NOVA Center for the Performing Arts

What NOVA Center for the Performing Arts does

NOVA Center for the Performing Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit performing arts organization founded in 2013 and headquartered at 2317 Montana Avenue, Billings, Montana. Its mission is to enhance the performing arts culture of the greater Billings region through education, development, and performance. The organization operates a professional venue consisting of a Main Stage and a Black Box theater, supplemented by rehearsal rooms and professional-grade lighting, sound, and projection equipment, and the building is in use more than 350 days per year.

NOVA's product portfolio spans five performance disciplines — drama, musical theater, opera, improv comedy, and a youth conservatory — supported by an annual season of 10-12 mainstage productions, a tiered summer camp program for ages 3-18, sub-products including the Wet Ink 24-hour play festival and monthly Reader's Theatre, and third-party venue rentals. The underlying technology stack is conventional for a community arts organization: a website (novabillings.org), Facebook and Instagram channels, an email newsletter, and the LUDUS platform for ticketing, season passes, donations, and volunteer sign-ups. There is no proprietary technology, AI/ML capability, or external-facing API.

NOVA earns revenue from four streams: ticket sales for individual performances and season passes (typically $12-22 per ticket), tuition and fees from education programs and summer camps ($120-375 per child per session), venue rental fees from external organizations on hourly and daily terms (with non-profit discounts), and charitable donations as a 501(c)(3). Distribution is direct-to-consumer and regionally scoped to greater Billings, with a small paid staff of approximately five led by Executive Director Dodie Rife and Youth Conservatory Director DeLaney Hardy Ray, plus a board of roughly seven to eight community volunteers.

Name

NOVA Center for the Performing Arts

Legal name

NOVA Center for the Performing Arts

Website

https://novabillings.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NOVA Center for the Performing Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community theater in Billings, Montana, founded in 2013, that produces drama, musical theater, opera, improv, and youth programming, runs a Youth Conservatory and summer camps, and rents its professional venue to community organizations and touring productions across greater Montana.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Center

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE)

Keywords

• Live theater productions
• Performing arts education
• Youth theater programs
• Theater venue rentals
• Summer theater camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Billings

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from individual show tickets and season passes for main stage productions, Black Box performances, opera, musical theater, and youth productions. Ticket prices range from $12-22 for various shows.
2. Venue Rentals: Professional performance space rental for external community organizations, touring productions, corporate events, meetings, and special celebrations. Rental rates vary based on space needed, duration, and technical requirements with both hourly and daily options. Discounted rates available for qualifying non-profit organizations.
3. Education Programs: Revenue from classes, workshops, and summer camps for all ages and skill levels. Summer camp pricing ranges from $120 for Tiny Tot Theater (ages 3-5, 1-hour sessions) to $375 for NOVA Camp All In! (ages 12-18, week-long immersive experience).
4. Donations and Fundraising: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, NOVA relies on charitable donations from community members to support operations and continue bringing quality live theatre to the region.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NOVA Center for the Performing Arts is a non-profit performing arts organization that produces and presents live theater across multiple genres, including musical theater, opera, improv comedy, and mainstage dramatic productions. It also runs the year-round Youth Conservatory training program and summer theater camps for young performers, hosts the Wet Ink Festival of new works and Reader's Theatre readings, and rents its theater venue to community organizations and event producers.

Product overview

NOVA Center for the Performing Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization offering a unified portfolio of theatrical experiences centered around its professional venue at 2317 Montana Avenue in Billings, Montana. The core offerings include Main Stage Productions (professional theatrical performances), Musical Theater, Opera Performances, Improv Comedy, and a Youth Conservatory providing training for young artists ages 3-18. Supporting services include Venue Rentals for external productions, the Wet Ink Festival (a 24-hour play festival), monthly Reader's Theatre events, and Summer Camps. The organization operates as a cultural hub providing 350+ days of activity per year across 5 performance disciplines, serving the greater Billings region community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Youth Conservatory: Training and performance opportunities for young artists at NOVA Center
• Wet Ink
• Reader's Theatre

Products and services

• Main Stage Productions Live dramatic theater productions staged on NOVA's Main Stage for general community audiences in Billings, Montana. Tickets priced $12–$22 per show.
• Musical Theater Productions Live musical theater productions presented as part of NOVA's season, combining vocal, acting, and staged performance for community audiences.
• Opera Productions Live opera productions staged at the NOVA Center, providing operatic repertoire to Billings-area audiences as part of the center's multi-genre season.
• Improv Comedy Shows Live improv comedy performances presented at the NOVA Center for community audiences seeking shorter-form, lighter entertainment alongside scripted productions.
• Youth Conservatory Program Year-round theater training program for youth and teens at NOVA, led by the Youth Conservatory Director, providing structured instruction in acting, voice, and stagecraft.
• Summer Theater Camps Seasonal summer theater camps for youth, offered in tiered formats priced from $120 to $375, providing intensive short-term performing arts training.
• Venue Rentals Rental of NOVA's theater venue, including Main Stage and Black Box configurations, to community organizations, schools, and event producers for performances, recitals, and private events.
• Wet Ink Festival Festival dedicated to showcasing new theatrical works at NOVA, providing a platform for original or developing plays alongside the center's regular season.
• Reader's Theatre Staged readings of scripts presented at NOVA, offering a lower-production format for sharing plays with audiences and supporting literary engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350+ days of annual activity with professional performances and community events
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Billings Studio TheatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive collaboration in the Billings theater community. DeLaney Hardy Ray has performed with Billings Studio Theater in productions including Frozen. NOVA staff and instructors frequently cross-collaborate with BST productions and talent.
• Rocky Mountain CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple staff members have educational connections to Rocky Mountain College. DeLaney Hardy Ray graduated from Rocky Mountain College with degrees in Theater Performance and Communication. Janie Sutton graduated with a degree in Vocal Performance. Kyle Fergus earned a bachelor's degree in math and minor in music from Rocky Mountain College. Gary Treglown served as adjunct professor in costume design at Rocky Mountain College.
• Billings Symphony & ChoralecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJanie Sutton has performed with Billings Symphony & Chorale. NOVA has collaborated on productions including Peter and the Wolf, described as 'A Billings Symphony Production featuring NOVA's Youth Actors.'
• Yellowstone Repertory TheaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeLaney Hardy Ray has performed with Yellowstone Repertory Theater as part of her professional theater experience.
• Virginia City Players / Virginia City Opera HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeLaney Hardy Ray performed with the 'Illustrious Virginia City Players' in Virginia City, MT in 2011. Janie Sutton has also performed at the Virginia City Players venue.
• Seattle Children's TheaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeLaney Hardy Ray was a drama school intern at Seattle Children's Theater in 2015, representing a professional development partnership that brought training back to NOVA.
• Rimrock Opera / Venture TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDodie Rife started as a volunteer with Rimrock Opera's production of Carmen in 2009. The organization has history with Venture Theatre, which previously performed Tracy Letts plays including Bug and Man From Nebraska prior to NOVA's presentation of August: Osage County.
• Billings DepotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeLaney Hardy Ray directed the annual Polar Express production at the Billings Depot from 2012 to 2016, representing ongoing collaboration with another Billings cultural venue.
• Billings Backyard TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKyle Fergus performed in Once Upon a Mattress at Billings Backyard Theatre, indicating talent sharing and community collaboration.
• Projectile ComedycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Projectile Comedy for the annual Wet Ink 24-hour play festival. Projectile Comedy creates improv scenes based on actor auditions, extracting audience favorite lines that are incorporated into the new plays written during the festival.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Billings Symphony & Chorale: Billings-based performing arts organization collaborating with NOVA on productions like Peter and the Wolf. Comparable as a regional non-profit cultural institution sharing donors, audiences, and venue partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Florida Studio Theatre: Established regional non-profit theater producing diverse programming including new works, musicals, and education programs. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary community theater with education and venue rental operations, though at significantly larger scale.
• Arizona Theatre Company: Regional non-profit theater producing mainstage seasons with educational outreach. Comparable as a non-profit theater combining professional productions, education, and community programming, though operating at a larger scale than NOVA.

Direct peers

• Venture Theatre: Billings-based community theater with a long production history. Comparable as a non-profit regional theater competing for audiences and producing across similar dramatic genres.
• Billings Studio Theater: Community theater operating in the same Billings, Montana market with overlapping dramatic and musical productions. Directly comparable as a local non-profit theater competing for the same audience, talent, and donors as NOVA.
• Yellowstone Repertory Theatre: Regional Montana repertory theater that shares talent with NOVA's leadership and produces comparable dramatic works. Direct peer as a Montana-based non-profit performing arts organization.
• Billings Backyard Theatre: Small community theater in the Billings market producing musicals and dramatic works. Comparable as a regional non-profit competing for local audiences and performer talent.
• Seattle Children's Theatre: Major youth theater producing professional productions and educational programs. Comparable to NOVA's Youth Conservatory as a leading organization in youth-focused theater education and production.
• Rimrock Opera: Billings-based opera company where NOVA's executive director began her theater career. Directly comparable as a regional opera and musical theater producer in the same market.

Regional players

• Virginia City Players: Historic Montana theater company producing summer-season performances in Virginia City, MT. Comparable as a Montana-based performing arts organization sharing talent and a regional non-profit profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/novabillingsmt
• Instagraminstagram.com/billingsnovacenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nova-center-for-the-performing-arts-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 NOVA Center for the Performing Arts