Indiana Repertory Theatre

What Indiana Repertory Theatre does

Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit regional theatre company headquartered at 140 W. Washington Street in Indianapolis, occupying the historic 1927 Indiana Theatre building, which houses three performance spaces: the OneAmerica Financial Stage, the Janet Allen Stage, and the Cabaret. Founded in 1972 by Ben Mordecai, Greg Poggi, and Ed Stern and designated 'Theatre Laureate of Indiana' by the Indiana General Assembly in 1991, IRT is the largest fully professional resident not-for-profit theatre in Indiana, producing a six-to-seven-show season running September through May, including the signature holiday production A Christmas Carol. It delivers approximately 100,000 live theatre experiences per season and serves students from more than half of Indiana's 92 counties through student matinees, theatre summer camps, and the Young Playwrights in Process competition.

IRT's offerings span four pillars: (1) core theatrical productions across classical, contemporary, and holiday programming, with several titles co-produced with peer regional theatres such as Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Everyman Theatre, and Portland Center Stage; (2) education programs including K-12 summer camps, school-day student matinees, and the YPiP playwriting competition awarding $1,000 to winning Indiana students; (3) venue rental of multiple lobbies, the Cabaret, and stage spaces for private and corporate events; and (4) accessibility services including ASL interpretation, audio description, sensory-friendly performances, and the $5 Access Pass for families on state assistance, delivered in partnership with The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. The underlying technology is largely operational: Tessitura for ticketing and customer relationship management, digital ticketing, and assistive listening/telecoil loop systems, with no disclosed proprietary technology, patents, or AI capabilities.

Revenue is generated through ticket sales (single tickets from $27, season subscriptions, and group discounts), individual and corporate donations (more than 50% of operating income, sourced from foundations such as Lilly Endowment, Shubert, Kresge, NEA, Joyce, and Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest, plus corporate sponsors including OneAmerica Financial Partners, Eli Lilly and Company, Old National Bank, and Printing Partners), venue rentals and bar service, education programs, and gift certificates. Distribution is primarily direct via phone and online ticket sales from a downtown Indianapolis box office, with marketing through organic social, an email newsletter, community ambassador and volunteer programs, and corporate referral channels. The organization operates in a single market (Central Indiana, with statewide education reach) under Artistic Director Benjamin Hanna and Managing Director Suzanne Sweeney.

Name

Indiana Repertory Theatre

Legal name

Indiana Repertory Theatre, Inc.

Website

https://irtlive.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Indiana Repertory Theatre is Indianapolis-based, non-profit regional theatre producing a six-show professional season in three downtown performance spaces, serving general audiences, K-12 students from across Indiana, corporate sponsors, and individual donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theatre / Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG), Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)

Keywords

• Live theatre productions
• Performing arts presentations
• Theatre education programs
• Arts venue rentals
• Youth theatre outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Single tickets and season memberships for professional theatre productions. Revenue from ticket sales across multiple price points and seating options.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: More than 50% of operating income derives from contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Includes annual giving programs, corporate sponsorships, and major gifts.
3. Venue Rentals: Private event venue rentals including Grand Lobby, Mezzanine, Upperstage Lobby, Cabaret spaces, and stage rentals. Additional revenue from bar service.
4. Education Programs: Revenue from theatre camps, student matinees, Young Playwrights in Process program, and educational workshops.
5. Gift Certificates: Gift certificates sold for future ticket purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Indiana Repertory Theatre produces and presents live professional theatrical performances across three stages in its downtown Indianapolis venue, delivering a six-show season spanning classical to contemporary works plus the annual A Christmas Carol holiday tradition. The theatre supplements its mainstage programming with education and outreach (Young Playwrights in Process, Student Matinees, Theatre Summer Camp), venue rentals for private events, accessibility services, and group sales, while sustaining operations through individual giving, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants.

Product overview

The Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT) is Indiana's largest fully professional resident not-for-profit theatre, operating as a regional theatre company that produces live theatrical performances rather than a technology product company. Its offerings consist of: (1) Core theatrical productions staged across three performance spaces—the OneAmerica Financial Stage, the Janet Allen Stage, and the Cabaret—featuring a six-show season spanning genres from classical to contemporary works, with A Christmas Carol serving as the signature annual holiday production since 1980; (2) Educational programs including the Young Playwrights in Process competition, Student Matinee Program, and Theatre Summer Camp serving youth across Indiana; (3) Venue rental services for private and corporate events; and (4) Accessibility services including ASL interpretation, audio description, and sensory-friendly performances. Ticket products include season subscriptions and single tickets, with group discounts and gift certificates available.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Productions (OneAmerica Financial Stage) Professional theatrical productions staged on the OneAmerica Financial Stage, the main performance venue, featuring five mainstage productions per season spanning classical to contemporary works. The 2026-2027 season includes The Da Vinci Code, A Christmas Carol, Purpose, and Guys and Dolls.
• Upperstage Productions (Janet Allen Stage) Productions performed on the Janet Allen Stage, typically featuring more intimate theatrical experiences as part of the six-show season lineup, including Kim's Convenience and Little Women in 2026-2027.
• A Christmas Carol The annual holiday tradition production adapted by Tom Haas, running November through December. Indy's longest-running holiday theatrical tradition and a signature IRT offering supported by Eli Lilly and Company.
• Cabaret Performances Performances held in the Cabaret venue, offering intimate settings with capacities of 150 standing or 75 seated for select productions.
• Season Ticket Memberships Full-season ticket memberships providing access to all six productions in the 2026-2027 season running September 23, 2026 through May 9, 2027, with priority access, exchanges, and exclusive benefits.
• Young Playwrights in Process (YPiP) An annual playwriting competition and workshop for Indiana middle and high school students (grades 6-12), offering $1,000 prizes and professional development opportunities.
• Christel DeHaan Student Matinee Program Live school-day performances of all IRT productions for student audiences, augmented with educational activities and curriculum support materials, serving students from over half of Indiana's 92 counties.
• Theatre Summer Camp Summer day camp programs for students in grades K-12, offering introductory theatre classes and specialty programs for experienced young actors, running June-July annually.
• Venue Rentals Rental of IRT spaces including Grand Lobby (500 standing/195 sitting), Mezzanine (150-300 standing), Upperstage Lobby, Cabaret, OneAmerica Financial Stage, and Janet Allen Stage for private events, meetings, and receptions, with bar service available.
• Group Tickets Discounted theatre tickets for group bookings, including special pricing and arrangements for parties visiting IRT together.
• Gift Certificates Gift certificates available for purchase to give the gift of theatre experiences at IRT.
• Accessibility Services Comprehensive accessibility accommodations including ASL interpreted performances, audio description (AD), assisted listening devices with telecoil loop, sensory-friendly performances, wheelchair accessibility, and the $5 Access Pass program for families on state assistance.
• Celebrity Radio Show Fundraiser IRT's annual fundraising event featuring local business leaders and celebrities performing a 1940s-style radio show, raised over $264,000 in 2026, co-presented by Old National Bank and Printing Partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000 live professional theatre experiences per typical season
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cincinnati Playhouse in the ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Purpose by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play.
• Everyman TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Kim's Convenience by Ins Choi.
• Portland Center StagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Kim's Convenience by Ins Choi.
• CroweminorOthersExternal auditors providing financial audit services.
• Faegre DrinkerminorOthersLegal counsel providing legal services.
• The Children's Museum of IndianapoliscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRT participates in the Access Pass program developed and administered through the Children's Museum, offering $5 tickets to families with state assistance.
• Herd StrategiesminorOthersBlack-led public relations and marketing firm engaged to deepen community engagement with diverse audiences.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Actors Theatre of Louisville: Actors Theatre of Louisville is a Kentucky-based LORT regional theatre producing a mainstage subscription season plus the Humana Festival of New American Plays. Operating in an adjacent state to Indiana with similar scale and community-arts-education model makes it a strong direct peer.
• Portland Center Stage: Portland Center Stage is a Portland-based LORT regional theatre producing a mainstage season with co-production partnerships including 'Kim's Convenience' with IRT. Comparable scale, professional resident model, and audience development focus make it a direct structural peer.
• Everyman Theatre: Everyman Theatre is a Baltimore-based professional resident theatre producing a multi-show season and active co-production partner with IRT on 'Kim's Convenience'. Operating model, professional resident structure, and multi-stage venue approach mirror IRT closely.
• Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park is a regional LORT theatre in Cincinnati producing a six-show mainstage season plus education programming. It is also an active co-production partner with IRT on 'Purpose', making it a directly comparable operational and structural peer in adjacent Ohio/Indiana market.
• Alliance Theatre (Atlanta): Alliance Theatre is a Tony Award-winning LORT regional theatre in Atlanta producing a multi-show season plus education programs. Comparable professional resident structure, education pipeline, and community engagement mission parallel IRT's operating approach.
• The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis: The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is a regional LORT theatre producing a mainstage season with education programming and venue operations. Comparable mid-sized budget, Missouri-based geography adjacent to Indiana, and similar subscription/education/community model make it highly comparable.
• People's Light: People's Light is a Pennsylvania-based LORT regional theatre producing a mainstage season with strong education and new work programs. Its community-oriented, education-heavy, multi-stage resident operating model closely parallels IRT's structure.

Broad incumbents

• Goodman Theatre: Goodman Theatre is a major LORT regional theatre in Chicago operating two stages and education/outreach programs. While larger than IRT, its professional resident structure, educational programming, and community engagement priorities closely parallel IRT's mission.
• Guthrie Theater: Guthrie Theater is a major LORT regional theatre in Minneapolis with three performance stages comparable to IRT's three spaces. It operates at a larger scale than IRT but shares the same professional-resident, multi-stage, education-rich model.

Regional players

• Phoenix Theatre (Indianapolis): Phoenix Theatre is an Indianapolis-based professional resident not-for-profit theatre operating across multiple stages with a similar subscription and education model. Operating in the same metropolitan Indianapolis market as IRT, it is a direct local market peer competing for overlapping audiences and sponsors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IRTLIVE
• Facebookfacebook.com/irtlive
• Instagraminstagram.com/irtlive
• Xx.com/irtlive

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Indiana Repertory Theatre