Billings Studio Theatre

What Billings Studio Theatre does

Billings Studio Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community theater founded in 1953 and based at 1500 Rimrock Road in Billings, Montana. It produces approximately 13 productions per year across a Main Stage season, a Growing Stage youth program, a musical fundraiser, Theatre For Kids Only Camp, and collaborations with Rocky Mountain College, serving the local community with live theatrical performances. The organization is led by Managing Director Nancy Wollenburg and Artistic Director Casey Visser, with Board President Lucas Storey, supported by a 1-10 person staff and roughly 40,000 annual volunteer hours.

The theater's technology footprint is utilitarian and operational: Arts People powers ticketing, Mailchimp handles email outreach, YouTube hosts video content, and calendar integrations distribute show schedules. There is no proprietary platform or technology product; the core offering is live performance supplemented by an in-house Costume Shop. The customer base spans individual ticket buyers, season subscribers, youth participants, school partners, and donor/sponsor supporters in the Billings region.

The business model combines earned revenue from ticket sales (approximately 50% of operating funds) with contributed revenue from donations, corporate sponsorships, and special events. Individual show tickets are priced $15-$25 and season passes range from $108 to $145. Sponsorship and grant support comes from a diversified pool including Stockman Bank, Phillips 66, Carson Wealth, AVA Law Group, the Billings Community Foundation, and the Montana Community Foundation, with educational ties to Billings Public Schools.

Name

Billings Studio Theatre

Legal name

Billings Studio Theatre

Website

https://billingsstudiotheatre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Billings Studio Theatre is a 73-year-old nonprofit community theater in Billings, Montana, producing roughly 13 live shows annually for local audiences, funded about half by ticket sales and the rest by donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theatre / Performing Arts

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Community theatre productions
• Live theatrical performances
• Youth theatre programs
• Theatrical costume rental
• Performing arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Billings

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Approximately 50% of operating funds come from ticket sales for live theatrical performances including Main Stage productions, musicals, and Growing Stage shows.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Annual fund drives (May and November), general unsolicited donations, memorial donations, matching funds programs, and charitable gift annuities through Billings Community Foundation and Montana Community Foundation.
3. Special Events: Fundraising events including golf tournaments and benefit nights that generate revenue and engage the community.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support in exchange for recognition and visibility with the theatre's audience.
5. Merchandise Sales: BST Merch Store selling merchandise run by Mosaic Threads.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Billings Studio Theatre produces and presents live theatrical performances for the Billings, Montana community, operating as a 501(c)(3) non-profit community theatre. It stages eight Main Stage productions annually, a Growing Stage Players youth production, and runs the Theatre For Kids Only Camp summer program, the Penguin Project inclusive program for youth with disabilities, and an in-house Costume Shop. The theatre is funded through a mix of ticket sales (approximately 50% of operating funds), donations, sponsorships, fundraising events, and merchandise sales, supported by an estimated 40,000 volunteer hours annually.

Product overview

Billings Studio Theatre is a community theatre organization offering a unified portfolio of live theatrical entertainment and community programs. The core offerings include Main Stage Productions (eight full-scale theatrical performances annually including musicals and plays), the Growing Stage Players youth program, Theatre For Kids Only Camp, and the new Penguin Project for youth with disabilities. Supporting services include The Costume Shop, season ticket packages, individual show ticketing, annual golf fundraiser, and various donation/fundraising programs. Approximately 50% of operating funds come from ticket sales with the remainder raised through donations and special events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Main Stage Productions Full-scale theatrical productions performed at the BST venue in Billings, Montana, with eight Main Stage productions annually including musicals and plays for adult audiences.
• Growing Stage Players Youth theatre program producing performances by young actors, including the annual Growing Stage Players production and youth-oriented shows such as The Wind in the Willows.
• Theatre For Kids Only Camp Summer theatre camp program for children offering hands-on theatre experience and education during summer break.
• Season Tickets/Passes Season ticket packages offering multiple show admissions including the Main Stage Pass (6 adult tickets) and Theatre Lovers Pass (8 adult tickets), with early bird pricing for Season 74 (2026-27).
• The Costume Shop In-house costume rental and management service supporting BST productions, managed by Costume Shop Manager Meranda Pfau.
• Penguin Project National program offering inclusive theatre opportunities, pairing young artists with disabilities (ages 9-23) with peer mentors for productions.
• BST Golf Tournament Annual mini-golf fundraiser event benefitting Billings Studio Theatre, held at Peter Yegen Golf Club.
• Donations & Fundraising Programs Various donation programs including memorial donations, annual fund drives, holiday appeals, matching funds, charitable gift annuities through Billings Community Foundation and Montana Community Foundation, and merchandise donations supporting theatre operations.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lost BoyminorOthersCorporate sponsor of Billings Studio Theatre, featured on website sponsor page with logo and link to their website.
• Streeter BrosminorOthersCorporate sponsor of Billings Studio Theatre, featured on website sponsor page with logo and link to their website.
• AVA Law GroupminorOthersCorporate sponsor of Billings Studio Theatre, featured on website sponsor page with link to avalaw.com/mt/.
• Keestone CommunicationminorOthersCorporate sponsor of Billings Studio Theatre, featured on website sponsor page with link to keestonecommunication.org.
• Carson WealthminorOthersCorporate sponsor of Billings Studio Theatre, featured on website sponsor page.
• PatschindeleminorOthersCorporate sponsor of Billings Studio Theatre, featured on website sponsor page with link to their website.
• Stockman BankminorOthersCorporate sponsor of Billings Studio Theatre, featured on website sponsor page with link to stockmanbank.com.
• Phillips 66minorOthersCorporate sponsor of Billings Studio Theatre, featured on website sponsor page with link to phillips66.com/refining/billings-refinery/.
• Dahl Funeral ChapelminorOthersCorporate sponsor of Billings Studio Theatre, featured on website sponsor page with link to their website.
• Mosaic ThreadsminorOthersRuns the BST Merch Store for the theatre, selling merchandise and memorabilia.
• Billings Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner collaborating with the Penguin Project and other youth theatre programs.
• Billings Cultural PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMakes possible BST Spotlight on Arts and Culture video segments featuring interviews and show previews.
• Community Seven TelevisionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduces BST Spotlight on Arts and Culture episodes featuring interviews and show discussions.
• Penguin Project (Dr. Andy Morgan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational program that BST has partnered with to launch as the first theatre in Montana to offer the Penguin Project, focusing on giving youth with disabilities the chance to experience theatre.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Verge Theater: Bozeman, Montana-based community theatre producing original and contemporary works. Comparable as a Montana regional theatre competing for touring productions, patrons, and donor dollars in the same broader market.
• Grandstreet Theatre: Community theatre in Helena, Montana producing mainstage plays, musicals, and educational programming. Directly comparable as a Montana regional community theatre with similar Main Stage/education program structure and 501(c)(3) funding model.
• Alberta Bair Theater: Billings, Montana performing arts venue presenting touring productions and local community programming. Adjacent competitor for Billings entertainment dollars and shared patron base, though operating more as a presenting house than a producing community theatre.
• Montana Repertory Theatre: University-affiliated regional theatre based in Missoula that tours productions across Montana and the broader Northwest. Comparable as a Montana-based live theatre company with a similar volunteer/community mission and ticketed production model.

Direct peers

• TheatreSquared: Northwest Arkansas-based professional regional theatre producing a multi-show season with subscription tiers and education programs. Comparable as a community-rooted theatre operating subscription ticketing, education outreach, and donor-funded operations.
• Penobscot Theatre Company: Bangor, Maine regional community theatre producing a Main Stage season plus youth theatre and educational programming. Comparable as a single-location, donor- and ticket-funded community theatre with a youth education arm.
• Barrington Stage Company: Pittsfield, Massachusetts regional theatre producing a Main Stage season alongside youth and educational programming. Comparable structure (Main Stage productions, Growing Stage-style youth program, donor/subscription mix) at a slightly larger but similar community theatre scale.
• Mixed Blood Theatre: Minneapolis-based community theatre with a mission-driven, multi-program portfolio including mainstage productions and inclusive community programs. Comparable as a 501(c)(3) theatre combining mainstage ticketed productions with social-mission programming.
• Yellowstone Repertory Theatre: Billings-based community theatre producing live stage productions. Directly comparable as a fellow Billings, Montana performing arts organization competing for the same local audience, sponsors, and volunteer pool.

Broad incumbents

• Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park: Established regional theatre producing Main Stage and smaller-scale productions with strong educational programming. Comparable business model (multi-tier season subscriptions, education/outreach programs, community non-profit funding) but at significantly larger scale than BST.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@billingsstudiotheatre805
• Facebookfacebook.com/100057477556917
• Instagraminstagram.com/billingsstudiotheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/billings-studio-theatre

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 Billings Studio Theatre