About The Stage
About The Stage is a two-principal boutique theatre consulting and lighting design firm in Westlake, Ohio, delivering planning, theatrical systems, AV, lighting design, and ETCP rigging inspection services to public assembly venues across education, healthcare, cultural, and municipal sectors in the USA and internationally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersWestlake, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What About The Stage does
About The Stage is a privately-held boutique theatre consulting and lighting design firm headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, operating as About The Stage, LLC. Founded in 2016 by Chris Tilton following the acquisition of Westlake Reed Leskosky, the firm provides specialized consulting services for public assembly venues — theatres, performing arts centers, auditoriums, and multipurpose spaces used for cultural, spiritual, or entertainment activity. Its service portfolio spans five integrated modules: Theatre Planning (programming, sight-line analysis, audience chamber design), Theatrical Systems Design (rigging, lighting controls, track and drapery, platform lifts, acoustic shells), AV Systems Design (audio reinforcement, video, production communications, ADA-compliant assistance systems), Lighting Design (architectural and themed illumination independent of manufacturer influence), and Rigging Inspections (ETCP certified safety audits under ANSI/ESTA E1.47-17 standards). The firm serves educational institutions, healthcare facilities, museums and cultural institutions, municipal venues, and international clients across the USA, China, Taiwan, and Gabon.
The firm operates a project-based professional services model, generating revenue through consulting engagements quoted on a project-by-project basis with no publicly disclosed pricing. Its two principals — Chris Tilton (ETCP Certified Rigger-Theatre, NCQLP Lighting Certified, LEED AP, and active member of ESTA, USITT, IALD, and IES) and Richard Ingraham (25+ years as sound designer and AV systems designer) — personally deliver services and deliberately control project volume to maintain personal attention. The firm works alongside architects, engineering teams, owners, and operators from early planning through construction and commissioning, with no external funding, no parent company, no acquisitions, and no disclosed technology platform or software product. Go-to-market relies on direct professional engagement, industry association networks, association-based referrals, and a website portfolio of case studies. Projects have attained LEED, LEED Silver, and LEED Gold certifications, and the firm received a 2010 Midwest Construction Magazine Project of the Year award for the Schwiebert Riverfront Park municipal project in Rock Island, Illinois.
About The Stage firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- About The Stage
- Legal name
- About The Stage, LLC
- Website
- https://aboutthestage.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- About The Stage is a two-principal boutique theatre consulting and lighting design firm in Westlake, Ohio, delivering planning, theatrical systems, AV, lighting design, and ETCP rigging inspection services to public assembly venues across education, healthcare, cultural, and municipal sectors in the USA and internationally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
About The Stage industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Theatre Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Interior Design Services (541410)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Theatre Services & Design (Scenic/Costume/Props/Stage Management) (MPAGABAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Event Production & Technical Services (AV/Lighting/Staging) (MPAAAGAB)
Keywords
Where About The Stage is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Westlake
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
About The Stage business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Consulting Services: Project-based consulting fees for theatre planning, lighting design, theatrical systems design, AV systems design, and rigging inspections. Revenue is generated through professional service engagements with owners, architects, and project teams for specific venue projects.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
About The Stage product offering
Product offeringCore offering
About The Stage is a theatre consulting and lighting design firm providing five integrated service modules—Theatre Planning, Theatrical Systems Design, AV Systems Design, Lighting Design, and Rigging Inspections—to owners, operators, architects, and project teams of public assembly venues. Services span early planning through construction and commissioning for cultural, spiritual, and entertainment venues, with a focus on educational institutions, healthcare facilities, museums, and municipal projects.
Product overview
About The Stage is a theatre consulting firm offering five integrated service modules: Theatre Planning (programming and venue concept development), Theatrical Systems Design (rigging, lighting controls, staging equipment), AV Systems Design (audio, video, and communication systems), Lighting Design (architectural and themed illumination), and Rigging Inspections (safety audits and compliance). These services work together to provide comprehensive consulting for public assembly venues from early planning through construction and commissioning.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Theatre Planning Consultation service providing area programming, adjacencies, stage and production ergonomics, audience chamber design, sight-line analysis, seating strategy, and code support for public assembly venues, for owners, operators, architects, and project teams.
- Theatrical Systems Design Design of performance support systems including rigging systems, lighting controls, track and drapery, platform lifts, portable staging, audience seating, acoustic shells, and stage equipment for public assembly venues.
- AV Systems Design Audiovisual system design including audio reinforcement, video projection, paging systems, production communications, and ADA-compliant assistance systems for venues.
- Lighting Design Architectural and themed lighting design services for museums, healthcare, performing arts, education, facades, sports facilities, municipal venues, and hospitality environments, provided independent of manufacturer influence.
- Rigging Inspections Comprehensive stage rigging inspection and safety evaluation services conducted by ETCP certified professionals, covering overhead suspension, fly systems, fire safety, and production equipment, following ANSI/ESTA standards E1.47-17 for annual and comprehensive five-year inspections.
Quantifiable outcome
- Projects have attained LEED, LEED Silver, and LEED Gold certifications
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use About The Stage
Customer profileNamed customers23 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
About The Stage technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
About The Stage partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- ESTA (Entertainment Standards Technical Association)minorAbout The Stage is an Investor in Innovation with ESTA's Technical Standards Program. Chris Tilton is an active professional member of ESTA and participates in working groups that maintain ANSI-accredited industry standards.
- USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology)minorChris Tilton is a member of USITT and the Ohio Valley Section. About The Stage participates in the USITT Rigging Safety Initiative which sponsors FREE rigging inspections and safety training for schools across the USA.
- Westlake Reed LeskoskyminorFormer employer of Chris Tilton (2011-2016). Many projects on the portfolio were completed while with Westlake Reed Leskosky, indicating ongoing collaborative relationships. Notable projects include multiple theatre renovations and performing arts center designs.
- KJWW Engineering ConsultantsminorFormer employer of Chris Tilton (2006-2011). Multiple projects completed while with KJWW, including theatre lighting and rigging work at various institutions.
- CharcoalblueminorUK-based theatre and acoustics design consulting firm. Richard Ingraham worked at Charcoalblue's North American offices in New York City (2017) as an audiovisual systems designer.
- IES (Illuminating Engineering Society)minorChris Tilton is a subscribing member of IES, demonstrating professional affiliation in the lighting design community.
- IALD (International Association of Lighting Designers)minorChris Tilton is an associate member of IALD, indicating professional standing in the international lighting design community.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
About The Stage competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Arup: Global engineering and design firm with a dedicated performing arts practice offering theatre planning, acoustics, AV, and lighting design at much larger scale. Represents the consolidated, full-service competitor category that independent specialists like About The Stage compete against.
Direct peers
- Charcoalblue: UK-headquartered theatre and acoustics design consultancy with North American offices; offers theatre planning, AV systems, and lighting design. Richard Ingraham worked at Charcoalblue, and the firm's services and target markets closely match About The Stage's.
- Fisher Dachs Associates: Theatre planning consultancy specializing in performing arts venue design and audience chamber/seating strategy. Highly comparable in the planning and programming side of About The Stage's offering for cultural and educational venues.
- Renfro Design Group: Architectural lighting design firm specializing in museums, performing arts centers, and civic projects. Comparable on the themed and architectural lighting side of About The Stage's portfolio.
- Schuler Shook: Chicago-based theatre planning and lighting design consultancy with overlapping service lines in theatrical systems design, lighting design, and venue planning for performing arts centers. Directly comparable in scope, client type, and boutique service model.
- Cerami & Associates: Acoustics, audiovisual, and technology consulting firm serving performing arts venues, healthcare, and cultural institutions. Closely comparable to Richard Ingraham's AV systems design practice.
- Theatre Projects Consultants: International theatre consulting firm providing theatre planning, systems design, and venue operations advisory. Competes for the same performing arts center and university theatre engagements.
- Tillotson Design Associates: Architectural lighting design firm with deep museum, performing arts, and cultural institution portfolio. Comparable lighting design services across similar institutional client types.
- Pivotal Lighting Design: Architectural lighting design firm serving performing arts, museums, healthcare, and education. Comparable in the manufacturer-independent lighting design positioning About The Stage emphasizes.
- Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design: Architectural lighting design firm with a strong performing arts and cultural institution practice. Directly comparable on theatrical, museum, and civic lighting design engagements.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
About The Stage social profiles
Digital presenceAbout The Stage financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
About The Stage leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
About The Stage funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
About The Stage M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about About The Stage
What does About The Stage do?
About The Stage is a theatre consulting and lighting design firm providing five integrated service modules—Theatre Planning, Theatrical Systems Design, AV Systems Design, Lighting Design, and Rigging Inspections—to owners, operators, architects, and project teams of public assembly venues. Services span early planning through construction and commissioning for cultural, spiritual, and entertainment venues, with a focus on educational institutions, healthcare facilities, museums, and municipal projects.
Is About The Stage a public or private company?
About The Stage is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was About The Stage founded?
About The Stage was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is About The Stage based?
About The Stage is headquartered in Westlake, United States, in the North America region.
How does About The Stage make money?
One revenue line is on record: consulting Services.
Who are About The Stage's main competitors?
Arup is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Charcoalblue, Fisher Dachs Associates, Renfro Design Group, Schuler Shook, Cerami & Associates, Theatre Projects Consultants, Tillotson Design Associates, Pivotal Lighting Design and Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design.
Does About The Stage have an API?
No public API is recorded for About The Stage.
What industry is About The Stage in?
About The Stage's product category is Theatre Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAO, Theatre Services & Design (Scenic/Costume/Props/Stage Management), with a secondary code of MPAAAGAB, Event Production & Technical Services (AV/Lighting/Staging). Its NAICS code is 541410 and its SIC code is 7900.