The Youngstown Playhouse

What The Youngstown Playhouse does

The Youngstown Playhouse is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community theatre organization founded in 1924 and based in Youngstown, Ohio, serving the Mahoning Valley region of Northeast Ohio. It operates three performance venues: a 450-seat Main Stage and a 75-seat Moyer Room black box theatre at its 600 Playhouse Lane headquarters, and a new 150-seat Playhouse Downtown venue at 220 W. Boardman Street launched in 2026 through a partnership with Ballet Western Reserve. The organization's core offering is a multi-venue theatrical program, including main stage productions, intimate black-box performances, and a free youth theatre program serving approximately 150 students annually through classes, workshops, and fully staged productions.

The Playhouse's business model is a hybrid earned-income plus philanthropic model typical of American community theatre. Earned revenue comes from individual ticket sales (tiered $15-$27 range), Flex Pass subscriptions (3 tiers, 4 shows per season), and corporate underwriting packages. Ticket sales cover only about 35% of operating costs, with the remaining 65% funded by individual giving, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and special-event fundraisers such as the annual Fore! The Arts Golf Classic. Youth programming is supported by the Joseph E. Scarvell Youth Theatre Endowment Fund, an agency fund at the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley. The organization relies on a small paid staff (1-10) supplemented by volunteers for both production (scenic, costumes, props) and front-of-house roles.

The Playhouse functions as a hub for the local performing arts ecosystem, hosting independent companies including the Rust Belt Theater Company and the Millennial Theatre Company at its venues and co-marketing with Stambaugh Auditorium, DeYor Performing Arts Center, Youngstown Symphony, and Opera Western Reserve. Distribution runs through an online storefront, an in-person and phone box office at DeYor, and a 2026/2027 season marketed under the theme "No Place Like Home." There is no disclosed financial performance, no app or API surface, and no AI/ML technology footprint; the organization's value proposition rests on its century-old brand, multi-venue physical infrastructure, and community-embedded mission rather than technology differentiation.

Name

The Youngstown Playhouse

Legal name

The Youngstown Playhouse

Website

https://youngstownplayhouse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Youngstown Playhouse is a 101-year-old non-profit community theatre in Youngstown, Ohio, operating three venues (75, 150, 450 seats) and a free youth theatre program, serving local residents and the Mahoning Valley through live productions, subscriptions, donations, and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Theatre / Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

Keywords

• Community theatre performances
• Youth theatre education
• Performing arts venue
• Live theatrical productions
• Theatre subscription passes

Headquarters

HQ city

Ohio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual show tickets across Main Stage, Moyer Room, and Playhouse Downtown venues. Covers only 35% of operating costs.
2. Individual Giving: Annual giving society with donors at various levels ($100+). Friends of the Youngstown Playhouse program with recognition benefits.
3. Corporate Underwriting & Sponsorship: Business partnerships to underwrite specific shows or the season. Includes brand recognition, verbal acknowledgment, website logos, free tickets, and VIP event access.
4. Special Events: Fore! The Arts Golf Classic annual fundraiser. Events directly benefit collaborating arts organizations.
5. Youth Theatre Programs: Free participation youth theatre with endowment fund support through Joseph E. Scarvell Youth Theatre Endowment Fund at Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Youngstown Playhouse is a non-profit community theatre that produces and presents live theatrical performances across three venue sizes (450-seat Main Stage, 75-seat Moyer Room, and 150-seat Playhouse Downtown). It sells individual show tickets and season Flex Pass subscriptions, while supplementing earned revenue with individual donations, corporate underwriting, and special-event fundraisers. The organization also operates a free youth theatre education program serving approximately 150 students annually, supported by the Joseph E. Scarvell Youth Theatre Endowment Fund.

Product overview

The Youngstown Playhouse is a community theatre organization offering a multi-venue theatrical experience. The core offerings include Main Stage productions in the 450-seat Main Stage, Moyer Room black box theatre (75 seats) for intimate performances, and the new Playhouse Downtown venue (150 seats) in partnership with Ballet Western Reserve. The organization supports approximately 150 youth annually through its Youth Theatre Program with free participation. Additional offerings include season flex passes, educational classes and workshops, hosted programming from partner theatre companies (Rust Belt Theatre Company and Millennial Theatre Company), corporate underwriting opportunities, auditions, and volunteer programs. The 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 seasons feature a mix of classic and contemporary plays and musicals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Main Stage Productions Full-scale theatrical productions (plays and musicals) performed on the 450-seat Main Stage at 600 Playhouse Lane, available to the general public via ticket purchase.
• Moyer Room Performances Intimate black box theatre productions in the 75-seat Moyer Room, part of the Griffith-Adler Series, offering smaller-scale theatrical works to the general public.
• Playhouse Downtown A 150-seat downtown performance venue at 220 W. Boardman Street operated in partnership with Ballet Western Reserve, providing a middle-ground space between the Moyer Room and Main Stage for productions.
• Youth Theatre Program Free theatre education and fully staged youth productions (e.g., Disney's The Lion King Jr.) for children and teens, with no pay-to-play fees, serving approximately 150 students annually.
• Classes & Workshops Educational theatre classes and workshops for youth and community members to develop theatrical skills.
• Season Flex Passes Subscription ticket packages available in three price tiers, providing admission to any 4 performances within a season, excluding special event shows.
• Fore! The Arts Golf Classic Annual fundraising golf event featuring golf, cocktail reception, lunch buffet, and prize presentations, with proceeds benefiting collaborating arts organizations.
• Underwriting Opportunities Corporate sponsorship and advertising packages offering brand recognition through verbal acknowledgment, website logo placement, social media mentions, event signage, complimentary tickets, and VIP event invitations.
• Venue Rental for Partner Productions Venue rental and co-presentation services for partner performing arts organizations (e.g., The Rust Belt Theater Company, The Millennial Theatre Company) to mount their own productions at the Playhouse's three venues.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150 students served annually through free youth theatre programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ballet Western ReservecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership agreement for use of 150-seat performance space on third floor of historic Morley Building (220 W. Boardman St.). This is the new Playhouse Downtown venue, a perfect middle ground between the 75-seat Moyer Room and 450-seat Main Stage. Major renovations planned with completion expected by The Shark is Broken production in June 2026.
• DeYor Performing Arts CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHouses the YourArts Box Office for ticket sales. Located at 260 W Federal Street, Youngstown. Box Office open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm.
• Stambaugh AuditoriumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal arts partner organization, co-listed on website with cross-promotional relationship.
• Youngstown SymphonyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal arts partner organization, co-listed on website with cross-promotional relationship.
• Opera Western ReserveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal arts partner organization, co-listed on website with cross-promotional relationship.
• The Millennial Theatre CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUses Playhouse venues for their productions including Dear Evan Hansen (July 10-19, 2026) and Come From Away (November 6-15, 2026). Part of the diverse programming at the Playhouse.
• The Rust Belt Theater CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUses Playhouse venues for their 2026/2027 season including Forbidden Youngstown! (July 24-25, 2026), Godiva: a Burlesque Musical, How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas, and Dating Sucks! the Musical.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Portland Stage Company: Portland, ME non-profit regional theatre operating a mainstage season with subscription and education programming. Closely comparable as a mid-sized non-profit producing theatre dependent on a mix of ticket revenue and contributed support to serve a regional audience.
• TheatreSquared: Fayetteville, AR non-profit regional theatre with multiple performance spaces, a robust new play focus, and significant education/outreach programming. Comparable multi-venue community theatre model that combines produced seasons, touring, and educational programming in a mid-sized U.S. city, with similar funding diversification across ticket, donation, and grant revenue.
• Commonweal Theatre Company: Lanesboro, MN non-profit professional theatre operating multiple spaces with an emphasis on new work, education, and community engagement. Comparable as a multi-stage non-profit theatre combining produced seasons with classes and outreach in a small-town Midwestern setting.
• Riverside Theatre: Iowa City, IA non-profit community theatre producing a mix of musicals, plays, and education programs. Similar multi-venue community theatre operation with subscription ticketing, youth programming, and a volunteer-supported operating model in a Midwestern college-town market.
• People's Light (People's Light & Theatre Company): Malvern, PA non-profit professional theatre company that combines a multi-stage producing model with education and new work development. Comparable in operating a multi-venue producing theatre with strong education programming and a similar mix of subscription and single-ticket revenue, though at a larger paid-staff scale.

Regional players

• DeYor Performing Arts Center: Regional presenting venue in Youngstown, OH that hosts touring performances and serves as the Playhouse's box office partner through the YourArts collaboration. Comparable as a community-scale performing arts presenter serving the same Mahoning Valley audience, though its model leans more toward touring presentations than locally produced theatre.
• Opera Western Reserve: Youngstown-based non-profit opera company that is a YourArts co-marketing partner with the Playhouse. Comparable as a regional performing arts non-profit sharing marketing and patron pipelines in the Mahoning Valley, though the artistic medium (opera vs. theatre) differs.
• Stambaugh Auditorium: Youngstown, OH performing arts venue and named co-marketing partner of the Playhouse within the YourArts collective. Similar in mission to bring live performance to the Mahoning Valley, but operates at a larger single-venue scale focused on touring and concert programming rather than locally produced community theatre.

Emerging players

• The Millennial Theatre Company: Youngstown-area producing company that stages shows such as Dear Evan Hansen and Come From Away at Playhouse venues. Closely comparable in mission and audience but newer and venue-dependent on the Playhouse, making it both a partner and a partial peer for youth-driven musical programming.
• Rust Belt Theater Company: Youngstown producing company presenting adult-skewing original musicals (Forbidden Youngstown, Godiva) at the Playhouse's Moyer Room. Comparable in scale and audience overlap, focused on original and alternative musical content rather than the classics-focused Main Stage programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCddIB_aoxS2LCRYvWwbGUvg
• Facebookfacebook.com/youngstownplayhouse
• Instagraminstagram.com/YtownPlayhouse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-youngstown-playhouse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Youngstown Playhouse