TimeLine Theatre Company
TimeLine Theatre Company is a Chicago nonprofit theatre founded in 1997 that produces history-inspired plays connecting past to contemporary social and political issues, serving subscribers, individual ticket buyers, Chicago Public School students, and South Side teens through mainstage productions and education programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What TimeLine Theatre Company does
TimeLine Theatre Company is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) theatre organization founded in 1997 in Chicago, producing plays inspired by history that connect to contemporary social and political issues. Across its first 29 seasons the company mounted 97 productions — including 16 world premieres and 44 Chicago premieres — built around an ensemble of Company Members working under Actors' Equity contracts since 2008. In May 2026 TimeLine opened its first permanent home, a 250-seat flexible black box theatre at 5035 N. Broadway in Uptown, following a capital campaign that raised more than $42.6 million; the facility also includes exhibit galleries, an education/community room, bar and café, rehearsal room, and production offices.
The core product is a four-play mainstage subscription season, sold primarily through a tiered FlexPass subscription (Premium $389, Anytime $313, Evening $257, Preview $189) that covers four admissions with priority access, reserved seating, and free exchanges; individual tickets range from $40–$95, with extensive accessibility pricing (OpenDoor $20, Blue Star Military $30, student 35% off, Pay What You Will previews starting at $5, and a free MyLine membership for ages 18–35 at $25/ticket). Surrounding the mainstage are several programmatic lines: the Living History Education Program (arts-integration residencies in nine Chicago Public Schools, 7,600+ students since 2006), TimeLine South (free six-week summer teen program in partnership with the University of Chicago's Logan Center), the Playwrights Collective (a new-play incubator producing four world premieres since 2013), and the TimePieces free play-reading series.
TimeLine's revenue model is a hybrid of earned and contributed income typical of mid-sized American regional theatres. Ticket sales cover approximately 40–55% of annual operating expenses, with the balance funded by individual donations (including the History Makers Society tier at $10–$25,000+), institutional grants (MacArthur Foundation, Shubert Foundation, Illinois Arts Council, Allstate, Crown Family Philanthropies, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation), special events and galas, and the recently completed capital campaign. Distribution runs through a direct Box Office, online ticketing, the Broadway In Chicago partnership for 550-seat presentations, and group sales. The company has 11–50 employees, a board-led governance structure, and is led by Artistic Director PJ Powers (a co-founder) and Executive Director Mica Cole.
TimeLine Theatre Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TimeLine Theatre Company
- Legal name
- TimeLine Theatre Company
- Website
- https://timelinetheatre.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- TimeLine Theatre Company is a Chicago nonprofit theatre founded in 1997 that produces history-inspired plays connecting past to contemporary social and political issues, serving subscribers, individual ticket buyers, Chicago Public School students, and South Side teens through mainstage productions and education programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TimeLine Theatre Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Performing Arts Theatre
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), VIP Hospitality & Client Entertainment (Boxes, Suites, Hosted Experiences) (MPAGAHAG)
Keywords
Where TimeLine Theatre Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
TimeLine Theatre Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Individual tickets for regular performances, preview performances, and special events. Ticket sales cover approximately 40-55% of annual operating expenses, with the remainder funded through donations and institutional support.
- FlexPass Subscriptions: 4-admission subscription packages offering flexibility, savings up to 25% off regular prices, priority access, preferred reserved seating, and free exchanges. Multiple tiers available (Premium, Anytime, Evening, Preview).
- Individual Donations: Annual fund contributions from individuals at various levels ($10-$25,000+) with corresponding benefits. Includes the History Makers Society recognition program for major donors.
- Institutional Giving: Corporate, foundation, and government support for general operations and the Living History Education Program, including major donors like MacArthur Foundation, Shubert Foundation, and various Illinois state agencies.
- Special Events and Galas: Opening Night Gala and other special events with ticket packages and sponsorships, with net proceeds supporting TimeLine's mission and programs.
- New Home Campaign (It's Time): Capital campaign for the new permanent home at 5035 N. Broadway, raising more than $42.6 million through private philanthropy and public support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | TimeLine PREMIUM FlexPass - Best for busy schedules, 4-admission package with maximum flexibility |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | TimeLine ANYTIME FlexPass - Classic all-access, 4-admission package |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | TimeLine EVENING FlexPass - Flexible evening performances, 4-admission package |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | TimeLine PREVIEW FlexPass - Great value, preview performances only, 4-admission package |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Regular Evening Performances |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Regular Matinee Performances |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Preview Performances |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | MyLine Membership (Age 18-35) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
TimeLine Theatre Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TimeLine Theatre Company produces and presents a mainstage subscription series of four plays per season that explore today's social and political issues through the lens of history. The company operates from a flexible 250-seat black box theatre in its new permanent home in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood and sells tickets and FlexPass subscriptions directly to individual theatre-goers, while also running educational and community programs.
Product overview
TimeLine Theatre Company is a non-profit theatre that operates primarily as a presenting organization rather than a software technology company. The core offering is its mainstage production series featuring four plays per season. Supporting programs include the Living History Education Program (school residency), TimeLine South (teen summer program), TimePieces Play Reading Series (free readings), and Playwrights Collective (new play development). Audience engagement offerings include FlexPass subscriptions with tiered benefits and the MyLine membership for young adults. The company recently opened its first permanent home at 5035 N. Broadway in May 2026.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mainstage Subscription Productions Four-play annual subscription series featuring world premieres, Chicago premieres, and historical works staged at TimeLine's 250-seat black box theatre, designed for adult individual theatre-goers in the Chicago area.
- FlexPass Subscription 4-admission subscription package offering up to 25% savings over regular ticket prices, priority access, preferred reserved seating, and free exchanges, available in Premium, Anytime, Evening, and Preview tiers for individual subscribers.
- MyLine Membership Free membership program for patrons ages 18-35 offering $25 per ticket, exclusive insider events, and $5 off regular-priced tickets for friends.
- Living History Education Program Arts integration residency program contracted with Chicago Public Schools in which teaching artists collaborate with classroom teachers on lesson plans connecting play themes to curriculum, including student matinees and post-show discussions.
- TimePieces Play Reading Series Free one-night-only staged readings of new or rarely produced plays inspired by history, with post-show audience discussions, presented as a supplementary programming series to the mainstage season.
- Playwrights Collective New play incubator program launched in 2013 providing Chicago-based playwrights with time, space, and dramaturgical support to develop new works linking past, present, and future, culminating in the First Draft Festival of staged readings.
- TimeLine South Free six-week summer arts program for Chicago South Side teens providing acting, writing, movement, and design instruction at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, culminating in a student-created production.
- Backstory Magazine Behind-the-scenes publication featuring historical context, artist interviews, and production-related content, distributed to FlexPass subscribers and available at performances to extend engagement beyond the staged work.
Quantifiable outcome
- 79% of students said the TimeLine residency affected how they thought about history or a different period in time
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use TimeLine Theatre Company
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
TimeLine Theatre Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
TimeLine Theatre Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Bulley & AndrewscoreGeneral contractor for construction of TimeLine's new home at 5035 N. Broadway.
- Cullen Construction ManagementminorConstruction management for the new home project.
- Threshold AcousticsminorAcoustic design services for the new theatre space.
- Schuler ShookminorTheatre planning and design services for the new venue.
- HGA (Architects)coreLead architect for TimeLine's new home at 5035 N. Broadway, designing the facility to support the company's mission with theatre, galleries, education spaces, and community areas.
- Broadway In ChicagocorePartnership to present TimeLine productions at the 550-seat Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place. Collaborations include To Master the Art (2013 world premiere remount), Oslo (2019 Chicago premiere), The Lehman Trilogy (2023 Chicago premiere), and Eureka Day (2026). This partnership extends TimeLine's reach beyond its own 250-seat venue.
- Reva and David Logan Center for the ArtscoreVenue partner for TimeLine South program, presented in partnership with Theater and Performance Studies at the University of Chicago. The six-week summer program for teens is held at this location.
- Theater and Performance Studies (University of Chicago)coreAcademic partner co-presenting TimeLine South program with the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts.
- Chicago Public SchoolscorePartners with nine Chicago Public Schools for the Living History Education Program, an arts integration residency bringing the company's mission to students through creative exercises related to historically inspired stories.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
TimeLine Theatre Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lookingglass Theatre Company: Chicago ensemble-based theatre company producing original works and adaptations. Comparable scale, nonprofit structure, and ensemble-driven model with subscription ticketing and educational outreach.
- Court Theatre: University of Chicago-affiliated regional theatre producing classic and contemporary plays, with strong education programming and similar subscription-based operations. Comparable mission alignment around intellectually rigorous productions and Chicago-specific audience focus.
- Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Chicago's flagship ensemble-based regional theatre with a comparable subscription model and educational outreach. Both operate as nonprofit repertory companies producing ambitious work with social relevance, though Steppenwolf operates at significantly larger scale across multiple venues.
- Writers Theatre: Glencoe-based (Chicago metropolitan) nonprofit regional theatre with subscription programming and new play development. Comparable nonprofit producing model with similar subscription tiers and audience-development focus.
- Northlight Theatre: Evanston-based (Chicago metropolitan) regional theatre producing contemporary plays and classics with subscription series and education programs. Comparable operating model at similar scale with FlexPass-style subscription offerings.
- Victory Gardens Theater: Chicago-based nonprofit theatre focused on new works and diverse voices, with subscription ticketing and education programs. Comparable as a Chicago regional producing organization with similar mission-driven differentiation strategy.
Broad incumbents
- Arena Stage: Washington DC-based major nonprofit regional theatre producing American classics and new works with a multi-venue campus, subscription series, and education programming. Comparable regional producing model with substantially larger scale and broader production slate.
- Goodman Theatre: Chicago's largest nonprofit theatre, presenting a mix of classics, new works, and adaptations. Comparable as a Chicago regional producing organization with subscription and education programming, though operating at substantially larger scale with bigger venues.
Regional players
- Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Major repertory theatre producing a mix of Shakespeare, classics, and new works across multiple venues with a long subscription season. Comparable as a large regional repertory company with extensive education/community programming, though operating at much larger scale.
- Berkeley Repertory Theatre: California-based Tony-winning regional theatre producing new works and classics with a strong subscription model and extensive education programming. Comparable nonprofit regional theatre with similar subscription-driven business model and world-premiere track record.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TimeLine Theatre Company social profiles
Digital presenceTimeLine Theatre Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TimeLine Theatre Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
TimeLine Theatre Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TimeLine Theatre Company 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 TimeLine Theatre Company
What does TimeLine Theatre Company do?
TimeLine Theatre Company produces and presents a mainstage subscription series of four plays per season that explore today's social and political issues through the lens of history. The company operates from a flexible 250-seat black box theatre in its new permanent home in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood and sells tickets and FlexPass subscriptions directly to individual theatre-goers, while also running educational and community programs.
Is TimeLine Theatre Company a public or private company?
TimeLine Theatre Company is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was TimeLine Theatre Company founded?
TimeLine Theatre Company was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is TimeLine Theatre Company based?
TimeLine Theatre Company is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does TimeLine Theatre Company make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are flexPass Subscriptions, individual Donations, institutional Giving, special Events and Galas and new Home Campaign (It's Time).
Who are TimeLine Theatre Company's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lookingglass Theatre Company, Court Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Writers Theatre, Northlight Theatre and Victory Gardens Theater. Broad incumbents are Arena Stage and Goodman Theatre. Regional players are Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
Does TimeLine Theatre Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for TimeLine Theatre Company.
What industry is TimeLine Theatre Company in?
TimeLine Theatre Company's product category is Live Performing Arts Theatre. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAB, Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies, with a secondary code of MPAGABAH, Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama). Its NAICS code is 711110 and its SIC code is 7900.