The Virginia Samford Theatre Llc

What The Virginia Samford Theatre Llc does

The Virginia Samford Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. Founded in 1927, it is recognized as Birmingham's oldest continuously operating performing arts organization. The theatre operates a historic Romanesque playhouse at 1116 26th Street South, presenting a 7-production annual season of plays and musicals, and running the STARS (Students Take A Role at the Samford) youth performing arts education program for children ages 7-18. The organization also operates Camp VST, a summer theatre camp, and rents its facility for private events.

The organization's core product offerings are mainstage theatrical productions, the STARS youth education program, Camp VST summer camp, venue rental for weddings and corporate events, and concessions. Its operational technology stack is minimal: OvationTix for online ticketing and Constant Contact for email marketing. The facility includes 200+ parking spaces across adjacent lots and surrounding parks. No proprietary technology or AI/ML capabilities are evident in the company's operations.

Revenue is generated through diversified streams typical of a community performing arts nonprofit: individual ticket sales, annual season subscriptions ($250 Season Subscriber for 5 shows; $1,000 Centennial Subscriber for 7 shows with 2 tickets each and exclusive benefits, 30% tax deductible), tax-deductible 501(c)(3) donations and planned giving, corporate and foundation sponsorships (Alabama Power Foundation, Altec, Blue Cross-Blue Shield Alabama, Protective Life, Regions, Vulcan Materials, The Daniel Foundation, Mike and Gillian Goodrich Foundation, The Samford Charitable Trust, The Pleiad Foundation, Alabama State Council on the Arts), STARS tuition ($350 per production), Camp VST tuition ($300 per session), venue rental fees, and concessions partnerships (Naughty but Nice Kettle Corn, Matchstick Bakery). Customer segments span general theatre audiences, youth and families, season subscribers, and private/corporate event organizers. The organization is led by Executive Director Philip Mann and governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Bradley Blair.

Name

The Virginia Samford Theatre Llc

Legal name

Virginia Samford Theatre

Website

https://virginiasamfordtheatre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Virginia Samford Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization in Birmingham, Alabama, presenting seasonal theatrical productions and the STARS youth education program. Founded in 1927, it is Birmingham's oldest continuously operating performing arts organization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Performing Arts Theatre

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGABAD

Community & Amateur Theatre

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Theater, Broadway & Performing Arts

SECONDARYEDAMAAAG

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

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Arts & Creative Enrichment (Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Dance)

SECONDARYEDAMALAI

Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Summer & Holiday Enrichment Camps (Multi-Activity, Academic)

SECONDARYTHAJAFAB

Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Live Entertainment & Ticketed Events (Shows, Concerts, Sports Experiences)

Keywords

• Live theatre productions
• Youth performing arts education
• Season subscription tickets
• Community theatre venue rental
• Nonprofit performing arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Individual ticket sales for theatrical performances including plays and musicals. Tickets available via phone, in-person box office, and online purchase. Additional per-ticket fees apply for online purchases.
2. Season Subscriptions: Annual subscription packages providing access to multiple shows. VST Season Subscriber ($250) includes flex package for 5 shows with early seat selection and no fees. VST Centennial Subscriber ($1,000) includes full season tickets (7 shows, 2 tickets each) plus exclusive membership benefits. 30% of Centennial purchase is tax deductible.
3. Donations and Planned Giving: Charitable contributions from individuals and organizations. The theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, making donations tax deductible. Planned giving options are available.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate and foundation sponsorships from organizations including Alabama Power Foundation, Altec, Blue Cross-Blue Shield Alabama, Protective Life Corporation, Regions, Vulcan Materials Company, and others.
5. Venue Rental: The facility is available for private events including weddings, receptions, and meetings for community groups and corporations.
6. STARS Youth Program Tuition: STARS (Students Take A Role at the Samford) program charges tuition for youth productions and summer camp. Fall production tuition is $350 with sibling discounts and scholarships available. Summer Camp VST tuition is $300 with $100 deposit.
7. Concessions and Refreshments: Cash bar service including wine, beer, bottled water, and soft drinks available before and during intermission. Partnerships with Naughty but Nice Kettle Corn and Matchstick Bakery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Virginia Samford Theatre is a nonprofit community performing arts organization that produces a seasonal lineup of live plays and musicals (7 productions per season) and delivers the STARS youth theatre education program (classes, camps, and youth productions for ages 7–18). It generates revenue through single-show and subscription ticket sales, program tuition, donations, corporate sponsorships, venue rentals, and concessions at its historic Birmingham playhouse.

Product overview

The Virginia Samford Theatre is a nonprofit performing arts organization offering a dual offering structure: mainstage theatrical productions (plays and musicals) with individual and subscription ticket options, and the STARS youth education program with classes, camps, and youth productions. The theatre operates as Birmingham's oldest continuously operating performing arts organization (since 1927), presenting seasonal programming at its historic venue with approximately 200 parking spaces. Subscription offerings include standard VST Season Subscriber ($250) and premium VST Centennial Subscriber ($1000) tiers for the 2026-2027 season.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STARS: Students Take A Role at the Samford - a youth theatre education and performance program providing affordable, high-quality theatre education and performance opportunities for children ages 7-18.
• Camp VST

Products and services

• Mainstage Productions Professional theatrical performances including plays and musicals presented at the historic Virginia Samford Theatre, featuring seasonal programming with individual ticket sales. Aimed at adult theatre audiences and families in the Birmingham metropolitan area.
• VST Season Subscription Annual subscription package providing discounted tickets with no fees, priority seating, complimentary ticket exchanges, and special invitations. VST Season Subscriber tier ($250) covers a flex package of 5 shows with 1 ticket per subscriber; VST Centennial Subscriber tier ($1,000) covers all 7 shows with 2 tickets each, plus Centennial Club membership, exclusive receptions, pre-show drinks, commemorative items, and 30% tax deductibility. For adult theatre patrons who want guaranteed access and perks across the season.
• STARS Youth Theatre Program Youth theatre education and performance program providing affordable, high-quality theatre arts instruction for children. Classes taught by professional teaching artists with hands-on performance opportunities tied to youth productions. Serves children ages 7–18 and their families.
• Camp VST Summer Theatre Camp Week-long summer theatre camp sessions offering classes in acting, Shakespeare, dance, voice, playwriting, and design for students ages 7–15, culminating in a showcase performance. Tuition is $300 per session with a $100 deposit; scholarships and discounts available.
• Venue Rental The theatre and Martha Moore Sykes Studio are available for private events including weddings, receptions, meetings, and community gatherings. Aimed at couples, community groups, and corporate event organizers seeking an intimate historic venue.
• Group and Student Tickets Group rate ticket packages for parties visiting the theatre together, plus discounted student ticket pricing. Available by contacting the box office.

Quantifiable outcome

• STARS program provides theatre education and performance opportunities regardless of financial situation, with scholarship availability
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Naughty but Nice Kettle CornminorOthersFood vendor partner providing kettle corn at performances.
• Matchstick BakeryminorOthersBakery partner providing refreshments at theatre performances.
• Metropolitan Arts Council (MAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAC led the $3,000,000 Center Stage for the Arts capital campaign to preserve and restore the historic theatre building. MAC is headquartered in the Arts Center which houses the Virginia Samford Theatre and the Arts Incubator for small arts groups.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Paper Mill Playhouse: Historic community/regional theatre presenting a season of plays and musicals; comparable to VST in nonprofit, single-venue operation with educational programming, but at significantly larger scale and longer run.
• Alliance Theatre (Atlanta): Regional Tony Award-winning theatre producing a season including new works and musicals; comparable producing and education-program model to VST at a much larger scale and budget.
• Actors Theatre of Louisville: Established regional theatre producing a season of plays and new works; similar nonprofit producing model at a larger scale, useful for understanding operating and fundraising benchmarks.

Direct peers

• Red Mountain Theatre Company: Birmingham-based nonprofit performing arts organization producing plays, musicals, and education programs; most direct local peer to VST given overlapping programs in mainstage productions and youth theatre training.
• Alabama Shakespeare Festival: Alabama's largest professional regional theatre producing a season of plays, musicals, and Shakespeare productions; serves as the most prominent statewide peer competing for the same Birmingham arts audience and corporate sponsorship dollars.
• Birmingham Children's Theatre: Long-running Birmingham theatre company focused on youth/family productions and theatre education; directly comparable to VST's STARS program and family audience segments.
• TheatreWorks Birmingham: Community/regional theatre in the Birmingham metro producing plays and musicals with educational outreach; competing for similar subscription and youth segment patrons.

Emerging players

• Aspire Performing Arts Academy (Birmingham): Birmingham-area youth performing arts training organization offering classes and productions for children/teens; partial overlap with VST's STARS program.

Others

• Samford University Arts Department: Birmingham academic institution with performing arts programming and historically connected to the Samford family that funded VST's renaming; adjacent cultural/arts programming in the same community.

Regional players

• Leeds Arts Council / Leeds Arts Center: Greater Birmingham-area community arts organization producing plays and exhibitions; smaller-scale peer operating in the same regional catchment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/VirginiaSamfordTheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/virginia-samford-theatre

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 The Virginia Samford Theatre Llc