Circle Arts Theatre
Circle Arts Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community theatre in New Braunfels, Texas, producing live mainstage productions, children's education programs, and touring school performances for the Comal County community since 1968.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1968
- HeadquartersNew Braunfels, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Circle Arts Theatre does
Circle Arts Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community performing arts organization founded in 1968 in New Braunfels, Texas, by Elizabeth Elliott. The organization operates from a city-owned building in Landa Park, originally secured through a 1971 partnership with the WurstFest Association under which the theatre produces an annual original melodrama for the festival. Its programming comprises main stage theatrical productions, an annual summer musical, the Circle Arts K.I.D.s theatre education program for children ages 7–14, and The Inner Circle, a touring performance group of high school teens that brings live theatre to elementary schools across Comal County.
The theatre's core product is live theatrical performance, supported by a volunteer-driven operating model with 11 employees and a back catalog of more than 190 major productions, 15 children's theatre shows, and over 45 melodramas. Distribution is regional, primarily through TicketstotheCity online ticketing and on-site box office sales, with $2 concession items and complimentary wine and beer (donations encouraged) providing ancillary revenue. The organization has accumulated measurable community reach, including 120,000+ school children served through Inner Circle tours and 110+ benefit performances for other local non-profits.
Revenue mechanics are diversified across four streams: ticket sales, concessions, tax-deductible donations (the primary funding model for a 501(c)(3) entity), and benefit night proceeds for partner non-profits. The Board of Directors funds building renovations (over $200,000 cumulatively) and scholarships for graduating Inner Circle members. Following the 2008 transition of executive leadership from founder Elizabeth Elliott to her daughter Roberta, and Roberta's passing in 2022, the Board continues to operate the organization without a publicly identified successor.
Circle Arts Theatre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Circle Arts Theatre
- Legal name
- Circle Arts Theatre, Inc.
- Website
- https://circleartstheatre.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1968
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Circle Arts Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community theatre in New Braunfels, Texas, producing live mainstage productions, children's education programs, and touring school performances for the Comal County community since 1968.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Circle Arts Theatre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Theatre / Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE)
Keywords
Where Circle Arts Theatre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Braunfels
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Circle Arts Theatre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from selling tickets to live theatre performances including main stage productions, children's theatre shows, melodramas, and summer musicals.
- Concessions: Sale of snacks and beverages during performances. Items priced at $2 each. Wine and beer offered complimentary with donations encouraged.
- Donations and Fundraising: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Circle Arts Theatre relies on tax-deductible donations from the community. The Board provides scholarships and building renovations from fundraising efforts.
- Benefit Nights for Non-Profits: Provides venue for other local non-profit organizations to earn money through benefit performances, creating mutual community support relationships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Concession items |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Circle Arts Theatre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Circle Arts Theatre is a community-based performing arts organization that produces live theatrical performances for the New Braunfels and Comal County area. Its core offerings include main stage plays and musicals, a children's theatre education program (Circle Arts K.I.D.s for ages 7-14), a teen touring group (The Inner Circle) that brings plays to elementary schools, an annual original melodrama for WurstFest, and a summer musical, supported by volunteer programs and benefit nights for other local non-profits.
Product overview
Circle Arts Theatre is a community performing arts organization offering a portfolio of theatre programs centered around live stage productions. The core offerings include main stage theatrical productions (plays and musicals), the Circle Arts K.I.D.s educational program for children ages 7-14, The Inner Circle touring group for high school teens, and annual WurstFest melodramas. These programs are supported by volunteer opportunities and benefit performances for local non-profits.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Main Stage Productions Full-scale theatrical plays and musicals performed on the main stage for general community audiences; offered multiple times per season and including upcoming production Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
- Circle Arts K.I.D.s (Klasses In Drama) Theatre arts education program for children ages 7-14 teaching self-discovery, self-confidence, and theatre discipline through classes that collect donations for local non-profits at performances.
- The Inner Circle Touring Group Touring performance group of high school teens who perform plays with moral lessons at elementary schools across Comal County, with their season culminating in an end-of-year show performed at the Texas Non-Profit Theatre (TNT) conference.
- WurstFest Melodramas Annual original, old-fashioned melodrama produced each year for the WurstFest festival as part of the longstanding partnership with the WurstFest Association.
- Summer Musical Annual summer theatrical musical production open to community participation through auditions, performed for all ages.
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 120,000 school children have experienced live theatre through Inner Circle touring performances
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Circle Arts Theatre
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Circle Arts Theatre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Circle Arts Theatre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- WurstFest AssociationcoreIn 1971, the WurstFest Association approached Circle Arts Theatre with a request to produce an original, old-fashioned melodrama each year for WurstFest. In return, they provided a building in Landa Park for the theatre's use. This partnership created the tradition of performing an original melodrama every year during WurstFest.
- Texas Non-Profit Theatre (TNT)minorThe Inner Circle touring group performs at the annual TNT conference, where teens also earn classes and TNT tuition through volunteer hours. The group's season culminates in an end-of-year show performed at this conference.
- New Braunfels Utilities (NBU)minorInner Circle members participated in a 'Bucky the Bucket Truck' short film created by NBU for use in local elementary schools. This collaboration supports educational content for schools.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights1 record
Circle Arts Theatre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Texas Nonprofit Theatres (TNT): Statewide non-profit theatre association that supports and convenes community theatres across Texas. Listed as an existing partner and is directly comparable as the ecosystem in which Circle Arts operates and competes.
- WurstFest Association: Strategic partner providing venue facilities in exchange for annual melodrama production. Comparable as a New Braunfels-based non-profit cultural organization with overlapping community engagement and event-based programming.
- New Braunfels Arts Council: Local arts non-profit serving the New Braunfels community that overlaps with Circle Arts' audience and donor base. Comparable as a community arts enabler in the same geographic market.
Direct peers
- San Antonio Civic Theatre: Non-profit community theatre in San Antonio producing live theatrical performances with volunteer-driven model. Directly comparable as a Texas-based community theatre with similar production and educational programming.
- Main Street Theater: Houston-based non-profit community theatre producing main stage productions and youth theatre education programs. Directly comparable in offering main stage productions alongside a children's theatre education program.
- Austin Playhouse: Austin-based non-profit community theatre producing a season of plays and musicals with educational components. Similar operating model as a small-to-mid-sized community non-profit theatre with comparable programming structure.
- Penfold Theatre Company: Non-profit community theatre in Central Texas producing live theatrical productions with youth and adult programming. Comparable scale and non-profit community theatre model serving a Texas regional market.
Broad incumbents
- ZACH Theatre: Austin-based non-profit professional theatre with comparable community performing arts programming, education programs, and youth shows. Larger scale but operates in the same Texas community theatre ecosystem with similar mission-driven model.
- Dallas Theater Center: One of Texas's leading non-profit regional theatres producing live theatrical productions with educational outreach. Comparable as a non-profit performing arts organization staging traditional plays and musicals, though at significantly larger scale.
Regional players
- The VORTEX Repertory Theatre: Austin-based non-profit repertory theatre producing live theatrical performances with an emphasis on community engagement. Comparable as a regional Texas non-profit theatre though operating in a different metro market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Circle Arts Theatre social profiles
Digital presenceCircle Arts Theatre compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Circle Arts Theatre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Circle Arts Theatre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Circle Arts Theatre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Circle Arts Theatre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Circle Arts Theatre
What does Circle Arts Theatre do?
Circle Arts Theatre is a community-based performing arts organization that produces live theatrical performances for the New Braunfels and Comal County area. Its core offerings include main stage plays and musicals, a children's theatre education program (Circle Arts K.I.D.s for ages 7-14), a teen touring group (The Inner Circle) that brings plays to elementary schools, an annual original melodrama for WurstFest, and a summer musical, supported by volunteer programs and benefit nights for other local non-profits.
Is Circle Arts Theatre a public or private company?
Circle Arts Theatre is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Circle Arts Theatre founded?
Circle Arts Theatre was founded in 1968. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Circle Arts Theatre based?
Circle Arts Theatre is headquartered in New Braunfels, United States, in the North America region.
How does Circle Arts Theatre make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are concessions, donations and Fundraising and benefit Nights for Non-Profits.
Who are Circle Arts Theatre's main competitors?
Others on record are Texas Nonprofit Theatres (TNT), WurstFest Association and New Braunfels Arts Council. Direct peers are San Antonio Civic Theatre, Main Street Theater, Austin Playhouse and Penfold Theatre Company. Broad incumbents are ZACH Theatre and Dallas Theater Center. The VORTEX Repertory Theatre is listed as a regional player.
Does Circle Arts Theatre have an API?
No public API is recorded for Circle Arts Theatre.
What industry is Circle Arts Theatre in?
Circle Arts Theatre's product category is Community Theatre / Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAD, Community & Amateur Theatre, with a secondary code of MPAGABAM, Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking). Its NAICS code is 711110 and its SIC code is 7900.