Artistic Director Michael Stevenson Shares the Magic and Influence of Capital Stage.

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I sit down with Michael Stevenson, Artistic Director, to explore how Capital Stage delivers bold, conversation-starting theater in one of Sacramento’s most intimate professional venues—just 127 seats, no microphones, and acting so close you can feel the breath. We talk origin stories (from a 99-seat space on the Delta King to today’s J Street home), the company’s appetite for risk, why emotionally engaging audiences lowers “intellectual guards,” and the post-pandemic realities of keeping cutting-edge theater sustainable.

Why Listen

• Hear how intimacy (four rows from the stage) changes performance, voice, and audience impact.
• Learn how Capital Stage curates “conversation starters” that linger for months—sometimes years.
• Get a candid look at funding, staffing, housing actors, and rebuilding audiences in 2025.
• Partnerships, rolling world premieres, community outreach, and academy training.

Key Topics

• The Capital Stage Difference: 127 seats, un-mic’d performances, “tiny, detailed” acting that hits emotionally first.
• Programming Philosophy: Contemporary satire + award-winning dramas (e.g., English, The Nether, Pass Over, Lehman Trilogy, Vietgone, Heroes of the Fourth Turning, King James).
• Community & Inclusion: Ambassadorship to underrepresented communities; shows that invite new audiences into the room.
• Funding Reality: Earned vs. contributed revenue, AB-5 impacts, material/labor costs, and audience recovery plateaus.
• Education & Pipeline: Cap Stage Academy, apprenticeships, and rehearsal/office hub at CLARA.
• Partnerships: From local cultural orgs and associations to health and education partners tied to specific productions.
• What’s Next: Flex tickets, dynamic pricing exploration, deeper community collaborations, and rebuilding subscriptions.

Memorable Moments

• “Engage people emotionally and their intellectual guards go down.”
• Audience members still talking about shows a year later.
• A Vietnamese elder’s thanks after Vietgone: “Thank you for telling this story.”

Quick Stats & Operations

• House size: 127 seats
• Season: 7 productions/year (~29 performances each; ~200+ performances annually)
• Subscribers: Peaked ~2,283 pre-COVID; ~1,800 today and rebuilding
• Model: ~60–65% earned / ~35–40% contributed (individual donors are critical)

How to Support / Get Involved

• See a show, bring a friend, and talk about it after—be part of the “cap chat.”
• Subscribe or pick up flex tickets for maximum convenience.
• Sponsor a production or become an annual donor.
• Offer actor housing or in-kind services.
• Learn more: capstage.org (tickets, calendar, classes, donations).

Chapter Guide (approx.)

• 00:00 Welcome & series context
• 02:00 Why

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