Iowa Stage Theatre Company

What Iowa Stage Theatre Company does

Iowa Stage Theatre Company is a nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 2017 and based in Des Moines, Iowa, that produces a four-show annual mainstage season of classic and contemporary plays and musicals at the 164-seat Stoner Theater inside the Des Moines Civic Center. The company is one of only two theatre producers in Iowa that financially compensate their artists, and operates a Resident Artist Company of over 35 local Central Iowa professionals who receive stipends and shape programming alongside a small core staff (1–10 employees). Beyond the mainstage season, Iowa Stage runs Shakespeare on the Lawn (an annual summer partnership with Salisbury House & Gardens), Scriptease (a play reading series), The Writer's Room (a free writers' event space with Grand View University), and ISTV (a YouTube conversation series).

Name

Iowa Stage Theatre Company

Legal name

Iowa Stage Theatre Company

Website

https://iowastage.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Iowa Stage Theatre Company is a nonprofit theatre in Des Moines, Iowa, producing a four-show annual mainstage season and ancillary programs at the 164-seat Stoner Theater, serving general audiences, students, and groups across Central Iowa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts

NAICS

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

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), Theatre Services & Design (Scenic/Costume/Props/Stage Management) (MPAGABAO), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Live theater productions
• Performing arts
• Theatrical performances
• Stage productions
• Musical theater

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from individual show tickets, flex passes, season subscriptions, and group ticket sales. Tickets sold through Des Moines Performing Arts box office.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Donations from individuals and organizations supporting the theatre's mission and operations.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Season sponsors and show sponsors provide financial support in exchange for recognition and branding opportunities.
4. Community-Sponsored Tickets: Subsidized ticket pricing model where community members can purchase tickets at reduced rates, supported by donor contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Iowa Stage Theatre Company is a nonprofit theater organization that produces classic and contemporary plays and musicals in Des Moines, Iowa. The company operates from the Stoner Theater at the Des Moines Civic Center and is supported by a Resident Artist Company of 35+ local Central Iowa professional artists. Tickets are sold through the Des Moines Performing Arts box office as individual tickets, group tickets, and Flex Pass subscription packages.

Product overview

Iowa Stage Theatre Company is a performing arts organization producing live theatrical productions in Des Moines, Iowa. The company operates a core mainstage season featuring classic and contemporary plays at the Stoner Theater, supplemented by programs including Shakespeare on the Lawn (outdoor summer productions), Scriptease (play reading series), and ISTV (digital content). Revenue is generated through ticket sales via Flex Passes, individual tickets, and group bookings, while community support comes through donations and artist/show sponsorships. The company distinguishes itself through its Resident Artist Company program that provides stipends to local professional artists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Scriptease: Iowa Stage's play reading series
• ISTV
• Shakespeare on the Lawn
• The Writer's Room

Products and services

• Live Stage Productions (Plays and Musicals) Classic and contemporary plays and musicals performed by the Resident Artist Company of 35+ local Central Iowa professional artists at the Stoner Theater inside the Des Moines Civic Center. Aimed at the public attending live professional theater in Des Moines.
• Flex Pass Subscription package providing flexible access to multiple Iowa Stage Theatre Company productions across the season, sold through the Des Moines Performing Arts box office. Targeted at local theater patrons who attend multiple productions per year.
• Individual Tickets Single-admission tickets to specific Iowa Stage Theatre Company performances at the Stoner Theater, sold through the Des Moines Performing Arts box office. For walk-up and individual theater-goers.
• Group Tickets Discounted tickets for groups attending Iowa Stage Theatre Company performances together, sold through the Des Moines Performing Arts box office. Aimed at social groups, organizations, and event planners attending productions as a group.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Des Moines Performing ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDes Moines Performing Arts is the primary venue partner, providing the Stoner Theater for productions and serving as the ticketing platform for Iowa Stage shows. Iowa Stage productions are presented as part of the performing arts series.
• Salisbury House and GardenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership for Shakespeare on the Lawn, bringing Shakespeare to life in the Salisbury House & Gardens each summer.
• Court Avenue Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHospitality partner providing dinner and a show packages. Enter coupon code IowaStage for 10% donation to Iowa Stage Theatre.
• Grand View UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution for ISTC Launch programming including The Writer's Room event space at Grand View University's Student Center.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Des Moines Performing Arts: Primary venue partner and ticketing platform for Iowa Stage at the Des Moines Civic Center. Not a direct competitor for theatrical productions but functions as the strategic infrastructure that Iowa Stage's programming depends on.

Broad incumbents

• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Major Chicago-based professional theater known for resident ensemble of paid artists. Much larger and more established, but embodies the same 'paid resident company' model that Iowa Stage is emulating at a smaller scale.
• Metropolis Performing Arts Centre: Illinois-based performing arts center producing professional theater and hosting touring acts. Larger and broader in scope than Iowa Stage, but employs former Iowa Stage team members and represents a comparable mid-size professional producing model.

Direct peers

• Commonweal Theatre Company: Professional nonprofit repertory theater in Lanesboro, Minnesota operating on a similar small-town, mission-driven model with a resident company of paid artists — closely analogous in structure to Iowa Stage.
• Old Creamery Theatre Company: Iowa-based nonprofit repertory theater producing classic and contemporary works in a similar small-theater, mission-driven format. Closely comparable in scale, programming philosophy, and rural/midwestern audience profile.
• Des Moines Community Playhouse: Long-established (founded 1919) Des Moines community theater producing a multi-show season across multiple stages. Competes directly with Iowa Stage for local audiences, volunteer talent, and corporate sponsorships in the same Central Iowa market.
• Ankeny Community Theatre: Community theater serving the Des Moines suburb of Ankeny (where Iowa Stage also rehearses). Overlaps with Iowa Stage on audience, casting pool, and local sponsorship dollars in the immediate metro.
• Story Theater Company: Iowa-based community theater in Ames; Iowa Stage's own Production Manager Sarah Coeur previously worked there. Comparable in producing plays and musicals for a similar regional Iowa audience base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZArwGshZ3S9c-VfmNxdoeQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/iowastage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iowastage
• Instagraminstagram.com/iowastage

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Iowa Stage Theatre Company