Towne Street Theatre
Towne Street Theatre is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and LA's longest-running African-American theatre company, producing staged readings, festivals, cabaret, spoken word, and educational programming since 1992 for arts audiences and Black theatre artists.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Towne Street Theatre does
Towne Street Theatre (TST) is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID 95-4567319) that creates, develops, and produces original theatrical works reflective of the African-American experience. Founded in 1992 by Nancy Cheryll Davis-Bellamy as a Black female-led theatre arts organization, TST operates as what it describes as LA's longest-running African-American theatre company and is currently producing its 33rd season in 2026. Programming spans staged readings (Reading Series), the annual Ten-Minute Play Festival (13th edition), TST Cabaret, Sum Poetry spoken-word events, the Literary Series, the Summer Nights Series, the In Response thematic series addressing social justice, and a Children's Musical Theater Camp running annually since 1999. The company is in residence at Stella Adler/LA on Hollywood Boulevard and partners with A Noise Within, Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center, Hope Lutheran Church, and Wilshire Ebell for additional performance venues.
TST's revenue model combines ticket sales at tiered price points ($6 general admission, $12 performer admission, $25 VIP admission, $15 suggested admission for literary events, plus pay-what-you-can with a $5 minimum), individual donations via annual GivingTuesday campaigns, corporate sponsorships, and family membership programs. Distribution occurs through in-person performances in Los Angeles and virtual programming delivered via Zoom through the TST Virtual Salon platform launched during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The technology infrastructure consists of a Wix-hosted website (townestreetla.org) supporting event promotion, ticket sales, and donations; the organization discloses no proprietary technology platform, API, or AI capabilities. Marketing is conducted via Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, email newsletters, and the Givebutter donation/RSVP platform.
TST's primary customer segments are LA-based theatre and arts enthusiasts seeking African-American cultural programming, and actors, writers, and theatre artists seeking development and performance opportunities; corporate sponsors constitute a secondary, non-primary segment. The organization maintains a roster of 100+ members including actors, writers, crew, and associate artists. Following the 2025 passing of founder Nancy Cheryll Davis-Bellamy, artistic leadership has transitioned to Artistic Producers Veronica McClelland and Sarah Allyn Bauer.
Towne Street Theatre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Towne Street Theatre
- Legal name
- Towne Street Theatre
- Website
- https://townestreetla.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Towne Street Theatre is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and LA's longest-running African-American theatre company, producing staged readings, festivals, cabaret, spoken word, and educational programming since 1992 for arts audiences and Black theatre artists.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Towne Street Theatre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts / Live Theatre
- NAICS
- Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD)
Keywords
Where Towne Street Theatre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Towne Street Theatre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from admission fees to live performances including readings, plays, cabarets, and workshops. Ticket prices range from $6 general admission to $25 VIP seating for special events.
- Donations and Fundraising: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID: 95-4567319), TST relies heavily on donor contributions. They conduct annual GivingTuesday campaigns and maintain a list of individual donors and corporate sponsors.
- Membership Programs: Family memberships available for supporters at various giving levels, providing benefits and exclusive access to theatre programming.
- Corporate Partnerships: Business sponsorship opportunities for companies to support events, educational projects, or entire seasons, connecting corporate brands with TST's community reputation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | General Admission tickets for TST Cabaret events |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Performer Admission for TST Cabaret |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | VIP Admission for TST Cabaret |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Literary Series and Reading Events |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Pay What You Can events |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Towne Street Theatre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Towne Street Theatre produces and presents live theatrical programming centered on the African-American experience, including staged readings, the annual 10-Minute Play Festival, cabaret performances, spoken word events, literary adaptations, and a children's musical theater camp. Programming is delivered through in-person performances at the Stella Adler/LA theatre in Hollywood and through virtual Zoom-based events. The company also develops original work, hosts professional development workshops, and curates seasonal festivals that engage audiences and member artists.
Product overview
Towne Street Theatre operates as a single unified theatre company offering a portfolio of live performance programs rather than a technology platform. The core offerings include the Reading Series (staged readings), 10 Minute Play Festival (annual competitive festival), TST Cabaret (live music events), Sum Poetry (spoken word performances), and Literary Series (book-to-stage adaptations). Educational programming includes the annual Children's Musical Theater Camp. The organization also hosts seasonal programs like Summer Nights Series and Autumn Nights, plus the thematic In Response series addressing social justice. Since 2020, virtual programming has been delivered through the TST Virtual Salon platform. The company maintains a partnership with ABC for the Discovers Workshop Week talent development program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- TST Reading Series Staged readings of plays and literary works presented throughout the year, featuring TST acting members and guest artists in development workshops for Los Angeles audiences.
- 10-Minute Play Festival Annual competitive festival showcasing original 10-minute plays, currently in its 13th edition, featuring emerging and established playwrights whose short works are produced and performed.
- TST Cabaret Live music performance events featuring professional musicians performing patron song selections, with opportunities for audience members to perform on stage alongside the troupe.
- Sum Poetry Spoken word theatre performances featuring creative artists with open mic segments, often themed around social-justice topics such as 'Push The Culture'.
- TST Children's Musical Theater Camp Annual summer camp program teaching musical theater skills to children, culminating in performances of productions such as 'The Wiz' and 'Beauty and The Beast'.
- Literary Series Program that brings published books to life through staged readings, including author Q&A sessions and book sales for adult literary audiences.
- TST Virtual Salon Virtual programming platform hosting online productions, poetry events, and interactive theatrical experiences via Zoom for remote audiences.
- Summer Nights Series Multi-week summer programming featuring Sum Poetry, Sum Comedy, Literary Series readings, Variety Shows, and Conversations 'Bout The Girls across Thursday through Sunday evenings.
- In Response Series Multi-part artistic commentary series responding to social and political events, exploring social-justice issues through poetry, spoken word, monologues, and multimedia.
Quantifiable outcome
- 33rd Season (2026) - over 30 consecutive years of theatrical programming
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Towne Street Theatre
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Towne Street Theatre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Towne Street Theatre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Stella Adler/LAcoreTST is 'in residence' at Stella Adler/LA located at 6773 Hollywood Blvd. This serves as their primary performance venue for productions and readings.
- ABC (American Broadcasting Company)coreTST has participated in ABC Discovers Workshop Week for multiple years, providing their actors opportunities to perform scenes in front of casting executives and receive professional feedback. TST was invited for the 5th consecutive year in 2019.
- A Noise WithinminorA Noise Within hosted TST's reading of 'Concrete Rose' in 2019, demonstrating cross-company collaboration in LA theatre community.
- Wilshire EbellminorPartnership mentioned in 2023 programming for venue access and community events.
- Young StorytellersminorCollaborative educational partnership for youth programming mentioned in 2023.
- Ralphs Community RewardsminorRalphs grocery store community rewards program allows shoppers to link their loyalty card so TST earns rebate percentages on eligible purchases.
- Leimert Park International Theatre FestivalminorTST was invited to perform at this festival, presenting readings including 'Half Truths, Full Plate' in 2019.
- Barbara Morrison Performing Arts CenterminorTST used this Leimert Park venue for readings including 'Half Truths, Full Plate' in 2019.
- Hope Lutheran ChurchminorVenue for TST Cabaret events at 6720 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Towne Street Theatre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- New Federal Theatre: NYC-based African-American theatre company producing new works and developing diverse playwrights. Comparable in its Black-led, original-work-focused programming model and nonprofit structure serving cultural-community audiences.
- Crossroads Theatre Company: New Jersey-based African-American theatre company focused on producing new theatrical works and developing Black playwrights. Comparable as a Black-led producing theatre with a nonprofit revenue model and educational programming.
- Penumbra Center for Racial Healing: St. Paul-based African-American theatre company founded in 1976. Comparable as a regional Black-led theatre with educational programs, original production focus, and a long-running nonprofit model producing plays reflective of the Black experience.
- The Robey Theatre Company: Los Angeles-based theatre company focused on stories of the Black experience. Comparable as a culturally-specific producing theatre in the same geography with overlapping programming (plays, festivals, community engagement).
- National Black Theatre: One of the nation's oldest Black theatres (founded 1968) producing new work rooted in the African diaspora. Comparable as a mission-aligned, community-driven African-American producing theatre, though larger in scale and based in NYC.
- Ebony Repertory Theatre: LA-based nonprofit African-American theatre company producing professional stage works. Directly comparable to TST as a Black-focused producing theatre operating in the same Los Angeles market with similar mission and scale.
- Billie Holiday Theatre: Brooklyn-based African-American theatre producing works by and about the Black experience. Comparable as a culturally-focused producing theatre with educational programming, festival-style events, and a nonprofit structure.
Broad incumbents
- A Noise Within: LA-based professional nonprofit repertory theatre company. Comparable as a peer venue where TST has held readings; overlapping as a Southern California nonprofit theatre serving live-performance audiences.
- Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Major US nonprofit theatre company known for new play development and ensemble work. Comparable in nonprofit theatre-company classification and original-work focus, though at substantially larger scale and without TST's cultural-specific mission.
- Center Theatre Group: LA's largest not-for-profit theatre company operating the Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre. Comparable in geographic market and nonprofit performing-arts classification, though at significantly larger scale with broader programming and a wider theatre portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Towne Street Theatre social profiles
Digital presenceTowne Street Theatre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Towne Street Theatre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Towne Street Theatre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Towne Street 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 Towne Street Theatre
What does Towne Street Theatre do?
Towne Street Theatre produces and presents live theatrical programming centered on the African-American experience, including staged readings, the annual 10-Minute Play Festival, cabaret performances, spoken word events, literary adaptations, and a children's musical theater camp. Programming is delivered through in-person performances at the Stella Adler/LA theatre in Hollywood and through virtual Zoom-based events. The company also develops original work, hosts professional development workshops, and curates seasonal festivals that engage audiences and member artists.
Is Towne Street Theatre a public or private company?
Towne Street Theatre is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Towne Street Theatre founded?
Towne Street Theatre was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Towne Street Theatre based?
Towne Street Theatre is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Towne Street Theatre make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising, membership Programs and corporate Partnerships.
Who are Towne Street Theatre's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are New Federal Theatre, Crossroads Theatre Company, Penumbra Center for Racial Healing, The Robey Theatre Company, National Black Theatre, Ebony Repertory Theatre and Billie Holiday Theatre. Broad incumbents are A Noise Within, Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Center Theatre Group.
Does Towne Street Theatre have an API?
No public API is recorded for Towne Street Theatre.
What industry is Towne Street Theatre in?
Towne Street Theatre's product category is Performing Arts / Live Theatre. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAH, Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama), with a secondary code of MPAGABAE, Children’s & Youth Theatre. Its NAICS code is 7111 and its SIC code is 7900.