Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts

What Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts does

Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community theater founded in January 1995 by June Bayless and based in Matthews, North Carolina, operating from the Fullwood Auditorium within the Matthews Community Center (100 East McDowell Street). The organization delivers a portfolio of live theatrical productions and performing arts education, anchored by a Mainstage Season of full-length musicals and plays (including a 2026 regional premiere of The Prince of Egypt and the 2024 world premiere of One Year to Die), a year-round School of Theatre serving TK through 12th grade students, seasonal summer camps, dinner-theatre community series, and an annual Matthews Got Talent competition. Programming spans family audiences, school field-trip groups, homeschool families, adult learners, and individuals with disabilities, with accessibility features including sensory-friendly performances and Pay-What-You-Can shows.

The business model blends earned revenue with philanthropic support. Earned income comes from tiered ticket sales (e.g., adult Premium/Zone 2/Zone 3 at $30/$26/$23 for A Raisin in the Sun; seniors/military/students/children at $27/$23/$20; a 25% military discount via code MILITARY25; a $10 suggested PWYC donation), School of Theatre tuition, summer camp fees, season subscriptions, gift certificates, concessions, and themed merchandise. Philanthropic revenue includes individual donations, corporate and restaurant sponsorships (Minti Cowork, Alpha Graphics, Qdoba Mexican Eats, Mario's Italian Restaurant and John's Place, Lowe's), matched Giving Tuesday campaigns, and institutional grants from the Town of Matthews, the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte, the NC Arts Council, and the Knight Foundation (2024 Arts & Science Expansion Charlotte Challenge). Operations are supported by 17 staff members across artistic, production, education, development, marketing, and administrative functions, plus a volunteer base and a Board of Directors led by President Michelle Armas; artistic and executive leadership is held by Sarah Baumgardner, who assumed the role in 2021.

Technology is light-touch and non-differentiating: a Wix-hosted marketing website, arts-people.com for box-office ticketing, NeonCRM for email communications, and active accounts across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X. No AI/ML capabilities, proprietary software, or technical intellectual property are disclosed. The organization's strategic differentiation rests on nearly 30 years of community embeddedness in the Charlotte metro, multi-year regional and statewide recognition (2024 NCTC Best Community Theatre in North Carolina, 2024 Charlotte's Best Live Theater, 2022 BroadwayWorld Charlotte Favorite Local Theatre, SHARE Charlotte 2026 seal), an alumni network that has produced performers working on Broadway and in Hollywood, and durable municipal and funder relationships. As it moves through its 30th anniversary season in 2025-2026 and into a publicly pre-announced 2026-2027 season, the organization is broadening programming into disability-inclusive and adult audiences while keeping its earned-revenue base anchored by a single ~100-seat home venue.

Name

Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts

Legal name

Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts

Website

https://matthewsplayhouse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community theater in Matthews, North Carolina, producing mainstage productions, School of Theatre classes (TK-12), and summer camps for the greater Charlotte region, now in its 30th anniversary season.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Performing Arts / Live Theater

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE), Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Community theater productions
• Performing arts education
• Youth theater classes
• Summer theater camps
• Live theatrical performances

Headquarters

HQ city

Matthews

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from mainstage productions, School of Theatre performances, and special events. Tiered pricing for adults, seniors, military, students, and children with premium and standard zone pricing.
2. Class and Camp Fees: Tuition for School of Theatre classes (TK-12th grade), summer camps, private voice lessons, vocal audition workshops, adult acting classes, and homeschool programs
3. Donations and Fundraising: Nonprofit donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and institutional funders including Town of Matthews grants, Arts & Science Council grants, business sponsorships, and Giving Tuesday campaigns
4. Concessions and Marketplace: Sale of concessions, themed merchandise, t-shirts, and raffle baskets. Proceeds support Sponsor-A-Student Fund and Courtney Ballard Scholarship Fund
5. Sponsorships: Show sponsorships, business sponsorships, restaurant partnerships, and 30th anniversary gala sponsorships
6. Season Subscriptions: Season ticket subscriptions providing access to full 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 mainstage seasons

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community theater that produces and presents live mainstage theatrical productions (musicals and plays) for family audiences and delivers a year-round School of Theatre education program for students TK through 12th grade, supplemented by summer theater camps, adult acting classes, and private voice lessons. Revenue is generated through ticket sales, class/camp tuition, season subscriptions, donations, grants, sponsorships, and concessions, with accessibility-driven models including Pay-What-You-Can performances and sensory-friendly shows.

Product overview

Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts operates as a nonprofit community theatre offering a portfolio of live theatrical productions and performing arts education programs. The core offerings include Mainstage Season Productions (full-length musicals and plays), the School of Theatre Classes (structured educational programs for ages TK-12), and Summer Camps (seasonal intensive training). Additional offerings include Dinner Theatre, Private Voice Lessons, Adult Classes, and special programs like Sensory-Friendly Performances and Pay What You Can Shows for accessibility. The organization also hosts Matthews Got Talent as an annual competitive event. Founded in 1995, the theatre serves the Charlotte metro area from its facility at the Matthews Community Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Season Productions Full-length theatrical productions presented seasonally in the Fullwood Auditorium, including musicals and plays for family audiences. The current 2025-2026 season features Hairspray and includes regional premieres such as The Prince of Egypt alongside classic productions like Scrooge! The Musical and A Raisin in the Sun; the 2026-2027 season includes The Odd Couple, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Little Women, Stuart Little, and Once On This Island.
• School of Theatre Classes Year-round performing arts education program for students from TK through 12th grade, covering musical theatre, acting, and technical theatre skills. Curriculum includes Broadway Babes (TK-K), Broadway Kids (1st-2nd), Broadway Bound (3rd-5th), 6th-8th Grade Musical Theatre and Acting, 9th-12th Grade Musical Theatre, Acting, and Tech Theatre, plus dedicated homeschool classes, vocal audition workshops, teen apprenticeships, and meet-the-teachers sessions. Financial assistance and scholarships available.
• Summer Camps Seasonal intensive theater camps held June through August offering performing arts training for children, including specialized camps for kids with disabilities ("Kids with Disabilities in the Spotlight"). Summer Camp 2026 is currently open for registration with June, July, and August sessions.
• Dinner Theatre (Community Series) Community Series featuring Dinner Theatre productions performed at partner venues in the Matthews area, combining a meal with live theatrical performance.
• Adult Classes Acting programs designed for adult learners, including Acting Foundations for Adults and Meisner Technique courses, plus private voice lessons for personalized vocal instruction.
• Season Ticket Subscriptions Subscription packages granting access to the full 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 mainstage seasons, providing recurring revenue and advance access to productions.
• School Field Trip Performances Weekday theatrical performances designed for K-12 school groups and homeschool families, with a dedicated School Show Coordinator and Field Trip Assistance program available to make performances accessible to underserved schools.
• Matthews Got Talent Annual talent competition event featuring performers of all ages competing for prizes and exposure, with video submissions, live auditions, and a finals showcase as a Pay-What-You-Can event.
• Gift Certificates Gift certificates redeemable for School of Theatre classes, summer camps, and mainstage tickets, available through the arts-people.com platform.
• Sensory-Friendly Performances Specially designed theater performances accommodating guests with sensory sensitivities, part of the organization's accessibility initiatives.
• Pay What You Can Shows Select performances offering flexible Pay-What-You-Can pricing (with a $10 suggested donation per person) to ensure theater access for all community members regardless of financial means.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tens of thousands of visitors welcomed annually across the greater Charlotte region
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lowe's Home ImprovementminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 December 2024Matched donations on Giving Tuesday 2024, providing $50 gift cards for the first 300 donors giving $50 or more
• Knight FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Selected for 2024 Arts & Science Expansion Charlotte Challenge, providing access to resources and network for arts expansion
• Minti CoworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerShow Sponsor for The Prince of Egypt regional premiere, providing financial support for the production
• Qdoba Mexican EatsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurant Partner for The Prince of Egypt, cross-promotional partnership with local restaurant
• Alpha GraphicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerShow Sponsor for Scrooge! The Musical, providing production sponsorship
• Mario's Italian Restaurant and John's PlaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurant Partners for Scrooge! The Musical, cross-promotional restaurant partnerships
• Town of MatthewscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides grant funding and municipal support for Matthews Playhouse operations and productions
• Arts & Science Council (Charlotte)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides grant funding and cultural support for Charlotte metro arts organizations including Matthews Playhouse
• NC Arts CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState arts council providing funding and support for North Carolina arts organizations
• Matthews Community CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome venue for Matthews Playhouse, located in Matthews Community Center with Fullwood Auditorium
• Matthews Help Center, Levine Senior Center, Zabs Place, Common HeartminorOthersLocal nonprofit community partners receiving support and collaboration from Matthews Playhouse community engagement initiatives

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Charlotte-based nonprofit producing professional theater for young audiences with extensive education and outreach programming. Closely comparable on TK-12 theater education, school field trips, and inclusion initiatives.
• Raleigh Little Theatre: Long-established North Carolina community theater offering mainstage productions and a robust youth/education program. Comparable on community-theater-plus-education structure and statewide nonprofit status.
• Theatre Charlotte: Long-running community theater in Charlotte producing a full mainstage season plus education programs. Highly comparable as a regional nonprofit theater serving the same Charlotte metro audience for live theatrical productions.
• Asheville Community Theatre: North Carolina community theater producing mainstage seasons and youth/adult classes. Comparable community nonprofit theater model with educational programming and similar operational scale.
• Davidson Community Players: Regional community theater north of Charlotte in Davidson, NC producing mainstage productions and youth programming. Comparable in scale, mission, and suburban Charlotte-metro catchment.
• Piedmont Players Theatre: Salisbury, NC community theater producing mainstage musicals and plays with a youth education component. Comparable small-city community-theater-plus-education model in the Carolinas.

Emerging players

• Community School of the Arts: Charlotte-area nonprofit offering performing and visual arts classes for children and adults. Comparable on the arts-education adjacency, even though live theatrical production is not its core focus.

Broad incumbents

• Blumenthal Performing Arts: Charlotte's largest performing arts presenter/operator (Belk, Booth, McGlohon theaters). Comparable as Charlotte-metro live performing arts operator, but operates at significantly larger scale and presents touring productions rather than community-led theater.
• North Carolina Theatre: Raleigh-based professional regional theater producing Broadway-scale musicals and plays. Comparable as an NC-based theater producing staged productions, but at a meaningfully larger scale and with professional vs. community casts.

Others

• ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center: Charlotte children's library/theater collaboration hosting youth-focused performances and programming. Adjacent/ecosystem peer serving the same children's performing-arts market in Charlotte but as a public library partnership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/matthewsplayhouse
• Xx.com/mplayhouse

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts