One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre
One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre is a Calgary-based nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1982 that produces original theatre, presents the annual High Performance Rodeo festival, mentors emerging artists, and rents its Big Secret Theatre venue.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersCalgary, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre does
One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre is a Calgary-based nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1982 by Blake Brooker, Michael Green, and a group of other young creators. The company produces original theatrical works, presents the annual High Performance Rodeo (HPR) festival each January (established in 1987, running three weeks), mentors emerging artists through the BeautifulYoungArtists program led by Denise Clarke, and rents out its Big Secret Theatre venue to independent artists and companies. It serves three primary audiences: local Calgary arts consumers seeking innovative contemporary theatre, emerging and established artists seeking development and presentation platforms, and independent artists and touring companies needing professional black box performance space. The core of the company is its Resident Ensemble, currently anchored by Blake Brooker, Denise Clarke, and Andy Curtis, operating under a "permeable" ensemble model that blends long-term continuity with rotating collaborators.
The organization generates revenue through three primary streams: ticket sales for OYR-produced performances and the High Performance Rodeo festival; theatre rentals of the Big Secret Theatre to independent producers (with a published 2026–27 rental rates PDF, a $5,000,000 insurance requirement for public-facing rentals, and all bar revenue retained by OYR); and donations and sponsorships from individuals, corporations, and supporter programs. Marketing is conducted through the company website (oyr.org), social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), and an email newsletter via Wordfly, with the annual festival serving as the primary demand-generation event. The organization has received industry recognition including the Lt. Governor of Alberta Arts Award (2007) for the performing ensemble and the Betty Mitchell Awards' Dean Ott/Debbie Boult Award (2014).
The company's infrastructure is centered on the Big Secret Theatre, a flexible black box space typically configured for 165 audience members with a maximum capacity of 195, located on the second floor of the Werklund Centre (formerly Arts Commons) in downtown Calgary within one block of City Hall and a C-Train station. All rentals must use the Werklund Centre Box Office ticketing system and abide by venue policies for front-of-house staff and accessibility. Strategic partnerships include Inside Out Theatre's Good Host Program, which enables accessible performances for neurodivergent, Deaf, and disabled audiences during the High Performance Rodeo, and funding support from The Nickle Family Foundation for these accessibility services.
One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre
- Legal name
- One Yellow Rabbit
- Website
- https://oyr.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre is a Calgary-based nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1982 that produces original theatre, presents the annual High Performance Rodeo festival, mentors emerging artists, and rents its Big Secret Theatre venue.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Theatre
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Dance Companies (711120), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts, Culture, Entertainment & Fan Conventions Organizers (THAHABAN)
Keywords
Where One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Calgary
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from ticket sales for OYR-produced performances and the annual High Performance Rodeo festival.
- Theatre Rentals: Revenue from renting the Big Secret Theatre to independent artists and companies for performances and special events, with associated bar service fees and staffing charges.
- Donations and Sponsorships: Revenue from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and supporter programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Big Secret Theatre rental fees vary by scope and duration |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
One Yellow Rabbit is a Calgary-based nonprofit performing arts ensemble that creates and presents original theatrical productions at its home venue, the Big Secret Theatre. Each January the company runs the three-week High Performance Rodeo festival, a multi-venue showcase of theatre, dance, comedy, and music. The organization also rents the Big Secret Theatre to independent artists and companies and mentors emerging artists through the BeautifulYoungArtists program.
Product overview
One Yellow Rabbit is a performing arts theatre company founded in 1982, operating as a single unified offering centered on the creation and presentation of bold theatrical experiences. The core product is the Big Secret Theatre venue and the Resident Ensemble's original productions, supplemented by the annual High Performance Rodeo festival. Additional offerings include the BeautifulYoungArtists mentoring program for emerging artists and theatre rentals. The portfolio is interconnected: the Big Secret Theatre serves as the home venue for all productions, the High Performance Rodeo curates and presents multi-artist performances, and the mentoring program develops future talent that feeds into the company's artistic output.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- High Performance Rodeo: Calgary's wildest annual festival of the arts featuring theatre, dance, comedy and music, held each January.
- BeautifulYoungArtists
Products and services
- High Performance Rodeo Calgary's annual festival of the arts featuring theatre, dance, comedy, and music, held each January for three weeks. The festival transforms Calgary into a creative playground with innovative performances spread across multiple downtown venues, drawing local audiences and visiting artists.
- Big Secret Theatre Rentals Rental of the Big Secret Theatre (a flexible black box venue with seating for 165-195) to independent artists and companies for performances and special events. Includes professional lighting and sound equipment, dressing rooms for six performers, lobby area, and bar service operated by One Yellow Rabbit. Insurance of $5,000,000 is required for public rentals, and SOCAN and Re:Sound licensing fees are incorporated.
- Big Secret Theatre (Original Productions) Home venue for One Yellow Rabbit's original theatrical productions created and performed by the Resident Ensemble. The Big Secret Theatre is a flexible black box performance space on the second floor of the Werklund Centre, typically configured to seat 165 with a maximum of 195, equipped with professional lighting and sound, dressing rooms for six performers, and a small bar and lobby area.
Companies that use One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Inside Out TheatrecoreOne Yellow Rabbit partners with Inside Out Theatre and their Good Host Program to present accessible performances for the annual High Performance Rodeo festival. This partnership enables the presentation of accessible performances for neurodivergent, Deaf, and disabled audience members.
- Werklund Centre (Arts Commons)coreOne Yellow Rabbit is resident at the Werklund Centre (formerly Arts Commons). The Big Secret Theatre is located within the Werklund Centre building. All rentals must abide by Werklund Centre policies including use of their Box Office ticketing system, Front of House staff, and accessibility facilities.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Why Not Theatre: Toronto-based contemporary theatre company producing original and international work with a focus on accessibility and community partnerships. Comparable to OYR's accessibility-driven programming and community partnerships.
Regional players
- Edmonton International Fringe Festival: Canada's largest fringe theatre festival operating in nearby Edmonton. Closely comparable to the High Performance Rodeo as an annual multi-discipline performing arts festival in the same Alberta region.
- Calgary International Film Festival: Calgary-based annual cultural festival focused on film. Comparable to the High Performance Rodeo as a Calgary-rooted arts festival competing for the same audiences, sponsors, and cultural funding.
Direct peers
- The Cultch: Vancouver's East Van cultural venue presenting contemporary performance and renting space to independent artists. Closely comparable to OYR's mix of produced shows and venue rentals.
- One Night Stand (and other Toronto indie theatre peers): Soulpepper is a comparable Canadian ensemble-based theatre company producing original and classic work, mentoring artists, and operating its own venue; directly comparable in mission and operating model.
- Factory Theatre: Toronto-based original Canadian theatre company with a multi-decade history of producing new work. Comparable to OYR as a Canadian original-work producer with a long-tenured artistic identity.
- Alberta Theatre Projects: Long-standing Calgary theatre company producing a mainstage season and the playRites festival. Directly comparable to OYR as a fellow resident producing theatre company in the same city.
- Theatre Calgary: Calgary's largest professional theatre company and OYR's most direct local peer. Both produce and present live performance in the same city and share overlapping audiences, donors, and the Werklund Centre/Arts Commons ecosystem.
- Buddies in Bad Times Theatre: Toronto-based contemporary theatre company producing bold, risk-taking original work. Comparable to OYR's mandate for experimental, boundary-pushing performance and artist development.
- Nightwood Theatre: Canadian feminist theatre company developing and producing new work, with a focus on artist mentorship. Comparable to OYR on the artist-development and original-production dimensions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre social profiles
Digital presenceOne Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre
What does One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre do?
One Yellow Rabbit is a Calgary-based nonprofit performing arts ensemble that creates and presents original theatrical productions at its home venue, the Big Secret Theatre. Each January the company runs the three-week High Performance Rodeo festival, a multi-venue showcase of theatre, dance, comedy, and music. The organization also rents the Big Secret Theatre to independent artists and companies and mentors emerging artists through the BeautifulYoungArtists program.
Is One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre a public or private company?
One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre founded?
One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre was founded in 1987. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre based?
One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre is headquartered in Calgary, Canada, in the North America region.
How does One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are theatre Rentals and donations and Sponsorships.
Who are One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre's main competitors?
Why Not Theatre is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Edmonton International Fringe Festival and Calgary International Film Festival. Direct peers are The Cultch, One Night Stand (and other Toronto indie theatre peers), Factory Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, Theatre Calgary, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre and Nightwood Theatre.
Does One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre have an API?
No public API is recorded for One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre.
What industry is One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre in?
One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre's product category is Live Theatre. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHABAN, Arts, Culture, Entertainment & Fan Conventions Organizers. Its NAICS code is 71111.