MadLab

What MadLab does

MadLab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theater company founded in 1995 and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, operating as a laboratory for original and experimental theatrical work. The company owns and operates a 3,750-square-foot venue at 227 North 3rd Street, comprising a 30'x56' black box theater with 13' ceilings and a current configuration of 62 seats, a gallery space, a scene shop, and storage. MadLab produces 5-7 original productions per year and hosts approximately 150 shows annually, including the longest-running annual short play festival in Columbus (Theatre Roulette, now in its 27th edition) and the Young Writers Short Play Festival, which pairs Central Ohio high school students with mentors to produce original works. The organization is supported by resident improv troupe Full Frontal Nudity and operates as a sub-brand relationship dating back to 2000.

The company's revenue model is diversified across five streams: ticket sales (with Pay What You Want pricing for most shows and standard admission at $12, $10 for students/seniors, and $8 for members), annual memberships starting at $35, tax-deductible donations including a dedicated 'Burn the Note' mortgage payoff campaign, theatre rentals with box-office split arrangements, and education programs (Blank Slate School of Improv Level 1 and Level 2 at $165 per person, plus Blank Slate Labs two-hour workshops and David Razowsky intensives). Grant funding is sourced from the Greater Columbus Arts Council, Ohio Arts Council, The Columbus Foundation, and The Ann Sherry Foundation. The technology stack is purely theatrical hardware: a full LED lighting plot with movers controlled by ETC software, an EV SX250-based professional sound system with Yamaha MG 12/4 console, DBX EQ and crossover, and atmospheric fog equipment. Ticket distribution runs through OvationTix and at-the-door box office. Marketing is community-driven, relying on the Lab Notes newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, and local media partnerships such as Columbus Underground and the Columbus Comedy Fest.

Name

MadLab

Legal name

MadLab

Website

https://madlab.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MadLab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theater in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 1995, that produces original experimental plays, hosts 150+ shows annually in its owned 62-seat black box venue, and runs education programs including an improv school and a youth playwriting festival.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Live Theatre

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

akta.pro primary industry

Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Improv Comedy Performances (MPAGACAB), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG)

Keywords

• Experimental theatre productions
• Theatre venue rentals
• Improv education programs
• Performing arts nonprofit
• Youth playwriting programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue from ticket sales for productions, with Pay What You Want pricing available for many shows
2. Membership Program: Annual memberships starting at $35 providing discounted admissions ($2 off per show), donor events, and merchandise benefits
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, including 'Burn the Note' mortgage payoff campaign and general support donations
4. Theatre Rentals: Venue rental income from outside productions using MadLab's flexible black box space with box office split arrangements
5. Education Programs: Revenue from Blank Slate School of Improv courses, workshops, and classes including Level 1 and Level 2 programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MadLab is a nonprofit theatre company that produces original and experimental theatrical productions, comedy and improv performances, and education programs from its owned black box theatre in Columbus, Ohio. It produces 5-7 original shows annually, hosts approximately 150 shows per year (including the longest-running annual short play festival in Columbus, Theatre Roulette), runs the Young Writers Short Play Festival, offers improv training through Blank Slate Labs and Blank Slate School of Improv, and rents its venue to outside productions on a box office split basis.

Product overview

MadLab is a non-profit theatre company in Columbus, Ohio, operating as a laboratory for original works. The company functions as a single, unified theatre organization offering multiple interrelated products and services. Its core offerings include: (1) Original theatre productions produced 5-7 times annually, (2) Theatre Roulette, the longest-running annual short play festival in Columbus now in its 27th edition, (3) the Young Writers Short Play Festival, which nurtures young playwrights and produces their work, (4) education programs including Blank Slate Labs workshops, Blank Slate School of Improv courses, and David Razowsky intensives, and (5) Full Frontal Nudity, the resident improv comedy troupe. The company also operates a gallery space and offers its venue for rental. MadLab produces approximately 150 shows per year, hosting one of the most eclectic performing arts schedules in Central Ohio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Full Frontal Nudity (FFN): MadLab's resident sketch/improv comedy troupe, founded in 1993 by Chris Lane and Ric Shoemaker, joined MadLab in December 2000.

Products and services

• Theatre Productions Original theatrical productions including plays, comedies, and experimental performances. MadLab produces five to seven original productions annually, featuring works by local artists and writers. For general audiences seeking bold, innovative theatre in Columbus.
• Theatre Roulette The longest-running annual short play festival in Columbus, featuring multiple short plays over several days. Now in its 27th edition as of 2026. Targeted at theatre-goers and arts enthusiasts seeking original short-form work.
• Young Writers Short Play Festival Annual festival featuring 8 original short plays written by Central Ohio high school students. Students are paired with experienced mentors and selected pieces are fully produced with cast, direction, and staging. For young playwrights seeking professional production experience.
• Blank Slate Labs Two-hour workshops for improvisers and actors exploring skills, questions, and approaches through playful experimentation and scene work. For adult performers seeking advanced ongoing training.
• Blank Slate School of Improv Multi-week improv courses including Level 1 and Level 2, teaching connection, creativity, and authentic performance using The Improviser's Wheel of Connection. Level 1 runs 5 weeks Saturdays 10am–noon; Level 2 priced at $165 per person for 5 weeks (reduced rate for Level 1 graduates).
• David Razowsky Workshop Two-day intensive workshops taught by David Razowsky, former Artistic Director of The Second City Training Center in Los Angeles, focusing on presence, connection, and truthful performance. Targeted at improv performers.
• Theatre Rentals MadLab offers its versatile black box theatre for rental, featuring a 30'x56' space with 13' high ceilings, 62-seat flexible configuration, full LED lighting, professional sound system, and atmospheric equipment. Working off a flexible fee model often including box office splits. For small theatre companies and independent producers.
• MadLab Gallery Art gallery space within the theatre venue featuring rotating exhibitions by local and regional artists, including Ohio Art League special exhibitions. For arts patrons visiting the downtown Columbus venue.
• Full Frontal Nudity (Resident Troupe) MadLab's resident sketch and improv comedy troupe, founded in 1993 by Chris Lane and Ric Shoemaker and joined MadLab in December 2000. Produces regular performances of long-form and short-form improv comedy. For audiences seeking recurring improv programming.

Quantifiable outcome

• Producing 5-7 original productions and 150+ shows annually for 30 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Full Frontal Nudity (FFN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMadLab's resident sketch/improv comedy troupe, founded in 1993 by Chris Lane and Ric Shoemaker. Joined MadLab in December 2000 and has since expanded MadLab's improv performances into unique long-form and short-form games. FFN has also helped develop original scripts through the improv process.
• Columbus UndergroundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal media outlet providing coverage for MadLab events and including the venue in 'Best of' rankings. Co-presenter of Columbus Comedy Fest featuring multiple shows at MadLab.
• Columbus Comedy FestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual comedy festival featuring 12 venues and 111+ acts, with 9 shows hosted at MadLab over 3 days. Provides cross-promotional opportunities and audience reach.
• David RazowskyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRespected teacher of acting and improvisation, former Artistic Director of The Second City Training Center in Los Angeles. His methodology influences Blank Slate School of Improv Level 2 courses. Conducting two-day workshops at MadLab in October 2026.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Available Light Theatre: Small Columbus experimental/provocative theatre company producing original and contemporary work; highly comparable in scale, niche, and aesthetic positioning to MadLab.
• Evolution Theatre Company: Columbus-based community theatre producing contemporary and original works; comparable size, programming mix, and local audience overlap.
• Red Herring Theater Co. Former small Columbus experimental theatre (referenced in MadLab's board history); closely matched in mission, scale, and experimental aesthetic, though it has wound down operations.
• Short North Stage: Columbus theatre producing contemporary plays and musicals in an intimate venue; overlaps with MadLab on adult programming and local audience base.
• Shadowbox Live: Columbus-based performance company blending sketch, improv, and original musical theatre in its own venue; competes with MadLab for alternative-theatre and improv audiences locally.
• Actors' Theatre of Columbus: Columbus community theatre staging original and published works; competes with MadLab for local theatre audiences and operates in a similar small-venue format.
• CATCO (Contemporary American Theatre Company): Columbus-based professional theatre company producing mainstage plays and musicals; competes for the same local theatre audiences and donor dollars as MadLab, though at a larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• iO Theater: Long-running Chicago improv institution offering both shows and structured improv training; comparable in improv performance + school model, though at significantly larger scale than MadLab's Blank Slate.
• The Second City: National improv comedy institution with training centers (whose former AD, David Razowsky, now teaches at MadLab); comparable in improv-comedy performance and education, but operates at vastly larger scale and multiple cities.
• Wexner Center for the Arts: Ohio State University-affiliated performing arts presenter in Columbus; comparable as a local presenter of experimental and contemporary performance, though operates at much larger institutional scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/madlabtheatre
• Facebookfacebook.com/madlabcolumbus

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 MadLab