Somerville Theater

What Somerville Theater does

Somerville Theatre is a historic cinema and live events venue established in 1914 in Davis Square, Somerville, Massachusetts, currently operated by CSB Theatres, Inc. The venue operates four distinct spaces: an 840-seat main theater (379 orchestra plus 461 balcony), two smaller cinemas (109 and 62 seats), and a 30-seat MicroCinema for private rentals. Its projection infrastructure is the technical centerpiece, combining analog film capability (dual Norelco DP-70 projectors for 35mm and 70mm, 6 Track Magnetic Sound, and a full Todd-AO audio array with 24 surround speakers) with digital cinema (NEC 4K laser projection, Dolby 5.1 and 7.1 EX). The theater is the only venue in the Boston area capable of presenting 6 Track Magnetic Sound with the full Todd-AO array, anchoring a specialty programming slate that includes 70mm Presentations, the Silents, Please! silent film series with live accompaniment, Midnight Specials, and the annual Halloween Hullabaloo horror festival.

The business model is multi-stream and consumer-facing, generating revenue through ticket sales (priced $4-$17 depending on format and event), concessions including a beer and wine bar, private theater rentals for corporate and private events, live concerts and theatrical performances (ticketed via Ticketmaster and partner promoters), gift card sales ($10-$200 denominations, cross-redeemable with Capitol Theatre), and an annual membership program offering discounted tickets and member-only access. Distribution runs through a physical box office, internet-ticketing.com, and Ticketmaster, with marketing across the company website, email newsletter, Instagram, and Facebook. The venue draws from a regional Greater Boston and New England audience, accessible directly via the MBTA Red Line.

Strategic positioning centers on differentiation from standard multiplex cinemas through repertory and specialty-format programming, deep community partnerships with IFFBoston, MFA Boston, Brattle Theatre, Coolidge Corner Theatre, and other local arts organizations, and a curated live event calendar. The mid-2025 transition to CSB Theatres, Inc. operational control consolidated Somerville Theatre alongside Capitol Theatre and Crystal Ballroom under one operating entity, establishing a multi-venue Boston specialty entertainment platform.

Name

Somerville Theater

Legal name

Somerville Theatre

Website

https://somervilletheatre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Somerville Theatre is a historic Davis Square cinema and live events venue operating four screens with specialty analog and digital projection, serving Greater Boston film enthusiasts and live event audiences through ticket sales, private rentals, and membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cinema and Live Entertainment Venue

NAICS

Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent & Art-house Cinemas (MPADAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Screenings & Venue Rentals (Corporate, Parties) (MPADAKAJ), Special Event Screenings & Pop-up Cinemas (MPADAKAE)

Keywords

• Independent movie theater
• Live music venue
• Repertory cinema
• 70mm film screenings
• Theater rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Somerville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Movie Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales for new releases, repertory screenings, and special presentations. Tickets available at box office and online. Prices vary by format (standard, 70mm, 35mm) and special events.
2. Concessions: Food and beverage sales including popcorn, drinks, and snacks at the theater lobby. Beer and wine bar available.
3. Theater Rentals: Rental of main theater (840 seats), MicroCinema (30 seats), and smaller cinemas for private events, corporate functions, birthday parties, and theatrical performances. Main theater rental includes full theatrical stage, lighting, and professional audio systems.
4. Live Events and Concerts: Concerts and live performances from touring acts, comedy shows, and special events. Ticketed through Ticketmaster and box office with promoters setting policies.
5. Gift Cards: Physical and e-gift cards sold between $10-$200, redeemable for tickets and concession items.
6. Membership Program: Annual membership program providing benefits such as discounted ticket prices and access to member-only screenings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Somerville Theatre is a historic cinema and live entertainment venue operating three cinemas and a MicroCinema at its Davis Square, Somerville, MA location. Its core offering is movie exhibition across formats (70mm, 35mm, DCP) supplemented by live concerts, special events, repertory film series, and private venue rentals. The theater is the only Boston-area venue capable of presenting 6 Track Magnetic Sound and the full Todd-AO audio array.

Product overview

Somerville Theatre is a historic cinema and live events venue (established 1914) operated by CSB Theatres, Inc., offering a portfolio of entertainment services centered around film exhibition and live performances. The core offering consists of movie screenings in multiple formats (70mm, 35mm, DCP) across three cinemas—the main 840-seat theater, a 109-seat cinema, and a 62-seat cinema—with the main theater being the only Boston-area venue capable of presenting 6 Track Magnetic Sound and full Todd-AO audio. The company differentiates through specialty programming including 70mm Presentations, the Silents, Please! silent film series with live accompaniment, Midnight Specials, and Halloween Hullabaloo. Additional revenue streams include main theater and MicroCinema (30-seat) private rentals, a membership program, and gift card sales. Accessibility features include closed captioning, descriptive audio, and assistive listening devices. The venue is accessible via MBTA Red Line at Davis Square.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MicroCinema: A 30-seat private cinema space available for rentals and events.

Products and services

• Movie Screenings Traditional and repertory film screenings in multiple formats including 70mm, 35mm, and Digital Cinema (DCP), with accessibility features such as closed captioning, descriptive audio, and assistive listening devices. Targeted at local residents and visitors seeking new releases and classic cinema.
• Live Music and Events Concerts and live performances in the main 840-seat theater featuring various touring and local musical acts, comedy shows, and special events. Ticketed through Ticketmaster and the box office.
• 70mm Presentations Repertory series featuring films screened in 70mm format using dual Norelco DP-70 projectors and the Todd-AO audio array; only Boston-area theater offering 6 Track Magnetic Sound capability.
• Silents, Please! Repertory film series featuring vintage silent classics typically screened in 35mm with live musical accompaniment by silent film accompanists such as Jeff Rapsis.
• Midnight Specials Late-night cult classic and specialty film screenings, often featuring anniversary celebrations and rare film formats.
• Halloween Hullabaloo Annual horror film festival featuring classic and cult horror movies, curated by guest programmers.
• Main Theater Rentals Private event rental of the 840-seat main theater with full theatrical stage, lighting, 35mm/70mm projection, Datasat/DTS sound, Dolby 5.1/7.1 EX, and NEC 4K laser projection. Suitable for film screenings, corporate events, and stage productions.
• MicroCinema Rentals Private rental of a 30-seat MicroCinema space with 13-foot screen, 1080p digital projector, 5.1 audio receiver, and Blu-ray/DVD player. Available for birthday parties, anniversaries, corporate events, and private screenings. Weekday rate $200 (Mon-Thu 6:30pm-9:30pm); weekend rate $300-$350; additional hours at $100/hour.
• Membership Program Theater membership program offering benefits such as discounted ticket prices and access to member-only screenings.
• Gift Cards Gift cards available in denominations between $10 and $200, redeemable for tickets and concession items at Somerville Theatre and Capitol Theatre locations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Screens Oscar-nominated short films annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• IFFBoston (Independent Film Festival Boston)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for film festival programming, special screenings, and collaborative events including Hot Summer Nights, March Music Madness, and Frederick Wiseman retrospective. IFFBoston is a major regional film festival that uses Somerville Theatre as a primary screening venue.
• The Brattle TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Frederick Wiseman retrospective alongside MFA and Coolidge Corner Theatre. Joint programming for regional film institution celebrations and shared special events.
• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Frederick Wiseman retrospective series, with opening screening at MFA and multiple films across Boston theaters including Somerville Theatre.
• Coolidge Corner TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Frederick Wiseman retrospective alongside MFA and The Brattle, bringing regional film institutions together for cinema celebration.
• Identical CousinsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerImmersive event curation partnership for themed events including John Waters Tribute, David Lynch tribute (Wonderful & Strange), Catherine O'Hara Tribute Weekend, and various Crystal Ballroom celebrations.
• The GoodsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity cannabis shop partnership for GreenScreen film series. The Goods is located at 255 Elm Street, Somerville and supports local artists and neighborhood initiatives.
• Mahoning Drive-In TheatermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual collaboration bringing the drive-in experience to Somerville Theatre with vintage 35mm triple features, vintage trailers, and authentic intermission reels from Pennsylvania's famous retro film venue.
• MassConcertsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConcert promoter for live music events including Matteo Mancuso and The Pineapple Thief performances at the theater.
• Global Arts LivemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConcert promoter for touring performances including John Scofield's Electrospective, Sasha Velour, and Le Vent du Nord.
• DREAM7 ProductionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduction company for live theatrical performances including Trigger/Talangor play.
• ScreenBostonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presenter of Hot Summer Nights film series alongside IFFBoston, featuring themed programming inspired by podcast content.
• Jon Finn GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Boston-area musical act appearing as opening act for Matteo Mancuso concert.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Music Hall of Williamsburg: Mid-sized live music and events venue operated by Bowery Presents. Comparable on the live events/concerts side of Somerville's business model — similar capacity range and ticketed concert programming via external promoters.
• IFC Center: Independent art-house cinema in New York City offering independent, foreign, and repertory film programming. Direct peer based on similar single-venue independent art-house positioning with specialty and repertory film focus.
• Mahoning Drive-In Theater: Pennsylvania-based drive-in cinema specializing in vintage 35mm prints and triple-feature retro programming. Direct peer based on shared specialty-film format focus and explicit annual collaboration bringing authentic analog programming to Somerville Theatre.
• Coolidge Corner Theatre: Independent nonprofit art-house cinema in Brookline, MA, also serving Greater Boston with repertory and specialty programming. Direct peer based on shared market, similar single-location independent art-house model, and explicit collaboration with Somerville Theatre on the Frederick Wiseman retrospective.
• The Brattle Theatre: Historic single-screen repertory cinema in Cambridge, MA, focused on classic, cult, and independent film programming. Direct peer given shared Greater Boston market, comparable repertory/cult programming strategy, and documented co-programming partnership on regional film events.
• Capitol Theatre (CSB Theatres): Historic theater now operating under the same CSB Theatres, Inc. parent as Somerville Theatre. Direct peer based on shared operator, comparable cinema-and-live-events model, and co-branded gift card program.
• The Crystal Ballroom (Somerville): Adjacent live event venue also operated by CSB Theatres, Inc. since mid-2025. Direct peer sharing the same operator and offering complementary live performance programming in the same Davis Square submarket.

Broad incumbents

• Alamo Drafthouse Cinema: National specialty cinema chain combining repertory programming, food/beverage service, and private event rentals. Broad incumbent peer based on overlapping specialty cinema + private event rental model, though operating at much greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Angelika Film Center: Multi-location art-house cinema chain in the Northeast. Broad incumbent peer offering comparable independent/foreign film exhibition across multiple venues, contrasting with Somerville's single-location footprint.

Others

• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA): Adjacent institution rather than direct competitor — MFA hosts its own film programming including the opening Frederick Wiseman retrospective. Relevant as a programming/curation partner and indirect competitor for art-film audience attention in the Boston market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/somervilletheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/somerville-theatre
• Xx.com/svilletheatre

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Somerville Theater