GREAT Theatre

What GREAT Theatre does

GREAT Theatre, legally Great River Educational Arts Theatre, is a 501c3 nonprofit community theatre founded in 1998 and headquartered at 710 Sundial Drive in Waite Park, Minnesota, with a secondary production presence at the 800-seat Paramount Center for the Arts in downtown St. Cloud. The organization produces live theatrical performances and delivers arts education programming across Central Minnesota, serving approximately 50,000 community members annually through a portfolio that includes four mainstage productions per season at the Paramount, three productions in the 150-seat Helgeson Learning Lab Theatre opened in 2017, 56 summer theatre camps at 10 community locations, in-school Musical-in-a-Week residencies reaching all 632 fifth graders in ISD 742, free drama workshops through community partners (Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Promise Neighborhood, D. Blake Center), student matinees reaching 6,000+ K-12 students, and the Youth Artist Project pairing high school students with professional mentors. The technical platform comprises professional-grade theatrical lighting and sound systems, mobile staging, flexible seating configurations, an in-house costume shop, and a Salesforce-based online ticketing portal.

The business model combines earned revenue with philanthropic support. Ticket sales (single tickets priced $16-$49, season subscriptions saving up to 25% with no ticketing fees, group discounts of 5-11% for parties of 10+, and student matinees averaging 70% below public pricing) cover approximately 60% of production costs, with the remainder bridged by individual donations, corporate show sponsorships reaching 50,000+ community impressions, planned giving programs, summer camp registration fees with pick-your-price scholarships totaling $40,370 annually, and recurring grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and Central Minnesota Arts Board. Pick-your-price ticketing across all programming and confidential camp scholarships anchor a deliberate accessibility strategy. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the website, in-person and phone box office at both venues, and dedicated school partnership channels.

Operations are supported by approximately 17 paid staff members including Executive Director Lacey Schirmers (since 2022) and Artistic & Education Director Kendra Norton Dando (since 2019), alongside 300+ volunteers contributing over 21,000 hours annually across acting, crew, costume shop, scene shop, and front-of-house roles. The organization maintains no parent company, operates as an independent nonprofit governed by a Board of Directors, and has not publicly disclosed revenue figures. Its 28-season track record, recurring state arts funding, and Innovation Award recognition for the Youth Artist Project position it as the only professional-quality community theatre in Central Minnesota.

Name

GREAT Theatre

Legal name

Great River Educational Arts Theatre

Website

https://greattheatre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GREAT Theatre is a 501c3 nonprofit community theatre in Central Minnesota producing live theatrical productions and arts education programs serving approximately 50,000 community members annually across its 800-seat Paramount and 150-seat Learning Lab venues, including summer camps, school residencies, and youth workshops.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Theatre and Arts Education

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG), Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG)

Keywords

• Community theatre productions
• Arts education programs
• Youth theatre camps
• Live theatrical performances
• Nonprofit performing arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Waite Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: 501c3 nonprofit relying on donor support to bridge the gap between ticket sales and true cost of producing high-quality shows. Includes annual donors, major gifts, and corporate sponsorships. Ticket sales cover approximately 60% of production costs.
2. Ticket Sales: Season subscriptions (save up to 25%), single tickets for main stage and Learning Lab productions, and student matinee tickets. Single tickets range from $16-$49 depending on show and seating.
3. Summer Camp Registration: Registration fees for 56 theatre camps for ages 4 through high school across 10 community locations. Pick-your-price registration with nearly $40,000 awarded annually in scholarships.
4. Planned Giving: Bequests, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, retirement plan donations, and life insurance beneficiary designations for long-term sustainability.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Show sponsorships connecting with 50,000+ community-minded Central Minnesotans through programs, website, social media, email campaigns, and 15-50 show tickets per season.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GREAT Theatre produces live theatrical performances at two venues (800-seat Paramount Center for the Arts and 150-seat Helgeson Learning Lab Theatre) and delivers arts education programming including 56 Summer Theatre Camps, Musical-in-a-Week school residencies, Drama Workshops, Student Matinees, and the Youth Artist Project. Ticket sales cover approximately 60% of production costs, with the remainder funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

GREAT Theatre (Great River Educational Arts Theatre) is a nonprofit community theatre organization offering a portfolio of live theatre productions and arts education programs. The core offering includes four mainstage productions annually at the Paramount Center for the Arts and three additional productions at the Helgeson Learning Lab Theatre, spanning youth-led projects to classic and contemporary musicals and plays. Education programming includes 56 Summer Theatre Camps across Central Minnesota, Musical-in-a-Week school residencies reaching all fifth graders in ISD 742, Drama Workshops in partnership with youth organizations, Student Matinees for school field trips, and the Youth Artist Project where high school students direct and design productions. The organization serves approximately 50,000 community members annually through these interconnected programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatre Productions
• Summer Theatre Camps
• Drama Workshops
• Musical-in-a-Week
• Student Matinees
• Youth Artist Project
• Season Subscriptions
• Helgeson Learning Lab Theatre
• Telling Our Stories: Great Women of Stearns County

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 50,000 community members served annually through programming
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Boys and Girls Club of Central MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Drama Workshops integrating theatre into after-school and summer care programs at no cost to participants. Youth-serving organization providing access to underserved children.
• District 742 (St. Cloud Area School District)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner for Musical-in-a-Week residency bringing theatre to all 632+ fifth graders during school day. Removes cost and transportation barriers for district students.
• YMCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner hosting Drama Workshops for youth in their programs, expanding reach of theatre arts education.
• Promise NeighborhoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Drama Workshops reaching underserved youth populations in Central Minnesota.
• D. Blake CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner hosting Drama Workshops for youth development programs.
• Too Much TalentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting Drama Workshop programming for youth.
• Paramount Center for the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-located partnership at 913 St. Germain St. West, St. Cloud. GREAT produces main stage shows at this 800-seat historic theatre. Separate box office operations with coordination for ticket sales.
• Stearns County History MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on 'Telling Our Stories: Great Women of Stearns County' original filmed theatrical production featuring youth-created content about local historical women.
• College of Saint BenedictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Gorecki Theatre hosting some performances. Located in St. Joseph, MN.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Imagination Stage: Bethesda, MD-based professional theatre for young audiences combining mainstage productions with extensive education programs including camps, classes, and school residencies — directly comparable to GREAT's youth-theatre-plus-education hybrid model.
• Park Square Theatre: St. Paul-based professional regional theatre producing a season of plays and musicals with education programs for youth — directly comparable to GREAT's regional repertory structure, mix of plays and musicals, and youth education focus.
• Mixed Blood Theatre: Minneapolis-based community-engaged regional theatre producing a season of works with strong diversity and access programming including pay-what-you-can admission — directly comparable to GREAT's regional repertory model and commitment to accessibility/pricing innovation.
• South Coast Repertory: Costa Mesa, CA-based Tony Award-recognized regional repertory theatre producing a season of new works and classics with associated community and education programs — comparable to GREAT's regional repertory company structure and diversified programming model.
• Seattle Children's Theatre: Seattle-based professional theatre producing work for young audiences with parallel education programs including drama classes, school partnerships, and outreach — directly comparable to GREAT's youth-facing production and education portfolio.
• Geva Theatre Center: Rochester, NY-based regional repertory theatre producing a season of plays and musicals with significant education and community engagement programs — directly comparable to GREAT as a mid-size regional repertory combining mainstage productions with school-based and community education programming.
• Children's Theatre Company: Minneapolis-based professional theatre company dedicated to producing work for young audiences, with extensive education programming including school residencies and classes — directly comparable to GREAT's youth-focused mission, in-school Musical-in-a-Week, and summer camp offerings in a similar Minnesota market.
• Penumbra Theatre Company: St. Paul-based regional theatre company with a mission-centered producing model and significant community/education programming — comparable to GREAT as a mission-driven Minnesota regional theatre combining mainstage productions with deep community engagement.

Broad incumbents

• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Chicago-based nationally renowned regional repertory theatre producing a season of new works and classics with associated education programming — comparable as a leading regional repertory model that GREAT's community-based regional theatre structure aspires to in scaled-down form.
• Guthrie Theater: Minnesota's flagship regional repertory theatre operating a large multi-stage venue in Minneapolis — comparable as a regional repertory company producing a season of classics and contemporary work, though at substantially larger scale and broader national profile than GREAT.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/great-river-educational-arts-theatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 GREAT Theatre