The Lincoln Theatre Inc

What The Lincoln Theatre Inc does

The Lincoln Theatre, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts venue (Federal Tax ID 54-1477479) operating out of a 1929 Mayan Revival-style movie palace located at 117 E. Main Street, Marion, Virginia. Originally constructed as a movie palace and described as one of the last remaining theatres of this architectural style in the world, the venue was restored beginning over 30 years ago through volunteer efforts and now presents a diversified mix of live performances, classic film screenings, bluegrass and Americana concerts, youth theatre education, and community gatherings. Its core programming includes the Song of the Mountains PBS concert series, Friday Flix ($5 weekly screenings), Golden Oldies (free monthly matinees), Film Freaks (free lecture-plus-screening education), Summer Creatives youth workshops, Missoula Children's Theatre productions, and Pride CHATS community events presented with Mount Rogers Community Services.

The theatre generates revenue through multiple streams: ticket sales (typically $5 for films, with VIP packages for select performances and free admission for many community programs), venue rentals for private events, an on-site bar and gift shop, and the tiered Friends of The Lincoln membership/donor program (Friend $1-$99, Contributor $100-$499, Supporter $500-$999, Patron $1,000-$2,499, Sponsor $2,500+). Distribution is via the venue's website (thelincoln.org), physical box office, door sales, and OvationTix for select events; marketing runs through Constant Contact email, social channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram), Google Places, a podcast, and a network of season partners including Ballad Health, Bank of Marion, Emory & Henry College, NEA, VCA, and The McGlaughlin Foundation.

The organization operates with 1-10 employees in a single rural Southwest Virginia location and has no disclosed subsidiaries, parent company, or funding rounds. Its 472+ annual events, multi-decade restoration history, and PBS distribution via Song of the Mountains indicate an established regional cultural institution whose value proposition rests on historic preservation, community programming diversity, and partnership-driven sustainability rather than scale or rapid growth.

Name

The Lincoln Theatre Inc

Legal name

The Lincoln Theatre, Inc.

Website

https://thelincoln.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Lincoln Theatre, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts venue in Marion, Virginia, operating a restored 1929 Mayan Revival-style movie palace that presents films, live music, youth theatre, and community events to regional audiences, supported by ticket sales, rentals, and a tiered donor program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts & Cultural Venue Services

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF), Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Live event programming
• Classic film screenings
• Community theatre
• Youth arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Marion

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, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from ticket sales for performances, concerts, films, and special events. Tickets available online, at box office, and at the door. General admission typically $5.00 for films.
2. Venue Rental: The theatre generates revenue by renting the venue for private events, performances, and community gatherings.
3. Donations and Membership (Friends of The Lincoln): Ongoing campaign with tiered membership levels (Friend $1-99, Contributor $100-499, Supporter $500-999, Patron $1,000-2,499, Sponsor $2,500+) providing exclusive access to event tickets and supporting theatre preservation.
4. Concessions and Bar: On-site bar services and gift shop sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Lincoln Theatre is a nonprofit performing arts center that presents live music, film screenings, and community cultural events in a restored 1929 Mayan Revival-style movie palace in Marion, Virginia. It sells individual event tickets (typically $5 for films, with many free community events), rents the venue to outside organizations, runs youth theatre workshops, and sustains operations through a tiered donor membership program called Friends of The Lincoln.

Product overview

The Lincoln Theatre is a historic performing arts center (Mayan Revival-style movie palace built in 1929) that offers live performances, film screenings, and educational programming. The core product portfolio includes Song of the Mountains (PBS bluegrass concert series), Friday Flix (weekly classic film screenings), Golden Oldies (monthly matinee classics), Film Freaks (film education series), Summer Creatives (youth theatre workshops), Missoula Children's Theatre, Pride CHATS community gatherings, venue rentals, a podcast, and the Friends of The Lincoln membership program. The theatre operates primarily as a nonprofit cultural venue hosting diverse artistic performances and community events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Song of the Mountains Award-winning public television concert series showcasing bluegrass, Americana, and old-time music talents from the Southern Appalachians, taped at The Lincoln Theatre and broadcast on PBS affiliates.
• Friday Flix Weekly classic film screening series featuring movies from various decades, typically priced at $5 per screening.
• Golden Oldies Matinee film series featuring cinema classics on the second Tuesday of each month, paying homage to the theatre's movie palace origins. Free admission.
• Film Freaks Film education series featuring lectures by a film curator, followed by a film screening and live discussion. Free and open to the public.
• Summer Creatives Youth theatre workshop program teaching backstage aspects of theatre. Children learn character design, puppet-making, storytelling, writing, drawing, painting, and sculpting over multiple days.
• Missoula Children's Theatre Week-long musical theatre production program for children culminating in public performances.
• Pride CHATS Monthly community gathering for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies, fostering authentic interactions and relationship building. Presented by Mount Rogers Community Services.
• Venue Rental The historic Mayan Revival-style theatre available for private rentals, events, and performances by external organizations and community groups.
• Friends of The Lincoln Membership Tiered annual membership and donation program supporting theatre preservation. Donors at all levels receive exclusive access to event tickets. Tiers: Friend ($1-$99), Contributor ($100-$499), Supporter ($500-$999), Patron ($1,000-$2,499), Sponsor ($2,500+).

Quantifiable outcome

• 472+ annual events hosted
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ballad Health (Smyth County Community Hospital)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSeason partner providing healthcare services to the community. Located in Smyth County, Marion, VA.
• Bank of Marion VAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal financial institution serving as season partner for community support.
• CC CharitiescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity charitable organization supporting local initiatives.
• Emory & Henry College - School of Health SciencescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational institution with facilities in the area, supporting the theatre as season partner.
• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFederal arts agency providing funding and recognition for arts programming. Logo displayed on website.
• Virginia Commonwealth for the Arts (VCA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerState arts agency supporting Virginia arts organizations.
• Virginia Tourism CorporationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState tourism body supporting regional tourism initiatives including Smyth County.
• Evans Funeral HomeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal funeral home serving as season partner.
• GuideStarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity information platform - logo displayed indicating nonprofit transparency.
• Mount Rogers Community ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresents Pride CHATS community programming at the theatre, supporting LGBTQIA+ community gatherings.
• Smyth County VA250 CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll-volunteer committee commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the nation's birth, presenting American Revolution film series.
• Appalachian EchoescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization dedicated to empowering creative voices of SWVA, presenting magic shows, acting workshops, The Possum Trap community theatre, and Appalachian history presentations at the theatre.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Riverside Center for the Performing Arts: Fredericksburg, VA producing theater presenting Broadway-style musicals and concerts in a dinner-theater format; comparable regional Virginia presenting/producing model but different format and market.

Broad incumbents

• Paramount Theater Charlottesville: Larger, better-capitalized historic performing arts venue in Charlottesville, VA presenting film, music, and live events; broader market and capacity but serves a similar presenting-arts-center role.
• Tennessee Theatre: 1928 restored movie palace in Knoxville, TN operating as a nonprofit performing arts venue with concerts, film, and Broadway tours; highly comparable as a 1920s-era historic theater presenting diverse programming.
• Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech: University-presenting venue in Blacksburg, VA offering professional touring performances, film, and education; comparable presenting and community-outreach model with stronger institutional backing.
• Ferguson Center for the Arts: Christopher Newport University venue in Newport News, VA hosting touring Broadway, music, and family programming; similar presenting-house role with a larger institutional and corporate sponsor footprint.

Direct peers

• Jefferson Center / Shaftman Performance Hall: Roanoke, VA multipurpose venue presenting music, film, and community programming in a restored historic space; closely comparable as a regional presenting house with film and music series.
• Barter Theatre: State theater of Virginia located in Abingdon, SW Virginia, producing a year-round repertory season of plays and musicals in a historic venue; the closest direct analogue to The Lincoln in geography, mission, and repertory operating model.
• Mill Mountain Theatre: Nonprofit regional theatre in Roanoke, VA producing mainstage productions, education, and youth programs; comparable in scale, regional Virginia footprint, and balance of presenting vs. producing programming.
• Appalachian Theatre: Restored 1938 historic theater in Boone, NC hosting film, live music, comedy, and community events in a rural Appalachian college town; nearly identical use case and historic single-screen venue model as The Lincoln.

Others

• Song of the Mountains (PBS series): The bluegrass/Americana public television concert series taped at The Lincoln and broadcast on PBS affiliates; effectively an internal product of the venue and a relevant comparator for niche roots-music presenting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/theLINCOLNstage
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheLincolnTheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/thelincolntheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lincolntheatre

Compliance1 record

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 The Lincoln Theatre Inc