Firehouse Theater tells council rising royalties and costs push nonprofit to seek grants, reserves to sustain 2026 season

Firehouse Theater leaders updated the Farmers Branch City Council July 15 on 2025 programming, attendance, and finances, saying rising costs — particularly a sharp jump in royalties — mean the nonprofit has run deficits since the pandemic and is relying on reserves and grant funding to stabilize operations. Executive Director David Moore and Artistic Producer Owen Beanes outlined 2025 attendance figures: multiple recent mainstage productions drew thousands of patrons and an estimated 50 percent of ticket buyers come from Farmers Branch, Carrollton, and Dallas combined. The theater said its productions and education programs serve many Farmers Branch students and residents and generate local economic activity for restaurants, hotels and nearby businesses. On finances, Firehouse said royalties — historically its largest expense — have roughly doubled in price since the pandemic, pushing some shows toward a loss margin even as ticket demand grows. The theater has used one-time federal pandemic funds and reserves; Moore said the organization remains close to break-even but not yet solvent on ongoing operations. To shore up the 2026 season, Firehouse reported it has applied for an Economic Development and Tourism grant and retained a fundraising consultant to improve long-term private-philanthropy revenue. Why it matters: Firehouse is one of the city’s nonprofit cultural partners and reported that it yields an economic return — an industry-average “value per ticket” multiplier cited from Americans for the Arts — to local businesses. Councilmembers asked questions about sustainability, fundraising progress and the theater’s local workforce; staff said half the theater’s employees live in Farmers Branch and more than half of the board members are local. No council action was required.