Black Ensemble Theater
Black Ensemble Theater is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 that produces original plays and musical biographies celebrating African American culture from its $20M Cultural Center in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. It serves general theater audiences, K-12 schools, youth, and African American playwrights via mainstage productions and four education programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Black Ensemble Theater does
Black Ensemble Theater (BE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1976 by Jackie Taylor and headquartered in the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center at 4450 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. Its self-stated mission is to eradicate racism through theater arts, and it is the only theater in the nation with that explicit mission. The organization's core offering is live theatrical production: four-to-five mainstage productions per season of original plays and musical biographies — including The Jackie Wilson Story, The Marvin Gaye Story, The Other Cinderella, Soul of a Powerful Woman, Men of Soul, and You Can't Fake the Funk — built on a content library of 100+ works personally written and produced by Taylor. Technology is traditional performing-arts infrastructure (stage lighting, sound, set design, costume design, stage management), and ticketing is delivered through the third-party Ovation TIX platform alongside a physical box office. Distribution is regional, anchored in the $20M Cultural Center that opened November 18, 2011, and supported by group sales (10+), a 5-Play Card subscription bundle, valet parking ($15 cash), and a planned 150-seat flexible studio theater opening in 2026.
BE operates a four-program education and outreach vertical alongside its mainstage work: Plays With A Purpose (PWAP) for Chicagoland K-12 schools teaching life skills; Strengthening the School Through Theater Arts (SSTTA) in-school program for inner-city elementary and high schools; Summer Job Training for Youth exposing teens to production roles; and the Black Playwrights Initiative (BPI) developing African American playwrights since 2005. Revenue is diversified across earned income (ticket sales, group sales, educational program fees), tiered individual donations (Visionary $50K+ down to Friends $200–$499), corporate and foundation sponsorship (Emerald $100K+ through Garnet $500–$4,999 tiers including Fidelity Foundations, Hearst Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Joyce Foundation, NEA, Illinois Arts Council, Shubert Foundation, BMO, and Bank of America Charitable Foundation), and government funding (HUD, State of Illinois, City of Chicago, Illinois Department of Human Services). Governance is via a 14-member board of directors — chaired by Andrea Zopp, with representatives from Boeing, McDonald's, BMO, JPMorgan Chase, and Meta — plus an auxiliary board led by Dr. Lois M. Gueno. The organization is planning the Free to BE Village, a neighborhood-scale mixed-use development including a performing arts education center, film and technology center, affordable artists' lofts, restaurant, literary café, and retail space.
Black Ensemble Theater firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Black Ensemble Theater
- Legal name
- Black Ensemble Theater
- Website
- https://blackensembletheater.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Black Ensemble Theater is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 that produces original plays and musical biographies celebrating African American culture from its $20M Cultural Center in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. It serves general theater audiences, K-12 schools, youth, and African American playwrights via mainstage productions and four education programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Black Ensemble Theater industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Theater / Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)
Keywords
Where Black Ensemble Theater is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Black Ensemble Theater business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from selling tickets to main stage productions and special events. Tickets available online via Ovation TIX platform and at box office. Group sales for parties of 10+.
- Individual Donations: Individual donors at various giving levels (Visionary $50,000+, Catalyst $25,000-$49,999, Sustainers $10,000-$24,999, Transformers, Magic Circle $2,500-$4,999, Next Stage $1,000-$2,499, Special Friends $500-$999, Friends $200-$499).
- Corporate and Foundation Sponsorship: Corporate and foundation donors at tiered levels (Emerald $100,000+, Sapphire $50,000-$99,999, Ruby $25,000-$49,000, Jade $10,000-$24,999, Onyx $5,000-$9,999, Garnet $500-$4,999). Includes government funding from HUD, State of Illinois, City of Chicago, Department of Human Services.
- Educational Programs: School field trips and performances through Plays With A Purpose (PWAP) program for K-12 schools. Revenue from school bookings for educational theater performances.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | 5 Play Card - bundled ticket package |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Valet parking |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Black Ensemble Theater product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Black Ensemble Theater produces and stages original live theatrical productions, including original plays and musical biographies centered on African American cultural heritage, at its Cultural Center in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. In parallel, the organization operates educational outreach programs (PWAP, SSTTA, Summer Job Training, Black Playwrights Initiative) that deliver theater-based instruction and youth job training to K-12 schools and the broader community.
Product overview
Black Ensemble Theater operates as a unified organization offering live theater productions (main stage shows), educational outreach programs, and venue/facility services. The theater produces original plays, musical biographies, and cultural tributes including productions like The Jackie Wilson Story, Soul of a Powerful Woman, Men of Soul, You Can't Fake the Funk, and The Other Cinderella. Educational programs include Plays With A Purpose (PWAP), Strengthening the School Through Theater Arts (SSTTA), Summer Job Training for Youth, and the Black Playwrights Initiative (BPI) serving K-12 schools, youth, and playwrights. The organization is developing the Free to BE Village as an immersive performing arts hub. The Cultural Center serves as the permanent venue at 4450 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Uptown community.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Black Playwrights Initiative (BPI): Program created in 2005 to develop scripts for the Black Ensemble Theater and increase local and national exposure for Chicago's African American Playwrights community.
- Plays With A Purpose (PWAP)
- Strengthening The School Through Theater Arts (SSTTA)
- Summer Job Training for Youth
- Free to BE Village
Products and services
- Main Stage Theater Productions Seasonal live theater productions featuring original plays, musical biographies, and tributes to African American artists and cultural figures, performed at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center for general public audiences in Chicago.
- Plays With A Purpose (PWAP) School-based theater program teaching life skills to K-12 students through live performances and accompanying curriculum, helping students navigate challenges and supporting teachers with classroom management. Targeted at Chicagoland K-12 schools.
- Strengthening the School Through Theater Arts (SSTTA) In-school theater arts training program serving students and teachers in inner-city elementary and high schools, designed to enhance cognitive and social skill development and provide teachers with strategies to improve classroom management.
- Summer Job Training for Youth Youth summer employment program where students gain hands-on exposure to theater production roles including set design, lighting, costume design, and stage management, and create and perform their own scripts.
- Black Playwrights Initiative (BPI) Initiative providing training, resources, and advancement opportunities for African American playwrights, with the purpose of developing scripts for the Black Ensemble Theater and increasing local and national exposure for the African American playwright community.
- Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center (Venue) The permanent venue for Black Ensemble Theater's productions, located at 4450 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Uptown community, hosting main stage performances, group visits, and special events.
Quantifiable outcome
- Eradicate racism and its damaging effects on society through theater arts and community engagement
Companies that use Black Ensemble Theater
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Black Ensemble Theater technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Black Ensemble Theater partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Black Ensemble Theater competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights3 records
Customer concentration
Black Ensemble Theater social profiles
Digital presenceBlack Ensemble Theater financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Black Ensemble Theater leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Black Ensemble Theater funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Black Ensemble Theater 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 Black Ensemble Theater
What does Black Ensemble Theater do?
Black Ensemble Theater produces and stages original live theatrical productions, including original plays and musical biographies centered on African American cultural heritage, at its Cultural Center in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. In parallel, the organization operates educational outreach programs (PWAP, SSTTA, Summer Job Training, Black Playwrights Initiative) that deliver theater-based instruction and youth job training to K-12 schools and the broader community.
Is Black Ensemble Theater a public or private company?
Black Ensemble Theater is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Black Ensemble Theater founded?
Black Ensemble Theater was founded in 1976. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Black Ensemble Theater based?
Black Ensemble Theater is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Black Ensemble Theater make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are individual Donations, corporate and Foundation Sponsorship and educational Programs.
Does Black Ensemble Theater have an API?
No public API is recorded for Black Ensemble Theater.
What industry is Black Ensemble Theater in?
Black Ensemble Theater's product category is Live Theater / Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAG, Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe), with a secondary code of MPAGABAB, Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies. Its NAICS code is 711110 and its SIC code is 7900.