Celebration Theatre

What Celebration Theatre does

Celebration Theatre, legally Celebration Productions Corporation (EIN 82-1111453), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community theatre founded in December 1982 in Los Angeles and headquartered at 1049 Havenhurst Dr, West Hollywood. It is one of the nation's oldest continuously producing LGBTQIA+ theatre organizations, organized 'of, by, and for gay and lesbian people and their friends' and now operating under an explicit mission to center transgender, gender non-conforming, and BIPOC creatives. The company operates with 11-50 staff and a company membership of approximately 30 artists. Its product portfolio spans mainstage theatrical productions, staged readings, and a slate of community programs including Trans Lineage (an annual TGNC playwrights lab and commissioning cohort with $750 commissions), Tales of the Transcestors, Hear THEM Loud, Indigiqueer, Literary Submissions, and the Celebrating New Works reading series. Productions are mounted at partner venues — the LA LGBT Center's Davidson/Valentini and Renberg Theatres, Greenway Court Theatre, and The Broadwater — rather than in owned real estate, with ticketing fulfilled through OvationTix and TicketTailor.

The business model is a multi-stream nonprofit operation. Earned revenue comes from ticket sales at unit and pay-what-you-like price points, plus a $5 TeenTix youth access tier. Contributed revenue includes direct donations, the annual PrideGiving campaign (with a 2026 goal of $10,000), and corporate sponsorships facilitated through Givebutter. Institutional funding is drawn from four primary public and private sources: the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the City of West Hollywood, the California Arts Council (including an Impact Project Grant for Indigiqueer programming), and the David Lee Foundation. Distribution relies on co-presentation partnerships rather than owned channels, and go-to-market is event-driven: live theatrical performances, staged readings, and special events marketed through Instagram (@celebrationthtr), Facebook, email newsletter, the celebrationtheatre.org website, press releases, and community partnerships.

Leadership is Executive Director Christopher Maikish (appointed 2019), Acting Artistic Director Brittney S. Wheeler (appointed December 2022), Board Chair Justin Jones (appointed December 2022), and Co-Chairs Ricky Abilez and Parnell Damone Marcano. The organization pursues co-productions with peer companies including IAMA Theatre Company, Greenway Arts Alliance, BoriQueer Productions, and Tantai Teatro, and participates in the national Queer Theatre Alliance consortium. No technology platform, AI capability, or app is disclosed; core technology is the off-the-shelf ticketing and donation stack referenced above.

Name

Celebration Theatre

Legal name

Celebration Productions Corporation

Website

https://celebrationtheatre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Celebration Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 in Los Angeles and one of the oldest continuously producing LGBTQIA+ theatre companies in the United States. It produces mainstage productions, staged readings, and TGNC/BIPOC artist development programs in partnership with LA venues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Live Theatre

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Live theatrical productions
• LGBTQIA+ performing arts
• Community theatre programming
• New play development
• Arts education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

West Hollywood

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. Donations and Fundraising: The organization raises funds through direct donations, annual campaigns like PrideGiving, and corporate sponsorships. Donations are tax-deductible as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
2. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from ticket sales for theatrical productions and events at various venues.
3. Government and Private Grants: Supported by grants from Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, City of West Hollywood, California Arts Council, and David Lee Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Celebration Theatre produces and presents live theatrical productions, new works, and community-based arts programs centered on the LGBTQIA+ experience. Founded in 1982 in Los Angeles, the organization operates as a nonprofit theatre company staging plays, musicals, and educational/community programming for audiences and artists.

Product overview

Celebration Theatre is Southern California's oldest LGBTQIA+ theater company, offering a portfolio of theatrical products centered on main stage productions, new works development, and community programs. The core offerings include Main Stage theatrical productions, the Literary Submissions program for new play development, and flagship series like Trans Lineage (playwrights lab supporting TGNC writers), Tales of the Transcestors (trans heritage storytelling), Hear THEM Loud (TGNC showcase), and Indigiqueer (Indigenous queer programming). The theater also produces individual productions including musicals, comedies, and staged readings. Fundraising is facilitated through the annual PrideGiving campaign and General Fund donations. Productions are presented in partnership with venues including the Los Angeles LGBT Center's Davidson/Valentini Theatre, Greenway Court Theatre, and The Broadwater. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit under EIN 82-1111453.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Theatrical Productions Full-length plays and musicals produced and presented live on stage, centered on LGBTQIA+ stories, themes, and artists. Targeted at general audiences, arts patrons, and the LGBTQIA+ community in Los Angeles.
• New Works Development Program Development and staging of new theatrical works by emerging and established playwrights, with a focus on LGBTQIA+ voices. Supports playwright commissions, workshops, readings, and full productions.
• Community and Educational Programs Community-based arts programming and educational initiatives, including classes, outreach, and engagement activities serving LGBTQIA+ youth, artists, and community members.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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.

• Los Angeles LGBT CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for co-presenting theatrical productions at the Davidson/Valentini Theatre and Renberg Theatre. The Center provides venue space and co-presents select productions, with Celebration Theatre serving as an associated company.
• Greenway Arts AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenting partner for productions at Greenway Court Theatre, including Tales of the Transcestors: The Divine and Trans Lineage: Rites of Passage.
• IAMA Theatre CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation partner for productions such as Foursome, working together on shared theatrical programming.
• Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors / Department of Arts and CulturecoreOthersGovernment arts funding support through the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and Department of Arts and Culture.
• City of West HollywoodcoreOthersArts grant support from the City of West Hollywood for productions including Trans Lineage and WeHo Pride Arts Festival.
• California Arts CouncilcoreOthersState arts agency providing grant support, including Impact Project Grant for Indigiqueer programming.
• Queer Theatre AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational consortium of LGBTQIA+ theatres across the nation. Celebration Theatre is a member, participating in idea sharing and best practices for EDI within the queer theatre community.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Greenway Arts Alliance: LA-based nonprofit arts organization operating Greenway Court Theatre and co-presenting partner for Celebration Theatre (Tales of the Transcestors, Trans Lineage). Comparable as a small mission-driven producing venue and partner.
• IAMA Theatre Company: LA-based independent theatre company and current co-producing partner (Foursome). Comparable as a small nonprofit producing new works with similar artist-centered mission and shared use of partner venues.

Direct peers

• New Conservatory Theatre Center: San Francisco nonprofit theatre producing mainstage seasons and a dedicated program for LGBTQ+ youth (theatre4you). Comparable as a mission-driven regional theatre with LGBTQ+ programming focus and similar nonprofit funding structure.
• Diversionary Playhouse: San Diego's LGBTQ+ focused, mission-driven performing arts organization producing mainstage seasons and new works development. Most directly comparable peer: same niche audience, similar nonprofit revenue model (grants, donations, tickets), and analogous production slate.
• About Face Theatre: Chicago-based LGBTQ+ theater company producing new works centered on queer narratives. Directly comparable as a regional LGBTQIA+ producing company reliant on grants/donations and operating at similar scale to Celebration Theatre.
• East West Players: Los Angeles-based Asian American theater company and one of the nation's oldest identity-focused producing theatres. Closely comparable in operating model (501(c)(3), partnerships with LA civic funders, similar scale, founding in the late 1960s/early 1980s ethos of representation).

Regional players

• The Groundlings Theatre & Training Center: LA-based nonprofit theatre producing comedic and improv programming with longstanding community presence. Comparable as a Los Angeles nonprofit producing organization, though stylistically distinct (improv vs. scripted drama).

Broad incumbents

• La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club: NYC-based historic nonprofit experimental theatre supporting underrepresented and queer artists. Comparable in mission emphasis on artist development and new works, but operates at much greater scale and longer history.
• Center Theatre Group: LA's largest regional theatre operator (Mark Taper Forum, Ahmanson). Comparable as a Los Angeles nonprofit presenting diverse theatrical works, but substantially larger in budget, scale, and venue ownership.

Others

• Celebration Productions (One Institute): LA-based LGBTQ+ cultural institution co-producing partner on the Beirut reading. Comparable as an LGBTQ+ mission-driven arts nonprofit in Los Angeles overlapping with Celebration Theatre's audience and grant ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Celebrationthtr
• Instagraminstagram.com/celebrationthtr

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 Celebration Theatre