TheatreDNA Celebrates Tenth Anniversary

TheatreDNA, a full-service planning and design firm for performance venues, celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. Founded in 2015 by Michael Ferguson and Benton Delinger, the firm's roots trace back to their beginnings as production managers and designers for the San Jose Repertory Theatre, where they learned firsthand the challenges of creating, operating, and sustaining a performing arts facility. Their success at San Jose Rep led them to a path as theatre consultants, working on prominent cultural landmarks -- including collaborations with architects such as Frank Gehry, Renzo Piano, Rem Koolhaas, Moshe Safdie, and SANAA -- before making choosing to step away from the big-corporate consulting world to build a boutique practice.

The firm's project list spans the globe and includes venues of every type and scale -- from renovated historic theatres in Lompoc, CA to multi-venue cultural precincts in the United Arab Emirates. "TheatreDNA began with a belief that the best performance spaces emerge when design and operations are considered together, and when end-users and audiences are at the center of the process," Ferguson says. "As we celebrate ten years, we're proud to continue doing what we do best -- the last decade has shown that a boutique firm can thrive by choosing creativity, collaboration, and authenticity over volume."

Looking ahead to its next decade, new regional offices in Portland and Dallas are in development. The firm will also continue broadening its strategic operations and business planning services, following its recent acquisition of Victor Gotesman Performing Arts Planning (VGPAP). This company says the expansion allows it to help venues at any stage in their lifecycles, pairing feasibility studies and business operational planning with design and technical expertise.

In a statement, the company says, "Equally important to the future is the cultivation of talent within the firm. TheatreDNA is committed to developing the next generation of theatre planning and design consultants by advancing senior team members into leadership roles and providing opportunities to shape the firm's vision, culture, and practice."

"Our next chapter is about extending our reach, deepening our services to our client partners, and empowering our team to lead the future of theatre consulting," Delinger adds. "We're privileged to spend all of our time building homes for artists."