Musical Theatre Artist and Historian

What Musical Theatre Artist and Historian does

Musical Theatre Works (MTW) is a 501(c)(3) California nonprofit corporation founded in 1997 by Carolyn Miller that delivers musical theatre education and performance programming for youth in San Francisco. The organization serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade across a tiered portfolio: introductory after-school classes (Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance for K-2; Broadway Bound for 3-5), intermediate workshops (Triple Threat Training for 5-6; Musical Theatre Voice Instruction for 5-9), an audition-based advanced company (Cabaret Company for 9-12), and a flagship Main Stage program that produces two full-length Broadway musicals per year for grades 5-9 at the Randall Museum Auditorium. Summer programming runs nine sessions of Introduction to Theatre, Theatre Immersion Levels 1 and 2, and Master Class.

MTW employs 1-10 staff and is led by Executive & Artistic Director Christina Lazo (BFA, Marymount Manhattan College; 20+ years experience) and Main Stage Vocal and Music Director Meghan Crosby-Jolliffe (MM, San Francisco Conservatory of Music). The teaching roster draws on professional performers with credentials from Brigham Young University, New England Conservatory, and Carnegie Mellon, and prior credits at SF Playhouse, Berkeley Playhouse, Marin Theatre, and ACT. Programs are taught at the Randall Museum, the Harvey Milk Center, and First Unitarian Universalist Church, all in San Francisco.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-program tuition ($550-$1,495 per semester or session, with need-based financial assistance available), supplemented by tax-deductible donations, a tiered FORTE Reserved Seat donation program ($100-$1,000), the annual wine fundraiser, and extended child care fees. Distribution is community-driven: parents, alumni, and a board composed of parent volunteers recruit new families through word-of-mouth, email newsletter, website, and direct school outreach. Operations are entirely domestic, confined to the San Francisco Bay Area, with no disclosed revenue figures, no outside funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no technology or AI/ML infrastructure beyond a website and Formsite-based online registration.

Name

Musical Theatre Artist and Historian

Legal name

Musical Theatre Works

Website

https://musicaltheatreworks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Musical Theatre Works is a San Francisco 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1997 that delivers musical theatre education, after-school classes, and Main Stage Broadway productions for youth in grades K-12, primarily in the Bay Area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN), Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG), Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

Keywords

• Youth performing arts
• Musical theatre education
• After-school programs
• Youth theatre productions
• Community theatre programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Tuition and Fees: MTW generates primary revenue from tuition fees for after-school classes, summer programs, and Main Stage productions. Tuition ranges from $550 to $1,495 depending on program intensity and volunteer participation requirements.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations through PayPal, checks, and Donor Advised Funds. The FORTE Reserved Seat Program allows donors to purchase premium tickets to Main Stage productions with donations ranging from $100 to $1,000, providing reserved seating and priority entry.
3. Wine Fundraiser: Annual wine fundraiser where parents contribute bottles valued at $20 or more, supporting the organization's general operations.
4. Extended Child Care Services: Optional extended child care for summer programs is available for an additional flat rate per session.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Musical Theatre Works delivers after-school musical theatre classes, summer immersion programs, and two full-length Broadway musical productions per year for youth in grades K-12 in San Francisco. Programs combine training in singing, acting, and dance with public performance opportunities, supported by a tuition model, parent volunteer ecosystem, and donations.

Product overview

Musical Theatre Works (MTW) is a non-profit educational organization offering a comprehensive suite of musical theatre programs for young actors in San Francisco. The portfolio includes after-school classes (Gotta Sing Gotta Dance for K-2, Broadway Bound for 3-5, Triple Threat Training for 5-6, Musical Theatre Voice Instruction for 5-9, and Cabaret Company for 9-12), the Main Stage Production program for grades 5-9 producing two full-length Broadway musicals per year, and Summer Programs offering Introduction to Theatre, Theatre Immersion, and Master Class sessions. MTW operates as a single unified educational platform rather than a modular software product, with programs designed to develop young performers through progressive skill-building from introductory levels through advanced performance opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance

Quantifiable outcome

• Students develop confidence through public performances and collaborative ensemble work
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Marin Theatre Company: Marin Theatre Company is a Bay Area regional theatre cited as a prior performance venue for MTW teaching artists. While adult-focused, it operates in the same Bay Area ecosystem and overlaps in audience and talent competition with MTW.
• San Francisco Playhouse: SF Playhouse is a professional regional theatre in SF that has been referenced as a performance home for MTW staff. While primarily adult-focused, it operates in the same Bay Area theatre ecosystem and competes for some overlapping audience and talent.
• American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.): A.C.T. is a major San Francisco professional theatre institution that operates the Conservatory and youth education programs (including Young Conservatory for teens). It overlaps with MTW on youth theatre training in SF but at a much larger professional scale and broader scope.
• 42nd Street Moon: 42nd Street Moon is a San Francisco professional musical theatre company that has been listed among MTW staff's performance credits. While focused on adult productions, it competes for the same local musical theatre audience and teaching-artist talent pool.

Regional players

• Pacific Children's Theatre: Pacific Children's Theatre in Daly City provides youth musical theatre and performing arts classes for the Bay Area, overlapping with MTW's age range and curriculum while serving a nearby South Bay-adjacent geography.
• Utah Children's Theatre: Utah Children's Theatre provides youth theatre classes and productions in Salt Lake City, and is explicitly cited as a prior employer of MTW's Associate Director. It represents a comparable youth musical theatre model in a different regional market.
• Imagination Stage: Imagination Stage in Bethesda, MD is one of the largest youth-focused musical theatre and performing arts education organizations in the U.S., running classes, camps, and full productions for school-age children. It is a comparable model to MTW at a larger geographic scale.

Direct peers

• Berkeley Playhouse: Berkeley Playhouse operates youth musical theatre education programs and Main Stage-style productions in the East Bay, directly competing with MTW for Bay Area families seeking triple-threat training and full-length Broadway productions for school-age students.
• San Jose Children's Musical Theater: San Jose Children's Musical Theater runs youth musical theatre classes and full productions in the South Bay, comparable to MTW in scale, age range (K-12), and educational-then-performance model. It is the most analogous Bay Area peer serving similar families in a different sub-market.
• San Francisco Children's Musical Theatre: San Francisco Children's Musical Theatre offers youth musical theatre training and productions in the same city as MTW, serving a similar K-12 age range with comparable programs. It is the closest geographic direct competitor for SF families seeking Broadway-style youth theatre education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/musicaltheatreworks

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Musical Theatre Artist and Historian