Available Light Theatre
Available Light Theatre is a Columbus, Ohio nonprofit professional theatre company producing contemporary and experimental live productions, including world premieres, for general audiences via Pay What You Want pricing and institutional partners like CAPA and the Wexner Center.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersColumbus, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Available Light Theatre does
Available Light Theatre (AVLT) is a private nonprofit professional theatre company founded in 2006 and based in Columbus, Ohio, where it is currently staging its 20th Anniversary Season (2025-2026). The organization produces live theatrical performances — including world premieres, regional premieres, and experimental works by contemporary playwrights such as Kate Douglas and Mathilde Dratwa — staged primarily at the Vern Riffe Center Studios (77 S. High St) and the Wexner Center for the Arts. Programming emphasizes innovative, genre-blending work spanning science fiction, ecological horror, family drama, and experimental music (notably the John Cage 101 revival). The theatre is led by Artistic Director Eleni Papaleonardos and operates with a small staff (11-50 employees).
AVLT's business model centers on a Pay What You Want (PWYW) ticket pricing structure in place since 2008, applied to every seat of every show and available both at the door and via the CAPA (Columbus Association for the Performing Arts) ticketing portal. Secondary revenue streams include an annual Mini-Membership program (introduced in 2026, bundling two-show ticket packages with reserved seating and VIP recognition), branded merchandise sold through the Bonfire print-on-demand platform, and individual donations and show-level sponsorships (e.g., Robin & Peter Hersha underwriting Dirty Laundry). The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer, supported by a website, email newsletters, a Linktree social hub, community open auditions, and earned media coverage from outlets such as Columbus Underground and CityPulse Columbus.
The company's underlying technology is intentionally minimal — there is no proprietary platform, app, API, or AI component. Operations rely on standard third-party tools: the Ghost CMS-hosted website, CAPA's ticketing infrastructure, and Bonfire's commerce stack. Customer engagement is anchored in community-rooted channels (auditions, newsletters, local press) rather than digital growth loops, and the audience is general Columbus-area theatre-goers with no enterprise or institutional buyer concentration beyond show-level sponsorship.
Available Light Theatre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Available Light Theatre
- Legal name
- Available Light Theatre
- Website
- https://avltheatre.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Available Light Theatre is a Columbus, Ohio nonprofit professional theatre company producing contemporary and experimental live productions, including world premieres, for general audiences via Pay What You Want pricing and institutional partners like CAPA and the Wexner Center.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Available Light Theatre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts / Live Theatre
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)
Keywords
Where Available Light Theatre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbus
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Available Light Theatre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Primary revenue through live theatre ticket sales using Pay What You Want model at the door and through CAPA Ticketing Portal. This model has been in place since 2008, making performances accessible to all income levels.
- Memberships and Donations: Mini-Memberships offering tickets to multiple shows, reserved seats, and VIP recognition at events. Also accepts donations through their Give page.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts, hats, and mugs through Bonfire platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Pay What You Want - Pay what you can afford for any seat at any show |
| Subscription | Annual | 2026 Mini-Membership includes tickets to two shows, reserved seats, and VIP recognition |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Available Light Theatre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Available Light Theatre produces and stages a season of live contemporary theatrical performances in Columbus, Ohio, including world premieres, revivals, and experimental works by playwrights such as Kate Douglas and Mathilde Dratwa. Shows are performed at Riffe Center Studios 1 and 2 and the Wexner Center for the Arts, and are sold to individual theatre-goers primarily through a Pay What You Want pricing model offered since 2008, supplemented by reserved-seat sales via CAPA, Mini-Membership packages, and branded merchandise.
Product overview
Available Light Theatre is a performing arts organization producing live theatrical productions in Columbus, Ohio. The company's primary offering is its season of theatrical performances staged at the Riffe Center and Wexner Center for the Arts, featuring works by contemporary playwrights. The product portfolio centers on live productions (Dirty Laundry, The Apiary, John Cage 101) complemented by ticketing programs (Pay What You Want since 2008), membership packages (Mini-Memberships), and merchandise (T-shirts, hats, mugs via Bonfire).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Live Theatre Productions A season of live theatrical performances staged at Riffe Center Studios 1 and 2 and the Wexner Center for the Arts, including world premieres, revivals, and experimental works by contemporary playwrights such as Kate Douglas (The Apiary) and Mathilde Dratwa (Dirty Laundry), aimed at Columbus-area theatre audiences.
- 2026 Mini-Memberships An annual subscription-style membership bundle granting tickets to selected season productions (The Apiary and Dirty Laundry for 2026), reserved seating, and VIP recognition at special events such as the 20th Anniversary Season Announcement. Targeted at dedicated theatre patrons.
- AVLT Merchandise Store
Quantifiable outcome
- Columbus Underground review praised 'Dirty Laundry' as 'another astonishing example of the kind of work they do better than anyone'
Companies that use Available Light Theatre
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Available Light Theatre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Available Light Theatre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Robin & Peter HershaminorRobin & Peter Hersha sponsored the production of 'Dirty Laundry,' a family drama by Mathilde Dratwa. This is a sponsorship relationship supporting the theatre's programming.
- Wexner Center for the ArtscoreAVLT partnered with Wexner Center for the Arts to produce 'John Cage 101,' a theatrical celebration of experimental composer John Cage. This collaboration brought the production back to the Wexner Center 13 years after its original run, featuring the cast appearing on Good Day Columbus to promote the show.
- CAPA (Columbus Association for the Performing Arts)coreCAPA serves as the ticketing platform for Available Light Theatre productions. Tickets for shows at the Riffe Center are sold through the CAPA Ticket Center, both online and at their physical box office location.
- BonfireminorAVLT uses Bonfire's print-on-demand platform for branded merchandise including t-shirts, hats, and mugs. Bonfire handles printing and shipping directly to customers.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Available Light Theatre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Actors Theatre of Louisville: Actors Theatre of Louisville is a regional repertory company known for contemporary and new plays, including the Humana Festival of New American Plays. Comparable artistic mission but operates in a different regional market.
- Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park: Cincinnati Playhouse is a long-established regional repertory theatre in nearby Ohio producing a mix of classics, premieres, and contemporary work. Comparable repertory model but larger scale and different geography.
- Cleveland Play House: Cleveland Play House is Ohio's oldest regional theatre producing contemporary and classic plays. Same state, similar repertory identity, but significantly larger and more institutionally funded than AVLT.
Broad incumbents
- Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company: Woolly Mammoth is a Washington, D.C.-based theatre known for producing bold, contemporary, and experimental new plays — a programming philosophy directly aligned with AVLT's contemporary, experimental focus, though at much larger scale and budget.
- Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Steppenwolf is a Chicago-based theatre renowned for new and contemporary American plays. Shares AVLT's commitment to contemporary drama and world premieres but operates at vastly greater scale and national visibility.
Direct peers
- Evolution Theatre Company: Evolution Theatre is a Columbus-area professional theatre producing contemporary plays and new works. Comparable in scale and mission to AVLT and competing for the same Columbus arts audience.
- Red Herring Theatre: Red Herring is a Columbus-based independent theatre producing original and contemporary plays for local audiences. Similar nonprofit structure, similar scale, and overlapping contemporary drama programming.
- Short North Stage: Short North Stage is a Columbus-based professional theatre producing contemporary plays, musicals, and new works. Operates in the same metro as AVLT with comparable scale and audience overlap.
- Contemporary American Theatre Company (CATCO): CATCO is Columbus's main regional repertory theatre producing contemporary plays and new works. Same city, similar mid-size nonprofit structure, and overlapping mission of presenting innovative contemporary drama to Columbus audiences.
Others
- CAPA (Columbus Association for the Performing Arts): CAPA is AVLT's ticketing and venue partner operating the Riffe Center and other Columbus performing arts venues. Not a direct competitor but a critical ecosystem participant that controls distribution and venue access for AVLT productions.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Available Light Theatre social profiles
Digital presenceAvailable Light Theatre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Available Light Theatre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Available Light Theatre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Available Light Theatre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Available Light Theatre
What does Available Light Theatre do?
Available Light Theatre produces and stages a season of live contemporary theatrical performances in Columbus, Ohio, including world premieres, revivals, and experimental works by playwrights such as Kate Douglas and Mathilde Dratwa. Shows are performed at Riffe Center Studios 1 and 2 and the Wexner Center for the Arts, and are sold to individual theatre-goers primarily through a Pay What You Want pricing model offered since 2008, supplemented by reserved-seat sales via CAPA, Mini-Membership packages, and branded merchandise.
Is Available Light Theatre a public or private company?
Available Light Theatre is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Available Light Theatre founded?
Available Light Theatre was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Available Light Theatre based?
Available Light Theatre is headquartered in Columbus, United States, in the North America region.
How does Available Light Theatre make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are memberships and Donations and merchandise Sales.
Who are Available Light Theatre's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Actors Theatre of Louisville, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Cleveland Play House. Broad incumbents are Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Direct peers are Evolution Theatre Company, Red Herring Theatre, Short North Stage and Contemporary American Theatre Company (CATCO). CAPA (Columbus Association for the Performing Arts) is listed as an others.
Does Available Light Theatre have an API?
No public API is recorded for Available Light Theatre.
What industry is Available Light Theatre in?
Available Light Theatre's product category is Performing Arts / Live Theatre. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAB, Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies, with a secondary code of MPAGABAH, Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama).