What Creative Conners does

Creative Conners is a Rhode Island-based scenic automation company, founded in 2004 and operating as a brand within the Wenger Corporation portfolio of performing arts equipment brands. The company develops and manufactures integrated hardware and software for moving scenery in live theatrical, educational, broadcast, corporate event, and worship productions. Its core technology stacks the proprietary Spikemark software platform — a point-and-click automation controller with a free simulator, multi-playback support, group motion, and show control integration via OSC, UDP, PosiStageNet, Modbus, and Watchout — on top of a family of Stagehand motion controllers (Apprentice, Pro 6, Lineset) and motorized machines including Pushstick and Pushstick mini deck winches, Rotator turntable drives, and the cost-engineered Deck Chief controller. Differentiating technical features include Persistent Position encoder retention across power loss, Showstopper emergency-stop safety subsystems, Group Motion synchronization that halts entire groups on any deviation, and Split Accel/Decel cue profiling.

The company monetizes primarily through one-time hardware sales with publicly listed pricing — complete starter kits range from roughly $51,020 (Pushstick mini Deck Kit) to $68,180 (Pushstick + Apprentice Starter Kit with Stagehand Pro), while individual controllers and machines sit between approximately $6,050 and $33,735. A complementary recurring stream comes from flat-rate and season subscription equipment rentals averaging $1,000/week for standard kits and $650/week for rotators, plus on-site training seminars, remote Spikemark School sessions, and technician support during load-in and tech rehearsals. Go-to-market is direct consultative enterprise sales through the company website, e-commerce store, and a small sales team, supplemented by USITT trade show presence and a summer roadshow program that brings Spikemark training to regional theatre consultants.

The customer base spans five named verticals — professional theatres (e.g., Kansas City Rep, Candlelight Dinner Pavilion), educational institutions at K-12 and university levels (e.g., Chagrin Falls High School, Rice University), corporate events and trade show producers (Mills James Productions, Lynch Exhibits, Mystic Scenic), television studios (Mystic Studios), and houses of worship. Creative Conners reports that its equipment operates nightly in venues across dozens of countries, with named use cases covering touring Broadway productions, cruise ships, concert tours, and corporate exhibits. The company employs 1-10 people and manufactures in Cranston, Rhode Island, with parent Wenger Corporation providing corporate scale and multi-brand distribution across performing arts, music education, and athletics programs.

Name

Creative Conners

Legal name

Creative Conners Inc.

Website

https://creativeconners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Creative Conners develops integrated scenic automation hardware and software — led by its Spikemark control platform and Stagehand motion controllers — for live theatrical productions, educational venues, corporate events, broadcast studios, and houses of worship worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theatrical Stage Automation Equipment

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431)

SIC

Miscellaneous Furniture & Fixtures (2590)

akta.pro primary industry

Staging & Rigging Services (MPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scenic Fabrication & Set/Stage Carpentry (MPAGAKAG), Theatre Services & Design (Scenic/Costume/Props/Stage Management) (MPAGABAO), Event Fabrication & Scenic/Set Build (Custom Builds, Installations) (BPAFAGAK)

Keywords

• Stage automation hardware
• Scenic motion control
• Theatrical rigging systems
• Automation control software
• Live event automation

Headquarters

HQ city

Warren

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Sale of proprietary automation machinery including winches, turntables, hoists, controllers, and deck hardware. Products sold as individual machines or bundled into starter kits.
2. Equipment Rental: Flat-rate and season subscription rental programs for theatrical automation equipment. Most rental kits average $1000 per week for standard packages.
3. Training and Services: On-site seminars, remote training via Spikemark School, and technician support for technical rehearsals and load-in assistance.
4. Software Licensing: Spikemark software is free to download and use with simulator mode. Hardware purchases include software integration but no separate licensing fee mentioned.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Creative Conners designs, manufactures, and sells an integrated ecosystem of stage automation hardware (deck winches, turntables, hoists, motion controllers) and the proprietary Spikemark control software for moving scenery in live theatrical, educational, broadcast, event, and worship productions. The company also rents equipment and provides on-site training, technical rehearsal support, and inspection services.

Product overview

Creative Conners offers a unified stage automation ecosystem centered on Spikemark software, a free-to-download control platform that programs and operates all connected machinery. The product portfolio comprises two hardware categories: motion controllers (Stagehand Apprentice) that drive the machinery, and motorized machines including deck winches (Pushstick, Pushstick mini), rotation devices (Rotator), and compact controllers (Deck Chief). Supporting products include the Spikemark Console operator desk, deck hardware components, MotorCalc calculator, and Log Viewer diagnostics tool. Services include equipment rentals (flat-rate and season subscriptions) and comprehensive on-site support encompassing training, technical support, and equipment inspection. The company is headquartered in Cranston, Rhode Island and operates as part of Wenger Corporation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spikemark: Stage automation software platform that controls scenic movement, cues, and automation systems for theatrical productions.

Products and services

• Spikemark Software Stage automation control software providing point-and-click cue creation, multi-playback support, roles and permissions, live speed control, group motion, and a simulator mode for pre-visualization. Used by theatres, schools, event producers, and broadcast studios to program and operate scenery automation.
• Stagehand Apprentice

Quantifiable outcome

• 38 performances with zero automation errors reported by customer
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Wenger CorporationcoreOthersCreative Conners is a brand owned by Wenger Corporation, joining other brands including Wenger, J.R. Clancy, GearBoss, Texas Scenic Company, and Lutefish under the Wenger Corporation umbrella. Wenger Corporation provides innovative stage, sound and storage solutions for performing arts, music/theatre education and athletics programs around the world.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• J.R. Clancy: Sister brand under Wenger Corporation specializing in theatrical rigging, hoists, and counterweight systems. Most directly comparable as both operate in stage automation hardware for live performance venues, share distribution channels, and target the same end customers (theatres, schools, houses of worship).
• Stage Technologies (PRG): Theatrical automation specialist within Production Resource Group (PRG) that manufactures winches, revolve systems, and stage machinery controlled by its own Navigator software. Closest large-scale direct competitor to Creative Conners across product categories (winches, rotators, controllers) and end markets (Broadway, West End, cruise ships, themed entertainment).
• TAIT Towers: Global provider of staging, rigging, and automation solutions for concerts, theatre, themed entertainment, and broadcast. Directly competes in scenic motion control with the TAIT e|tour, TAIT Navigator, and Mega Winch systems, serving the same customer profile as Creative Conners but at much larger project scale.
• Texas Scenic Company: Sibling Wenger Corporation brand focused on scenic fabrication, soft goods, and automation for performing arts venues. Comparable because both operate as scenic/stage automation suppliers under the same corporate parent and target the same end venues with adjacent (and often co-sold) capabilities.
• Gala Systems (Christie): Manufacturer of theatrical motion-control equipment including Spiralift screw jacks, revolve systems, and stage hoists. Direct competitor in turntables, flying, and lifting machinery for theatres, cruise ships, and themed entertainment venues, with a comparable emphasis on safety-critical stage automation.
• Show Canada: Canadian manufacturer of staging, rigging, and automation systems including winches, hoists, and deck machinery. Comparable as a competing mid-sized supplier of theatrical motion control serving similar touring, theatre, and event production customers in North America.

Emerging players

• Skjonberg Controls: Manufacturer of stage and scenic automation equipment including winches and control systems. Comparable as a smaller, more specialized automation competitor focused on theatrical and entertainment motion control, often overlapping in educational and community-theatre tenders.

Broad incumbents

• Production Resource Group (PRG): World's largest entertainment technology and event production company, parent of Stage Technologies. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering automation as part of an integrated rental/production services portfolio spanning lighting, video, rigging, and scenic automation worldwide.
• ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls): Dominant manufacturer of theatrical lighting fixtures, dimmers, and control consoles with growing presence in rigging/automation control (e.g., Prodigy P2 hoist controllers). Comparable as a broad incumbent in theatre controls and an integration counterparty whose lighting consoles connect to Creative Conners' Spikemark via OSC.

Others

• Vectorworks: Developer of CAD and entertainment design software widely used by theatre consultants and scenic designers who specify automation equipment. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem player whose user base overlaps heavily with Spikemark-trained technical directors and influences purchasing decisions on stage machinery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/creativeconners/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/creativeconners
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/creative-conners-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/creativeconners
• Xx.com/creativeconners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Creative Conners