Sponsorship Opportunities
Advertise with the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, VA
Print program sponsorships available year-round
Each season, more than 10,000 audience members step into the Blackfriars Playhouse, home of the American Shakespeare Center in downtown Staunton. Over four seasons annually, ASC welcomes more than 47,000 patrons to experience Shakespeare’s plays, new works, and classic stories performed in repertory.
Every audience member receives a printed program, a full-color keepsake that includes cast lists, director notes, and your business’s message. Sponsoring a print ad is a meaningful way to reach a loyal and arts-minded audience while supporting live theatre and Staunton’s downtown economy.
Why Sponsor a Show Program?
Programs are distributed at every performance
More than 47,000 audience impressions annually
Full-color, professionally designed print format
High readership and strong retention among patrons
Audiences include locals, tourists, students, and families
Sponsorship directly supports ASC’s nonprofit mission and year-round programming
Sponsorship Options
Your ad appears in every printed program for the entire season, distributed to thousands of audience members at performances inside the Blackfriars Playhouse.
Ad Type/ | 1/8 Page | 1/4 Page | Half Page | Full Page | Inside Back Cover | Back Cover | Inside Cover | First Page |
| Size | 1.875″ x 2.125″ | 4.25″ x 2.75″ | 5.5″ x 4.25″ | 5.5″ x 8.5″ | 5.5″ x 8.5″ | 5.5″ x 8.5″ | 5.5″ x 8.5″ | 5.5″ x 8.5″ |
| $/Season | $175 | $350 | $500 | $1,000 | $1,750 | $2,000 | $2,750 | $3,000 |
2 Seasons | $308 | $623 | $900 | $1820 | $3220 | $3720 | $5170 | $5700 |
3 Seasons | $451 | $913 | $1320 | $2670 | $3220 | $5460 | $7590 | $8370 |
Full Year | $588 | $1190 | $1720 | $3480 | $6160 | $7120 | $9900 | $10,920 |
Now Booking Sponsorships: 2026 all seasons
Download Sponsorship Packet (PDF)
(Cordell Cole in ROMEO AND JULIET. Photo by Lindsey Walters. )
Who You’ll Reach
Our audiences are as diverse and dynamic as our repertory:
Staunton locals and returning subscribers
Visitors from Washington DC, Virginia, and the Mid-Atlantic
Tourists exploring the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains
Families, college students, and school groups
Arts patrons who shop, dine, and stay downtown
ASC patrons care deeply about the experiences they support—and the businesses that support those experiences.
What Your Sponsorship Supports
Your ad sponsorship helps sustain:
Professional repertory theatre performed in a unique historically inspired venue
School matinees, public workshops, and family-friendly programming
Educational access through Pay-What-You-Will performances and student discounts
Employment for artists, technicians, and staff in Staunton
Your sponsorship helps bring stories to life while keeping the Blackfriars Playhouse thriving.
Work with Camille Dierksheide
Sponsorship Manager
- sponsorship@americanshakespearecenter.com
- Based in Staunton, Virginia
Camille Dierksheide brings a love of the arts, a passion for partnership, and a wide range of experience to her role at ASC. She has worked in opera company management, democracy advocacy in Eastern Europe, small business development, and special event production. Her background also includes a professional culinary degree and a degree in international affairs.
She is a classically trained lyric soprano who has performed in community and professional productions of The Sound of Music, Madama Butterfly, Dido and Aeneas, and more. Locally, she is also the founder of the Whimsically Witchy Halloween Fundraiser supporting Staunton City fine arts programs and serves as Box Office Manager for the Staunton Music Festival.
Camille believes deeply in the power of community and the arts. When you reach out, she’ll help you find the right sponsorship fit and make sure your business feels genuinely connected to the story we share on stage.
Email Camille to Start Your Partnership
Community Partnerships at ASC
At the American Shakespeare Center, sponsorship is about more than visibility—it’s about connection. We’re proud to collaborate with local organizations, schools, and nonprofits to support shared missions and strengthen our Staunton community.
From mental health initiatives to education access, our partnerships create space for dialogue, creativity, and care through the arts. These collaborations reflect our belief that theatre can be a catalyst for positive change.
Recent Community Collaborators:
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Mental Health America of Augusta (MHA-A)
Shenandoah LGBTQ+ (ShenLGBTQ)
The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library
RISE
Valley Mission
Augusta County Public Schools
Valley Children’s Advocacy Center (VCAC)
If you’re interested in exploring a community partnership or a sponsorship opportunity that aligns with your mission, Camille would love to connect.
Ready to Get Started?
- Download the Sponsorship Packet (PDF)
- Email Camille at sponsorship@americanshakespearecenter.com
- Rolling Reservation Deadline: Spring (January 20), Summer (April 28), Fall(July 28), Holiday(November 3)
Let’s put your message in the spotlight, right alongside the stories we share on stage.
Support ASC
At ASC, your support does more than keep the lights on – every gift turns into world-class performances, educational programs, and community events that touch lives.
Donate