Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre

What Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre does

Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre (legally The Carrousel Players of the Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit performing arts organization founded in 1967 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. It operates as a regionally professional musical theatre, presenting a three-show summer season (June–August) at the 1,200-seat Schuler Performing Arts Center on the North Idaho College campus, with all performer, creative, and crew positions paid. The organization markets itself as "Better than Broadway" and has secured notable endorsements (John Travolta, USA Today, Spokesman-Review, The Inlander); its 2026 season features 'Come From Away' and 'Titanic The Musical.' It is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Executive Artistic Director Chuck Ethridge.

The business model is a multi-stream non-profit revenue engine. Ticketed access is sold through individual tickets ($50–$192 + fees/tax), an annual Season Subscription Membership with permanent pricing at $176, Play Passes ($100 for all three shows), structured group discounts (15–35% off for 10–99 seats), and a Student Rush (50% off Tier 3). Non-ticket revenue includes a Friends of CST monthly giving program ($20/month), one-time and endowment donations (the latter hosted by Innovia Foundation), a Musical Theatre Training Institute (MTTI) education sub-brand operating at cstmtti.com, merchandise sold via Square, and the Theatre-for-All donation add-on subsidizing access for underserved youth. Funding is further diversified through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Idaho Commission on the Arts, Coeur d'Alene Tribe, and the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, alongside 18+ corporate Champion Sponsors.

Operationally, the organization runs a small core staff (15 employees) supported by paid seasonal performers and an extensive volunteer program that issues "Musical Notes" rewards redeemable for tickets, merchandise, and MTTI tuition. The technology stack is standard commercial infrastructure — Ontraport (CRM/email automation), Purple Pass (ticketing), Square (e-commerce and in-person payments), Stripe (payments), Auctria (donation portal), and Google Analytics — with no proprietary platform. Year-round business (MTTI classes, box office, and development) is run from a studio at 4951 N. Building Center Drive, while the summer season is anchored at the Schuler Performing Arts Center. The organization actively cultivates Pacific Northwest regional audiences, with stated vision of becoming the premier performing arts organization in the region.

Name

Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre

Legal name

The Carrousel Players of the Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre, Inc.

Website

https://cstidaho.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional musical theatre founded in 1967 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, presenting a three-show summer season at the 1,200-seat Schuler Performing Arts Center on the North Idaho College campus. It serves Pacific Northwest patrons through subscriptions, individual and group tickets, donations, and an education sub-brand (MTTI).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Musical Theatre

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)

Keywords

• Musical theatre productions
• Performing arts organization
• Season ticket subscriptions
• Theatrical education programs
• Community arts nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Coeur d'Alene

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Season Subscription Memberships: Automatically recurring annual subscriptions ($176 per subscription) providing permanent pricing guarantees, reserved seats, red carpet early entry, food/drink discounts, and member benefits. Renews every September with no price increases as long as the subscription remains active.
2. Individual Ticket Sales: One-time ticket purchases ranging from $50 to $192 per seat, plus a $7.50 ticketing fee and 6% Idaho sales tax. Tickets sold online and at the box office for specific performances.
3. Play Passes: Season pass offering Tier 3 seat access to all three main stage shows for $100 plus 6% sales tax. Non-transferable, requires physical pass and valid ID for redemption.
4. Group Ticket Sales: Group bookings of 10 or more receive 15-35% discounts on Tier 3 seating (10-19 tickets: $48.88/ticket; 20-49: $43.13/ticket; 50-99: $37.38/ticket) plus a 10% discount voucher for future individual tickets.
5. Donations & Endowment: Tax-deductible donations (501(c)(3) #82-0386992) via online portal, endowment at Innovia, mail-in checks, and non-cash gifts (stocks, real estate, IRA rollovers, estate gifts, vehicles). Monthly recurring 'Friend of CST' program at $20/month.
6. Musical Theatre Training Institute (MTTI): Educational programming including classes, camps, and workshops for youth and adults. Revenue from tuition for MTTI programs.
7. Merchandise & Add-ons: Season t-shirts ($40 each) sold as add-ons at checkout. Theatre-for-All add-on donations ($25 per seat, or $50 per seat when bundled with subscription) providing tickets to underserved youth and community organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre produces and presents professional Broadway-quality musical theatre productions at the 1,200-seat Schuler Performing Arts Center on the North Idaho College campus in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The organization sells access to performances through Season Subscription Memberships, Individual Tickets, Group Tickets, Student Rush tickets, and Play Passes, while operating the Musical Theatre Training Institute (MTTI) for theatrical education and soliciting donations via the Theatre-for-All fund and Friends of CST monthly giving program.

Product overview

Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre operates as a single-venue professional musical theatre presenting Broadway-caliber productions at the Schuler Performing Arts Center. The core product portfolio centers on ticketed attendance to summer season productions, offered through multiple access models: Season Subscription Memberships (the flagship offering with permanent pricing and member benefits), Individual Tickets, Group Tickets, Student Rush Tickets, and Play Passes. An optional Theatre-for-All donation add-on allows purchasers to gift tickets to underserved youth organizations. The theatre also operates the Musical Theatre Training Institute as an educational sub-brand, and a Friends of CST monthly giving program for donor engagement. The 2026 season features 'Come From Away' and 'Titanic The Musical' at the 1,200-seat venue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Musical Theatre Training Institute (MTTI): Educational division offering classes, workshops, and camps for youth and adults interested in musical theatre.

Products and services

• Season Subscription Membership Automatically recurring annual membership providing permanent pricing guarantees, guaranteed reserved season seats, red carpet early entry, food/drink discounts at select local establishments, ticket exchanges within the same show, and exclusive subscriber benefits. Renews every September at the same rate as long as active.
• Individual Tickets Single-performance tickets for specific shows and dates, with assigned seating in tiered price points ranging from $50 to $192 per seat, plus ticketing fee and sales tax. Available online and at the box office.
• Group Tickets Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more in Tier 3 seating with 15-35% discounts based on group size (10-19 tickets at $48.88, 20-49 at $43.13, 50-99 at $37.38), plus a 10% discount voucher for future individual tickets. Handled by a dedicated group coordinator.
• Student Rush Tickets Discounted tickets available to students of any age 60 minutes prior to showtime, offering up to 2 Tier 3 tickets per student at 50% off with valid student ID (required for students over 16).
• Play Passes Season pass guaranteeing one Tier 3 seat for each of the three main stage shows for $100 plus 6% sales tax. Non-transferable, requires physical pass and valid ID for in-person redemption. No blackout dates.
• Musical Theatre Training Institute (MTTI) Education division offering musical theatre classes, workshops, and camps for youth and adults at various experience levels. Operated at cstmtti.com. Classes also held at the studio location during fall/winter months.
• Friends of CST Monthly Giving Program Recurring monthly donation program at $20/month that helps fund Broadway-quality musical theatre productions in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Donations are tax-deductible through the 501(c)(3) organization.
• 2026 Broadway Season Main stage summer season featuring professional musical theatre productions at the 1,200-seat Schuler Performing Arts Center. The 2026 season includes 'Come From Away' (July 17-26) and 'Titanic The Musical' (August 7-16). Performances run June through August.

Quantifiable outcome

• The permanent pricing guarantee ensures season subscribers never pay more for their subscription as long as they remain active, protecting against future price increases.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration6 records

Partnerships

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

• North Idaho College (NIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Idaho College hosts Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre's main stage performances at the Schuler Performing Arts Center, Boswell Hall. NIC is the performance venue partner and also appears as a Champion Sponsor of the theatre. The theatre's mailing address is on the NIC campus.
• Music Theatre International (MTI)coreOthersMTI is the licensing agent for Come From Away and Frozen. Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre presents these shows through special arrangement with MTI, which supplies all authorized performance materials.
• Concord Theatricals (Tams-Witmark)coreOthersConcord Theatricals represents Tams-Witmark in providing the licensing rights for Titanic: Ensemble Version to Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre.
• National Endowment for the ArtsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFederal arts funding agency that provides grant support to Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre as part of its arts philanthropy. Listed as a grant provider on the theatre's website.
• Idaho Commission on the ArtsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerState arts agency providing grant support to Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre as the premier performing arts organization in North Idaho.
• Coeur d'Alene TribemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal tribal government providing grant support to the theatre as a community arts partner.
• Laura Moore Cunningham FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional foundation providing grant support to Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre. Listed as part of the theatre's supported-by grants section.
• 18+ Champion Sponsors (Parker's Subaru, LobbyCast TV, Andy's Heating, Dairy Queen, Digital Marketing Group, Post Falls Hospital, 360 Fitness, Inland NW Spine, Northwest Specialty Hospital, RayCap, Kroc CDA, Pilgrim's Market, Selkirk, Pastry & More, STCU, Make It Husky, and others)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsors receive Champion Sponsor status with logo placement on the website homepage and marketing materials. Benefits include community visibility and association with the premier regional theatre. Some sponsors (e.g., restaurants) offer exclusive discounts to season subscribers.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of North IdahominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeneficiary of the Theatre-for-All fund. The Summer Arts Enrichment program provides tickets for Boys & Girls Clubs members who otherwise could not attend live musical theatre performances.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Spokane Civic Theatre: Regional community professional theatre based in Spokane, Washington, producing multiple shows per season with subscription and ticket sales. Directly comparable to CST as a Pacific Northwest regional theatre company serving a similar Inland Northwest audience.
• Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre: Dinner theatre in Indianapolis producing professional Broadway musicals year-round with a subscription season. Comparable as a regional professional musical theatre combining dining and ticketed performances with similar audience demographics.
• Arizona Broadway Theatre: Professional dinner theatre producing Broadway musicals with paid casts in Peoria, Arizona. Comparable as a regional professional musical theatre producing Broadway-caliber productions with subscription and group ticketing models.
• Spokane Valley Summer Theatre: Summer theatre producing professional musical theatre productions in the Spokane Valley area. Comparable to CST as a regional summer-season musical theatre producing Broadway-caliber shows for Inland Northwest audiences.
• Idaho Shakespeare Festival: Idaho-based professional repertory theatre producing a summer season of Shakespeare, classics, and musicals in an outdoor venue. Directly comparable as a regional professional theatre in the same state with a summer season model.
• Tuacahn Center for the Arts: Outdoor amphitheatre and performing arts center in Ivins, Utah, producing Broadway musicals and concerts seasonally. Comparable as a regional destination musical theatre presenting professional Broadway-caliber productions to a multi-state audience.
• Sacramento Music Circus: Professional musical theatre-in-the-round producing Broadway musicals in Sacramento, California. Comparable as a regional professional musical theatre with a subscription season and group ticketing serving a Pacific/Western US audience.
• Aspire Community Theatre: Community theatre in the North Idaho/Inland Northwest region where CST's Executive Artistic Director previously served as Music Director and Board Member. Comparable as a regional theatre producing musicals with overlapping talent and audience pools.
• Lake City Playhouse: Community theatre based in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, producing plays and musicals for local audiences. Directly comparable as a local theatre peer where CST leadership has worked, sharing the same geographic market and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Large, well-established regional repertory theatre in Ashland, Oregon, producing Shakespeare and musicals across multiple venues. Comparable as a Pacific Northwest regional professional theatre with a longer season and broader scope than CST.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cstidaho
• Instagraminstagram.com/cstidaho
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coeur-d-alene-summer-theatre

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre