Magnus Theatre North West Inc

What Magnus Theatre North West Inc does

Magnus Theatre North West Inc is a not-for-profit registered charity (CRA #11902 7985 RR0001) and the only professional theatre company serving Northwestern Ontario, operating from a heritage 1884 Central School building in Thunder Bay, ON, integrated with a 250-seat proscenium theatre and a newly added 125-seat Studio Theatre. Founded in 1971 by Burton Lancaster and incorporated in 1972, the company produces seven Mainstage productions annually and operates a portfolio of Theatre in Education programs including school matinees ($15/student), the Theatre for Young Audiences touring program reaching 40+ schools and remote First Nations communities, youth training (Magnus Minis, Magnus Youth, Young Company, Collective Creation Project), adult classes (The Actor's Studio), summer camps, and the annual 10x10 Short Play Festival. Audience reach is approximately 40,000 individuals annually, including 20,000+ patrons and 6,000+ students.

Name

Magnus Theatre North West Inc

Legal name

Magnus Theatre Company North West Incorporated

Website

https://magnustheatre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Magnus Theatre is Northwestern Ontario's only professional theatre, producing seven Mainstage shows annually and operating Theatre in Education programs serving 40,000+ patrons, students, and remote community members across the region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Theatre / Performing Arts

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC), Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG)

Keywords

• Professional theatre productions
• Theatre education programs
• Live performing arts
• Youth theatre training
• Community arts venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Thunder Bay

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Mainstage ticket sales; approximately 39% of total revenue comes from ticket sales. Ticket prices range from $35-40 for regular weekend performances, with school matinees at $15 per student.
2. Theatre in Education Program Fees: Fees from TIE programs including school matinees, TYA touring shows, and educational programming for students aged 5-18 across Northwestern Ontario.
3. Facility Rentals: Rental revenue from community events, corporate functions, film screenings, musical productions, business conferences, and other special events held at the theatre facility.
4. Donations and Memberships: Monthly donor tiers: Playwright's Circle ($10/month), Director's Guild ($25/month), Producer's Suite ($50/month), Artistic Visionary ($100/month), Student/Artist Supporter ($5/month). Tax-deductible charitable donations.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from lead sponsors and season sponsors providing funding in exchange for advertising, recognition, and tickets.
6. Government Funding: Operational funding from Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and other government sources supporting not-for-profit arts organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Magnus Theatre produces professional live theatre performances and delivers theatre education and community programs. As Northwestern Ontario's only professional theatre, it produces seven Mainstage productions annually, operates Theatre in Education (TIE) programs, provides regional touring productions, and develops new plays through the 10x10 Short Play Festival. The organization serves over 40,000 individuals annually through Mainstage productions, youth education programs, touring shows, and community engagement initiatives.

Product overview

Magnus Theatre is Northwestern Ontario's only professional theatre, operating as a not-for-profit organization that produces live theatre and arts education programming. The organization offers a diverse portfolio of products and services organized around four core activities: Mainstage Productions (seven professional shows annually in a 250-seat venue), Theatre in Education programs (including school matinees, TYA touring productions, and workshops), Regional Touring, and New Play Development through the 10x10 Short Play Festival. Educational programming spans all ages: Magnus Minis and Magnus Youth for ages 5-12, Young Company and Collective Creation Project for ages 12-18, The Actor's Studio for adults, and Summer Theatre Camps. Accessibility services include Relaxed Performances and Pay What You Want options. The theatre also generates revenue through facility rentals, sponsorship, donor memberships, and a 50/50 draw program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Productions

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 40,000 individuals annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and community.

• Daytrippers Children's CharitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide funding for students from low-income and remote communities to attend TYA touring shows and school matinees.
• Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM University)communityStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Collective Creation Project 2025-2026, working with students to create original play about healthcare access in Northwestern Ontario.
• Lakehead Social Planning CouncilcommunityStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrevious community partner for Collective Creation Project presenting play about poverty struggles.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Young People's Theatre: Toronto-based theatre dedicated to young audiences and theatre education. Directly comparable to Magnus's Theatre in Education programming, TYA Tour, Young Company, Magnus Minis, and youth programming depth.
• Great Canadian Theatre Company: Ottawa-based not-for-profit professional theatre producing a Mainstage season plus new play development and community programming. Closely comparable in size, structure, and product mix to Magnus, and Magnus's Interim Production Manager previously worked there.
• Stephenville Theatre Festival: Newfoundland-based summer repertory festival. Closely comparable to Magnus in scale and professional model; Artistic Director Thom Currie previously led this organization, indicating direct operational lineage.

Broad incumbents

• Theatre Calgary: Western Canadian regional professional theatre operating a Mainstage season. Comparable in scale-up trajectory and repertory model; useful reference for what Magnus could scale toward with expanded facilities.
• Stratford Festival: Canada's largest repertory theatre operating a multi-stage season. Shares the same PACT/CAEA professional framework and produces classic and contemporary work in a similar regional-city model; Magnus's Executive Director previously worked there.
• Shaw Festival: Canadian repertory theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake with a multi-stage professional season. Directly comparable in operating model (regional professional theatre, PACT membership, summer-season programming) and shares alumni with Magnus's leadership.
• National Arts Centre English Theatre: Ottawa-based national professional theatre producing a season of contemporary work. Comparable in PACT/CAEA professional operations; Magnus's Interim Production Manager previously worked there, signaling shared talent pool.
• Neptune Theatre: Atlantic Canada's largest professional theatre based in Halifax. Comparable as a Canadian regional theatre with a multi-stage season and education programming, though operating in a different region.
• Citadel Theatre: Edmonton-based regional theatre producing a multi-stage professional season. Comparable as a Canadian regional repertory theatre; Magnus's Interim Production Manager previously worked there, indicating direct talent overlap.

Regional players

• Sudbury Theatre Centre: Northern Ontario professional theatre serving a similar regional market. Comparable as a non-urban Canadian professional theatre with a Mainstage season and education programming, though operating in a different catchment area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/MagnusTheatre
• Facebookfacebook.com/MagnusTheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/magnus-theatre

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Magnus Theatre North West Inc