2026 Annual Report

2025-2026 By the Numbers

9,589 Audience Members Served

204 Youth Participants in Shade Tree Players

130+ Main Stage Volunteer Artists and Production Team Members

1,000+ Volunteer Hours Contributed

$255,248 Total Revenue

$78,088 Net Revenue

9 Months Cash Runway

5 Youth Scholarships Awarded

A Message from Our Board President

This year was a year of momentum for Dakota Stage. From strong attendance and growing educational programs to important investments in accessibility and organizational leadership, we took meaningful steps toward an even stronger future. I’m incredibly excited about what lies ahead—including an outstanding upcoming season, continued improvements to our theatre and patron experience, and the impact Tara Lamey is already making as Executive Director. Dakota Stage has always been powered by community, and thanks to the dedication of our volunteers, artists, patrons, and supporters, our future has never looked brighter.

Brian Nelson, President
Board of Directors

Artistic Excellence

Our FY26 Main Stage season showcased the breadth and creativity of community theatre.

Productions included:

Together, these productions welcomed 5,665 audience members and provided opportunities for actors, musicians, directors, designers, technicians, and volunteers to create memorable theatrical experiences for our community.

A particular highlight was Bright Star, which featured a live bluegrass pit band and demonstrated the remarkable talent and collaboration that exists within our region’s artistic community.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Through Shade Tree Players, Dakota Stage continues to provide meaningful opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and build confidence through the performing arts.

During FY26, 204 students participated in our educational programming, including:

Charlotte’s Web
Imagine a Dragon
Alice in Wonderland
The Addams Family Musical
The Epic Quest of the Damsels in Distress

These productions served more than 3,900 audience members and gave students opportunities to develop skills in performance, teamwork, communication, creativity, and leadership.

To help ensure access for all families, Dakota Stage awarded five full or partial scholarships for summer programming.

Community Impact

Community theatre is powered by people.

During FY26, hundreds of volunteers contributed their time and talents both on and off the stage. More than 60 volunteer performers participated in Main Stage productions, while over 300 additional volunteers supported concessions, ushering, youth programming, production support, and organizational operations.

Collectively, volunteers contributed more than 1,000 hours of service throughout the year.

Their commitment continues to make Dakota Stage one of the region’s most active and accessible arts organizations.

Investing in Accessibility and Audience Experience

Dakota Stage remains committed to ensuring that theatre is welcoming, accessible, and available to everyone in our community.

During FY26, we made several important investments to improve access for both patrons and participants, including:

Creation of dedicated accessible seating areas at the rear of the theatre, providing improved mobility access and easier navigation.
Award of a grant to purchase an assistive hearing system for audience members who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Continued improvements to audience amenities and front-of-house operations.
Free adult theatre education workshops made possible through grant funding, creating opportunities for community members to develop new skills, explore theatre arts, and engage with Dakota Stage regardless of prior experience.

We also implemented the Square point-of-sale system for concessions, streamlining transactions and improving the experience for both patrons and volunteers.

These efforts reflect our belief that access to the arts extends beyond attending a performance—it includes creating opportunities for participation, learning, and meaningful engagement throughout the community.

Building a Stronger Organization

FY26 marked a significant milestone with the hiring of Tara Lamey as Dakota Stage’s Executive Director.

I’m honored to step into this role and help guide Dakota Stage forward. To keep growing, we can’t simply repeat what we’ve always done — we have to build on our strengths, welcome thoughtful change, and keep creating new opportunities for our theatre and community.

Tara Lamey
Executive Director

This investment in leadership reflects the Board’s commitment to long-term sustainability and organizational growth. Throughout the year, Dakota Stage also continued strengthening internal systems, improving operational processes, and building the foundation necessary to support future expansion.

These efforts position the organization to serve the community for many years to come.

Financial Stewardship

Dakota Stage concluded FY26 in a strong financial position.

The organization generated $255,248 in revenue while maintaining disciplined expense management, resulting in $78,088 in net revenue for the year.

Approximately 69% of all revenue came from earned income, including ticket sales, educational programming, rentals, and concessions. This strong earned-income base reflects continued community engagement and support for our programming.

Strategic financial decisions, including reserve management and investment practices, further strengthened the organization’s financial health and increased available cash reserves.

As a result, Dakota Stage enters FY27 with approximately nine months of operating runway and the financial stability necessary to support new organizational investments, including the addition of an Executive Director.

Looking Ahead

As Dakota Stage prepares for its 48th season, we do so from a position of strength.

The success of FY26 reflects the dedication of our volunteers, artists, students, patrons, donors, sponsors, grant partners, and community supporters. Together, we have built a strong foundation for the future.

We are excited to continue expanding opportunities for artistic expression, youth education, accessibility, and community connection in the years ahead.

Thank you for being part of Dakota Stage.