Little Fish Theatre

What Little Fish Theatre does

Little Fish Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional theatre company that operates an intimate 50-seat in-the-round performance venue called 'The Pond at Little Fish Theatre,' located on the Beach Cities Health District campus in Redondo Beach, California. Founded in January 2002 as a program of Shakespeare by the Sea, the company produces year-round seasons of new, classic, and contemporary plays, including an annual short-play festival called Pick of the Vine that draws 600-800+ script submissions from playwrights worldwide and has run for over 23 consecutive seasons. The ensemble model comprises two tiers of company membership with approximately 60+ actors, directors, stage managers, and technical artists, led by Co-Artistic Directors Suzanne Dean and Stephanie Coltrin. Revenue is generated through ticket sales (including Anytime Ticket subscriptions of 6 or 10 packs valid through December 2026), individual donations across multiple giving tiers, corporate sponsorship packages ranging from $500 to $25,000, the LFT Actor Fund, and the Hold a Seat community access program. The company also receives institutional support including LA County Department of Arts and Culture Creative Recovery LA funding (American Rescue Plan-backed) and has an active $250,000 Next Stage capital campaign due January 2026.

The business model is fundamentally a community-supported arts nonprofit: earned revenue from a 50-seat venue is structurally capped, and the organization depends on donations, corporate sponsorships, grants, and contributed labor from a volunteer board and artist ensemble. Distribution runs through Salesforce-based online ticketing, phone reservations (310-512-6030), SMS (424-203-4707), in-person box office, and community partners including Silverado Beach Cities, allcove, and Beach Cities Health District. Marketing is multi-channel: a WordPress website, an exclusive opt-in mailing list, social media, regional press relations (Broadway World, LA Times, Press Telegram, Daily Breeze), and partnership referrals. Recent strategic context includes a forced relocation from San Pedro in February 2024 after the original building was sold for redevelopment, a multi-year closure, an August 2025 reopening in Redondo Beach, and a planned second move in 2027 because the current venue is temporary.

Core technology is minimal and non-differentiated: a Salesforce-based ticketing system, a WordPress website, and conventional telephony/SMS for the box office. There is no proprietary platform, no API, no software product, and no AI/ML component. The 'technology' is essentially the intimate in-the-round performance space itself and the Salesforce/WordPress operational stack.

Name

Little Fish Theatre

Legal name

Little Fish Theatre

Website

https://littlefishtheatre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Little Fish Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that produces year-round new, classic, and contemporary plays in an intimate 50-seat in-the-round venue in Redondo Beach, CA, serving South Bay Los Angeles audiences, playwrights, and community members through its Pick of the Vine festival, subscriptions, donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Redondo Beach

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue from ticket sales through season subscriptions (Anytime Tickets in sets of 6 or 10) and individual performance tickets. Proceeds support operating expenses, artist wages, and production costs.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations at various levels (Dragonfly $50, Firefly $50, Ladybug $25 and under, Polliwog $250, Duckling $500, Swan $750, Hummingbird $1,000, Peacock $2,500, Otter $5,000, Blue Heron $10,000). Donations support the 501(c)3 non-profit operations.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate giving program with sponsorship levels from Duckling ($500) to Golden Goose ($25,000 Season Presenting Sponsor). Sponsors receive advertising, recognition, and event perks in exchange for support.
4. Actor Fund: Recurring monthly ($25+) or annual ($300+) donations specifically designated to support actor rehearsal and performance wages at LA County Minimum Wage rates.
5. Hold a Seat Program: Pay-it-forward ticket gifting program where donors purchase tickets for community members lacking resources (Teens $100 for 5 tickets, Caregivers $150 for 5 tickets, Veterans $250 for 10 tickets).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Little Fish Theatre is a 501(c)(3) professional theatre company that produces year-round live theatrical performances—including new, classic, and contemporary plays—inside a 50-seat in-the-round venue called The Pond in Redondo Beach, California. It also operates the annual Pick of the Vine short play festival drawing 600–800+ submissions, sells season subscriptions (Anytime Tickets), and runs donation, sponsorship, and community ticket-gifting programs to support operations and artist wages.

Product overview

Little Fish Theatre is a professional theatre company operating as a program of Shakespeare by the Sea. The company offers live theatrical productions including new, classic, and contemporary plays performed at their intimate 50-seat venue called The Pond. Their core products include the annual Pick of the Vine short play festival, season productions (approximately 6-8 per year), and Anytime Tickets subscription packages. Additional offerings include the Actor Fund for supporting performer wages, the Hold a Seat community access program, and corporate sponsorship packages at various giving levels. The company operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization serving the South Bay region of Los Angeles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Season Productions Year-round theatrical productions of new, classic, and contemporary plays staged at The Pond venue. The 2025-2026 season includes Dunsinane, A Doll's House Part 2, King James, Shooting Star, Cry It Out, Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, Righteous Among Us, The Taming, and Fallen Angels. For theatre audiences in the South Bay/LA region.
• Pick of the Vine Annual short play festival featuring 7-9 selected plays curated from 600-800+ playwright submissions worldwide, organized around a yearly theme. The 24th annual festival is scheduled for August 2026 under the theme 'An Unexpected Guest.' For theatre audiences and aspiring playwrights seeking production opportunities.
• Anytime Tickets Season subscription package available in sets of 6 ($190 plus $5 processing) or 10 ($320 plus $8 processing) tickets with reserved seating, usable for any production through December 2026. For theatre patrons seeking flexible access to the season.
• Corporate Sponsorship Packages Corporate giving levels ranging from Duckling ($500) to Golden Goose Season Presenting Sponsor ($25,000), offering advertising in digital and printed programs, logo placement, social/email recognition, and complimentary Anytime Tickets. For local businesses seeking visibility and CSR alignment.
• Hold a Seat Program Pay-it-forward ticket gifting program allowing donors to purchase theatre tickets for community members lacking resources. Options include Teen Tix ($100 for 5 youth tickets), Care Tix ($150 for 5 caregiver/healthcare worker tickets), and Vet Tix ($250 for 10 veteran tickets). For individual donors and partner organizations serving underserved populations.
• LFT Actor Fund Ongoing donation fund supporting actor rehearsal and performance wages at LA County Minimum Wage rates. Accepts recurring monthly donations ($25+) or annual donations ($300+). For individual donors who want to specifically support artist compensation.
• The Pond at Little Fish Theatre Intimate 50-seat in-the-round performance venue located at 514 N. Prospect Ave Ste L-1, Redondo Beach, on the Beach Cities Health District campus. Reopened August 2025 after relocation from San Pedro. For live theatre audiences and community event rental.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600-800+ playwright submissions annually for Pick of the Vine festival
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Shakespeare by the SeacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShakespeare by the Sea (SBTS) is the parent organization of Little Fish Theatre. LFT is described as 'a Program of Shakespeare by the Sea.' SBTS provides free Shakespeare productions at San Pedro's Point Fermin and other LA/OC locations. Co-Artistic Directors Suzanne Dean and Stephanie Coltrin lead both organizations.
• Beach Cities Health DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeach Cities Health District allowed LFT to rent their former childcare facility for the new theatre location on their campus in Redondo Beach. This partnership enabled LFT's relocation from San Pedro after their building was sold for redevelopment in 2023.
• Jerico DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJerico Development helped Shakespeare by the Sea transform a vacant storefront into the original Little Fish Theatre venue in downtown San Pedro, and later helped secure another venue around the corner.
• City of Redondo BeachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Redondo Beach surfaced as an advocate for LFT's relocation, working with Beach Cities Health District to facilitate the new venue partnership.
• Silverado Beach CitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior memory care facility in the neighborhood; LFT's Hold a Seat program provides theatre tickets to seniors in memory care.
• allcoveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth support facility in the neighborhood; LFT provides theatre tickets to teens receiving support through the Hold a Seat community program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• South Coast Repertory: Larger, long-established professional theatre in Costa Mesa, CA producing a mix of classics, new works, and contemporary plays in multiple venues. Most directly comparable to LFT as a professional non-profit theatre serving the greater LA/Orange County region.

Direct peers

• Rubicon Theatre Company: Professional non-profit theatre in Ventura, CA producing classic and contemporary works with an intimate-stage focus. Directly comparable to LFT as a similarly scaled intimate-theatre peer, and notably employs LFT Co-Artistic Director Stephanie Coltrin as Associate Artistic Director.
• Open Fist Theatre Company: Los Angeles-based non-profit theatre producing new and contemporary works in intimate venues. Comparable to LFT as a similarly scaled intimate-theatre peer with an emphasis on new-play development.
• International City Theatre: Long Beach-based professional non-profit theatre producing contemporary and classic works. Comparable as a similarly sized LA-area non-profit theatre with subscription and season programming serving a South Bay-adjacent audience.
• Pacific Resident Theatre: Intimate non-profit theatre in Venice, CA focused on classics, premieres, and contemporary works in a small-venue format. Comparable to LFT as a similarly sized intimate-theatre peer in the greater LA area.
• Long Beach Playhouse: Community-focused non-profit theatre in Long Beach producing classic and contemporary plays year-round. Comparable to LFT in scale, non-profit structure, and year-round season programming in the broader LA region.
• Shakespeare by the Sea: Parent organization of Little Fish Theatre, producing free outdoor Shakespeare productions across LA and Orange County. Directly comparable as a sister program under the same co-artistic leadership with overlapping mission and audience.
• Road Theatre Company: Small professional non-profit theatre in North Hollywood producing new works and contemporary plays in an intimate venue. Comparable to LFT as a similarly scaled LA-based intimate-theatre peer focused on new-play development.
• The Theatre at Boston Court: Small professional non-profit theatre in Pasadena, CA focused on new and contemporary works in an intimate setting. Highly comparable to LFT in scale, programming philosophy, and intimate-venue non-profit model.

Regional players

• Torrance Theatre Company: Community and professional non-profit theatre in Torrance, CA serving the South Bay region. Comparable as a similarly scaled peer operating in the same South Bay geography as LFT, serving overlapping audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lilfishtheatre
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheLittleFishTheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/little-fish-theatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Little Fish Theatre