NEW NATIVE THEATRE
New Native Theatre is a Saint Paul-based, Native-led nonprofit theatre company producing authentic Native American stories for the stage, serving approximately 70,000 Native community members across eleven Minnesota tribes and the Twin Cities urban Native population.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersSaint Paul, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What NEW NATIVE THEATRE does
New Native Theatre (NNT) is a Native-led nonprofit theatre company founded in 2009 by Rhiana Yazzie and headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota. NNT produces, commissions, and devises authentic Native American stories for the stage, serving the eleven Minnesota tribes and the urban Twin Cities Native community, a population of approximately 70,000 people historically underserved by the roughly 100 professional theatres in the region. Its core programming comprises mainstage productions (typically 4 per season) presented at partner venues such as 825 Arts and Gremlin Theatre, supplemented by touring productions to Upper Midwest reservations, a Youth Theater Summer Camp, training programs (internships, apprenticeships, Actor's Lab), and the annual Two Spirit Powwow — Minnesota's only powwow honoring Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ relatives.
The company's "technology" is its artistic and community production infrastructure rather than software: a curated repertoire of original Native-authored works, a developer pipeline for emerging Native playwrights, and venue partnerships that allow a small core staff of approximately 6 to mount full productions. Programming is led by Artistic Director Rhiana Yazzie (a 2025 United States Artist Fellow and Lanford Wilson/Steinberg Award winner), supported by Managing Director Genevieve Lane, Artistic Producer Benjamin Wilson, and an Artistic Associate Intern. Productions are created and staged in-house with engagement of volunteers and seasonal workers.
NNT's revenue model is structurally that of a 501(c)-style nonprofit combining institutional grants, individual donations, and earned revenue. Named funders include the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Mellon Foundation, McKnight Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Minnesota State Arts Board, Carlson Family Foundation, Headwaters, Sundance Foundation, Minneapolis Foundation, and Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. Earned revenue consists of pay-what-you-can ticket sales (suggested $40, with $25 and $10 tiers and group rates), and a small online merchandise line (Two Spirit Powwow t-shirts and mugs). The company is currently in its 16th season (2025-2026).
NEW NATIVE THEATRE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NEW NATIVE THEATRE
- Legal name
- New Native Theatre
- Website
- https://newnativetheatre.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- New Native Theatre is a Saint Paul-based, Native-led nonprofit theatre company producing authentic Native American stories for the stage, serving approximately 70,000 Native community members across eleven Minnesota tribes and the Twin Cities urban Native population.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NEW NATIVE THEATRE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts Theatre
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD), Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI), Community Theatre & Storytelling Festivals (MPAGAEAI)
Keywords
Where NEW NATIVE THEATRE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Paul
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
NEW NATIVE THEATRE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible contributions from individual donors supporting the mission of Native American theatre and community programming.
- Ticket Sales: Pay-what-you-can admission with suggested price of $40, plus reduced $25 and $10 tiers. Group tickets available for parties of 5 or more.
- Merchandise Sales: Limited edition merchandise including Two Spirit Powwow t-shirts ($30) and mugs (starting at $19), available through the online store.
- Foundation and Government Grants: Support from arts foundations including Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Mellon Foundation, McKnight Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Minnesota State Arts Board, and others.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | One-Time Donation | Full Support Ticket - $40 |
| Subscription | One-Time Donation | Reduced Price Ticket - $25 |
| Subscription | One-Time Donation | Lowest Price Ticket - $10 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Pay-What-You-Can at Door |
| Other | One-Time Donation | Group Tickets |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
NEW NATIVE THEATRE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
New Native Theatre produces, commissions, and devises authentic Native American stories for the stage at Twin Cities venues. The company supplements mainstage productions with a Youth Theater Summer Camp, an annual Two Spirit Powwow, an Actor's Lab, and internship/apprenticeship training programs for emerging Native artists. All offerings are grounded in culturally affirming practice and serve the Native community of Minnesota and the broader Upper Midwest.
Product overview
New Native Theatre (NNT) is a Native-led nonprofit theatre company based in the Twin Cities that produces authentic Native American stories for the stage. Founded in 2009 by Rhiana Yazzie, NNT is the nation's largest Native-led nonprofit theatre company. The organization operates as a single integrated offering centered around theatrical productions, supplemented by youth programming (Youth Theater Summer Camp), community events (Two Spirit Powwow), professional training (internships, apprenticeships, Actor's Lab), and a donation program. NNT produces commissioned and existing plays by Native playwrights, community-created works on social justice topics, and presents the best Native American productions from across North America. The company engages approximately 70,000 Native community members in the eleven Minnesota tribes and urban Twin Cities area.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 15+ years of consistent programming
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use NEW NATIVE THEATRE
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
NEW NATIVE THEATRE technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
NEW NATIVE THEATRE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Division of Indian Work's Youth Leadership Development ProgramcorePartnership for Youth Theater Summer Camp programming, providing culturally affirming theatre education for Native youth.
- Keep the Fire Alive ProgramcoreExternal funding program providing internship opportunities for Native youth through NNT's Artistic Associate Intern program.
- 825 ArtscorePrimary venue partner for NNT's mainstage productions including The Bird Blind and A Christmas in Ochopee.
- Theater MumajorCo-presenting the MU TANG CLAN VOL 3 Playwright Cohort with NNT, supporting Asian American and Native playwright development.
- Playwrights' CentercoreRhiana Yazzie has been a Playwrights' Center Fellow multiple times. NNT collaborates with their Native playwrights lab.
- ArtspaceminorListed as a supporter of NNT's work.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
NEW NATIVE THEATRE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO): New York-based nonprofit producing Asian American theater. Comparable as a mission-driven, identity-focused nonprofit theater of similar scale developing new work by underrepresented playwrights.
- Echo Theater Company: Native American theater company producing new works by Indigenous playwrights. Comparable as a smaller-scale Indigenous-led theater company focused on developing original Native American stage works.
Regional players
- Bedlam Theatre: Minneapolis-based community-focused theater. NNT partnered with Bedlam on the 2013 Native-Somali Friendship Play, making it a comparable community-engaged theater in the same market.
Direct peers
- Native Earth Performing Arts: Toronto-based Indigenous theater company producing works by Native playwrights. Comparable as a North American Indigenous-led theater company with year-round programming and development programs.
- Mixed Blood Theatre: Minneapolis-based professional theater known for diverse casting and community-centered programming. Comparable to NNT as a mission-driven, multicultural nonprofit theater operating in the same Twin Cities market.
- Perseverance Theatre: Juneau, Alaska-based professional theater producing Native Alaskan and contemporary works. Comparable as an established nonprofit theater engaging Indigenous communities and producing plays by Alaskan Native playwrights.
- Red Sky Performance: Toronto-based Indigenous performing arts company. NNT has presented Red Sky's Raven Stole The Sun, and both focus on Indigenous storytelling through dance and theater.
- Theater Mu: Minneapolis-based Asian American theater company. NNT is actually a co-presenting partner with Theater Mu on the Mu Tang Clan Vol 3 Playwright Cohort, and both serve as identity-focused nonprofit theaters in the Twin Cities.
- Penumbra Theatre Company: Saint Paul-based nonprofit theater with a mission-driven focus on African American stories and community programming. Comparable to NNT as a regionally rooted, culturally specific nonprofit producing theater company in the Twin Cities.
- Stages Theatre Company: Hopkins, Minnesota-based theater producing family and youth programming. NNT has collaborated on productions like The Three Snow Bears, and both serve the Minnesota audience with theatrical productions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
NEW NATIVE THEATRE social profiles
Digital presenceNEW NATIVE THEATRE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NEW NATIVE THEATRE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
NEW NATIVE THEATRE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NEW NATIVE 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 NEW NATIVE THEATRE
What does NEW NATIVE THEATRE do?
New Native Theatre produces, commissions, and devises authentic Native American stories for the stage at Twin Cities venues. The company supplements mainstage productions with a Youth Theater Summer Camp, an annual Two Spirit Powwow, an Actor's Lab, and internship/apprenticeship training programs for emerging Native artists. All offerings are grounded in culturally affirming practice and serve the Native community of Minnesota and the broader Upper Midwest.
Is NEW NATIVE THEATRE a public or private company?
NEW NATIVE THEATRE is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was NEW NATIVE THEATRE founded?
NEW NATIVE THEATRE was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is NEW NATIVE THEATRE based?
NEW NATIVE THEATRE is headquartered in Saint Paul, United States, in the North America region.
How does NEW NATIVE THEATRE make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are ticket Sales, merchandise Sales and foundation and Government Grants.
Who are NEW NATIVE THEATRE's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO) and Echo Theater Company. Bedlam Theatre is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Native Earth Performing Arts, Mixed Blood Theatre, Perseverance Theatre, Red Sky Performance, Theater Mu, Penumbra Theatre Company and Stages Theatre Company.
Does NEW NATIVE THEATRE have an API?
No public API is recorded for NEW NATIVE THEATRE.
What industry is NEW NATIVE THEATRE in?
NEW NATIVE THEATRE's product category is Performing Arts Theatre. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAB, Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies, with a secondary code of MPAGABAD, Community & Amateur Theatre. Its NAICS code is 711110.