B Street Theatre

What B Street Theatre does

B Street Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional theatre company operating as Theatre for Children, Inc. in Sacramento, California. Founded in 1986 by actor Timothy Busfield as a touring children's theatre and expanded in 1991 with his brother Buck Busfield, the organization has grown into one of Northern California's largest professional resident theatre companies, producing more than 100 new plays (60 of them world, national, West Coast, or regional premieres). Its programming spans four main pillars: a seven-show adult Mainstage subscription series, a four-show Family Series for children, a Music/Presenting Series of concerts and special events, and an Education Division that includes the Studio for Young Actors, Adult Conservatory, school field trips, workshops and residencies, and the ONCE UPON A TIME playwriting contest. Since 2018, all programming has been staged at The Sofia Tsakopoulos Center for the Arts, a 49,000-square-foot three-theatre facility in Midtown Sacramento housing a 254-seat Mainstage, a 357-seat Sutter Theatre, a 75-seat Upstairs at The B black-box, and two gallery event spaces.

The underlying operating infrastructure combines professional-grade production technology (ETC Ion Xe lighting, Yamaha QL5 audio, Biamp Tesira DSP, Meyer Sound loudspeakers, rear projection, and HVAC delivering 100% outside air seven times hourly) with venue-rental capabilities for corporate meetings, graduations, concerts, and private events. The business model is a hybrid of earned and contributed revenue: approximately 70% of income comes from ticket sales, tuition, subscriptions, and venue rentals, while the remaining 30% is sourced from individual donors (including a Busfield Society planned-giving program and a Circle of Support monthly-giving program), corporate sponsorships (Dignity Health, CapRadio, SMUD, Adobe, Sutter Health), and public funding (NEA, Shubert Foundation, Sacramento City, Sacramento County, State of California). Customer reach is substantial and diversified — 75,000+ Mainstage subscribers, 200,000 students annually through a 38-week school tour, 500,000+ lives touched across productions and programs each year, and 400+ community workshops delivered annually.

The organization is governed by a board chaired by Erin Moos-Rallens, with founding brothers Timothy and Buck Busfield serving as Board Members Emeritus. Current executive leadership is led by Executive Artistic Director & CEO Lyndsay Burch, who concurrently serves as President of the National New Play Network and Vice President of the National Theatre Conference. B Street Theatre is a Core Member of NNPN and was awarded the 2025 Outstanding Theatre Award by the National Theatre Conference.

Name

B Street Theatre

Legal name

Theatre for Children, Inc.

Website

https://bstreettheatre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

B Street Theatre is a Sacramento-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional theatre company operating The Sofia, a three-theatre venue complex. It produces adult Mainstage seasons, a children's Family Series, concerts, and an Education Division serving 75,000+ subscribers and 200,000 students annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Live Theatre

NAICS

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

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Professional live theatre
• Performing arts productions
• Arts education programs
• New play development
• Venue rental services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Theatre Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream generating approximately 70% of B Street Theatre's income. Includes Mainstage, Family Series, concerts, and special event tickets sold through box office and online.
2. Individual & Corporate Donations: Individual donors and corporate sponsors contribute to remaining 30% of revenue. Includes Circle of Support monthly giving program, Busfield Society planned giving, corporate sponsorships, and sponsorship opportunities for productions.
3. Education Programs: Revenue from classes, summer camps, workshops, residencies, field trips, and school assemblies for students and educators.
4. Venue Rentals: The Sofia facility available for rental including Sutter Theatre (capacity 380), Gallery A (106 occupants), and Gallery B (110 occupants) for concerts, dance performances, graduations, corporate meetings, film screenings, and private celebrations.
5. Foundation & Government Support: Support from foundations including National Endowment for the Arts, Shubert Foundation, and government agencies (Sacramento City, Sacramento County, State of California).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

B Street Theatre is a Sacramento-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional theatre that produces and presents live theatre productions across three stages at The Sofia Tsakopoulos Center for the Arts. Its core offerings include the Mainstage adult series presenting seven new plays annually, a Family Series of professional children's theatre, a Music Presenting Series of concerts across genres, the New Comedies Festival for new play development, an extensive Education Division (Studio for Young Actors, Adult Conservatory, field trips, student matinees, school tours, workshops, residencies), and venue rentals of its three theatres and gallery spaces.

Product overview

B Street Theatre operates The Sofia Tsakopoulos Center for the Arts, a three-theatre venue complex featuring the 254-seat Mainstage Theatre, 357-seat Sutter Theatre, and 75-seat Upstairs at The B. The core offerings span three main product lines: Theatre for Grownups (Mainstage Series with 7 plays annually), Family Series (professional children's theatre with 4 shows per season), and Music/Presenting Series (concerts across genres). The theatre also operates an extensive Education Division including Studio for Young Actors, Adult Conservatory, Field Trips/Student Matinees, and Workshops/Residencies. Venue rental opportunities include the Sutter Theatre, Gallery A (106 capacity with rooftop deck), and Gallery B (110 capacity cabaret-style). Revenue streams include ticket sales, season subscriptions, B-Flex monthly memberships, gift certificates, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations. The company has produced over 100 new plays with 60 being world, national, West Coast, or regional premieres.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Series Professional theatre productions for adult audiences featuring seven new contemporary plays and popular classics annually to over 75,000 Mainstage subscribers.
• Family Series Northern California's only fully professional resident theatre for children with a four-show season serving both school field trips on weekdays and the general public on weekends, reaching over 500,000 children and families cumulatively.
• Music Series Live concert programming featuring local, national, and international artists across multiple genres including jazz, rock, classical, mariachi, and more, primarily performed in the 357-seat Sutter Theatre.
• New Comedies Festival Annual nationally recognized festival presenting readings of four original comedies submitted by playwrights across the country, with a four-day workshop culminating in public readings where audience feedback determines which play receives a full Mainstage production the following season.
• Upstairs at The B Intimate 75-seat theatre space hosting experimental productions, improv performances, and alternative programming including the Seekers of the Strange series.
• Studio for Young Actors Year-round acting classes for children ages 8-17 and one- and two-week summer camp sessions (Youth ages 9-12 $700/2 weeks; Juniors ages 6-8 $400/1 week; Teens ages 13-17 $700/2 weeks), taught by B Street Acting Company members.
• Adult Conservatory Professional acting training for aspiring adults of all ages focusing on technique, scene study, and creative development in a positive atmosphere.
• Field Trips and Student Matinees Weekday student matinee performances in the 380-seat Sutter Theatre accommodating over 300 students, teachers, and chaperones per performance, with $17 per student pricing and optional post-show Dramatic Connections workshop.
• Workshops and Residencies Playwriting workshops and after-school theatre programs delivered by B Street teaching artists, including Introduction to Playwriting ($300), Playwriting Towards Production 3-workshop series ($900), After School Program 8-week ($2,400) or 6-week ($1,800) options, Dramatic Connection Workshop ($300), and Creativity & Collaboration ($300).
• ONCE UPON A TIME Playwriting Contest Annual playwriting competition celebrating storytelling through comedy, creativity, and heart, with winning entries performed live on stage.
• The Sofia Venue Rental (Sutter Theatre, Gallery A, Gallery B) Rental of three performance and event spaces - Sutter Theatre (380-capacity fully equipped proscenium), Gallery A (106 occupants with outdoor roof deck), and Gallery B (110-capacity intimate cabaret-style space) - available for corporate meetings, graduations, concerts, dance, film screenings, and private celebrations.
• Corporate Buyouts and Box Seats Corporate event packages including exclusive box seats, series and production sponsorships, and corporate house buyouts for individual performances.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500,000+ adults and children served annually through productions, tours, and programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• National New Play Network (NNPN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerB Street Theatre is a Core Member of the National New Play Network, an alliance of professional theaters collaborating to develop, produce, and extend the life of new plays. Joined as Associate Members in 2015 and became Core Members by 2016. Hosted 2018 National Showcase of New Plays. Has produced three plays for NNPN's Rolling World Premieres program.
• National Theatre ConferencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLyndsay Burch serves as Vice President of National Theatre Conference. B Street Theatre awarded 2025 Outstanding Theatre Conference Award. Lyndsay accepted as member of National Theatre Conference.
• Dignity HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction title sponsor and healthcare partner providing sponsorship support for B Street Theatre productions and programs.
• CapRadiomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal public radio station and media partner for B Street Theatre promotions and audience development.
• SMUDmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSacramento Municipal Utility District and sponsor providing sponsorship support.
• Teatro NagualmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal theatre company producing cabarets at The Sofia. Partnership for inclusive programming serving diverse communities.
• Celebration ArtsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSacramento's premier Black theatre producing Juneteenth Art Walk and special events at The Sofia. Partnership for community engagement and diverse programming.
• AdobeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing technology and marketing support.
• Sutter HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system sponsor and partner located adjacent to The Sofia property on Sutter Hospital grounds.
• Wellness for HumanityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal mental health practice providing regular services to staff and management including coaching, workshops, and personal sessions. Partnership for staff wellness programs.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Teatro Nagual: Local Sacramento theatre company producing cabaret and culturally specific programming at The Sofia. Comparable as a Sacramento performing-arts partner serving Latinx audiences with overlapping community-outreach objectives.
• Celebration Arts: Sacramento's premier Black theatre company and a B Street programming partner (producing Juneteenth Art Walk and special events at The Sofia). Comparable as a small professional theatre serving Sacramento's diverse communities, with overlapping audience development.

Direct peers

• Capital Stage: Sacramento-based professional theatre company producing contemporary plays in an intimate venue. Comparable in scale, mission, and Sacramento market overlap with B Street's Mainstage programming.
• Sacramento Theatre Company: Sacramento's other long-standing professional regional theatre, producing Mainstage plays and operating its own venue. Directly comparable as a Sacramento-based professional theatre competing for the same subscriber and donor base.
• Broadway Sacramento (California Musical Theatre): Sacramento's presenter of large-scale Broadway touring productions at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center. Comparable as a Sacramento professional performing-arts organization competing for the same entertainment dollars and corporate sponsors.
• Sierra Repertory Theatre: California Central Valley professional theatre producing Mainstage plays and a children's series. Comparable in regional scope, programming mix (adult plays plus TYA), and education focus to B Street.

Others

• American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.):
• Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera: Sacramento's largest professional performing-arts organization presenting orchestral and operatic programming. Comparable as a regional non-profit performing-arts organization competing for the same Sacramento subscriber base, donors, and corporate sponsorships.

Broad incumbents

• Oregon Shakespeare Festival: One of the largest regional repertory theatres in the U.S., producing Shakespeare, musicals, and new plays across multiple stages. Comparable as a multi-theatre professional regional company with new-play development and education programs.
• Berkeley Repertory Theatre: One of the most established Tony-winning regional theatres in Northern California. Comparable as a large professional regional theatre with new-play development, a multi-theatre venue, and education programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/thesofiasac
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/bstreettheatre
• Facebookfacebook.com/bstreettheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/bstreettheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/b-street-theatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 B Street Theatre