Manoa Valley Theatre

What Manoa Valley Theatre does

Manoa Valley Theatre (MVT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1969 in Honolulu, Hawaii, originally as the Hawaii Performing Arts Company. Operating under the brand 'Honolulu's Off-Broadway Playhouse,' MVT produces an annual season of six mainstage productions plus select summer programming in a 150-seat owned venue on the grounds of Kawaiaha'o Church, with additional performances at the Kaimuki Performing Arts Center. Its core product is contemporary plays and musicals (including Broadway and Off-Broadway titles presented in their Hawaii debuts alongside local works), supplemented by arts education classes, masterclasses, the Jo Pruden Theatre Arts Fellowship for Women, the Voices to Courage cultural-heritage program, Open Mic Nights, and a Music & Comedy Series.

The underlying technology stack is conventional and non-differentiated: a Wix-hosted website, Constant Contact email marketing, and OvationTix/AudienceView for direct ticketing, with no proprietary software, apps, or AI/ML capabilities disclosed. Distribution is direct-to-consumer across an online ticketing platform, phone box office, in-person sales, and subscription products (Full Season and Pick Your Pack).

MVT's revenue mechanics are characteristic of a small community theatre: ticket sales cover less than 50% of operating costs, with the remainder funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships ($3,000-$20,000 per show, up to $20,000 for the Season Benefactor tier), state appropriations via the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, foundation grants (Kosasa, Arrillaga, Cades), and fees from arts education classes priced at $100-$125 per course. Customer segments span individual theater enthusiasts, students and aspiring performers, community members, and corporate sponsors (HMSA, Alexander & Baldwin, Central Pacific Bank, Highgate among named supporters). Leadership comprises Executive Director Kathleen Young and Artistic Director Rob Duval, governing under a Board of Directors currently chaired by Jeffrey S. Portnoy.

Name

Manoa Valley Theatre

Legal name

Manoa Valley Theatre

Website

https://manoavalleytheatre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Manoa Valley Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community theatre in Honolulu producing a season of contemporary plays and musicals in a 150-seat venue, supplemented by arts education classes, fellowships, and corporate-sponsored events, serving Hawaii audiences, students, and donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Live Theater

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Live theater productions
• Performing arts education
• Season subscriptions
• Theater arts classes
• Community theater

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales for mainstage productions, special events, and performances. Individual tickets and season subscriptions available. Ticket sales cover less than 50% of operating costs.
2. Donations and Contributions: Donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. MVT is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Includes annual fund, legacy donors, and major gifts.
3. Arts Education Classes: Fees from theater classes including improv, stage combat, and acting workshops offered to the community.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships at various levels (Season Benefactor $20,000, Season Presenter $10,000, Season Sponsor $5,000, Show Sponsor $3,000-$20,000) with advertising and recognition benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Manoa Valley Theatre produces and presents a season of six contemporary mainstage plays and musicals each year in its 150-seat Honolulu venue, alongside season subscriptions, arts education classes (improv, stage combat, acting), masterclasses, the Jo Pruden Theatre Arts Fellowship, special community events including Open Mic Nights and the Music & Comedy Series, and the annual MĀnoa Marquee fundraising gala. It operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Hawaii audiences with Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional, and local-premiere theatrical productions.

Product overview

Manoa Valley Theatre (MVT) is Honolulu's Off-Broadway Playhouse, operating as a semi-professional theatre company in Manoa Valley. Founded in 1969 as the Hawaii Performing Arts Company, the organization produces an annual season of six mainstage productions featuring contemporary plays and musicals from Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional theatres, with most presented in their 150-seat performance facility. The product portfolio centers on mainstage theatrical productions supplemented by arts education through the School of Theatre Arts (offering classes, masterclasses, and the Jo Pruden Fellowship for Women), special events including Open Mic Nights, Music & Comedy Series, and Voices to Courage educational programming. MVT generates revenue through ticket sales, season subscriptions, Pick Your Pack flexible subscriptions, and corporate sponsorships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Productions Full-scale theatrical productions including plays and musicals presented in MVT's 150-seat performance facility, featuring contemporary works, Broadway shows, and Hawaii premieres across the annual season (six productions plus a summer bonus production). For general Hawaii audiences, theater enthusiasts, seniors, military, and youth.
• Season Subscriptions Subscription packages offering access to all six shows in the season lineup with benefits including priority seating, no service charges, free exchanges, and early access to additional shows. Tiered pricing by seating section: ADA and side seating $239, Center seating $255, Designer Row $265. For repeat theatergoing patrons.
• Pick Your Pack Subscriptions Flexible subscription allowing patrons to choose any five shows from the season lineup, providing savings up to 10% with date flexibility. Prices TBA for 26/27 season. For individual theatergoers seeking flexibility.
• Arts Education Classes Theatre arts education programs including improv (beginner and advanced), stage combat, and acting for film and stage, taught by professional instructors at MVT Studio. Pricing ranges from $100-$125 per course with class-size caps. For aspiring performers ages 16+ and adult students.
• Masterclasses and Workshops Specialized intensive workshops in African-American theatre, musical theatre auditions, voice-overs, playwriting, Shakespeare, scene study, and action in acting. For intermediate to advanced students and aspiring professional performers.
• Jo Pruden Theatre Arts Fellowship for Women A mentorship program providing young women with hands-on experience in all aspects of theatre production including directing, stage management, lighting and sound design, alongside paid stipends for each mainstage production. For emerging female theater artists in Hawaii.
• Voices to Courage A summer theatre program presented with the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans Organization, where eight O'ahu students explore WWII history through historical research, oral histories, and theatrical storytelling. Culminating performances at $10 per ticket. For student participants and community audiences.
• Open Mic Night Weekly open mic event held on Tuesday evenings featuring local musicians, singers, comedians, and spoken word performers with a $5 general admission fee to perform or watch. Hosted by community presenters (e.g., Kyla Blase). For local performers and community audiences.
• Manoa Marquee Gala Annual fundraising gala celebrating the arts and honoring community partners for their commitment to creativity and the community, featuring entertainment and silent auctions. For donors, corporate sponsors, and community supporters.
• Music & Comedy Series A series of music and comedy performances supported by the Kosasa Foundation, bringing diverse entertainment to the MVT stage. For general audiences seeking music and comedy entertainment.
• Sponsorship Programs Corporate sponsorship opportunities including Season Benefactor ($20,000), Season Presenter ($10,000), Season Sponsor ($5,000), and Show Sponsor ($3,000-$20,000) tiers with advertising and ticket benefits. For local and regional Hawaii businesses and foundations seeking brand visibility and community impact.

Quantifiable outcome

• 55+ years of continuous operation as Hawaii's first professional resident adult theatre
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• HMSAmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026HMSA honored at 2026 Mānoa Marquee gala for meaningful commitment to creativity and the community. HMSA has helped create opportunities for connection, storytelling, and shared experience that strengthen the cultural fabric of Hawai'i.
• 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Voices to Courage: Hawaiʻi's One Puka Puka Heroes is a collaborative summer theater program exploring the stories of the 100th Infantry Battalion through historical research, oral histories, and theatrical storytelling.
• Hawaii Shakespeare FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership with Hawaii Shakespeare Festival for Shakespeare in Love production as part of the 2026-2027 season, July 15 - August 1, 2027.
• HighgatemajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Corporate sponsor honored at 2025 Mānoa Marquee gala along with Kelly Sanders.
• Central Pacific BankmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Corporate sponsor honored at 2024 Mānoa Marquee gala along with Alice K. Tucker.
• Kawaiahaʻo ChurchcoreOthersMVT is located on the grounds of Kawaiahaʻo Church, which leases the property to the theater for its performance and administrative facility.
• Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.majorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor permitting MVT patrons to park at the Mānoa Marketplace and supporting MVT's education program. Season Benefactor level sponsor.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Diamond Head Theatre: Honolulu's other long-running community theatre producing a season of plays and musicals. Directly comparable as a Hawaii-based, multi-production regional theatre competing for the same local audience, donors, and corporate sponsors.
• Honolulu Theatre for Youth: Hawaii-based professional theatre company producing staged performances for young audiences. Comparable as a Hawaii performing-arts nonprofit operating a season of live productions with educational programming and donor/sponsor-supported economics.
• Kumu Kahua Theatre: Honolulu theatre company focused on locally written plays and Hawaii-themed work. Comparable as a small-seat Honolulu performing arts nonprofit producing a season of plays with community engagement and donor-driven revenue.
• Hawaii Opera Theatre: Honolulu-based professional opera company producing a season of staged performances. Comparable as a Hawaii performing-arts nonprofit with a seasonal production model, ticket and subscription revenue, and corporate sponsorship programs.
• Hawaii Shakespeare Festival: Hawaii-based Shakespeare festival producing summer productions including a co-production with MVT. Comparable as a regional theatre producing a season of plays with similar production economics and donor/sponsor support.
• The Actors' Group (TAG): Honolulu-based semi-professional theatre company producing a season of plays. Comparable as a small-scale Hawaii performing arts nonprofit with subscription-style ticketing, community engagement, and donor-dependent revenue.

Broad incumbents

• Hawaii Theatre: Iconic Honolulu performing arts venue hosting touring productions, concerts, and community events. Comparable as a Honolulu live-entertainment operator competing for the same audience and corporate sponsorship dollars, though at a larger venue scale.
• Honolulu Museum of Art: Major Honolulu cultural institution presenting performing arts alongside visual arts programming. Comparable as a Hawaii nonprofit competing for the same donor base, corporate sponsorships, and arts-attendee audience, though its core mission is broader.

Regional players

• Maui Arts & Cultural Center: Neighbor-island multi-disciplinary arts venue presenting touring and local performances. Comparable as a Hawaii-based nonprofit arts presenter with ticketed programming, education, and sponsor-driven revenue, though it operates on Maui rather than Oahu.
• Kennedy Theatre (University of Hawaii): University of Hawaii at Manoa's performing arts venue producing faculty and student theatre, dance, and music. Comparable as a Honolulu live-theatre producer that develops local talent, though it is institutionally subsidized rather than donor-funded.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/manoavalleytheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/manoavalleytheatre
• Xx.com/manoavlytheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manoa-valley-theatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Manoa Valley Theatre