La Crosse Community Theatre, Inc.

What La Crosse Community Theatre, Inc. does

La Crosse Community Theatre, Inc. (LCT) is a nonprofit community theatre organization founded in 1962 and incorporated in Wisconsin in 1963, now in its 64th season. It operates out of the Weber Center for the Performing Arts at 428 Front Street South in La Crosse — a 450-seat Lyche Theatre and 100-seat Veterans Studio Theatre shared with Viterbo University — and the recently expanded LEAP Center (Lyche Education and Production Center) at 724 Cass Street, which adds a dedicated scene shop, costume storage, and rehearsal/performance stage. LCT produces five theatrical series (Broadway Series, Blackbox Series, Staged Reading Series, Theatre for Youth, and Summer Kids Shows) and maintains a 600+ production archive spanning its full history.

LCT's core technology stack is operationally focused rather than differentiated: OvationTix handles ticketing, subscriptions, and gift cards; Constant Contact drives email marketing; Google Docs underpins a Stage Material Management System for scenic and prop inventory; and the Weber Center is equipped with a LOOP Technology hearing assist system with t-coil compatibility, alongside full ADA compliance and Section 508/WCAG website standards. There is no proprietary platform, AI/ML capability, or software product being commercialized.

Revenue is generated through six streams: individual ticket sales (transaction-fee model), season subscriptions (recurring), education-program tuition (Star Academy classes, summer camps, Family Night Out, Penguin Project), corporate sponsorships and donations (Altra Federal Credit Union is the naming sponsor of education programs alongside Optum Serve, DigiCopy, Stifel, Trust Point, FSPA, and others), annual gala fundraisers with silent auctions, and venue rental income from the Viterbo co-use arrangement. Customer segments include general theatre patrons, youth and families (K-12), patron donors and season ticket holders, corporate sponsors, and a large volunteer/artist base. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Erik Vose and Artistic Director Mary Cate Wesling.

Name

La Crosse Community Theatre, Inc.

Legal name

La Crosse Community Theatre, Inc.

Website

https://lacrossetheatre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

La Crosse Community Theatre is a nonprofit community theatre in La Crosse, Wisconsin, operating since 1962, that produces five theatrical series and youth education programs (Star Academy, Penguin Project) for the Coulee Region through the Weber Center and LEAP Center venues, funded by ticket sales, subscriptions, donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Theatre / Live Performing Arts

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE), Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts (MPAGABAI)

Keywords

• Live theatrical performances
• Youth theatre education
• Community performing arts
• Theatrical season subscriptions
• Inclusive youth programs

Headquarters

HQ city

La Crosse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual performance tickets sold through the OviationTix platform and at the box office, covering mainstage Broadway Series, Blackbox Series, Staged Reading Series, Theatre for Youth, and Summer Kids Shows.
2. Season Subscriptions: Season ticket packages offering reserved seating and priority purchase access to the full season, with Gala attendees getting exclusive early access one week before the general public.
3. Education Programs: Revenue from Star Academy classes (elementary, middle/high school, Encore Academy), summer theatre camps, Family Night Out programming, and The Penguin Project participation fees.
4. Corporate Sponsorships and Donations: Corporate giving program with named sponsors, sponsor tiers, and patron donor recognition. Includes support from organizations such as Altra Federal Credit Union (naming sponsor of education programs), Optum Serve, DigiCopy, FSPA, LACF, Stifel, and others.
5. Gala Fundraisers and Annual Appeals: Annual events such as the LCT Gala Fundraiser featuring live performances, silent auctions, and raffle prizes, alongside year-end annual appeals targeting patron donors.
6. Venue Rental and Facility Use: The Weber Center for the Performing Arts serves as a shared performance space with Viterbo University, generating rental income from co-use agreements and community bookings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

La Crosse Community Theatre produces and stages live theatrical performances across four mainstage series (Broadway Series, Blackbox Series, Staged Reading Series, and Theatre for Youth), supported by two performance venues (Lyche Theatre and Veterans Studio Theatre) at the Weber Center for the Performing Arts. The organization also operates theatre education programs through Altra Star Academy (classes, summer camps, Family Night Out), the Penguin Project inclusive disability mentorship program, and Encore Academy classes for teens and adults. Revenue is generated from ticket sales, season subscriptions, education program fees, corporate sponsorships, patron donations, and gala fundraisers.

Product overview

La Crosse Community Theatre operates as a multi-venue community theatre organization in La Crosse, Wisconsin, offering a portfolio of theatrical productions across distinct series and educational programming. The core product portfolio includes four production series: the Broadway Series (mainstage musicals and plays at the Weber Center for the Performing Arts), the Blackbox Series (experimental works), the Stage Reading Series (developmental presentations), and Theatre for Youth programming. The theatre operates multiple venues including the Weber Center for the Performing Arts (shared with Viterbo University), the 450-seat Lyche Theatre, and the 100-seat Veterans Studio Theatre, all opened in 2013. The LEAP Center (Lyche Education and Production Center) at 724 Cass Street serves as the secondary facility for rehearsals, set construction, costume storage, and youth performances. Education products include Altra Star Academy (elementary through adult classes), The Penguin Project (inclusive youth program pairing performers with disabilities with peer mentors), summer camps, and the new Family Night Out program. Ticketing is facilitated through OvationTix for subscriptions, individual tickets, and gift cards. Support programs include patron donor levels, the Friends of LCT giving program, endowment, and corporate sponsorship opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Broadway Series Mainstage theatrical productions featuring professional-caliber musicals and plays staged at the Weber Center for the Performing Arts, open to the general public through individual and subscription ticket purchases.
• Blackbox Series Experimental and intimate theatrical productions in a flexible black-box performance space, showcasing contemporary works and emerging talent at the Veterans Studio Theatre.
• Stage Reading Series Developmental readings and staged presentations allowing audiences to experience new works and classic scripts in progress, produced at the LEAP Center.
• Theatre for Youth Age-appropriate theatrical productions and programming designed to introduce young audiences to live theatre experiences at the Weber Center.
• Summer Kids Shows Youth-focused theatrical productions presented during summer months, featuring young performers and family-friendly content at the Weber Center and LEAP Center.
• Altra Star Academy Comprehensive theatre education program for youth including elementary classes, summer camps, and family night programming at the LEAP Center and Weber Center.
• The Penguin Project Inclusive program pairing youth performers with disabilities with peer mentors to produce full musical productions, open to participants from the La Crosse community.
• Altra Star Academy Summer Camps Intensive summer theatre camps for youth across elementary through high school age groups, conducted at the LEAP Center and Weber Center.
• Star Academy: Family Night Out Evening programming offering theatre-themed activities for children K-5th grade during performances, with arts and crafts, a provided snack, and supervised care while parents attend the show.
• Encore Academy Theatre classes designed for teens and adults seeking continued education and performance opportunities, offered as part of the Altra Education programming.
• Community Access Program Initiative providing accessible theatre experiences and subsidized or discounted ticket access for community members who may face financial or other barriers to attendance.
• Season Subscriptions Season ticket packages offering reserved seating and priority purchase access to the full season of Broadway Series, Blackbox Series, Staged Reading Series, and Theatre for Youth productions, with Gala attendees receiving exclusive early access one week before the general public.
• Gift Cards Theatre gift cards available for purchase as presents for performances and educational programming, redeemable through the OvationTix platform.
• Patron Donors Program Patronage and donation program supporting theatre operations with various giving levels and recognition, including Hall of Fame induction for sustained supporters.
• Friends of LCT Giving program for ongoing individual supporters of the theatre, providing an entry-tier recurring donation pathway.
• LCT Endowment Endowment fund supporting long-term financial sustainability of La Crosse Community Theatre, managed for perpetuity beyond annual operations.
• Corporate Giving Corporate sponsorship and partnership opportunities for businesses supporting the theatre, with named sponsorships available across productions and education programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600+ productions delivered across 60+ years of continuous operation
• +3 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

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Altra Federal Credit UnionflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAltra Federal Credit Union is the naming sponsor of LCT's theatre education programs, including Altra Star Academy and Altra Star Academy Summer Camps. This sponsorship provides visibility across all education programming, including classes for elementary students, middle/high school students, Encore Academy for teens and adults, and summer camps. The partnership supports LCT's mission of providing youth theatre education and community access to the arts.
• Weber Center for the Performing ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Weber Center for the Performing Arts (owned/operated by LCT) serves as the primary performance venue, shared with Viterbo University. Opened in January 2013, the Weber Center houses the Lyche Theatre (450 seats) and Veterans Studio Theatre (100 seats). The co-use arrangement with Viterbo University provides mutual facility access and community programming benefits.
• United Fund for the Arts and Humanities (UFAH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLCT is a Proud Member of UFAH, a nonprofit umbrella fundraising organization that has been raising funds for the arts and humanities of La Crosse for 40 years, supporting 12 of the area's finest arts organizations. UFAH provides coordinated fundraising infrastructure and community arts advocacy.
• Viterbo UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerViterbo University shares the Weber Center for the Performing Arts with LCT. The university uses the facility for its own performances and student activities, creating a synergistic relationship between higher education and community theatre.
• The Penguin ProjectflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLCT became a replication site for The Penguin Project in 2019 with Annie Jr., a program that pairs youth with disabilities with peer mentors to perform a full musical together. The Penguin Project was unexpectedly defunded by the National Endowment for the Arts grant, prompting a community fundraising response that highlighted the program's importance to local families.
• Optum ServeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOptum Serve is listed as a community sponsor/partner of LCT, appearing in the sponsor logo section on the website alongside other local and regional businesses.
• DigiCopyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigiCopy is listed as a community sponsor/partner of LCT, providing print and digital copying services potentially for production programs and marketing materials.
• Mia's KitchenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMia's Kitchen provides catering services for LCT events such as the annual Holiday Gala, receiving visibility and brand association with LCT's fundraising events.
• Uptown JazzminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUptown Jazz from Rochester, MN provides live musical entertainment at LCT's annual Holiday Gala events, receiving venue and audience access in exchange for performance.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Milwaukee Repertory Theater: Largest nonprofit regional theatre in Wisconsin, operating three performance spaces in the Milwaukee Center. Functions as a BROAD_INCUMBENT to LCT — same state, overlapping donor and audience pools, but materially larger budget and a year-round professional (vs. volunteer-led) production model.
• Oregon Shakespeare Festival: One of the largest nonprofit repertory theatres in the U.S., based in Ashland, Oregon. Comparable to LCT as a multi-stage repertory and education-focused nonprofit theatre, but at dramatically larger scale (three theatres, $40M+ budget) — useful as an upper-bound peer.

Direct peers

• Commonweal Theatre Company: Professional nonprofit theatre in Lanesboro, Minnesota producing a repertory season and education programming in a small-town setting. Directly comparable to LCT as a regional repertory organization whose identity and audience are tightly bound to its small-town community.
• Forward Theater Company: Madison, Wisconsin-based nonprofit professional theatre producing a season of contemporary plays. Comparable to LCT as a Wisconsin-based, season-driven community/professional theatre relying on subscriptions, donations, and corporate sponsorships, and operating in the same regional arts ecosystem.
• American Players Theatre: Wisconsin-based repertory theatre in Spring Green producing a classical and contemporary season in an outdoor/indoor venue model. Comparable to LCT in mission (regional repertory serving a Midwestern community), programming breadth, and nonprofit community-supported operating model, though at a larger scale.
• Meadow Brook Theatre: Oakland University-based professional theatre in Rochester, Michigan producing a mainstage season plus youth programming in a ~500-seat venue. Closely comparable to LCT in scale, programming mix (Broadway musicals, youth shows), venue size, and university-partnership operating model.
• Riverside Theatre: Iowa City-based nonprofit community theatre presenting Broadway musicals, comedies, and children's productions across multiple venues. Highly comparable to LCT in scale, programming mix (mainstage musicals plus youth programming), venue model, and nonprofit funding approach.
• Timeline Theatre Company: Chicago-based nonprofit community theatre producing a season of plays in an intimate venue with strong volunteer and donor engagement. Comparable to LCT in scale, intimate-stage community-theatre operating model, and donor/volunteer-driven revenue mix, though located in a much larger urban market.

Regional players

• Penumbra Theatre: St. Paul, Minnesota-based nonprofit theatre known for producing work centered on the African American experience, with strong education and community programs. Comparable to LCT in mission-driven nonprofit model and educational programming focus, though geographically and thematically distinct.
• Great Lakes Theater: Cleveland, Ohio-based nonprofit repertory theatre producing a classics-focused season with an education arm. Comparable to LCT in nonprofit repertory model and education programming emphasis, but serves a larger metropolitan market in a different region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/la-crosse-community-theatre

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 La Crosse Community Theatre, Inc.