Hillbarn Theatre
Hillbarn Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community theatre in Foster City, California, operating a 179-seat venue since 1941 with six MainStage productions per season and a year-round youth Conservatory offering classes, workshops, and Teen Company productions for ages 4-18.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1941
- HeadquartersFoster City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hillbarn Theatre does
Hillbarn Theatre, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community theatre company founded in 1941 and based in a 179-seat venue at 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City, California. It is the sixth oldest continuously operating amateur theatre in the United States and the oldest in San Mateo County. The organization produces a six-production MainStage season (Season 86 runs August 2026 through May 2027) and a year-round Hillbarn Conservatory offering theatre education for ages 4-18, including summer camps, a Teen Company, Junior Co. workshops, and classes.
The business model combines earned revenue from ticket sales, season subscriptions (3-6 show packages at ~20% off), flex passes (25% off), group sales, and Conservatory tuition (Teen Company $1,250; Junior Co. $330-$350) with contributed revenue from individual donations, corporate sponsors (Gilead, Wells Fargo), and foundation grants (David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Danford Foundation, Swinerton Foundation, San Mateo County). Distribution is via OvationTix online ticketing, a staffed box office (phone, in-person, mail), email newsletter (Constant Contact), and social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube). The technology stack is conventional: standard theatrical production technology with no proprietary AI or platform components disclosed.
The customer base consists of Bay Area theatre patrons (individual ticket buyers, season subscribers, flex pass holders, group purchasers) and young artists/families enrolled in Conservatory programs. The venue capacity caps ticketed revenue, while donations and education revenue provide diversification. Recent strategic emphasis is on creative partnerships (Purple Rose Theatre Company for the Bay Area premiere of Jeff Daniels' Pickleball), world premieres (Max Tachis' The Legend of Robin Hood), and continuing the Conservatory's youth-arts pipeline.
Hillbarn Theatre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hillbarn Theatre
- Legal name
- Hillbarn Theatre, Inc.
- Website
- https://hillbarntheatre.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1941
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Hillbarn Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community theatre in Foster City, California, operating a 179-seat venue since 1941 with six MainStage productions per season and a year-round youth Conservatory offering classes, workshops, and Teen Company productions for ages 4-18.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hillbarn Theatre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Theatre
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Fine Arts Schools (61161)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN), Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG)
Keywords
Where Hillbarn Theatre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Foster City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hillbarn Theatre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- MainStage Ticket Sales: Revenue from single ticket purchases to mainstage theatrical productions. Preview tickets are priced at $44 for adults/seniors and $30 for students. Regular performances are $65 for adults, $58 for seniors, and $30 for students. A $2 service charge applies per ticket for credit card purchases.
- Season Subscriptions: Season subscription packages offering 3-6 shows with approximately 20% discount off single ticket prices. Subscribers receive early access to tickets, priority purchasing, free date changes, and best available prices.
- Flex Passes: 3 or 4 show flex passes offering 25% off regular prices. Flexibility to choose which shows and dates to attend, valid for any performance.
- Teen Company Program: The SpongeBob Musical production for teens ages 13-18 priced at $1,250 tuition. Includes training, rehearsals, and performance opportunity.
- Junior Co. Classes: Junior Co. Spring Saturdays program for ages 8-12 priced at $350 full tuition (early bird $330). Includes 10 sessions culminating in a showcase performance.
- Donations and Planned Gifts: Tax-deductible donations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID 94-6121747). Accepts online donations, stock gifts, vehicle donations, bequests, charitable gift annuities, and planned gifts through the Angel Society planned giving program.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Preview Night Tickets - Lower price for early performances |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Regular Performance Tickets - Standard admission price |
| Subscription | Annual | Season Subscriptions - 3-6 show packages with 20% discount |
| Subscription | Annual | Flex Passes - 3 or 4 show flexible passes with 25% discount |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Group Discounts - For parties of 10 or more |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Teen Company Musical Program |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Junior Co. Spring Saturdays - 10 session workshop |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Hillbarn Theatre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hillbarn Theatre produces and presents live theatrical productions on its MainStage (Season 86 features six productions including comedies, musicals, and Bay Area/world premieres) at its 179-seat venue in Foster City, California. In parallel, it operates the Hillbarn Conservatory, a year-round theatre education program for students ages 4-18 taught by Broadway and regional theatre professionals, offering summer camps, Teen Company productions, Junior Co. workshops, and classes. Revenue is generated through single ticket sales, season subscriptions, flex passes, conservatory tuition, and donations.
Product overview
Hillbarn Theatre is a historic theatre company offering a dual offering of MainStage theatrical productions and a Conservatory educational program. MainStage includes six Season 86 productions (Pickleball, Gutenberg! The Musical!, School of Rock, The Legend of Robin Hood, Good Night, Oscar, and Hello, Dolly!). The Conservatory provides year-round theatre education including Summer Camps, Teen Company productions, Classes & Workshops, and Junior Co. programs for ages 8-12. Additional offerings include Flex Passes and Season Subscriptions for ticketing flexibility, and Box Office services for patron support. The company produces both amateur and semi-professional theatre, with the Conservatory focused on training the next generation of performers and audiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hillbarn Conservatory: Theatre education program for young and aspiring artists, offering summer camps, teen company, classes, workshops, and productions.
Products and services
- MainStage Productions Six theatrical productions per season on the MainStage at the 179-seat Foster City venue, featuring plays, musicals, Bay Area premieres, and world premieres for Bay Area patrons.
- Hillbarn Conservatory Year-round theatre education program for students ages 4-18, taught by Broadway and Regional Theatre professionals, encompassing summer camps, Teen Company, Junior Co., classes, and workshops.
- Summer Camps
Quantifiable outcome
- Since 1995, Hillbarn has won multiple Theatre Critics Circle Awards, TBA Awards for The Color Purple, Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, and Anything Goes, and three Dean Goodman Awards for Artistic Excellence.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Hillbarn Theatre
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hillbarn Theatre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Hillbarn Theatre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Purple Rose Theatre CompanyminorJeff Daniels' theatre company in Chelsea, Michigan, where Pickleball premiered. Hillbarn presents the Bay Area premiere of this work, establishing a creative relationship between regional theatres.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hillbarn Theatre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hillbarn Theatre social profiles
Digital presenceHillbarn Theatre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hillbarn Theatre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Hillbarn Theatre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hillbarn 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 Hillbarn Theatre
What does Hillbarn Theatre do?
Hillbarn Theatre produces and presents live theatrical productions on its MainStage (Season 86 features six productions including comedies, musicals, and Bay Area/world premieres) at its 179-seat venue in Foster City, California. In parallel, it operates the Hillbarn Conservatory, a year-round theatre education program for students ages 4-18 taught by Broadway and regional theatre professionals, offering summer camps, Teen Company productions, Junior Co. workshops, and classes. Revenue is generated through single ticket sales, season subscriptions, flex passes, conservatory tuition, and donations.
Is Hillbarn Theatre a public or private company?
Hillbarn Theatre is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Hillbarn Theatre founded?
Hillbarn Theatre was founded in 1941. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Hillbarn Theatre based?
Hillbarn Theatre is headquartered in Foster City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hillbarn Theatre make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. MainStage Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are season Subscriptions, flex Passes, teen Company Program, junior Co. Classes and donations and Planned Gifts.
Does Hillbarn Theatre have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hillbarn Theatre.
What industry is Hillbarn Theatre in?
Hillbarn Theatre's product category is Live Theatre. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAB, Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies, with a secondary code of EDAMAAAG, Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater). Its NAICS code is 711110 and its SIC code is 7900.