7 Stages

What 7 Stages does

7 Stages Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional theatre company founded in 1979 by Del Hamilton and Faye Allen, headquartered at 1105 Euclid Ave NE in Atlanta's Little Five Points neighborhood. The organization operates two performance venues - a Mainstage Theatre with 170-200+ stadium-style seats and a BackStage black-box theatre - housed in a 1940s-era former Storey movie theatre that the company purchased in 1996 following a $1.4M capital campaign. The core product portfolio consists of Mainstage and BackStage productions presenting local, national, and international work centered on social, political, and spiritual themes, supplemented by an annual Indigenous-celebration festival (First Voices), immersive self-led experiences (Curious Sensory Encounters), new-play development (Home Brew Series), youth training (Youth Creates, 20+ years old), in-school residencies (Arts Fusion), community dialogue (Art of Activism), resource events (Service Saturdays), and paid internships/apprenticeships. The company also runs a year-round venue rental program serving other Atlanta arts organizations and touring productions at community-accessible rates.

The business model blends earned revenue (ticket sales, venue rentals, co-productions) with contributed revenue from individual donors and a diversified portfolio of public and private grants - including the National Endowment for the Arts, Georgia Council for the Arts, Fox Theatre Institute, Fulton County Board of Commissioners, City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs, The Woodruff Foundation, and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. Pricing is intentionally accessible: standard tickets include a $1 Indigenous Land Use Fee donated annually to Indigenous organizations, while many community programs are free or pay-what-you-choose. The company's go-to-market is event-driven, relying on a mix of direct box-office and online (Eventbrite, 7stages.org) ticket sales, social media (Instagram @7stagesatl, Twitter), an email newsletter, co-marketing with neighborhood and festival partners, and earned local press. Customer segments span general theatre audiences, youth and emerging artists, local arts organizations, and Indigenous communities (particularly Muscogee/Creek and Lumbee). The company has 11-50 employees and has invested over $1M in facility improvements through an Asset Restoration Campaign, supported by ongoing LED lighting and HVAC modernization.

Name

7 Stages

Legal name

7 Stages Theatre

Website

https://7stages.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

7 Stages is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional theatre in Atlanta's Little Five Points, operating two venues (Mainstage and BackStage) since 1979. It produces social-justice-focused theatrical productions, immersive experiences, Indigenous cultural festivals, youth training, and community dialogue programs funded by ticket sales, rentals, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theatre and Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN)

Keywords

• Live theatre productions
• Performing arts venue
• Community theatre programs
• Youth theatre training
• Immersive theatrical experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from admission to theatrical productions, performances, and events at Mainstage and BackStage venues. Includes rental productions and special presentations.
2. Venue Rentals: Theatre rental program offering two performance venues with stadium-style seating available year-round to local community and touring productions at comparatively low costs
3. Donations and Grants: Support from individual donors, foundations, and government arts agencies including Fulton County Board of Commissioners, City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs, and Georgia Council for the Arts
4. Indigenous Land Use Fee: For each ticket sold, a $1 per ticket Land Use Fee is included, with proceeds donated to Indigenous organizations annually

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

7 Stages Theatre is a non-profit professional theatre company that produces, presents, and hosts live theatrical performances, immersive experiences, and culturally focused festivals in its two Atlanta venues. It also runs youth and community education programs and rents its performance spaces to other arts organizations.

Product overview

7 Stages is a professional, non-profit theatre company offering a portfolio of theatrical productions, educational programs, and venue rental services. The core products include Mainstage and BackStage Theatre productions featuring local, national, and international emerging artwork of social, political, and spiritual importance. Supporting programs include Youth Creates (summer training for teenagers), Home Brew Series (platform for works in development), Service Saturdays (community resource events), Art of Activism (dialogue series), Arts Fusion (in-school residencies), and Internships/Apprenticeships. Special offerings include the annual First Voices Festival celebrating Indigenous cultures and the immersive Curious Sensory Encounters experience. The company also operates a Theatre Rental Program making their two venues available to the community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Productions Professional theatrical performances presented on the Mainstage Theatre featuring local, national, and international emerging artwork of social, political, and spiritual importance. Targeted at general Atlanta audiences and the broader community.
• BackStage Theatre Secondary performance venue with stadium-style seating used for productions, rentals, and more intimate theatrical experiences.
• Youth Creates Summer theatre training program for teenagers providing experiential learning and performance opportunities. Students collaborate through playwriting, design, and performance to create an original production. Includes an international exchange component with the Dutch KASSETT music theatre collective.
• Home Brew Series Platform that provides resources and production opportunities for new and emerging playwrights developing works in progress.
• Service Saturdays Complimentary community events providing vital resources such as food, clothing, and personal protective equipment, bringing together local community-driven organizations with audiences.
• Art of Activism Community dialogue series convening experts, artists, and patrons for conversations on social justice, othering, and intolerance, often tied to specific productions.
• Arts Fusion (In-School Residencies) Co-teaching experiences in which professional artists and classroom teachers work together to bring artistic practice into education, tailored to middle schools, high schools, and universities.
• Internships and Apprenticeships Training programs for emerging artists covering administrative, production, and artistic aspects of theatre, including short-term internships and longer-term paid apprenticeships with stipends.
• First Voices Festival Annual celebration of Indigenous cultures produced in collaboration with Turtle Island Trading, Zintkala Zi PowWow, and other partners, featuring Powwow, storytelling, film screenings, and cultural programming.
• Curious Sensory Encounters Ever-changing self-led immersive journey exploring artistic themes through numerous performances and installations throughout the theatre, featuring multiple artistic disciplines with pay-what-you-choose admission.
• Theatre Rental Program Two performance venues with stadium-style seating available year-round for rental to local community and touring productions at community-accessible rates.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1 million invested in facility improvements resulting in significant energy savings
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• LifeSouth Community Blood CentersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2024Blood drive partner for Service Saturdays, providing complimentary health resources alongside theatrical performances and community programming.
• New Georgia ProjectminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2024Civic engagement partner for Service Saturdays, providing voter registration and community resources at theatre-hosted community events.
• Fulton County Board of HealthminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2024Public health resource partner for Service Saturdays, providing health information and resources to community members.
• Wild CumberlandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 May 2024Partnered on Art of Activism: Stewards of the Wild event, curating immersive experience bringing together scientists, artists, and community members.
• Hands In MotionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 May 2024ASL interpretation provider for Curious Sensory Encounters and other performances, ensuring accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences.
• Hush Harbor LabcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Development partner for 'Eunice in Paris' production. Co-founded by Amina S. McIntyre, Hush Harbor Lab develops works exploring themes of mental health, history, and identity.
• Sean Dorsey DancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023San Francisco-based transgender choreographer returned to 7 Stages with Atlanta premiere of 'The Lost Art of Dreaming' - a powerful work featuring queer, trans and gender-non-conforming dancers.
• Georgia Center for the BookminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Collaborated on 'Poetry as Protest' event inspired by Ilya Kaminsky's Deaf Republic, hosted at Decatur Library with performances by local poets.
• Turtle Island TradingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner in First Voices Festival, collaborating on Indigenous cultural celebrations including Powwow events, storytelling, and artisan markets at Little 5 Points venue.
• Zintkala Zi PowWowcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Led by Tatankala 'Buffalo' Yellowbird, Zintkala Zi PowWow partners with 7 Stages for annual Powwow events celebrating Indigenous cultures and dance traditions.
• Little 5 Points Business AssociationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Collaborates on First Voices Festival and community events in the Little 5 Points neighborhood, co-promoting cultural events and supporting local arts ecosystem.
• Plaza TheatrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022Partner venue for film screenings as part of First Voices Festival. Donated 170+ seats to 7 Stages renovation. Owned by Christopher Escobar who saved Tara Theatre from destruction. Atlanta's oldest operating and only minority-owned independent cinema.
• Dutch-American Exchange ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Ten-year collaboration (2012-2022) with Dutch playwright Frank Siera and KASSETT music theatre collective, including Youth Creates and Bootcamp international training exchanges. Frank Siera graduated from Dutch theatre academy in Maastricht.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Out Front Theatre Company: Atlanta's LGBTQ-focused non-profit theatre producing works that explore queer and gender-non-conforming experiences, overlapping with 7 Stages' programming and partnership ecosystem (Southern Fried Queer Pride).
• Horizon Theatre Company: Atlanta-based non-profit professional theatre with a comparable mission-driven, social-issue programming focus and similar two-venue model serving intown Atlanta audiences.
• Actor's Express: Intown Atlanta non-profit theatre producing contemporary and provocative work with a similar commitment to bold, issue-driven programming and comparable organizational scale.
• Theatrical Outfit: Atlanta's downtown resident professional theatre producing socially engaged new works and classics, comparable in scale, non-profit structure, and venue-operations model to 7 Stages.
• Synchronicity Theatre: Atlanta-based non-profit theatre producing bold, socially relevant work by women, with comparable funding profile (corporate, foundation, government grants) and audience development approach.

Broad incumbents

• Alliance Theatre: Largest regional theatre in Atlanta with significantly larger operating budget, programming scale, and facility footprint; serves as the dominant incumbent in Atlanta's professional theatre landscape against which smaller non-profits like 7 Stages compete for audience and funding.
• Center for Puppetry Arts: Atlanta-based non-profit performing arts organization with comparable educational programming, family/youth programming, and venue operations, though distinct in artistic discipline.
• Aurora Theatre: Established Gwinnett County-based professional theatre with larger scale, broader commercial programming mix, and educational programming — comparable as a regional professional non-profit theatre competitor in the Atlanta metro.

Emerging players

• La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club: New York-based non-profit dedicated to developing new work and experimental performance with international playwright development programs, sharing 7 Stages' mission-driven, artist-development focus and Home Brew Series model.
• Atlanta Fringe Festival: Festival organizer that rents 7 Stages' BackStage and Mainstage venues for indie productions, making it both a customer (renter) and a partial distribution partner; reflects the broader indie/experimental ecosystem in Atlanta.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/7StagesATL
• Instagraminstagram.com/7stagesatl
• Facebookfacebook.com/7stagesATL

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 7 Stages