No Jacket Required is an emerging theater company dedicated to seriously entertaining audiences seriously. (Seriously.)  As an "outwards-oriented" theater group, we believe that 1) theater should be audience centered, 2) theater should be entertaining, 3) you shouldn't have to sell a kidney on the black market to pay for ticket prices, and 4) you shouldn't feel obligated to stand up (or even clap) at the end of a show unless you have a serious leg cramp you need to stretch out, or, of course, if you like it.  We believe that not all theater was created equal, and that audiences should not be terrified of wasting their time, money, and energy watching new theater.  We guarantee your enjoyment, and if you aren't thoroughly entertained by one of our shows you can come back and see it as many times as you would like for free until you do like it.

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How can I make a difference?

Gifts to No Jacket Required Theater have a direct impact on our ability to bring you audience centered shows - like “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” – for free and subsidized prices. They give No Jacket the means to produce high-quality shows that support area artists without raising ticket prices to a level where theater becomes an infrequent fad of the well-to-do.  Without the commitment of generous donors, our productions would not exist and your support helps NYC theater (other than Disney musicals) thrive.

Ticket sales cover only a small portion of our expenses. We depend on donations from generous patrons - individuals like you - to assist us in maintaining our high performance quality.  Ticket sales only cover a fraction of this cost.

Why does ticket income cover so little of production costs?
Like any good theater company – or even a bad one – No Jacket Required’s productions require hours of actor rehearsals, stage technicians, costume designers and set building, rehearsal and performance space rental, and rights. We try very hard to produce work that we know will be highly entertaining to audiences (that’s not to say other companies produce bad work, we just happen to try and focus on projects that are highly entertaining as opposed to projects that are "deep," "revolutionary," "highly artistic," or DADA-esque), and this often results in buying costly rights for the run.  With more and more theaters being closed and sold to realtors, prices for NYC theater space is at an all time high. 

One of the unique aspects of No Jacket Required – our emphasis on audience oriented theater – limits us to intimate performance venues that do not create the same audience pull as the BBB (Big Broadway Boys).  The size of the theater impacts the ability to fund our activities on ticket sales alone. Even sell-out crowds every night would only provide 40% of our needed budget. While raising ticket prices would increase revenue, it belies our commitment to producing shows in an accessible, affordable and intimate manner. (Check out NJR FAQ's)

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Make a gift to No Jacket Required Theater

No Jacket Required is able to sustain and grow its programs (such as its Free Central Park Performances) due to the generosity of individuals like you. A gift of $65 or more entitles you to become a member of the No Jacket No Problem Giving Society. Your donation helps defray production costs, and is a vital resource that allows NJR to continue our production series. We wish we could offer you backstage passes to meet the likes of Patrick Stewart or the cast of Spring Awakening, but seeing as they aren’t in any of our shows, we can’t.  Consider, that for the price of a regular Broadway ticket you can make a contribution to No Jacket Required that will ensure the continued production of New York theater. (Check out NJR FAQ's)

Donate using PayPal:

Or send us a check:

No Jacket Required
605 West 141 Street
Apt. 61
NYC, NY 10031

*Checks can be made out to No Jacket Required