A.D. Players

What A.D. Players does

A.D. Players is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian theatre company founded in 1967 by Jeanette Clift George. The organization produces mainstage theatrical productions in a 440-seat proscenium theater — the Jeannette and L.M. George Theater, opened in February 2017 in the Galleria area at 5420 Westheimer Road — alongside touring Theatre for Young Audiences productions, summer theatre camps at 10 Houston locations, a 12-week paid Rudd Internship Program, Corporate Education workshops covering creativity, storytelling, and collaboration, and Arts For All accessibility initiatives including relaxed performances and partnerships with Gigi's Playhouse, Camp Hope, and Stay Tuned for Vets. The Metzler New Works Initiative develops original faith-centered plays and musicals, some of which are licensed to other theatres.

The business model is multi-stream: mainstage single tickets ($25-$80) and 10-20% discounted season subscriptions, school matinees ($10-$15), TYA touring to schools/libraries/churches, summer camp registrations ($350, with $300 scholarships), corporate workshops ($1,000-$9,300 depending on length), venue rental of the theater, lobby, and conference room, script licensing (per-performance rights starting from $100), merchandise, and a significant contributed-income base from individual donors, 15+ corporate sponsors (Precedent Wealth, Kings Path, Gabriel Architects, Taste of Texas, Marsh Wortham, NEA, and others), and a Gift of Theatre fund underwriting accessibility programs. Customer segments span faith-based audiences, K-12 institutions, corporate teams, neurodivergent and special needs audiences, and military veterans.

Operationally, the company is led by Executive Artistic Director Jayme McGhan with a senior team covering General Management, Finance, Artistic Producing, Education/TYA, Marketing, Development, and full production functions (technical direction, costumes, scenic, lighting, audio). Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

A.D. Players

Legal name

A.D. Players

Website

https://adplayers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Houston-based 501(c)(3) Christian theatre company founded in 1967 that produces mainstage and touring productions, education programs, summer camps, corporate workshops, and accessibility initiatives from a 440-seat owned venue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theatre / Performing Arts

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)

Keywords

• Live theatrical performances
• Theatre education programs
• Venue rental services
• Script licensing services
• Arts accessibility programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Mainstage Ticket Sales: Revenue from single tickets, subscriptions, preview performances, and group tickets for mainstage productions at the 440-seat George Theater.
2. Venue Rental: Rental income from The George Theater, The Lobby, and The Conference Room for external events.
3. Script Licensing: Licensing fees for original plays and productions developed by A.D. Players, including digital licenses and per-performance rights.
4. Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA): Revenue from touring productions brought to schools, libraries, and churches, including The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and Jack and the Beanstalk.
5. Corporate Education Workshops: Fee-based corporate workshops covering Creativity, Storytelling, and Collaboration topics for professionals.
6. Summer Camps: Registration fees for Emerging Artists Theatre Camp at multiple Houston locations, with scholarships available.
7. Donations and Sponsorships: 501(c)(3) nonprofit funding through individual donations, corporate sponsors, and Gift of Theatre fund supporting accessibility programs.
8. Merchandise: Sale of merchandise including souvenir cups and theatrical merchandise through the George Theater box office.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

A.D. Players produces and performs Christian-themed theatrical productions at the 440-seat Jeannette and L.M. George Theater in Houston, Texas. The company complements its mainstage season with theatre education programs (Theatre for Young Audiences, summer camps, student matinees, and corporate workshops), venue rentals of its theater and lobby spaces, script licensing of original plays, and Arts For All accessibility initiatives serving neurodivergent audiences, veterans, and underserved communities.

Product overview

A.D. Players at the George Theater is a Christian theatre company offering a diverse portfolio of programs centered around live theatrical productions in a 440-seat proscenium theater. The core offering consists of Mainstage Productions featuring plays and musicals with a Christ-centered worldview. The company extends its reach through complementary programs: Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) brings productions to schools and venues across Houston; the Emerging Artists Theatre Camp provides summer arts education for students grades 2-8; the Rudd Internship Program offers paid professional development for aspiring theatre practitioners; and Corporate Education at the George delivers professional workshops in Creativity, Storytelling, and Collaboration. The company also operates accessibility initiatives including Relaxed Performances and Arts for All community outreach, while the Metzler New Works Initiative develops new faith-based plays and musicals. Additional services include venue rental, play licensing, script submissions, and student matinees with discounted pricing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rudd Internship Program: A 12-week paid theatre internship program for university students or recent graduates in Production, Theatre Management, and Theatre Education, generously underwritten by Tom and Janis Rudd.
• Metzler New Works Initiative
• Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA)
• Emerging Artists Theatre Camp
• Arts For All
• Corporate Education at the George

Products and services

• Mainstage Productions Full-scale theatrical productions performed in a 440-seat proscenium theater, featuring compelling stories from a Christian worldview. Productions include musicals and plays for general audiences.
• Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) Live performances for young audiences, including main stage shows and touring productions that travel to schools, libraries, and churches. Offerings include adaptations like The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and Jack and the Beanstalk.
• Emerging Artists Theatre Camp Summer theatre camps for students entering 2nd-8th grade held at multiple partner campus locations across Houston, teaching acting, performance, creative expression, and Christian values.
• Rudd Internship Program A 12-week paid theatre internship for university students or recent graduates in Production, Theatre Management, and Theatre Education, including shared housing and weekly stipend.
• Student Matinees Deeply discounted tickets for school groups ($15 for non-Title I, $10 for Title I schools) for student matinee performances, underwritten by the Gift of Theatre fund.
• Corporate Education at the George Professional workshops covering Creativity, Storytelling, and Collaboration for corporate teams, available in half-day, one-day, two-day, and three-day formats.
• Relaxed Performance Initiative Performances designed for neurodivergent audiences with accommodations including freedom to move around, leave and return, and additional support services.
• Arts for All Accessibility programs removing barriers to theatre including relaxed performances, Gigi's Playhouse classes, military veteran outreach through PTSD Foundation of America and Stay Tuned for Vets, and touring to underserved communities.
• Venue Rental (The George, The Lobby, The Conference Room) Rental of the Jeannette and L.M. George Theater facility, including the main 440-seat theater, lobby, and conference room for external events.
• Play Licensing (Apollo 8 Rights) Licensing of A.D. Players original plays for other theaters to produce, including digital licenses and per-performance rights.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 locations across Houston for summer theatre camp
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ChurrascosminorOthersChurrascos hosts concessions at the George Theater, providing dinner (paninis & salads), snacks, water, coffee, sodas, wine and beer. Sealed cups may be taken into the theater.
• Gigi's PlayhousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvery week, A.D. Players brings theatre classes to Gigi's Playhouse—working with teens and adults with disabilities through games, performance, and storytelling. Builds confidence, connection, and community.
• PTSD Foundation of America (Camp Hope)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp Hope exists to bring hope and healing to combat veterans living with trauma. A.D. Players provides tickets to every production for groups of up to 50 veterans, and brings on-site classes in acting and writing.
• Stay Tuned for VetscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilt on the idea that veterans deserve community—and that the arts can help build it. A.D. Players supports through tickets to productions and on-site classes in acting, improv, public speaking, and stand-up comedy.
• Ellie Mental HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended mental healthcare partner for patrons who may need support processing difficult feelings stirred up by productions. Located in Houston Tanglewood, TX.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lamb's Players Theatre: Christian-affiliated professional theatre company in San Diego operating its own venue and producing an annual season of plays and musicals with faith-based themes. Closely comparable to A.D. Players in mission, producing model, and venue ownership.
• Sight & Sound Theatres: The largest Christian theatrical production company in the U.S., operating 2,000+ seat venues in Lancaster, PA and Branson, MO and producing original biblical-themed musicals. Directly comparable as a Christian theatre producer generating original content and operating its own large theater venue.
• Cumberland County Playhouse: Tennessee-based regional repertory theatre producing year-round seasons of musicals and plays with strong youth education programming. Comparable repertory producing model, education focus, and rural/suburban community positioning.
• Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre: Pennsylvania-based dinner theatre producing its own seasons of musicals and plays with attached restaurant operations. Comparable in venue-based producing model, season subscription structure, and ancillary food/beverage partnership.
• Fellowship for Performing Arts: Off-Broadway Christian theatre company producing plays adapted from C.S. Lewis and other Christian worldview source material. Comparable as a producing Christian theatre company focused on adapted literary content for live audiences.

Emerging players

• Inspiration Stage: Texas-based Christian-affiliated youth theatre and performing arts education organization offering classes, camps, and youth productions. Comparable in Christian-affiliated positioning, education-focused programs, and Texas footprint, though focused specifically on youth audiences.

Regional players

• Theatre Under the Stars: Houston-based non-profit musical theatre producer presenting seasons of large-scale musicals at the Hobby Center. Directly comparable in Houston market, venue-based production model, and musical theatre programming focus.
• Stages Repertory Theatre: Houston-based non-profit regional theatre producing multiple productions annually across intimate and mid-size venues. Comparable as a Houston-area producing theatre with multi-program portfolio including education and community outreach.
• Alley Theatre: Houston's largest resident professional theatre company, operating multiple venues in the same Houston market. Comparable as a Houston-based professional theatre producing its own seasons, though broader in repertoire and secular in positioning.
• Main Street Theater: Houston community theatre producing mainstage and Theatre for Young Audiences programming with strong education programming. Comparable in Houston geography, mixed adult/youth programming, and non-profit operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 A.D. Players