Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

What Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center does

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a restored historic 900-seat theater at 14 Castle Street in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, complemented by the smaller Indigo Room venue at 20 Castle Street for cabaret, comedy, and intimate performances. Founded in 2002 and serving the southern Berkshire County region, the center presents a year-round, multi-genre program including music, comedy, opera, dance, drama, lectures, family programming, and curated film series such as '100 Years of Movies.' Its audience comprises Berkshire residents, seasonal visitors, and member/donor supporters, with named co-presentation partnerships spanning Tanglewood (Boston Symphony Orchestra), DOC NYC, Berkshire Opera Festival, Festival Latino of the Berkshires, and the VOCES8 Foundation.

The center's technology footprint is intentionally lean: ticket sales, donations, and member management run through a Salesforce Sites platform (mahaiwe.my.salesforce-sites.com), with calendar exports to Google, iCalendar, and Outlook. No mobile app, public API, or third-party integrations beyond calendar sync are documented. Educational programming (school-time field trips and in-school residencies) extends the venue's reach into K-12 arts education, and accessibility initiatives (Card to Culture, $15 youth pricing) broaden the addressable audience.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit mix: tiered ticket sales across paid events ($8 films up to $89 premium concert seats), an annual membership program with priority access and discounts, individual and corporate donations and sponsorships, an annual fundraising gala, and external venue rentals. Pricing varies materially by event, with free community programming (e.g., Festival Latino) alongside premium headliner concerts and ticketed film screenings. Go-to-market is event-driven: programming attracts ticket demand while a multi-channel marketing mix (email, social, regional press, community partnerships, hospitality sponsors) sustains audience development.

Name

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

Website

https://mahaiwe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center operates a restored historic 900-seat theater and Indigo Room in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, presenting year-round live music, comedy, opera, film, dance, and educational programming for Berkshire County audiences and members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Nightclub & Small Live Venue Operations (Clubs, Bars with Stages) (MPAGALAF), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Live entertainment programming
• Historic theater operations
• Arts education programs
• Community cultural events

Headquarters

HQ city

Great Barrington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales across all performing arts events including music, comedy, opera, film, and dance performances at varying price points
2. Membership Program: Annual membership program offering discounts, priority access, and exclusive benefits to supporters
3. Donations and Philanthropy: Individual donations and corporate sponsorships from supporters and business partners
4. Annual Gala: Annual fundraising gala event honoring community leaders with premium ticket packages
5. Venue Rental: The Mahaiwe theater is available for rental, generating revenue from external event bookings

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center operates a restored historic 900-seat theater in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, presenting year-round live performing arts programming including music, comedy, opera, dance, theater, film screenings, HD broadcasts, and lectures. The center also runs the smaller Indigo Room for cabaret and intimate performances, and offers educational programs (school-time field trips and in-school residencies), an annual membership program, and venue rental for private events.

Product overview

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center is a restored historic theater venue offering a diverse portfolio of live performing arts programming. The core offering is the main theater at 14 Castle Street, supplemented by the smaller Indigo Room venue at 20 Castle Street for intimate performances. Programming spans multiple sub-brands including the 100 Years of Movies film series, Indigo Comedy Night showcases, HD Broadcasts of opera and classical performances, and annual events like the Mahaiwe Gala. The organization also provides educational services through school field trips and in-school residencies, offers a membership program for patron engagement, and generates revenue through venue rental. Ticketing is managed through Salesforce Sites with various pricing tiers and accessibility accommodations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Indigo Room: A smaller performance space at the Mahaiwe, located at 20 Castle Street, used for comedy nights and intimate performances.

Products and services

• Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (Main Theater) The historic 900-seat theater at 14 Castle Street hosting live performances including music, comedy, drama, dance, opera, and film screenings for general audiences and arts patrons.
• Indigo Room A smaller performance space at 20 Castle Street offering cabaret, comedy, and intimate musical performances with cafe table seating.
• HD Broadcasts High-definition broadcast screenings of performing arts content, including opera and classical performances, presented at the Mahaiwe theater.
• 100 Years of Movies (Film Series) A film series celebrating over a century of cinema with introductions by director Deborah Reinisch, featuring 9 titles programmed around America's 250th anniversary. $8 general admission; free tickets through Card to Culture program for eligible cardholders.
• Mahaiwe Membership Program Annual membership program offering benefits including $5 off tickets per event, priority access to ticket sales, and exclusive member events for performing arts patrons.
• Venue Rental Rental of the Mahaiwe theater and spaces for private events, corporate functions, and community gatherings.
• Mahaiwe Annual Gala Annual fundraising gala featuring performances and honoring community leaders; the 2026 gala celebrates Anthony Roth Costanzo and honors Margaret Deutsch.
• School-Time Field Trips Educational programs for K-12 school groups providing students with live performing arts experiences during school hours.
• In-School Residencies Arts education programs delivered directly in schools, providing hands-on learning experiences in performing arts for K-12 students.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Fairfield Inn Great BarringtonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for Indigo Comedy Night series, providing promotional support for comedy events at the Mahaiwe
• Dr. Beth B. and Jeffrey N. CohenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndividual sponsors for BEATrio performance featuring Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda & Antonio Sánchez
• Tanglewood (Boston Symphony Orchestra)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenting partnership with Tanglewood for joint programming including the world premiere of 'All the Music in the World' featuring Emanuel Ax & Joseph Levy
• DOC NYCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDocumentary film festival co-presenting partnership bringing documentary programming to the Mahaiwe alongside Tanglewood and Mahaiwe
• Festival Latino of the BerkshirescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partnership presenting César Orozco & SonAhead as part of the Festival Latino del Berkshires, promoting Latin music and culture in the region
• Berkshire Opera FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual venue hosting arrangement for Berkshire Opera Festival productions including Lucia di Lammermoor with full production cast and orchestra
• Red Lion InnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Los Lonely Boys concert, providing promotional support for regional music event

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Tanglewood (Boston Symphony Orchestra): The summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Lenox, MA, and the Mahaiwe's co-presenting partner. A larger, more prestigious incumbent performance venue in the Berkshires; relevant as a partner/competitor for the same elite classical and pops audience and donor base.

Direct peers

• Bay Street Theater: A year-round nonprofit regional theater in Sag Harbor, NY, presenting plays, music, and comedy in a historic venue of comparable size. Direct functional peer in scale, programming mix, and seasonal/tourism-driven business model.
• Shakespeare & Company: A professional theater company based in Lenox, MA, presenting a summer season and education programs in the Berkshires. Overlaps with the Mahaiwe on theatrical and educational programming and shares the same regional donor and audience pool.
• Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival: A National Historic Landmark dance venue in Becket, MA, presenting dance, music, and education programs to regional audiences. Comparable as a Berkshire performing arts venue competing for the same arts-tourism audience and donor ecosystem, though focused on dance.
• Berkshire Theatre Group (Colonial Theatre): The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, MA, operated by Berkshire Theatre Group, is the closest geographic and functional peer to the Mahaiwe: a restored historic theater in the Berkshires presenting a year-round slate of music, theater, comedy, and family programming for regional audiences. Both venues compete for overlapping southern-Berkshire audiences and donor bases.
• Barrington Stage Company: A professional regional theater in Pittsfield, MA, presenting musicals, plays, and new works. Comparable in mission (year-round theater in a mid-sized venue) and competitively overlapping with the Mahaiwe for Berkshire arts audiences.
• Cape Playhouse: America's oldest professional summer theater, based in Dennis, MA. Comparable as a historic New England regional theater with a seasonal programming model, dependent on tourism and donor support, with overlapping genres of musicals, plays, and family programming.

Emerging players

• Chester Theatre Company: A small summer-season theater company in Chester, MA, producing a short run of plays. Comparable as a Berkshire-area presenting organization at a smaller scale, competing for a subset of the same regional arts audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/themahaiwe
• Facebookfacebook.com/mahaiweperformingarts
• Instagraminstagram.com/mahaiwe

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center