The Colony Theatre

What The Colony Theatre does

The Colony Theatre is a 501c3 non-profit professional performing arts organization that operates a 270-seat Equity theatre at 555 N Third St., Burbank, California, founded in 1975 by Los Angeles television actors and in continuous production for over 50 years. The company presents a mainstage season of plays and musicals, hosts special events (for example the November 1, 2025 David Pomeranz 50th Anniversary Concert), runs development programs for playwrights (TCT Writer's Lab) and aspiring artists (TCT Training Ground), maintains a recurring play-reading series (Scripts & Sips), a weekly open mic (TCT Tunesday Nights), and an onsite art gallery, and rents the venue to external productions and private events.

The organization's revenue model is a hybrid of earned and contributed income. Earned revenue comes from ticket sales (priced $61 for previews, $76 for regular performances, up to $106 for limited opening-night seating, plus student and senior discounts), annual memberships at $100 (Burbank residents) and $150 (general) with pre-sale and concession perks, venue rentals managed through an online inquiry system, and concessions. Contributed revenue comes from donations, foundation support (David Lee Foundation, Kaplan-Loring Foundation), and institutional grants from the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and the City of Burbank Community Arts Grant Program.

Distribution is direct-to-consumer: tickets and memberships are sold through the theatre's Wix-hosted website on the Ovatix ticketing platform, supplemented by native iOS and Android apps and a day-of-show box office, with group travel supported by partnerships with Visit Burbank, the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, three local hotels, and several charter-bus operators. Marketing runs through owned channels (YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, email) and earned media via local outlets such as myBurbank News, with publicity led by long-tenured LA performing-arts publicist Ken Werther.

Name

The Colony Theatre

Legal name

The Colony Theatre

Website

https://colonytheatre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Colony Theatre is a 501c3 non-profit professional performing arts organization operating a 270-seat Equity theatre in Burbank, California, producing mainstage plays and musicals, rental events, and educational programs for playwrights and aspiring artists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Theatre

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

Keywords

• Live theatre productions
• Performing arts venue
• Theatre rentals
• Playwright development
• Theatre memberships

Headquarters

HQ city

Burbank

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling tickets to theatrical productions and events. Tickets are sold online through the theatre's website with tiered pricing for previews, opening nights, and regular performances.
2. Memberships: Annual membership programs offering perks including pre-sale access, free tickets to Scripts & Sips events, member-only events, discounts at concessions, and promotional benefits. Two tiers: $100/year for Burbank residents and $150/year for general theatre lovers.
3. Theatre Rentals: The venue is rented out to external productions, parties, events, and private functions. Rental inquiries are managed through an online questionnaire system.
4. Donations and Sponsorships: As a 501c3 non-profit organization, The Colony Theatre receives donations from supporters and sponsorships from local business partners and arts organizations.
5. Concessions: Food and beverage sales during performances and events, with member discounts available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Colony Theatre operates a 270-seat professional Equity theatre in Burbank, California, producing and presenting live mainstage theatrical productions including musicals and plays. In addition to producing its own shows, the organization rents its venue to external productions and events, sells annual memberships with perks, and runs educational and community programs such as TCT Writers Lab, TCT Training Ground, Scripts & Sips, and Tunesday Nights open mic nights.

Product overview

The Colony Theatre is a professional live theatre venue and 501c3 non-profit organization in Burbank, California. The organization operates a 270-seat Equity theatre and presents a portfolio of mainstage productions including musical comedies (such as Tomb Quest and Catch Me If You Can: The Musical), special events (like the David Pomeranz concert), and educational programs (TCT Writers Lab, TCT Training Ground). Additional offerings include annual memberships, theatre rentals, an on-site art gallery, Scripts & Sips play readings, and Tunesday Nights open mic events. The theatre was founded in 1975 and has been in continuous production since, recognized as one of '25 Notable US Theatre Companies' by Encyclopedia Britannica.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TCT Tunesday Nights: A weekly open mic night for performers to test-drive new material, polish audition pieces, or sing with the community.
• TCT Writer's Lab
• TCT Training Ground

Products and services

• Tomb Quest A Starkid musical comedy about friendship, fantasy, unfinished business, and an epic role-playing quest. Mainstage ticketed production performed at the Colony Theatre for general audiences seeking live musical comedy.
• Catch Me If You Can: The Musical A Broadway musical based on the DreamWorks motion picture and true story of Frank W. Abagnale, Jr., featuring music by Marc Shaiman, book by Terrence McNally, and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman. Ticketed mainstage production for general audiences.
• Annual Membership Annual subscription memberships available at $100/year for Burbank residents and $150/year for general theatre lovers. Includes pre-sale ticket access, free Scripts & Sips tickets, member-only events, concessions discounts, and name recognition in programs.
• Theatre Rentals

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• Los Angeles County Arts CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Colony Theatre is supported by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, which provides funding and institutional support for arts organizations in the county.
• City of Burbank - Community Arts Grant ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Scripts & Sips program is supported in part by a Community Arts Grant from the City of Burbank. The City of Burbank also allocated funds to convert the theatre building to a state-of-the-art performance space in 1996-2000.
• David Lee FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor donor and supporter of The Colony Theatre's operations and programming.
• Kaplan-LoringminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner and supporter of The Colony Theatre.
• Visit BurbankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTourism and visitor promotion partner that features The Colony Theatre as a cultural destination in Burbank.
• Burbank Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business organization partner that promotes The Colony Theatre as part of Burbank's business and cultural community.
• Burbank Town Center MallminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Colony Theatre shares a parking garage with Burbank Town Center Mall, providing convenient parking for theatre patrons.
• CharterUPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharter bus service partner for group travel to the theatre, offering discounted rates for groups attending performances.
• Bus.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal transportation partner providing bus services for groups attending the theatre.
• Greater Los Angeles Charter BusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharter bus partner for group transportation to the theatre.
• California Charter Bus CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharter bus partner for group transportation to the theatre.
• GOGO ChartersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffordable LA bus rental partner for group travel to the theatre.
• Hotel Amarano Burbank-HollywoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred hotel partner listed for patrons planning their stay near the theatre.
• Cambria Hotel Burbank AirportminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred hotel partner listed for patrons planning their stay near the theatre.
• Portofino Inn BurbankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred hotel partner listed for patrons planning their stay near the theatre.
• Downtown BurbankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal partner organization promoting shows at The Colony Theatre.
• TLC EntertainmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEntertainment industry partner featured in theatre's partner acknowledgments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International City Theatre: Long Beach-based professional Equity-waiver theatre producing a season of plays and musicals. Comparable as a Southern California mid-size regional producing theatre with similar audience development challenges.
• North Coast Repertory Theatre: Solana Beach-based professional theatre producing a season of plays and musicals in a ~194-seat venue. Closely comparable in venue scale, Equity-tier production model, and nonprofit regional theatre positioning.
• East West Players: LA's leading Asian American professional theatre, operating a David Henry Hwang Theatre of comparable size. Directly comparable as a SoCal Equity theatre producing a season of plays and musicals with educational programming.
• A Noise Within: Glendale-based professional classical theatre company operating a year-round repertory season in a similar venue footprint. Highly comparable as a Southern California professional regional theatre targeting similar educated, arts-engaged audiences.
• Antaeus Theatre Company: LA-based nonprofit professional theatre company producing classic and new works with an Equity-waiver model. Most directly comparable peer given similar size, LA location, nonprofit governance, and producing-artistic-director leadership.
• La Jolla Playhouse: San Diego-based Tony-winning regional theatre widely recognized as a launching pad for Broadway transfers. Highly comparable positioning to The Colony's 'launching pad' identity and similar producing-artistic-director structure.
• South Coast Repertory: Costa Mesa-based Tony-recognized regional theatre with a 500+ seat mainstage and a reputation for developing new plays. Comparable as a Southern California Equity regional theatre with new-work development programs similar to TCT Writers Lab.

Broad incumbents

• Geffen Playhouse: Major UCLA-affiliated professional theatre in Westwood with multiple performance spaces and significantly higher production budgets. Competes with The Colony for the same LA professional theatre audience and donor base.
• Pasadena Playhouse: Historic LA-area theatre designated the State Theatre of California, operating at substantially larger scale. Comparable in mission as a professional regional producing theatre in the LA market, but materially larger and more established.
• Center Theatre Group: LA's largest not-for-profit theatre operator, running the Ahmanson, Mark Taper Forum, and Kirk Douglas Theatre. Comparable as a SoCal nonprofit producing organization, but operates at materially greater scale across multiple venues.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/colonytheatre
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ColonyVideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheColonyTheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/colonytheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colony-theatre-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 The Colony Theatre