo and Juliet, followed by a $320,000 program-support grant to the same organization in 2025. The foundation also backs translation as a production tool and as a teaching tool, with grants tied to workshops, staged readings, commissions, and rehearsals. Recent awards show support for theaters, conservatories, and Shakespeare-focused companies working on plays such as King Lear, Coriolanus, Twelfth Night, and Richard II. The organization’s stated purpose is to enhance understanding of Shakespeare’s plays in performance by promoting and creating contemporary modern English translations, then delivering them through theatrical productions, workshops, trainings, publications, podcasts, and film. Its grantees include producing organizations, university-affiliated programs, and translation projects serving both general theater audiences and specific communities.

    What Play on Shakespeare Funds

    Translation is a core theme in the grant record. Play on Shakespeare gave $27,500 to Portland Center Stage for a workshop of the translation of Coriolanus, and $25,000 to Perseverence Theatre Inc for a one-time native language translation project. It also supported Hansol Jung’s translation of Romeo and Juliet through $26,000 to Chagrin Foundation for the Arts and Culture for that production. The foundation pairs translation with development work: New York Live Arts Inc received $30,300 for a blueprint to workshopping plays for BIPOC artists, while The Acting Company and Studio Acting Conservatory Inc each received program support in 2025. On the performance side, grants backed staged readings of Richard II and the Henry IV/Henry V sequence at Shakespeare Festival of Dallas, along with Shakespeare-related performances and workshops at African-American Shakespeare Company.

    How Play on Shakespeare Gives

    Typical grants cluster around a mid-five-figure level: the p25 is $12,000, the median is $25,000, and the p75 is $31,000. Recent awards include both larger production-support grants and smaller workshop- or project-based awards, showing a mix of ongoing program support and one-time funding. The foundation funds organizations rather than individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its active Production Support program accepts unsolicited proposals and asks for a concise description of the production, funding request, budget, and related details.

    Open Grant Opportunities

    Current and upcoming funding from Play on Shakespeare that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.

    Open nowRolling / open intake

    Production Support

    theater productionShakespeare translationarts education+1 more

    Who can apply: Applicants submit a simple proposal including company information, the translation to be produced, why the translation is exciting to the company, production dates and location, creative team information, requested funding amount, and a project budget showing how Play On Shakespeare support would be used. Proposals are reviewed through the lens of the organization's mission of providing access to Shakespeare.

    Deadline: No deadline stated; applicants are invited to email proposals.

    Financial Snapshot

    Annual Giving

    $1.5M

    Total Assets

    $2.6M

    Total Revenue

    $2.9M

    Total Expenses

    $3.6M

    Typical Grant Size

    Most grants fall between $12K and $31K, with a median of $25K.

    25th Percentile

    $12K

    Median

    $25K

    75th Percentile

    $31K

    Geographic Reach

    National11 states funded

    About 12% of grants go to recipients in NY.

    Funding intensity
    Low
    High
    Headquarters

    Leadership

    LUE DOUTHIT

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    EIN: 83-1161065
    3 filings on record
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    production sponsorship
    workshop and artist development support
    project-specific commissioning/translation funding
    one-time/annual unrestricted gifts

    Topics

    Shakespeare-related performances and productionsdevelopmental workshops and staged readingstranslations of plays (including native-language translation)commissions of new translations/adaptationsBIPOC playwright/artist-focused development (workshopping blueprint for BIPOC artists)travel/subsidy support for productions and demonstrations

    Where Play on Shakespeare Makes Grants

    Play on Shakespeare gives nationally, with all listed recent grants going to U.S. recipients. New York appears most often in the recent grant list, including grantees in New York, NY. Other recurring recipient locations include San Francisco, CA; Portland, OR; and Dallas, TX. Oregon recipients account for 12% of grants in the data, which is distinct from the foundation’s Ashland headquarters.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Play on Shakespeare

    What does Play on Shakespeare fund?

    The foundation funds contemporary modern English translations of Shakespeare and the productions, workshops, trainings, publications, podcasts, and film used to present them. Recent grants show support for Shakespeare-related performances, staged readings, translations, commissions, and artistic development.

    Does Play on Shakespeare accept unsolicited applications?

    Yes. Its Production Support program accepts unsolicited proposals and asks applicants for a concise description of the production, the funding request, the budget, and related details.

    What is a typical grant size?

    Typical awards sit in the mid-five-figure range. The listed distribution is p25 $12,000, median $25,000, and p75 $31,000.

    Who receives support from Play on Shakespeare?

    Recent recipients include theater companies, producing organizations, conservatories, and translation projects. The grant record also includes support for BIPOC artist development and native-language translation work.

    What kind of projects get funded?

    Projects include production support, workshops, staged readings, and commissions tied to Shakespeare plays. Examples in the data include work on Romeo and Juliet, Coriolanus, Twelfth Night, and Richard II.

    Latest 990 Filing

    2025

    Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.

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    Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.

    Recent Grants

    Most recent grants reported to the IRS.

    RecipientLocationAmountYearPurpose
    NATIONAL ASIAN AMERICAN THEATRE COMPANY CO INCNEW YORK, NY$320,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    IDAHO SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL INCBOISE, ID$250,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    MAGIC THEATRE INCSAN FRANCISCO, CA$179,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    PORTLAND CENTER STAGEPORTLAND, OR$169,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    THE ACTING COMPANYNEW YORK, NY$125,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    STUDIO ACTING CONSERVATORY INCWASHINGTON, DC$80,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATERSAN FRANCISCO, CA$58,3002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    PORTLAND SHAKESPEARE PROJECTLAKE OSWEGO, OR$56,5002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    HERO THEATRE INCLOS ANGELES, CA$55,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    AFRICAN-AMERICAN SHAKESPEARE COMPANYSAN FRANCISCO, CA$52,5002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL OF DALLASDALLAS, TX$35,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    ASHLAND NEW PLAYS FESTIVALASHLAND, OR$15,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    THE DUBOIS FAMILY LLCKENT, OH$15,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    BLACK OPS THEATRE COMPANYNEW YORK CITY, NY$13,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    RAMAPO COLLEGE FOUNDATIONMAWAH, NJ$10,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    THEATRE COMMUNICATIONS GROUPNEW YORK, NY$10,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    LITERARY MANAGERS AND DRAMATURGS OF THE AMERICASNEW YORK, NY$8,5002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATIONPORTLAND, OR$7,5002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    NATIONAL ASIAN AMERICAN THEATRE COMPANY CO INCNEW YORK, NY$325,0002024GRANT TO SUPPORT PERFORMANCES OF HANSOL JUNGS TRANSLATION OF ROMEO AND JULIET.
    ACTORS SHAKESPEARE PROJECT INCCHARLESTOWN, MA$50,0002024A PRODUCTION OF CORIOLANUS.
    HOLMES PRODUCTIONSNEW YORK, NY$45,2342024REIMBURSEMENT FOR SHREW WORKSHOP.
    GREAT LAKES THEATERCLEVLAND, OH$36,0002024MIDSUMMER WORKSHOP.
    MAGIC THEATRE INCSAN FRANCISCO, CA$31,0372024WORKSHOP.
    NEW YORK LIVE ARTS INCNEW YORK, NY$30,3002024A BLUEPRINT TO WORKSHOPPING PLAYS FOR BIPOC ARTISTS.
    SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL OF DALLASDALLAS, TX$30,0002024STAGED READINGS OF RICHARD II, HENRY IV PART 1, HENRY IV PART 2, AND HENRY V, PRESENTED APRIL 20 - APRIL 30, 2023.
    CHAGRIN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURECHAGRIN FALLAS, OH$26,0002024GRANT TO SUPPORT YOUR PRODUCTION OF HANSOL JUNGS TRANSLATION OF ROMEO & JULIET.
    PERSERVERENCE THEATRE INCDOUGLAS, AK$25,0002024GIVING A ONE-TIME FOR NATIVE LANGUAGE TRANSLATION PROJECT.
    PORTLAND SHAKESPEARE PROJECTLAKE OSWEGO, OR$20,0002024HAM WORKSHOP FALL 2023 (PORTLAND).
    ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY AMERICA INCNEW YORK, NY$20,0002024SUPPORT PARTIAL COSTS RELATING TO A DEVELOPMENTAL WORKSHOP (JULY 2023) IN NEW YORK CITY.
    DEPAUL UNIVERSITY - ADVANCEMENT GIFT PROCESSINGCHICAGO, IL$15,9602024FOR A DEMONSTRATION, WILL PICK SCENES FROM SPECIFIC PLAYS.
    STUDIO ACTING CONSERVATORY INCWASHINGTON, DC$15,0002024FOR A DEMONSTRATION, WILL PICK SCENES FROM SPECIFIC PLAYS.
    RAMAPO COLLEGE FOUNDATIONMAWAH, NJ$7,5002024A PRODUCTION OF "COMEDY OF ERRORS" AT RAMAPO COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY TO BE REHEARSED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 6 AND 14, 2023, AND TO BE PERFORMED TWICE ON NOVEMBER 15, 2023.
    HERO THEATRE INCLOS ANGELES, CA$7,5002024A DONATION SUPPORT YOUR NOTHING, NOTHING PRODUCTION AND GENERAL OPERATIONS.
    CALIFORNIA SHAKESPEARE THEATREBERKELEY, CA$170,0002023CAL SHAKES KING LEAR PRODUCTION SPONSORSHIP
    PORTLAND SHAKESPEARE PROJECTLAKE OSWEGO, OR$70,0002023LLL PRODUCTION SPONSORSHIP
    HUNTINGTON THEATRE COMPANY INCBOSTON, MA$60,0002023TWELVE NIGHT COMMISSION
    MAGIC THEATRE INCSAN FRANCISCO, CA$31,0002023PRODUCTION OF RICHARD II WORKSHOP AND MAGIC GALA
    AFRICAN-AMERICAN SHAKESPEARE COMPANYSAN FRANCISCO, CA$30,0002023SUPPORT SHAKESPEARE-RELATED PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS
    PRAGUE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY AMERICALA PORTE, TX$30,0002023PERFORMATION IN THE SUMMER OF 2022
    PORTLAND CENTER STAGEPORTLAND, OR$27,5002023A WORKSHOP OF THE TRANSLATION OF CORIOLANUS
    CHAGRIN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURECHAGRIN FALLS, OH$25,0002023SUPPORT SHAKESPEARE-RELATED PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS
    THEATER BREAKING THROUGH BARRIERS CORPNEW YORK, NY$25,0002023A WORKSHOP OF TAMING OF THE SHREW
    UNIVERSESTROUTDALE, OR$15,0002023DRAFT 1 PAYMENT
    BLESSED UNREST THEATRE INCNEW YORK, NY$12,5002023UNTITLED OTHELLO PROJECT
    SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF DRAMASYRACUSE, NY$12,0002023SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY CYMBELINE PRODUCTION GRANT
    DEPAUL UNIVERSITYCHICAGO, IL$10,00020232022 ANNUAL GIFT
    SHAKESPEARE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAUNIVERSITY, MS$8,0002023SUBSIDIZE FOR A GIFT
    HERO THEATRE INCLOS ANGELES, CA$7,5002023SUPPORT SHAKESPEARE-RELATED PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS
    SHAKESPEARE THEATRE ASSOCIATIONOXFORD, OH$7,5002023TRAVEL GRANTS SPONSORSHIP
    ARTEQUITY COMMUNITYPASADENA, CA$6,0002023SUPPORT OF BLK REALITIES

    NATIONAL ASIAN AMERICAN THEATRE COMPANY CO INC

    $320,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    IDAHO SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL INC

    $250,000
    BOISE, ID2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    MAGIC THEATRE INC

    $179,000
    SAN FRANCISCO, CA2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    PORTLAND CENTER STAGE

    $169,000
    PORTLAND, OR2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    THE ACTING COMPANY

    $125,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    STUDIO ACTING CONSERVATORY INC

    $80,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER

    $58,300
    SAN FRANCISCO, CA2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    PORTLAND SHAKESPEARE PROJECT

    $56,500
    LAKE OSWEGO, OR2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    HERO THEATRE INC

    $55,000
    LOS ANGELES, CA2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    AFRICAN-AMERICAN SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

    $52,500
    SAN FRANCISCO, CA2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL OF DALLAS

    $35,000
    DALLAS, TX2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    ASHLAND NEW PLAYS FESTIVAL

    $15,000
    ASHLAND, OR2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    THE DUBOIS FAMILY LLC

    $15,000
    KENT, OH2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    BLACK OPS THEATRE COMPANY

    $13,000
    NEW YORK CITY, NY2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    RAMAPO COLLEGE FOUNDATION

    $10,000
    MAWAH, NJ2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    THEATRE COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

    $10,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    LITERARY MANAGERS AND DRAMATURGS OF THE AMERICAS

    $8,500
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION

    $7,500
    PORTLAND, OR2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    NATIONAL ASIAN AMERICAN THEATRE COMPANY CO INC

    $325,000
    NEW YORK, NY2024

    GRANT TO SUPPORT PERFORMANCES OF HANSOL JUNGS TRANSLATION OF ROMEO AND JULIET.

    ACTORS SHAKESPEARE PROJECT INC

    $50,000
    CHARLESTOWN, MA2024

    A PRODUCTION OF CORIOLANUS.

    HOLMES PRODUCTIONS

    $45,234
    NEW YORK, NY2024

    REIMBURSEMENT FOR SHREW WORKSHOP.

    GREAT LAKES THEATER

    $36,000
    CLEVLAND, OH2024

    MIDSUMMER WORKSHOP.

    MAGIC THEATRE INC

    $31,037
    SAN FRANCISCO, CA2024

    WORKSHOP.

    NEW YORK LIVE ARTS INC

    $30,300
    NEW YORK, NY2024

    A BLUEPRINT TO WORKSHOPPING PLAYS FOR BIPOC ARTISTS.

    SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL OF DALLAS

    $30,000
    DALLAS, TX2024

    STAGED READINGS OF RICHARD II, HENRY IV PART 1, HENRY IV PART 2, AND HENRY V, PRESENTED APRIL 20 - APRIL 30, 2023.

    CHAGRIN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURE

    $26,000
    CHAGRIN FALLAS, OH2024

    GRANT TO SUPPORT YOUR PRODUCTION OF HANSOL JUNGS TRANSLATION OF ROMEO & JULIET.

    PERSERVERENCE THEATRE INC

    $25,000
    DOUGLAS, AK2024

    GIVING A ONE-TIME FOR NATIVE LANGUAGE TRANSLATION PROJECT.

    PORTLAND SHAKESPEARE PROJECT

    $20,000
    LAKE OSWEGO, OR2024

    HAM WORKSHOP FALL 2023 (PORTLAND).

    ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY AMERICA INC

    $20,000
    NEW YORK, NY2024

    SUPPORT PARTIAL COSTS RELATING TO A DEVELOPMENTAL WORKSHOP (JULY 2023) IN NEW YORK CITY.

    DEPAUL UNIVERSITY - ADVANCEMENT GIFT PROCESSING

    $15,960
    CHICAGO, IL2024

    FOR A DEMONSTRATION, WILL PICK SCENES FROM SPECIFIC PLAYS.

    STUDIO ACTING CONSERVATORY INC

    $15,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2024

    FOR A DEMONSTRATION, WILL PICK SCENES FROM SPECIFIC PLAYS.

    RAMAPO COLLEGE FOUNDATION

    $7,500
    MAWAH, NJ2024

    A PRODUCTION OF "COMEDY OF ERRORS" AT RAMAPO COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY TO BE REHEARSED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 6 AND 14, 2023, AND TO BE PERFORMED TWICE ON NOVEMBER 15, 2023.

    HERO THEATRE INC

    $7,500
    LOS ANGELES, CA2024

    A DONATION SUPPORT YOUR NOTHING, NOTHING PRODUCTION AND GENERAL OPERATIONS.

    CALIFORNIA SHAKESPEARE THEATRE

    $170,000
    BERKELEY, CA2023

    CAL SHAKES KING LEAR PRODUCTION SPONSORSHIP

    PORTLAND SHAKESPEARE PROJECT

    $70,000
    LAKE OSWEGO, OR2023

    LLL PRODUCTION SPONSORSHIP

    HUNTINGTON THEATRE COMPANY INC

    $60,000
    BOSTON, MA2023

    TWELVE NIGHT COMMISSION

    MAGIC THEATRE INC

    $31,000
    SAN FRANCISCO, CA2023

    PRODUCTION OF RICHARD II WORKSHOP AND MAGIC GALA

    AFRICAN-AMERICAN SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

    $30,000
    SAN FRANCISCO, CA2023

    SUPPORT SHAKESPEARE-RELATED PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS

    PRAGUE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY AMERICA

    $30,000
    LA PORTE, TX2023

    PERFORMATION IN THE SUMMER OF 2022

    PORTLAND CENTER STAGE

    $27,500
    PORTLAND, OR2023

    A WORKSHOP OF THE TRANSLATION OF CORIOLANUS

    CHAGRIN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURE

    $25,000
    CHAGRIN FALLS, OH2023

    SUPPORT SHAKESPEARE-RELATED PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS

    THEATER BREAKING THROUGH BARRIERS CORP

    $25,000
    NEW YORK, NY2023

    A WORKSHOP OF TAMING OF THE SHREW

    UNIVERSES

    $15,000
    TROUTDALE, OR2023

    DRAFT 1 PAYMENT

    BLESSED UNREST THEATRE INC

    $12,500
    NEW YORK, NY2023

    UNTITLED OTHELLO PROJECT

    SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA

    $12,000
    SYRACUSE, NY2023

    SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY CYMBELINE PRODUCTION GRANT

    DEPAUL UNIVERSITY

    $10,000
    CHICAGO, IL2023

    2022 ANNUAL GIFT

    SHAKESPEARE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

    $8,000
    UNIVERSITY, MS2023

    SUBSIDIZE FOR A GIFT

    HERO THEATRE INC

    $7,500
    LOS ANGELES, CA2023

    SUPPORT SHAKESPEARE-RELATED PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS

    SHAKESPEARE THEATRE ASSOCIATION

    $7,500
    OXFORD, OH2023

    TRAVEL GRANTS SPONSORSHIP

    ARTEQUITY COMMUNITY

    $6,000
    PASADENA, CA2023

    SUPPORT OF BLK REALITIES