The Studio Theatre

What The Studio Theatre does

The Studio Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community theatre company founded in 2014 and headquartered at 320 W 7th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas. It produced 8-9 full-length live theatrical productions per season in a 100-seat main venue, supported by a 75-capacity Lobby Bar used for events and recurring Jazz Nights. Its core offering was local-talent-driven community theatre, with a programming focus on Arkansas premieres and post-Broadway titles (including being the first U.S. community theatre to stage 'War Paint' after its Broadway closing). Secondary revenue and support came from ticket sales, group bookings (10+), production and season sponsorships ($500-$10,000+), playbill advertising ($75-$1,000), space rentals, recurring and one-time donations, and an Adopt an Artist program ($250/artist).

The business model combined a direct-to-consumer ticketing operation with a multi-stream fundraising apparatus typical of small U.S. community theatres. Distribution ran entirely through the company's own website, with Square handling payments and On The Stage serving as the ticketing platform; no third-party resellers, no app, and no API were offered. Customer segments comprised Central Arkansas individual patrons (primary), event renters, local business sponsors, and local artists and volunteers. The organization operated with a five-person core team under Artistic Director Justin A. Pike and Executive Director Kayla Jenkins, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.

In 2025, after exploring relocation under a 'Reimagining 2025' campaign, the Board of Directors announced permanent closure of the theatre, citing the financial infeasibility of outfitting a new space, maintaining staff, and sustaining production quality in the prevailing economic environment. The departure of the Board President earlier in 2025 was an additional governance factor cited in the decision.

Name

The Studio Theatre

Legal name

The Studio Theatre

Website

https://studiotheatrelr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Studio Theatre was a 501(c)(3) non-profit community theatre in Little Rock, Arkansas, producing 8-9 live productions per season on a 100-seat main stage with local talent and sustaining operations via ticket sales, donations, and sponsorships. The board announced permanent closure in 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Theatre / Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD)

Keywords

• Community theatre productions
• Live theatrical performances
• Musical theatre season
• Arts venue rentals
• Nonprofit performing arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Little Rock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from selling tickets to live theatre performances. Tickets are sold through Square payment processing integrated on their website.
2. Monetary Donations: Tax-deductible donations to the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Accepts one-time and monthly recurring donation options.
3. Sponsorships and Playbill Ads: Production sponsorships ranging from $500-$2,500 per show, season sponsorships from $5,000-$10,000+, and playbill advertisements at $75-$1,000.
4. Space Rentals: Rental of Lobby Bar (75 capacity) and Main Theatre (100 capacity) for events including office parties, comedy shows, baby showers, speaking events, and cabarets.
5. Adopt an Artist Program: Individual artist sponsorship at $250 to support emerging talent and help sustain local artists.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Studio Theatre is a community theatre that produces 8-9 full-length live theatrical productions per season (plays and musicals) using local talent in its 100-seat Main Theatre. Revenue is complemented by venue space rentals (Lobby Bar up to 75 occupancy, Main Theatre up to 100), group ticket sales, a recurring Jazz Night series, and tiered sponsorship/advertising programs.

Product overview

The Studio Theatre is a community theatre company offering live theatrical productions as its core product. The company produces 8-9 full-length shows per season at its main venue (100-seat capacity), featuring local talent in a diverse lineup of plays and musicals. Supporting offerings include The Lobby Bar (event space and recurring Jazz Nights), space rentals for external events (Lobby Bar up to 75 occupancy, Main Theatre up to 100), group ticket packages, sponsorship opportunities (production, season, and playbill ad tiers), the Adopt an Artist donor program, and volunteer engagement programs spanning backstage, front-of-house, and on-stage roles. The theatre operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving Central Arkansas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Main Stage Productions Annual season of 8-9 full-length plays and musicals performed in the 100-seat Main Theatre, featuring local Central Arkansas talent and spanning genres from family-friendly to mature content.
• The Lobby Bar On-site bar service available to patrons before, during, and after performances; also hosts recurring free Jazz Night events on the 3rd Monday of each month and supports private event rentals with capacity of up to 75.
• Space Rentals Rental of the Lobby Bar (capacity up to 75) and Main Theatre (capacity up to 100) for private events including office parties, comedy shows, baby showers, speaking events, lectures, and cabarets; rental includes professional sound and lighting and on-site technical professionals.
• Group Ticket Sales Discounted ticket packages for groups of 10 or more with priority access one month before single ticket sales, coordinated through the Executive Director.
• Production Sponsorship Per-show sponsorship for individual productions with four tiers — Director ($2,500), Principle ($1,500), Technician ($1,000), and Ensemble ($500) — each including playbill ads, complimentary tickets, cast meet-and-greets, and brand recognition in production materials.
• Season Sponsorship Annual theatre-wide sponsorship with Trustee ($10,000+) and Producer ($5,000) tiers including venue catering, drink packages for up to 85 guests, complimentary tickets, private show access, and custom playbill advertising.
• Playbill Advertisements Print advertising in the theatre's playbill reaching approximately 10,000 patrons annually, with single-production ads ($75 half-page, $100 full-page) and annual contracts ($750 half-page, $1,000 full-page for 12 months).
• Adopt an Artist Donor program at $250 per artist to support emerging performers in productions such as Annie and sustain the theatre's new space initiative.
• Monetary Donations Tax-deductible donations to the 501(c)(3) organization, accepted as one-time gifts and monthly recurring contributions to support operations, productions, and Reimagining 2025 campaigns.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Perpetual Motion DanceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2024Collaboration with perpetual motion dance to create new modern and aerial dance work. The Studio Theatre worked with this Oklahoma City-based modern and aerial dance company to present Equilibrium in May 2024. Perpetual Motion Dance has a mission to create, develop, and inspire innovative dance in their 22nd season.
• On The StagecoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with On The Stage ticketing platform for seamless online ticket sales and donation processing through their website.
• SquarecoreTechnology or IntegrationSquare payment processing platform used for ticket sales, donations, and event check-in at The Studio Theatre.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Direct peers

• Goodspeed Musicals: Connecticut-based regional theatre renowned for developing and premiering new musicals — highly comparable to The Studio Theatre's 'first community theatre to produce War Paint' positioning around new and post-Broadway titles.
• TheatreSquared: Professional regional theatre in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Comparable as an Arkansas-based producing theatre with a similar mix of new works, premieres, and community engagement programming.
• Arkansas Repertory Theatre: Professional regional theatre based in Little Rock, Arkansas — the same city as The Studio Theatre. Directly competes for local theatre audiences, sponsors, and donor dollars in Central Arkansas.
• Argenta Community Theater: Community theatre in North Little Rock (formerly the Community Theatre of Little Rock, which shared The Studio Theatre's facility until 2017). Direct peer in mission, scale, and target market.
• The Weekend Theater: Community theatre operating in Little Rock, sharing the same Central Arkansas patron pool and competing for local talent, audiences, and sponsorship dollars.

Broad incumbents

• Roundabout Theatre Company: Major New York non-profit producing classic and new works. Comparable in the non-profit theatre-company operating model and emphasis on producing established titles, but at substantially larger scale.
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Larger Chicago-based non-profit theatre known for developing new work and ensemble-driven productions. Comparable as a non-profit theatre company producing original and contemporary works.
• The Public Theater: Iconic New York City non-profit theatre and producer of new works. Comparable community-oriented mission and not-for-profit operating model, but at vastly greater scale and budget.
• Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company: Washington, D.C. non-profit theatre focused on innovative and new works. Comparable mission and non-profit structure, though with a professional staff and larger operating budget than The Studio Theatre.

Regional players

• Murry's Dinner Playhouse: Dinner theatre in the Little Rock/North Little Rock area offering staged productions with meal service. Overlaps in audience and venue-rental style offerings, though with a different format.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/studiotheatrelr

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 The Studio Theatre