Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre

What Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre does

Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1916 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and operating continuously from its current location at 616 St. Peter Street in the French Quarter since 1922. It is the city's most historic playhouse, producing a five-show mainstage season of dramas, comedies, and musicals in a 323-seat venue with orchestra and balcony levels, a 28-foot proscenium, and a 31-foot stage depth. The 2026-27 season — the organization's 110th — features Laughter on the 23rd Floor, The Secret Garden, The Glass Menagerie, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, alongside special engagements including the world premiere of Harold Ellis Clark's Ganking Mr. Guidry and The Moth GrandSLAM Championship.

The organization operates a diversified revenue model across earned and contributed income streams. Earned revenue comes from full-season and partial-season subscription packages (Premier $315, Tier 1 $270, Tier 2 $160, plus 4-Play and Pick 3 bundles), individual ticket sales ($35-$102 by tier, including student discounts at $15-$27), venue rentals for weddings, corporate events, concerts, and recitals, and tuition-based education programs. Contributed revenue is generated through the Drawing Room Players donor membership (Platinum $5,000, Gold $2,750, Silver $1,500, Bronze $575), the Producing Circle production sponsorship program (Executive Producer $4,000, Associate Producer $2,000, Supporter $500), the annual Curtain Call Ball gala, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations.

Beyond mainstage productions, Le Petit Theatre runs a portfolio of community-facing education and workforce programs that serve approximately 2,000 students annually in the Greater New Orleans area. These include the Young Conservatory (ages 8-18) covering voice, movement, stagecraft, and ensemble building; the Workforce Development Program providing technical theatre training in scenic painting, carpentry, lighting, audio, projection, and costumes (in partnership with Loyola University); Student Matinees offering complimentary tickets and transportation stipends to underserved schools; and the Teen Council advisory program. Distribution is handled through a box office (phone and in-person), the OvationTix online ticketing platform, direct sales for groups of 10+, and the Blue Star Theatres military discount program (50% off for military personnel and families).

Name

Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre

Legal name

Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré Inc.

Website

https://lepetittheatre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1916

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré is a 110-year-old nonprofit historic theater in New Orleans' French Quarter that produces a five-show annual mainstage season and operates youth theatre education and workforce development programs serving 2,000 students in the Greater New Orleans area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Theater

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Live theatrical productions
• Theater education programs
• Venue rental services
• Youth performing arts training
• Community theater productions

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales - Individual Shows: Single-ticket sales for mainstage productions ranging from $35-$55 per ticket. Sold through OvationTix online platform and box office. BOGO promotions offered for select performances.
2. Season Subscriptions: Full-season packages (5 shows) at tiered pricing: Premier $315, Tier 1 $270, Tier 2 $160. Partial-season 4-Play packages at $130-$260. Pick 3 packages at $55-$200. Seniors 65+ receive $10 off. Annual billing.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations at various levels supporting education programs, student matinees, production sponsorships. Named sponsors for student matinees, productions, and the Curtain Call Ball gala.
4. Venue Rentals: Historic 323-seat theatre available for weddings, corporate events, dinner and show packages, concerts, recitals, and performances. Customized packages for various event types.
5. Drawing Room Players Membership: Exclusive donor program named for original founders (1916). Four tiers: Platinum $5,000, Gold $2,750, Silver $1,500, Bronze $575. Includes season tickets, opening night dinners, and behind-the-scenes access.
6. Producing Circle: Production sponsorship at three levels: Executive Producer $4,000, Associate Producer $2,000, Supporter $500. Includes program recognition, opening night dinner tickets, and signed posters.
7. Education Programs: Young Conservatory (tuition-based, ages 8-18), Workforce Development (technical theatre training), and Student Matinees. Scholarships available. Partnership with Loyola University for summer intensives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré produces and presents a five-production mainstage season of live theatrical performances (dramas, comedies, and musicals) at its historic 323-seat French Quarter venue. The organization also delivers theater education programs for youth (Young Conservatory, Workforce Development, Student Matinees, Teen Council), offers venue rentals for private events, and runs donor and membership programs supporting its nonprofit mission.

Product overview

Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre operates as a historic theater venue (est. 1916) in New Orleans' French Quarter offering a portfolio of live theatrical productions and arts education programs. The core offering consists of five annual mainstage productions (dramas, comedies, and musicals) presented at their 323-seat venue at 616 St. Peter Street. The 2026-27 season includes Laughter on the 23rd Floor, The Secret Garden, The Glass Menagerie, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Additional productions include special events like the world premiere of Ganking Mr. Guidry and The Moth GrandSLAM Championship. Supporting offerings include venue rentals, subscription packages (full-season and partial 4-Play/Pick 3), single-show tickets, and the annual Curtain Call Ball gala. Education programs encompass the Young Conservatory (ages 8-18), Workforce Development (technical theater training), Student Matinee Series (free tickets for underserved schools), and Teen Council. Donor programs include the Drawing Room Players membership (Platinum through Bronze tiers) and Producing Circle sponsorships. The theater also offers Blue Star military discounts and gift certificates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 2026-27 Season Subscription Packages Full-season (5 shows) and partial-season (4-Play and Pick 3) subscription packages providing priority access, free ticket exchanges, and invitations to special readings for the 2026-27 mainstage season. Tiered seating from Premier to Tier 3 with senior and group discounts available.
• Laughter on the 23rd Floor Neil Simon's ensemble comedy about 1950s television writers, running October 2-18, 2026 (preview October 1) at Le Petit Theatre as part of the 2026-27 mainstage season.
• The Secret Garden Musical adaptation of the children's classic about Mary Lennox discovering a locked garden in Yorkshire, running December 4-27, 2026 (preview December 3) as the holiday family production.
• The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams' American classic about the Wingfield family during the Great Depression, running February 26-March 21, 2027 (preview February 25) at Le Petit Theatre.
• Ma Rainey's Black Bottom August Wilson's drama set in a Chicago recording studio featuring the Mother of the Blues, running April 30-May 16, 2027 (preview April 29) at Le Petit Theatre.
• The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Musical comedy featuring adults portraying adolescent spelling bee competitors, running June 4-20, 2027 (preview June 3) at Le Petit Theatre.
• Ganking Mr. Guidry World premiere play by Harold Ellis Clark set during the 1878 Louisiana sugarcane harvesting season, about five workers who band together to stand against injustice. Limited engagement of five performances, August 13-16, 2026, presented in association with HEC Communications LLC with support from Whitney Plantation.
• Curtain Call Ball Annual fundraising gala celebrating Le Petit Theatre's season kickoff, featuring cocktails, dinner at Tableau, live performances by Young Conservatory students, and silent/live auctions. The 2026 gala on September 18 celebrates the 110th season.
• Venue Rentals Rental of the 323-seat historic French Quarter theater (built 1922, proscenium 28 ft, stage depth 31 ft) for weddings, corporate events, dinner/show packages, concerts, recitals, and performances. Customized packages available.
• Young Conservatory Theater education program for students ages 8-18 offering classes in Voice and Diction, Clowning and Movement, Stagecraft, Stage Presence, and Ensemble Building, culminating in productions performed on the historic French Quarter stage. Scholarships available.
• Workforce Development Program Technical theater training program for high school students and recent graduates covering scenic painting, carpentry, lighting, audio, projection, and costumes. Includes a 2-week summer intensive in partnership with Loyola University.
• Student Matinee Series Complimentary theater tickets and transportation stipends for underserved schools in Greater New Orleans, including study guides and post-show Q&A sessions with cast members. Approximately 2,000 students served annually.
• Summer Student Theatre Workshop Annual summer workshop combining Workforce Development (technical theater) and Young Conservatory (performance) students to produce Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka Jr. on the historic stage, presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
• Drawing Room Players Membership Exclusive donor membership program named for the theater's original 1916 Drawing Room Players founders, with tiered contribution levels (Platinum through Bronze) including Premier season tickets, opening night dinner invitations, and behind-the-scenes access.
• Producing Circle Production sponsorship program for specific mainstage productions at three contribution tiers (Executive Producer, Associate Producer, Supporter), including program recognition, opening night dinner tickets, and signed posters.
• Gift Certificates Theater gift certificates available in any denomination, valid toward tickets and subscriptions at Le Petit Theatre, available in printable or mailed formats with suggested amounts based on package tiers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 2,000 students annually through education programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Whitney PlantationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Whitney Plantation provided generous support for the world premiere of 'Ganking Mr. Guidry.' Whitney Plantation is a museum and memorial site in Wallace, LA dedicated to educating the public about the history and legacies of slavery. The play was inspired by Harold Ellis Clark's visit to Whitney in 2018.
• HEC Communications LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Le Petit Theatre presented 'Ganking Mr. Guidry' in association with HEC Communications LLC.
• Dillard UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026A staged reading of 'Ganking Mr. Guidry' was held at Dillard University's Cook Theater.
• Blue Star Families and Theatre Communications GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBlue Star Theatres program offers 50% military discount on tickets. Blue Star Families and TCG jointly administer the program.
• Loyola University Department of Theatre Arts and DanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce Development Program partners with Loyola University for Technical Theatre 2-week intensive program over summer.
• Music Theatre International (MTI)minorOthersMTI provides authorized performance materials for 'Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka Jr.' presented through special arrangement.
• New Orleans Public Radio / WWNO 89.9 FMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWWNO 89.9 FM is listed as a programming sponsor alongside New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation.
• The New Orleans Theatre Association (NOTA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNOTA provides grant support for programming including student matinees and education programs.
• The MothminorOthersThe Moth GrandSLAM Championship is a rental event at Le Petit Theatre. Le Petit provides ticketing and receives rental income.
• New Orleans Jazz and Heritage FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation provides programming support for Le Petit Theatre productions and education programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Arena Stage: Major nonprofit regional theatre in Washington, D.C. producing new works and classics with community engagement and education programming. Overlapping mission and subscription model, but at materially larger scale and budget.
• Roundabout Theatre Company: Major New York-based nonprofit producing theatre with subscription-driven model, education programs, and venue portfolio. Comparable nonprofit theatre business model with subscription and education focus, though at a national-instead-of-regional scale.
• Saenger Theatre: Historic New Orleans theatre venue (est. 1927) presenting touring Broadway productions and concerts. Comparable as a French Quarter-adjacent historic performing arts venue but operates at larger scale and focuses on touring shows rather than local productions.
• Guthrie Theater: One of the largest nonprofit regional theatres in the U.S. (Minneapolis), operating a multi-stage venue with producing, education, and community programs. Same nonprofit producing-theatre model and education focus but operates at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans: New Orleans-based nonprofit theatre producing works by and inspired by Tennessee Williams. Directly comparable mission and geographic market, with a comparable emphasis on classic/contemporary plays in the local market.
• Pasadena Playhouse: Historic California theatre designated a State Historic Landmark operating as a nonprofit producing organization with subscription seasons and education programs. Highly comparable as a historic nonprofit theatre with education programming and tiered subscription packages.
• Marigny Opera Ballet House: Historic neighborhood theatre and performing arts venue in New Orleans offering live performance programming and community events. Similar nonprofit model, small-scale venue, and local arts-community focus.
• Actors Theatre of Louisville: Long-running nonprofit regional theatre producing a mainstage season plus the Humana Festival of New American Plays. Comparable subscription-driven community theatre model, education programs, and producing-theatre identity.
• Southern Repertory Theatre: New Orleans-based nonprofit professional theatre company producing a mainstage season in the Greater New Orleans area. Directly comparable mission (live theatre + education/community engagement), nonprofit structure, and local audience overlap with Le Petit.

Others

• Theatre Communications Group (TCG): National service organization for the American theatre field that administers the Blue Star Theatres program partnered with Le Petit. Relevant as the industry-body counterpart enabling Le Petit's military discount and broader national-theatre affiliation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lepetittheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/lepetittheatre
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lepetittheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/le-petit-theatre-du-vieux-carre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre