Odyssey Theatre Ensemble

What Odyssey Theatre Ensemble does

Odyssey Theatre Ensemble is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1969 in Los Angeles, operating three intimate 99-seat theaters at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd, totaling 297 seats plus a rehearsal room. It produces live theater, the Dance at the Odyssey contemporary dance festival (established 2017, the largest independent such festival in Los Angeles), the Music at the Odyssey concert series, and the Thresholds of Invention work-in-progress series. The organization serves general arts patrons, students through a partnership with LACC Theatre Academy, members via Flex Pass subscriptions, and guest production companies through venue rentals.

The underlying technology stack is conventional for a small venue: OvationTix and TodayTix for ticketing, Authorize.net for payment processing, Constant Contact for email marketing, and Google Analytics for web tracking. The physical infrastructure—ETC nomad lighting (36-channel, 2-scene preset, 36 dimmers at 2.4kw each), sound systems, concessions bar, green room, dressing rooms, and outdoor patio—constitutes the primary operating asset. No proprietary AI, data platform, or software product exists.

Revenue mechanics combine transaction-based and recurring streams. Ticket prices range from $10 (preview/first week) to $35 (general admission), with student, rush, group (10+, up to 50% off), and military discounts. Recurring revenue comes from Flex Pass subscriptions (4 tickets for $110 or 6 tickets for $150, valid through December 30, 2026), tiered individual donations ($25 to $5,000), planned giving/bequests, and corporate/foundation sponsorships (The Broad Foundation, Shubert Foundation, Cannon Family Foundation, IMB International, Jewish Community Foundation, California Community Foundation). Venue rentals, concessions (Odyssey Eats), and gift certificates add supplementary transaction revenue. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and operates with 11-50 staff plus volunteers.

Name

Odyssey Theatre Ensemble

Legal name

Odyssey Theatre Foundation

Website

https://odysseytheatre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Odyssey Theatre Ensemble is a Los Angeles nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded in 1969, operating three intimate 99-seat theaters producing live theatre, the Dance at the Odyssey contemporary dance festival, and music programming for arts patrons, students, and guest production companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Dance Companies (711120)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Dance Performances (THAJAFAD)

Keywords

• Live theatre productions
• Contemporary dance festival
• Concert series performances
• Theatrical venue rentals
• Nonprofit performing arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

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, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual performance tickets across theatre productions, dance festival, and music at the Odyssey series. Tickets range from $10 (preview/week one) to $35 (general admission) with various discounts available.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals supporting the nonprofit arts organization. 501(c)(3) status with Tax ID# 23-7374151.
3. Membership/Flex Pass: Season subscription packages offering flexible passes for multiple tickets. Six tickets for $150, four tickets for $110, valid through December 30, 2026.
4. Corporate & Foundation Sponsorship: Support from corporate entities (The Broad Foundation, Cannon Family Foundation, IMB International Foundation, Jewish Community Foundation) and foundations (The Shubert Foundation, California Community Foundation) plus government support from City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and LA County Arts Commission.
5. Venue Rentals: Rental income from three intimate theatres, rehearsal room, and spaces used by guest companies, for classes and special events requiring dramatic atmosphere.
6. Concessions: Odyssey Eats concessions stand offering pastries, snacks, cookies, brownies, chocolates, kettle chips, coffee, tea, cappuccino, wine and beer served before curtain and during intermission.
7. Planned Giving: Bequests and legacy gifts ensuring long-term support for the theatre beyond donor lifetimes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Odyssey Theatre Ensemble produces and presents live theatre productions, contemporary dance, and music performances in three intimate 99-seat venues at its Los Angeles campus. The organization's core programming includes mainstage theatrical productions, the Dance at the Odyssey contemporary dance festival, the Music at the Odyssey concert series, and the Thresholds of Invention work-in-progress series, with tickets sold to the general public and memberships offered via Flex Pass subscriptions.

Product overview

Odyssey Theatre Ensemble operates as a nonprofit performing arts organization offering live theatre productions in three intimate 99-seat venues, complemented by the Dance at the Odyssey Festival, Music at the Odyssey concert series, and Thresholds of Invention work-in-progress series. The organization sells tickets through Flex Pass subscriptions and individual sales, accepts donations across multiple giving levels, and rents its facilities to guest companies. The product portfolio centers on live performance experiences across theatre, dance, and music disciplines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dance at the Odyssey: Contemporary dance festival established in 2017, the largest independent contemporary dance festival in Los Angeles
• Music at the Odyssey
• Thresholds of Invention
• Writers' Odyssey

Products and services

• Theatre Productions Live theatrical performances including plays, dramas, comedies, and adaptations staged in the Odyssey's three intimate 99-seat theatres for Los Angeles audiences seeking adventurous, bold programming.
• Dance at the Odyssey Festival Contemporary dance festival featuring emerging and established choreographers and dance companies performing in repertory across multiple weeks, providing development opportunities for artists and the largest independent contemporary dance festival experience in Los Angeles.
• Music at the Odyssey Concert series featuring jazz, musical theatre, folk revival, Motown, and other live music genres curated by rotating producers.
• Thresholds of Invention Series Work-in-progress premieres presenting bold voices and experimental theatrical ideas through staged readings and developmental productions.
• Writers' Odyssey Program Literary development program supporting playwrights in creating new work, complementing the Odyssey's mainstage and Thresholds of Invention programming.
• Flex Pass Membership Subscription membership program offering flexible multi-ticket passes (six tickets for $150 or four tickets for $110) usable for any season productions including dance and music events, with priority seating and member benefits.
• Venue Rentals Rental of three intimate 99-seat theatres, rehearsal room, lobby, and outdoor patio for guest theatre productions, dance concerts, film shoots, classes, and special events.
• Odyssey Eats Concessions On-site concessions stand offering pastries, snacks, cookies, brownies, chocolates, kettle chips, coffee, tea, cappuccino, wine, and beer before performances and during intermission.

Quantifiable outcome

• Largest independent contemporary dance festival in Los Angeles
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lower Depth TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partnership with Lower Depth Theatre for Hymn by Lolita Chakrabarti, directed by Gregg T. Daniel. Lower Depth Theatre's Artistic Director Gregg T. Daniel serves as Artistic Director for the co-production.
• Goethe-Institut Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational cultural institution co-producing multiple dance festival events including performances by German artists Mamaza (2017), deufert&plischke (2018), and Shade Theret (2019).
• Los Angeles City College Theatre AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership since 2008 providing student outreach and engagement. Students collaborate on productions performed during the week for students with evening performances open to public. Includes world premieres and work with at-risk youth.
• Los Angeles County Arts CommissionminorOthersGovernment arts funding body providing operational support to nonprofit arts organizations in Los Angeles County.
• City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs DepartmentminorOthersMunicipal arts funding providing grants to support Odyssey productions and student outreach programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Direct peers

• A Noise Within: Pasadena classical repertory theatre operating multiple performance spaces. Comparable in nonprofit structure, repertory programming, and reliance on foundation/corporate funding, though at larger venue scale.
• East West Players: LA-based nonprofit Asian American theatre producing plays and musicals in intimate spaces. Comparable in mission-driven nonprofit theatre operations and LA foundation/government funding relationships.
• Fountain Theatre: Los Angeles-based intimate theatre producing adventurous, issue-driven productions in a small venue. Closely comparable to the Odyssey in mission, programming philosophy, and 99-seat-scale operation.
• Bootleg Theater: LA warehouse-converted intimate theatre hosting theatre, music, and dance programming with emerging-artist focus. Comparable in multi-disciplinary programming (theatre/dance/music) and small-scale nonprofit operations.
• Antaeus Theatre Company: LA-based nonprofit ensemble theatre producing classical and contemporary works with a repertory company model. Strong overlap with Odyssey on ensemble-driven intimate programming and donor/subscription revenue model.
• The Actors' Gang: LA-based experimental and adventurous theatre company founded by Tim Robbins. Competes for similar adventurous-theatre audience and shares intimate-venue, bold-programming positioning.
• Theatre @ Boston Court: Pasadena-based intimate theatre staging bold contemporary and classical productions in a small-format space. Direct competitor for LA-area adventurous-theatre audiences and donor pools.
• The Road Theatre Company: North Hollywood intimate theatre producing original and contemporary works. Competes with Odyssey for LA-area small-scale theatrical productions and similar patron segments.

Broad incumbents

• Center Theatre Group (Mark Taper Forum): LA's largest nonprofit theatre operator running the Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre. Provides regional funding and venue-scale context for Odyssey's intimate-format positioning within the LA theatre ecosystem.

Regional players

• Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum: Topanga-based outdoor repertory theatre with a multigenerational operating history. Comparable in long-running regional repertory mission and nonprofit community-anchored operations, though outdoor venue model differs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/OdysseyTheatre
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/OdysseyTheatreLA
• Facebookfacebook.com/OdysseyTheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/odysseytheatre

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Odyssey Theatre Ensemble