Theatre of the Imagination

What Theatre of the Imagination does

Theatre of the Imagination is a privately held children's drama education and entertainment business founded in 1998 by Miles McMahon and headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, serving the Kansas City metropolitan area. The company delivers in-person drama classes, themed summer camps, private audition coaching, school workshops, birthday parties, and DJ/event services for children and families, with a stated track record of 15,000+ students taught over 27 years and a catalog of more than 100 original plays written in-house. Founder McMahon holds a Master's in Theatre from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and the teaching staff draws on high school and college students alongside professional instructors.

The business operates on a small-ticket, volume-based model with class and camp tuition ranging from $155 to $420 and event-based services priced from $325 up to $900, generating revenue from a long tail of individual family enrollments, one-off party bookings, and school workshop contracts. Distribution is driven by word-of-mouth referrals supplemented by institutional partnerships with the Laura Hay Humphrey Foundation (scholarships), TeenTix KC (youth arts access), JCC/PJ Library (community programming), and Wright/Laird Casting (audition coaching referrals). Notable alumni include an Emmy winner and a Netflix series actor, providing reputational capital that supports new enrollment.

Operating scale is small and stable: 1-10 employees, no external funding, single metro service area, and a COVID-era pivot to online class delivery that added a digital channel alongside the in-person core. The company is founder-led with no disclosed succession, acquisition, or capital-raise activity, and its growth to date has come from incremental product surface expansion (events, workshops, coaching, themed camps) rather than geographic or demographic expansion.

Name

Theatre of the Imagination

Legal name

Theatre of the Imagination

Website

https://dramakc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Theatre of the Imagination is a privately held Kansas City children's drama school founded in 1998 that teaches classes, camps, audition coaching, birthday parties, and school workshops to metro-area families using an in-house catalog of 100+ original plays.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE), Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN), Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE), Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE)

Keywords

• Children's drama education
• Acting classes for kids
• Summer drama camps
• Birthday party entertainment
• School workshop programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

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, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Recurring Drama Classes and Camps: 5-week after-school session classes at $155 each; Summer week-long camps at $350-$420; Saturday acting classes at $175. Multiple sessions per year (Jan-Feb, March-May, Sept-Oct, Nov-Dec).
2. Birthday Party Entertainment: Movie Star Acting parties at $325 and DJ Dance Parties at $375 for 90-minute sessions. Package includes entertainment, activities, and professional host.
3. DJ and Event Services: DJ services for dances, pool parties ($700/2hrs), weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs ($900/2hrs). MC/Auctioneer services at $900/2hrs. Photo booth rentals at $600-$800/2hrs. Trivia nights at $800/2hrs.
4. School Workshops and Assemblies: 60-90 minute programs including DJ Dance ($375), Drama & Improv ($325), and Anti-Bully Programs ($325). Customized for schools, daycares, camps, and scout groups.
5. Private Acting Coaching: One-on-one coaching for auditions, self-tapes, resumes, talent agency guidance, and performance skills. In-person preferred with online options available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Theatre of the Imagination is a children's drama education and event entertainment business that delivers after-school drama classes, week-long themed summer drama camps, private acting coaching, children's birthday parties (movie-making and DJ dance parties), DJ and photo booth services, MC/auctioneer fundraiser services, and school workshops/assemblies for the Kansas City metropolitan area. The core pedagogical differentiator is that the founder writes all original plays with roles customized to each student's reading level, personality, and skill level, with no auditions required and every child receiving an equal-sized role.

Product overview

Theatre of the Imagination is a kids acting and drama school offering a portfolio of services centered on building confidence through performing arts. The core offerings include Drama Classes (after-school and weekend acting classes for K-8th grade in 5-week sessions), Summer Drama Camps (week-long themed camps with drama activities and performances), and Private Acting Coaching (one-on-one audition preparation). Event services include DJ and Photo Booth for celebrations, Birthday Parties (movie-making and dance parties), Fundraisers (MC/auctioneer services), and Workshops/Assemblies for schools (anti-bullying, drama, DJ programs). The company has been operating for over 25 years and has taught over 15,000 students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drama Classes Weekly after-school and weekend acting classes for children K-8th grade, offered in 5-week sessions at $155 per session. Held at partner locations including Beth Torah, Heritage Church, and Academy Lafayette. Classes include custom parts designed for each child's reading level, personality, and skill level with no auditions required. Saturday morning classes for 3rd-8th grade include acting for TV, commercials, and movies at $175/session with each student producing their own reel.
• Summer Drama Camps Week-long themed summer and spring break drama camps for children grades 1-8. Eight different themes run through the summer (2026 schedule: Camps 5-8 running July 6 through August 7). Activities include drama games, crafts, improv, dancing, movie-making, and a final performance. Regular Day (10am-4:30pm) is $350/week; Extended Day (7:45am-5:45pm) is $420/week. Movie Making Fridays are included.
• Private Acting Coaching One-on-one coaching for students, teens, and adults covering audition preparation, self-tapes, monologues, resumes, talent agency guidance, and public speaking skills. Available in-person and online. First session is free for new clients.
• Birthday Parties Two 90-minute party packages for ages 4+. Movie Star Acting parties at $325, where kids create and star in their own movies (with a free copy to keep), with themes including Pop Star/Taylor Swift, K-Pop Hunters, Space/Super, Snow Princess, Detective, or custom. DJ Dance Parties at $375 with professional sound, lighting, dance games, and customized playlists.
• DJ and Photo Booth Services Professional DJ services, photo booth rentals, video postcards, and event hosting for school dances, weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, neighborhood parties, and special events. DJ services for dances and pool parties are $700/2hrs; weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs are $900/2hrs ($100 each additional hour). Photo booth rentals are $600/2hrs for dances/pool parties and $800/2hrs for weddings/Mitzvahs, with unlimited 4x6 prints and digital copies.
• Fundraisers and MC/Auctioneer Services MC and auctioneer services, trivia and game nights, and awards banquet hosting for schools, charities, and nonprofit organizations. MC/Auctioneer services run $900/2hrs for live or silent auctions (includes sound system, wireless microphones, music, slideshow). Trivia Nights are $800/2hrs, including all questions, answer sheets, projector, screen, and 'Name That 80s Song' contest, suitable for 20-300 people.
• School Workshops and Assemblies 60-90 minute school workshops and assemblies for grades K-9, customizable in subject matter. Includes DJ Dance ($375), Drama & Improv ($325), and Anti-Bully Programs ($325). Topics include Anti-Bullying, Dramatic Fun, Inspire To Read, Space & Solar System, and Deepening Your Faith. Delivered at schools, daycares, camps, and scout groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000+ students taught over 25 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• TeenTix KCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with TeenTix KC to provide teens access to professional Kansas City theater productions for just $5 per ticket. Teens can download the TeenTix app and get same-day tickets to many Kansas City area shows.
• Laura Hay Humphrey FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation established in memory of Laura Hay Humphrey to bring performing arts to children. Provides scholarship funding for Theatre of the Imagination acting classes for young people in the Kansas City area who demonstrate community involvement and passion for the arts.
• Jewish Community Center (JCC) / PJ LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with PJ Library 'Fall Into A Good Book' program at Jewish Community Center. Mr. Miles led drama workshops exploring themes of community, empathy, and reading through interactive drama activities with approximately 40 children.
• Wright/Laird CastingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partnership with Kansas City's most prominent casting director Heather Laird, who has cast movies starring Jennifer Lawrence, Glenn Close, Gary Sinese and Reese Witherspoon. Wright/Laird Casting provides referrals for advanced acting students seeking professional opportunities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• iTheatrics: Company that licenses junior versions of Broadway musicals and provides curriculum/support to schools producing youth theater. Comparable as a curriculum/pedagogy licensor for kids' theater programs and an indicator of how the proprietary script library could be commercialized.

Direct peers

• The Second City Training Centre: Chicago-based comedy/improv training center offering youth and adult classes plus performance opportunities. Comparable as a workshop-style acting/improv training business that monetizes both class instruction and event entertainment (shows, corporate programming).
• Atlantic Acting School: NYC conservatory-style acting school offering technique-based classes and conservatory programs for aspiring performers. Comparable as a private acting school with disciplined pedagogy, on-camera training, and audition prep — overlapping with TI's private coaching offering.
• Coterie Theatre: Children's theater company based in Kansas City that produces professional productions for young audiences and runs education programs. Directly comparable to Theatre of the Imagination as a KC-based children's theater/education provider serving the same families.
• Broadway Workshop: NYC-based private acting studio offering classes, camps, and private coaching for kids and teens pursuing musical theater and on-camera work. Directly comparable operating model — small-group classes, private coaching, and audition prep for serious young performers.

Broad incumbents

• Imagination Stage: Bethesda, MD-based children's theater and arts education organization offering classes, camps, and professional productions. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary children's drama/theater education provider serving K-8 families.
• Children's Theatre Company: One of the largest professional children's theaters in the U.S. (Minneapolis), producing mainstage shows and operating robust drama education programming. Comparable as an established children's theater and drama education brand targeting the same end-customers (parents of school-age kids).

Regional players

• Honolulu Theatre for Youth: Regional theater producing performances and education programs for young audiences in Hawaii. Comparable as a children's/youth theater organization with both performance and educational programming for K-8 audiences.
• Nashville Children's Theatre: Regional children's theater in Nashville producing professional productions for young audiences and offering education programs. Comparable mid-size regional children's theater with overlapping programming and audience demographic.
• STAGES St. Louis: Regional theater in St. Louis producing musicals and offering youth education programming. Comparable as a Midwestern regional theater with adjacent youth drama classes/camps; relevant for regional expansion benchmarking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/TheatreoftheImagination
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheatreoftheImagination
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theatre-of-the-imagination
• Instagraminstagram.com/theatreoftheimaginationkc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Theatre of the Imagination