Soo Theatre Project Inc

What Soo Theatre Project Inc does

Soo Theatre Project, Inc. is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a historic performing arts and education center headquartered at 534 Ashmun St., Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The organization purchased the 1930-vintage Soo Theatre building in March 2003, obtained nonprofit status in 2004, and over two decades has rebuilt it into the only fully equipped live theater venue in the Eastern Upper Peninsula, completing a roughly $600,000 exterior restoration in 2024. Core operations span professional opera productions under the Soo Opera sub-brand (annual since 2006), summer Broadway productions (since 2007), the Soo Youth Theatre program (since 2015), a year-round education division with private lessons and group classes, summer camps, an Opera Apprentice Program, and four ensemble groups (Soo Youth Orchestra, New Horizons Adult String Orchestra, Northern Accent Chamber Orchestra, and the 2023-launched Soo Symphonic Orchestra). Annual touring productions extend to Mission Point Theater on Mackinac Island via a partnership with the Mackinac Arts Council.

The organization's revenue model is diversified across ticket sales (Pagliacci 2026 tickets priced $10-$55 with a $2 online processing fee), education tuition (tiered $60-$275 per program, plus the $1,200 Opera Apprentice Program), charitable donations and fundraising (including the "Belong to Something Big" donor program and "Around the Piano" home concert fundraiser), grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, and facility rental (notably the Soo Film Festival). GTM is community-led and event-driven: programming follows a seasonal calendar April through early December, marketed through the website sootheatre.org, email newsletter, YouTube archive, and community outreach. Distribution combines online ticket sales, phone reservations, in-person box office (Mon-Fri 12-5pm), and touring productions. The organization employed 7-15 part-time staff and served over 400 education students in 2024, with operating geographies confined to the Eastern Upper Peninsula plus the Mackinac Island tourism market.

Name

Soo Theatre Project Inc

Legal name

Soo Theatre Project, Inc.

Website

https://sootheatre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Soo Theatre Project Inc is a Michigan 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the historic Soo Theatre in Sault Ste. Marie, producing professional opera, Broadway, and youth theater productions alongside year-round arts education, summer camps, and community orchestra programs for the Eastern Upper Peninsula.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Live theater performances
• Performing arts education
• Music instruction classes
• Summer arts camps
• Opera productions

Headquarters

HQ city

Sault Ste. Marie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from live performances including operas, musicals, plays, and recitals. Tickets sold online, by phone, and at the door. Performance pricing varies by production.
2. Education Tuition and Class Fees: Revenue from private lessons, group classes, summer camps, and the opera apprentice program. Over 400 students participated in 2024 programs.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable contributions from individuals and businesses. Annual home concert fundraiser 'Around the Piano'. Donor program 'Belong to Something Big'.
4. Grants: Funding from government arts councils and cultural organizations including Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC) and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
5. Facility Rental: The auditorium is rented for seminars, film festivals (Soo Film Festival), and community events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Soo Theatre Project Inc operates a restored historic 1930 theater in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, producing live performing arts including professional opera with orchestra, Broadway musicals, youth theater, and community concerts. The organization runs an extensive arts education division offering private lessons, group classes, summer camps, and youth/adult orchestras across music, dance, and theater disciplines, serving over 400 students in 2024.

Product overview

Soo Theatre Project Inc operates as a performing arts center offering a unified portfolio of programs centered on theatrical and musical education and performance. The core offerings include Soo Opera (professional opera productions with orchestra), Broadway Productions, and Soo Youth Theatre, supported by an extensive Education Programs division that provides private lessons, group classes, and Summer Camps. The Opera Apprentice Program serves as an intensive summer training component. Additional ensemble programs include Soo Youth Orchestra, New Horizons Adult String Orchestra, and Chamber Music Ensemble. A Box Office system handles ticket sales for all productions. The organization functions as a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to fostering arts enjoyment and development in the Eastern Upper Peninsula.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Soo Opera: Full opera productions performed annually since 2006, featuring professional opera singers from around the country joined by local professionals. Produces fully staged works with orchestra including annual performances on Mackinac Island at Mission Point Theater.
• Soo Youth Orchestra
• Soo Youth Theatre
• New Horizons Adult String Orchestra
• Northern Accent Chamber Orchestra

Products and services

• Soo Opera Professional opera program producing fully staged operas with orchestra annually, featuring professional singers from across the country alongside local talent, including touring performances on Mackinac Island at Mission Point Theater. Ticket prices range from $10 (student) to $55 (VIP).
• Broadway Productions Full Broadway musical productions presented each summer, cast by audition with local citizens and performed with live orchestra accompaniment.
• Soo Youth Theatre Junior Broadway-style musical theatre program with full cast productions featuring local children aged 8 to 18, including productions like Into The Woods Jr.
• Education Programs Year-round arts education offering private lessons and group classes in dance, piano, harp, voice, strings, flute, acting, and musical theatre, with over 400 students participating in 2024 and 15 part-time instructors.
• Summer Camps Day camps exploring arts and presenting student productions, including musical theatre camps (MS/HS: $235-$275), elementary musical theatre camps ($135-$175), arts exploration camps, vocal and opera programs, string camps, chamber music camps, and art camps.
• Opera Apprentice Program Intensive summer program (July 15 - August 10, 2026) where university opera students perform roles in apprentice operas, understudy leading roles in mainstage productions, and participate in masterclasses with professional guest artists. Total cost: $1,200 including tuition and housing.
• Soo Youth Orchestra Advanced youth orchestra program directed by faculty, with performances at the theatre and community events.
• New Horizons Adult String Orchestra Adult string orchestra program providing performance opportunities for adult musicians in the community. Classes held Tuesdays 3:30-4:25pm. Pricing: $80/$95/$105.
• Chamber Music Ensemble Small ensemble program including musicians from faculty and community, featuring chamber music performances and summer camp opportunities.
• Northern Accent Chamber Orchestra Chamber music ensemble founded by Maggie Twining that performs concerts at the theater including sacred music concerts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 students participated in 2024 programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mackinac Arts CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for annual touring opera productions at Mission Point Center for the Arts on Mackinac Island. Handles ticket sales for island performances.
• Mackinac Crossings TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhen Mackinac Crossings Theatre closed in 2006, Soo Theatre received theater equipment including seats, stage rigging, lights, sound equipment, and curtains.
• Lake Superior State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal university where Karen Beacom served as adjunct professor of music for 18 years. University connection provides collaborative opportunities.
• Soo Film FestivalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFilm festival rents the Soo Theatre auditorium annually for original films from the Great Lakes area (since 2014).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Barn Theatre: Michigan community theater in Augusta producing summer stock and educational youth theater programming. Directly comparable as a regional Michigan nonprofit combining professional productions with youth theater education.
• Purple Rose Theatre Company: Professional nonprofit community theater in Chelsea, Michigan producing mainstage plays and operating educational programs. Directly comparable as a Michigan-based nonprofit producing theater with educational outreach in a smaller community.
• Thunder Bay Theatre: Regional community theater in Alpena, Michigan producing mainstage productions in Northern Michigan. Directly comparable as a nonprofit regional theater serving a similar small-city Northern Michigan market.
• Peninsula Players Theatre: Professional nonprofit summer theater in Door County, Wisconsin producing plays and musicals in a rural setting. Directly comparable as a community-based professional theater serving a rural region with a seasonal production calendar.
• Tibbits Summer Theatre: Historic Michigan community theater in Coldwater producing summer stock productions in a restored historic venue. Directly comparable as a Michigan nonprofit operating theater productions from a historic building with community programming.

Broad incumbents

• Michigan Opera Theatre: Michigan's largest opera company based in Detroit producing full operatic productions and education programs. Comparable as a Michigan-based opera presenter with educational outreach, though significantly larger in scale and operating in a major metro.
• Interlochen Center for the Arts: Major Michigan arts education and performance institution in Interlochen offering orchestral, theatrical, and arts training programming. Comparable as a Michigan institution combining performing arts education with public performances, though significantly larger in scale and scope.

Others

• Macomb Center for the Performing Arts: Michigan performing arts venue hosting touring productions and community programming. Comparable as a Michigan venue operating theater productions and educational outreach, though it primarily presents touring shows rather than producing its own.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOaA2VQt36S5kSosjFlCN_Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soo-theatre-project-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Soo Theatre Project Inc