Manitoba Theatre for Young People
Manitoba Theatre for Young People (MTYP) is a non-profit charitable organization operating Manitoba's only professional theatre company for young audiences from a purpose-built 325-seat facility at The Forks in Winnipeg, delivering professional Mainstage productions, the largest youth Theatre School in Western Canada for ages 1-18, drama outreach to nearly 100 Manitoba schools, and accessibility-focused programming.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersWinnipeg, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Manitoba Theatre for Young People does
Manitoba Theatre for Young People (MTYP) is a non-profit charitable organization (Registered Charitable # 10004 4452 RR0001) founded in 1982 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, when Actors Showcase was reformed under Founding Artistic Director Leslee Silverman. MTYP is Manitoba's only professional theatre company dedicated exclusively to children and young audiences and operates the largest theatre school for youth under 18 in Western Canada. From a 28,000 sq ft purpose-built facility at The Forks (Treaty 1 Territory) — featuring a 325-seat reconfigurable theatre, classroom studios, production and wardrobe shops, green room, dressing rooms, and rehearsal hall — the organization delivers a 7-production annual Mainstage season, nearly 100 Theatre School courses spanning acting, musical theatre, movie making, improv, playwriting, and pre-professional performance companies for ages 1-18, plus summer camps and after-school programming.
MTYP reaches 40,000+ students annually and tours to nearly 100 schools from Gretna to Gillam in Manitoba. Revenue mechanics span (1) ticket sales and season subscriber packages (starting at $44 for 2+ shows with 20% discount); (2) Theatre School course fees ($110-$1,025 per session depending on level); (3) drama outreach workshops ($110-$135/hour, $950 for playwriting); (4) facility rentals of the 325-seat theatre and studios; (5) donations, corporate sponsorships, and endowment through the Winnipeg Foundation; and (6) government arts funding from Canada Council for the Arts, Manitoba Arts Council, Winnipeg Arts Council, City of Winnipeg, and Healthy Child Manitoba. Distribution combines an in-house Box Office (online, phone, and in-person), a dedicated School Sales Coordinator for institutional bookings, satellite drama instructors who travel to schools, and touring productions across Manitoba. Accessibility features include Relaxed Performances, ASL-interpreted shows, assisted hearing devices, audio description, and autism-friendly programming (I Can Pretend!, The Dress Rehearsal).
Recent corporate and government co-presentation partnerships (Geordie Theatre, Le Théâtre des Confettis, The Egg at Theatre Royal Bath, Joss Arnott Dance) extend the international content pipeline, while the Play It Forward capital campaign (>$2M from government contributions as of late 2025) is funding LED lighting, HVAC, and accessibility upgrades targeted for completion by December 31, 2025. Leadership is Pablo Felices-Luna (Artistic Director since 2014) and Debra Zoerb (Managing Director since January 2018).
Manitoba Theatre for Young People firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Manitoba Theatre for Young People
- Legal name
- Manitoba Theatre for Young People
- Website
- https://mtyp.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Manitoba Theatre for Young People (MTYP) is a non-profit charitable organization operating Manitoba's only professional theatre company for young audiences from a purpose-built 325-seat facility at The Forks in Winnipeg, delivering professional Mainstage productions, the largest youth Theatre School in Western Canada for ages 1-18, drama outreach to nearly 100 Manitoba schools, and accessibility-focused programming.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Manitoba Theatre for Young People industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Theatre Services
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Fine Arts Schools (61161)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG)
Keywords
Where Manitoba Theatre for Young People is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Winnipeg
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Manitoba Theatre for Young People business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: MTYP generates revenue through single tickets for Mainstage productions and subscription packages for the season. Single tickets are sold online, by phone, and in person through the Box Office. Subscriber packages offer 20% discount and priority seating.
- Theatre School Course Fees: Revenue from fall, winter, spring, and summer programming for ages 1-18. Courses range from parent-child classes at $110 to pre-professional performance companies at $1,025 per session. Payment installments available.
- Government Funding and Grants: Government of Canada funding through Canada Council for the Arts and other programs. Additional funding from Manitoba Arts Council, Winnipeg Arts Council, and City of Winnipeg. Over $2 million in total government contributions for Play It Forward campaign.
- Drama Outreach and Workshop Fees: Schools and organizations pay for outreach workshops including creative drama ($110/hour), film making ($135/hour), musical theatre ($135/hour), and playwriting programs ($950).
- Facility Rentals: The 28,000 square foot facility including the 325-seat theatre, studios, and spaces are available for rent for events and productions.
- Donations and Sponsorships: Individual giving, endowment fund donations through Winnipeg Foundation, legacy gifts, and corporate sponsorships from organizations including Access Credit Union, Asper Foundation, Richardson Foundation, TD, and others.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Season Subscriber Packages - 20% savings on tickets |
| Subscription | Per instance | Group Tickets - 20% discount for groups booking Mainstage shows |
| Unit Pricing | Per instance | Student Discount - 4 tickets for $56 per child in Theatre School courses |
| Unit Pricing | Per instance | Play Together Ages 1-2 - $110 per session |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | DramaVentures Ages 3-4 - $275 Fall, $225 Spring |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Creative Drama Ages 4-5 - $425 Fall/Winter session |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | I Can Pretend! Ages 5-8 and 9-12 - $245 per session |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Dynamic Drama Ages 6-7 - $445 per Fall/Winter session |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Acting Up Ages 8-9 and Acting Ages 10-12 |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Musical Theatre Ages 7-12 - $550 for Ages 11-12; $300 Spring |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Movie Makers Ages 8-13 - $525 per session |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | On Stage Ages 8-12 and Actors Workshop Ages 10-12 |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Teen Acting Ages 13-18 - $315 Fall/Winter, $280 Spring |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Teen Musical Theatre Ages 13-18 - $550 Fall/Winter, $300 Spring |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Teen Improv Ages 13-18 - $505 Fall/Winter, $280 Spring |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Teen Movie Makers Ages 14-18 - $525 per session |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Teen Production Ages 13-18 |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Teen Playwriting Ages 13-18 - $315 per session |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | The Dress Rehearsal (Autism-friendly) - $255 per session |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Young Company Ages 13-18 - $1,025 for 21-week session |
| Unit Pricing | Per session | Musical Theatre Company Ages 13-18 - $1,025 for 21-week session |
| Unit Pricing | Per instance | Summer Camp - $290-$720 depending on duration and program |
| Unit Pricing | Per registration | Registration Fees - $20-$30 non-refundable |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels7 records
Manitoba Theatre for Young People product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Manitoba Theatre for Young People (MTYP) is Manitoba's only professional theatre company dedicated to young audiences, producing seven Mainstage productions annually for children and families. It operates the largest Theatre School in Western Canada for youth under 18, offering nearly 100 courses covering drama, musical theatre, movie making, improv, and playwriting. The organization also delivers drama outreach workshops to schools and communities across Manitoba and runs themed summer camps.
Product overview
Manitoba Theatre for Young People (MTYP) is a professional theatre company and the largest theatre school in Western Canada. The organization operates as a single unified offering consisting of mainstage theatre productions (presenting 7 professional plays annually for children and families), a comprehensive Theatre School with courses for ages 1-18 (offering drama, musical theatre, movie making, improv, and performance companies), Drama Outreach/Workshops bringing programming to schools and communities, and Summer Camps with themed programming. The company also provides accessibility services including Relaxed Performances, Assisted Hearing Devices, and ASL-interpreted performances. MTYP operates from a 28,000 square foot facility at The Forks in Winnipeg, serving as Manitoba's only professional theatre company for young audiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mainstage Productions Professional theatre productions presented live for children and families, featuring a mix of touring companies from around the world and Canadian original works. Productions include adapted literature (Kenneth Oppel's Peg and the Yeti, Herman Hesse's Faldum), commissioned works, holiday productions (Seussical), and world premieres (Growing Carrots), with accessibility options including relaxed, ASL-interpreted, and audio-described performances.
- Theatre School Theatre training program offering nearly 100 courses for ages 1-18 across fall, winter, spring, and summer sessions. Courses cover creative drama, acting, musical theatre, movie making, improv, playwriting, and pre-professional Performance Companies, with course fees ranging from $110 (parent-child classes) to $1,025 per session (21-week performance companies).
- Drama Outreach and Workshops
Quantifiable outcome
- 40,000+ students reached annually through school programming
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Manitoba Theatre for Young People
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Manitoba Theatre for Young People technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Manitoba Theatre for Young People partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Forks North Portage (FNP) CorporationcoreProvides three hours of complimentary parking to patrons attending MTYP performances and classes. Located at The Forks, MTYP's home since 1999.
- Daytrippers Children's CharitycoreMTYP is a partner organization enabling experiential learning opportunities by providing funding to students in low-income and remote communities. Eligible schools serving grades K-8 may apply directly for funding.
- Geordie TheatreminorMontreal-based theatre company co-presenting Jordan production with MTYP for 2026/27 season.
- Le Théâtre des ConfettisminorQuébec City theatre company presenting Lou in the Night at MTYP, written and directed by Maxime Robin.
- The Egg, Theatre Royal Bath (UK)minorUK theatre producing I Wish I Was a Mountain, written and performed by Toby Thompson.
- Joss Arnott Dance (UK)minorUK dance company presenting Meet the Hatter, a reimagining of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Manitoba Theatre for Young People competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Theatre Calgary: Western Canadian regional theatre serving Alberta with family and student programming alongside its adult mainstage seasons. Comparable in scale and western-Canadian geography rather than as a TYA specialist.
- Citadel Theatre: Edmonton-based large regional theatre operating multiple stages including dedicated programming for young audiences. Larger and broader than MTYP but overlapping in family/youth programming and school-market outreach.
- National Arts Centre (NAC) - English Theatre: National, federally funded performing arts centre in Ottawa with programming for schools and families. Comparable as a publicly funded Canadian performing arts institution, though much larger and broader in scope than MTYP.
Direct peers
- The Egg at Theatre Royal Bath: UK children's theatre venue co-producing I Wish I Was a Mountain with MTYP. Comparable dedicated-young-audiences programming, family ticketing, and school outreach in an international peer setting.
- Carousel Players: St. Catharines, Ontario-based professional theatre company creating work for young audiences. Highly comparable: same TYA focus, same professional production model, and MTYP's current Artistic Director Pablo Felices-Luna was previously Carousel's Artistic Director.
- Roseneath Theatre: Toronto-based professional theatre for young audiences with strong school touring and education program focus. Pablo Felices-Luna previously worked at Roseneath, and its operating profile (school outreach + mainstage) closely mirrors MTYP's.
- Young People's Theatre: Toronto-based professional theatre for young audiences, Canada's oldest TYA company. Closely comparable operating model: Mainstage productions, theatre school programming, school outreach, and dedicated young-audiences facility.
- Geordie Theatre: Montreal-based professional theatre company creating work for young audiences and actively co-presenting with MTYP (e.g., Jordan co-production for 2026/27). Same mission, English/French bilingual Canadian TYA operator.
- Théâtre des Confettis: Québec City-based professional theatre company dedicated to young audiences. Direct co-production partner on Lou in the Night, presenting French-language children's theatre with the same age-banded programming structure.
- Ross Petty Productions: Toronto-based commercial producer of annual family holiday musicals (e.g., pantomime-style shows). Comparable in delivering professional family theatre productions with comparable family-ticketing economics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Manitoba Theatre for Young People financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Manitoba Theatre for Young People leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Manitoba Theatre for Young People funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Manitoba Theatre for Young People M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Manitoba Theatre for Young People
What does Manitoba Theatre for Young People do?
Manitoba Theatre for Young People (MTYP) is Manitoba's only professional theatre company dedicated to young audiences, producing seven Mainstage productions annually for children and families. It operates the largest Theatre School in Western Canada for youth under 18, offering nearly 100 courses covering drama, musical theatre, movie making, improv, and playwriting. The organization also delivers drama outreach workshops to schools and communities across Manitoba and runs themed summer camps.
Is Manitoba Theatre for Young People a public or private company?
Manitoba Theatre for Young People is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Manitoba Theatre for Young People founded?
Manitoba Theatre for Young People was founded in 1982. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Manitoba Theatre for Young People based?
Manitoba Theatre for Young People is headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Manitoba Theatre for Young People make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are theatre School Course Fees, government Funding and Grants, drama Outreach and Workshop Fees, facility Rentals and donations and Sponsorships.
Who are Manitoba Theatre for Young People's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Theatre Calgary, Citadel Theatre and National Arts Centre (NAC) - English Theatre. Direct peers are The Egg at Theatre Royal Bath, Carousel Players, Roseneath Theatre, Young People's Theatre, Geordie Theatre, Théâtre des Confettis and Ross Petty Productions.
Does Manitoba Theatre for Young People have an API?
No public API is recorded for Manitoba Theatre for Young People.
What industry is Manitoba Theatre for Young People in?
Manitoba Theatre for Young People's product category is Youth Theatre Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAE, Children’s & Youth Theatre, with a secondary code of MPAGABAG, Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe). Its NAICS code is 71111.