Support
Thank you for Lighting the way
You Make an Impact
At the American Shakespeare Center we’re expanding opportunities for discovery and connection: nurturing emerging artists, inspiring passionate teenage campers, engaging lifelong learners, and welcoming audience members as young as three.
Together, we’re strengthening the foundation of a thriving community.
When the Blackfriars Playhouse fills with multi-generational audiences and families, theatre becomes a radical act of community: a profoundly human exchange of presence, imagination, and shared light.
Our work takes shape through the dedication of actors, staff, volunteers, and board members who pour their hearts into the ASC every day—but it is you who make this story possible.
Your support gives us more than resources. You empower us to extend the light beyond the Playhouse walls.
As we prepare to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Blackfriars Playhouse, we reflect on a quarter century of curiosity, humanity, and moments that remind us what it means to gather together. What’s past is prologue, and the next act begins with you.
We look forward to celebrating together. Thank you for being part of this season and for keeping the ASC alive with your presence, your joy, and your light.
Click on the tabs above to find photos, stories, and milestones that reflect your impact on stage, in classrooms, and beyond. If you’d like to see the full picture of what you made possible, explore our 2024–2025 Donor Impact Report.
Ways to Give
We are pleased to offer many ways to support the American Shakespeare Center. However you choose to give, we are thankful for your generosity.
By phone:
To make a gift by credit card or all other methods (i.e. gifts of stock, wire transfers, IRA Charitable Rollover) over the phone during regular business hours (Tuesday – Friday 8:00am -3pm), please call the ASC Box Office at 1-877-MUCH-ADO. The Box Office is open Wednesday-Friday from 1-5 PM and Saturday/Sunday from 12-4 PM.
By mail:
For Checks – please make payable to the American Shakespeare Center and send to:Attn: Development OfficeAmerican Shakespeare Center20 S. New St., 4th FloorStaunton, VA 24401By STOCKS:
The American Shakespeare Center gratefully accepts donations of publicly traded securities including stock, bonds, and mutual funds. Visit the “Donate Stocks, Bonds, or Mutual Funds” tab for details.Online:
To make an immediate gift today…
The American Shakespeare Center (ASC) strives to maintain fiscal excellence and transparency. Access to all ASC revenue and expenses (990s) for the past 3 fiscal years and our most recent audit can be accessed via our Financial Information page.
The 2024-2025 Donor Impact Report.
Explore the full report below or download your copy of the 2024 – 2025 Donor Impact Report to read and share.
Support Live Theatre – Make Your Impact
Real Stories. Real Impact. Summer 2025.
We’re proud to share the Summer 2025 Donor Impact Update, a celebration of everything you make possible. Every seat, every performance, every moment of connection begins with your belief in this work.
Inside you’ll find:
Highlights from this years performances and community programs you helped bring to life
Stories of belonging, legacy, and shared purpose
Photos from our Lobby Grand Reopening, made possible through your generosity
Messages of gratitude from our team and the people whose lives you’ve touched
Explore the full report below or download your copy of the Summer 2025 Donor Impact Update to read and share.
And this is just the beginning. We’ll be publishing a comprehensive Donor Impact Report in October to share even more of the stories and milestones you’ve inspired.
On behalf of our board and staff
We’d like to share our Fiscal Year 2024 Donor Impact Report, covering our work from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. We think—and hope you will too—that this report reflects the impact of our renewed and expanded efforts to increase accessibility, engage our communities, and recover the joys of Shakespeare.
As you explore this report, you’ll find stories, photos, and statistics that showcase the past year’s accomplishments. From powerful performances on stage and hands-on educational programs to an array of community events, we are committed to connecting people to live theater and through live theater to one another.
Of course, none of this would be possible without our dedicated team of artists, educators, staff, volunteers, and board members, all of whom pour their passion into the American Shakespeare Center.
Donors like you make everything we do possible. Your donation allows us to provide a vibrant season of productions, educational opportunities, and enriching experiences year-round. But it contributes more than that. It gives us the gift of knowing our work is meaningful to you. That knowledge both fuels and inspires us in our work. It gives us the precious sense of collaboration with friends far beyond the Blackfriars.
Shakespeare famously wrote that “All the world’s a stage,” but the reverse is true as well: the stage can be all the world. It is, as Oscar Wilde wrote, “the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.”So thank you for your continued trust and belief in the work we do. We are excited for what lies ahead and look forward to your ongoing support as we enter another season at the American Shakespeare Center of sharing light, imagination, and humanity.
We hope to see you at the Blackfriars Playhouse,
Dr. Ralph Alan Cohen
Founding Executive DirectorVanessa Morosco
Executive Director
Support Live Theatre – Make Your Impact
Artistic impACT & INNOVATION
Your support is not only a donation; it’s a catalyst for change that resonates throughout our community. As one of the few professional theaters producing shows in repertory, we thrive on the energy of multiple productions running simultaneously, each one a vibrant thread in the rich tapestry of our artistic year.
Collaborating with talented directors, designers, and actors, we not only enhance our community but create meaningful connections that uplift careers. Your involvement allows us to shine our lights brighter than ever, bringing Shakespeare’s timeless works to life.
Bring Shakespeare to Life – Give Today
Fostering Creativity for All Ages
Your generosity transforms lives by enabling people of all ages to experience the profound impact of arts education. This year marked a significant expansion of our offerings: we launched an ASC Book Club for Adults with Staunton Public Library, introduced a new Drama Club session for ages 14-18, and added new No Kidding Drama Programs for adults.
We are also excited to announce a second ASC Theatre Camp session slated for Summer 2025, ensuring even more young people can discover the magic of theatre education and performance.
Thanks to your valuable patronage, ASC was able to fulfill 100% of student matinee financial aid requests, welcoming over 7,600 students to the Blackfriars—a remarkable increase of more than 3,000 students compared to 2022.
“For me, it was transformative in the best sense. I found my voice and a community of people with whom I greatly enjoyed sharing it. One of my best weeks ever!” – No Kidding Shakespeare Camper
Creating Opportunities for all
![Ginna Hoben and Jenny Bennett engage with the audience during The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] (again) at the Blackfriars Playhouse. They wave their arms energetically as the audience waves back, creating an interactive and lively atmosphere.](https://media.americanshakespearecenter.com/app/uploads/2024/10/09103714/Complete-works-web-graphic-764x382.png)
Every seat filled represents a story shared, a connection made, and a community brought closer together through live theater. We launched our Culture Pass program at 11 libraries across the region, offering free access to ASC productions for 177 (and counting!) residents of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Additionally, your contributions help subsidize Pay-What-You-Will performances, Local Rush nights, and discounts for veterans. This commitment ensures that ticket prices do not hinder meaningful artistic experiences.
Your generosity also made American Sign Language Interpretation a reality, allowing students from the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind to engage with the powerful themes of Julius Caesar.
Be Part of the Magic – Donate Now
Make your commitment ongoing
Epizeuxis is the rhetorical device which denotes the repetition of words, for example, Hamlet’s famous phrase Words, words, words. Members of this society have pledged ongoing monthly or quarterly gifts.
Even just $10/month – the price of a couple of lattes – adds up to more than $100 annually.
Maximize the impact of your gift with employer matching
Check with your Human Resource Department to see what options are available through your workplace.
Often, all you need to do is fill out your company’s gift-matching form, and submit online or send it along with your donation to ASC. Sometimes your company will match your gift even if you’ve retired, or they will provide monetary donations to match your volunteer hours.
The following is an incomprehensive list of companies who have matching gift programs and/or have generously matched gifts for ASC in the past.
- Aetna
- Allstate Insurance
- Ameritech
- AT&T
- Augusta Health
- Bank of America
- BMO Harris Bank, N.A.
- Briggs and Morgan, P.A.
- Cadence
- Chase
- Chevron
- Deutsche Bank
- Dominion
- ExxonMobil
- Fannie Mae
- First Citizens National Bank
- IBM
- Merrill Lynch
- Norfolk Southern
- Pfizer
- Walmart
- Voya Financial
Donate Securities and Increase Your Tax Deduction
Looking for a meaningful way to support the arts? Donating stocks, bonds, or mutual funds to the American Shakespeare Center is a simple and impactful way to help us bring live theatre to life. Plus, you may enjoy potential tax benefits!
How to Donate Stocks, Bonds, or Mutual Funds
Donating securities is easy. Here’s everything you need to get started:
Brokerage Information
Provide the following information to your broker to initiate the transfer:
- Brokerage Firm: Truist Bank
- Contact: Jack Wolf
- Phone: 804-780-3232
- DTC Number: 0226
- Account Number: WA7-118416
- Account Name: American Shakespeare Center
- EIN: 54-1487955
Notify Us About Your Donation
Help us ensure your gift is processed smoothly and acknowledged properly. Please email our development team at development@americanshakespearecenter.com with the following details:
- Your name
- The type and name of the security
- The number of shares you’re donating
- The approximate value of your gift
After the transfer is complete, we’ll send you an official acknowledgment letter for your records and tax purposes.
Why Donate Securities?
Donating securities to the American Shakespeare Center:
- Supports live performances, education programs, and community-building initiatives.
- May qualify you for a tax deduction based on the full market value of your donation.
- Helps sustain a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to making theatre accessible to all.
Questions? We’re Here to Help!
If you have questions or need assistance, contact:
- Jack Wolf at Truist Bank: 804-780-3232
- The ASC Development Team at 540-885-5588 ext. 114 or development@americanshakespearecenter.com
Thank you for helping us keep live theatre thriving!
Make a difference in the life of a high school camper
The ASC Theatre Camp is America’s preeminent college prep program for Shakespeare scholarship and performance. Each year over 70 students gain practical skills in theatre performance and connections that last lifetimes.
The Sidney Stark III Memorial Scholarship Fund supports the American Shakespeare Center’s Theatre Camp which empowers high school students to leap into college life through the learning experiences within Shakespeare’s text. Named for Sidney Stark, an English teacher who dedicated his life to sharing the joy of language, this fund invests in students’ performance training, academic exploration, and the opportunity to share their passion with new friends from across the country.
We hear from students every year who are eager to participate, but can’t afford the cost of camp. That’s we we started the ASCTC Scholarship Fund – so generous patrons can make a difference in the lives of our campers.
With your gift, we can help more high school students rediscover the universality of Shakespeare’s language, and make that treasure their own. We can expand the reach and impact of ASCTC to a broader range of campers, from here in Staunton and throughout the United States.
Learn about ASC Theatre Camp Donate
Help Keep the Music Alive at Blackfriars
Just like Shakespeare’s plays had a vibrant soundtrack, our performances at the Blackfriars Playhouse wouldn’t be the same without the incredible live music that fills the space. By supporting our Band Candy benefit fund, you help bring music to life, amplifying every ASC performance and supporting our talented musicians.
How Your Gift Makes an Impact
Your donation to Band Candy will:
- Equip our in-house musicians with new instruments, fresh sound, and vibrant energy.
- Fund lessons and skill-building, allowing them to keep delighting audiences with unforgettable performances.
- Provided necessary maintenance, repairs, and other essential support to our much-loved instruments.
Every Gift Counts
Whether you’re donating to Band Candy or providing unrestricted support, your contribution is invaluable. It helps us sustain the music, the magic, and everything that makes ASC unforgettable for audiences of all ages.
Watch this short video to see how ASC’s music transforms the stage – and consider joining us in keeping the arts alive!
Questions? E-mail development@americanshakespearecenter.com
In addition to Band Candy, unrestricted donations make a powerful impact across all aspects of ASC. These gifts allow us to:
- Support our actors in their home away from home.
- Preserve the beauty and history of the Blackfriars Playhouse.
- Enable educators to bring students on field trips to experience the magic of live theatre, often at little to no cost.
Every unrestricted donation keeps ASC strong, vibrant, and accessible to our entire community.