The Englert Theatre

What The Englert Theatre does

The Englert Theatre (legally The Englert Civic Theatre Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts presenter headquartered at 221 E. Washington Street in downtown Iowa City's Ped Mall. The organization operates a 715-seat (500 main floor, 200 balcony) historic venue originally built in 1912 and reopened under nonprofit stewardship on December 4, 2004, following a community-led rescue from for-profit closure. Its core product is live event programming marketed under the "Englert Presents" banner, encompassing concerts, comedy, theatrical and dance performances, supplemented by a year-round Songwriter Series, a genre-agnostic Track Zero listening series, the annual Iowa City Songwriters Festival (launched 2025), educational programs (K-12 engagements, the Nonfiction Writing Fellowship with the University of Iowa, and an Arts Administration Internship), and community engagement initiatives (Queer Coffee Social, Disability Community Social, Creative Community Coworking Social). The organization sells tickets exclusively through the AudienceView platform (formerly Ovationtix) and manages donor relationships via Blackbaud, with a new integrated ticketing and donor system launching in July 2026.

Revenue is generated from four primary streams: ticket sales (events priced $20 to $175+, with a 25% convenience fee on $20+ tickets and a $3 historic venue fee on $30+ tickets), memberships and donations (approximately 20% of annual revenue, structured across five tiers from $60 Student to $1,200 Backstage), venue rentals for weddings, corporate events, lectures, and fundraisers, and a tiered sponsorship program spanning Title, Season, Education, and Scholar sponsors. The customer base is a long tail of individual ticket buyers (approximately 26,000 tickets sold annually, with nearly 4,000 additional free tickets donated to community members) supplemented by institutional partners including Hancher Auditorium, FilmScene, Iowa Public Radio, Iowa City Downtown District, the University of Iowa, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Iowa Arts Council. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors (2026 President: Niki Prom) and is transitioning from a single Executive Director model to a co-leadership structure effective June 1, 2026, with Brian Johannesen as Executive Artistic Director and Keegan Colletta Huckfeldt as Executive Managing Director.

Name

The Englert Theatre

Legal name

The Englert Civic Theatre Inc.

Website

https://englert.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1912

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Englert Theatre is a nonprofit performing arts presenter in Iowa City operating a 715-seat 1912 historic venue. It delivers live music, comedy, and community programming, an annual Iowa City Songwriters Festival, education programs, and venue rentals, serving roughly 26,000 ticketed patrons and 2,000+ youth annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Live performing arts
• Concert venue
• Arts education programs
• Community engagement events
• Venue rental services

Headquarters

HQ city

Iowa City

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, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling tickets to concerts, comedy shows, and performances. Ticket prices range from $20 to $175+ depending on the event.
2. Memberships and Donations: Approximately 20% of annual revenue comes from donor contributions. Membership tiers include Student ($60/year), Neon ($120/year), Orchestra ($300/year), Front Row ($600/year), and Backstage ($1,200/year).
3. Venue Rentals: The theatre and lounge spaces are available for rental for weddings, corporate events, parties, lectures, film screenings, and other private events. The theatre seats up to 715 with main floor (500) and balcony (200).
4. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships at various levels including Title Sponsors (Phoebe Martin Realtor, James Investment Group) and Season Sponsors (Iowa Public Radio, Dr. Suzanne Stock, Graduate Hotel, etc.)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Englert Theatre is a nonprofit performing arts presenter that sells tickets to live music, comedy, and theatrical performances at its 715-seat historic Iowa City venue. In addition to ticketed events, the organization sells annual memberships, rents the theatre and lounge for private events such as weddings and corporate meetings, runs arts-education and community-engagement programs, and operates branded series including the Iowa City Songwriters Festival, the Songwriter Series, and Track Zero.

Product overview

The Englert Theatre is a nonprofit arts presenting organization operating as Iowa City's last historic theatre (est. 1912). The organization delivers a portfolio of products and services centered on live performance programming, community engagement, and arts education. Its core offerings include Englert Presents (live music, comedy, and theatrical performances), the Iowa City Songwriters Festival (an annual three-day songwriting conference), Englert Education programs (K-8 experiences, internships, and fellowships), Community Engagement events (Queer Coffee Social, Disability Community Social, and coworking gatherings), the Songwriter Series, Track Zero listening series, Venue Rentals, and Membership/Sponsorship programs. The organization serves over 26,000 ticket buyers annually and engages more than 2,000 youth through educational programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Iowa City Songwriters Festival (ICSF): A 3-day music festival and conference centered around the craft of songwriting, presented across downtown Iowa City venues.
• Track Zero
• Songwriter Series

Products and services

• Englert Presents The Englert's core ticketed live-event programming banner featuring world-class musicians, comedians, and local artists across concerts, comedy shows, dance performances, and theatrical events at the 715-seat historic venue.
• Iowa City Songwriters Festival (ICSF) A three-day intimate music festival and conference centered on the craft of songwriting, presented across downtown Iowa City venues. Includes performances, artist talks, panel discussions, mentoring sessions, and scholarship opportunities (ICSF Scholars program).
• Englert Education Educational programming including K-8 student experiences, the Nonfiction Writing Fellowship (in partnership with the University of Iowa), the Arts Administration Internship, and the Sarah Shonrock Educational Fund supporting access to arts education for underserved youth.
• Community Engagement Programs Community-centered events and resources including the Queer Coffee Social, Disability Community Social, and Creative Community Coworking Social, presented in partnership with local nonprofits and aimed at fostering community building through storytelling and creative connection.
• Songwriter Series A year-round series honoring Iowa City's songwriting tradition, bringing world-class songwriters to Iowa City while celebrating local talent across genres and generations.
• Track Zero A year-round listening series dedicated to genre-defying music and up-and-coming independent artists, operating at various intimate venues throughout downtown Iowa City.
• Venue Rentals Rental program allowing use of The Englert's 715-seat historic theatre, stage, lounge (up to 100 guests), and multiple lobby spaces for weddings, concerts, parties, lectures, readings, film screenings, receptions, fundraisers, company meetings, graduation ceremonies, dances, and live theatre.
• Membership Program Friend of the Englert membership tiers (Student $60/year, Neon $120/year, Orchestra $300/year, Front Row $600/year, Backstage $1,200/year) providing presale access, ticket discounts, complimentary drink tickets, and exclusive newsletter updates.
• Sponsorship Programs Partnership opportunities for businesses and organizations to sponsor The Englert's events or seasons, including Title Sponsors, Season Sponsors, Education Sponsors, and Scholar Sponsorships for the Iowa City Songwriters Festival.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 26,000 tickets sold annually, with nearly 4,000 free tickets donated to the community
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Hancher AuditoriumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-present partnership for shows like Tig Notaro. Hancher and The Englert collaborate to bring major performers to the Iowa City area, combining Hancher's University of Iowa affiliation with The Englert's historic venue.
• Iowa City Downtown DistrictcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorship and marketing partnership supporting events like Queer Coffee Social, Disability Community Social, and Northside Saturday Nights. ICDD promotes downtown events and supports community programming.
• FilmScenecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the Strengthen Grow Evolve Campaign that created The Englert's Community Engagement role. FilmScene is Iowa City's independent cinema organization.
• University of IowacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Nonfiction Writing Fellowship connecting the Iowa Nonfiction Writing Program with The Englert's arts programming. The University brings literary community to the performing arts venue.
• Iowa Public RadiomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeason Sponsor and media partner providing coverage of ICSF and other events through Studio One. IPR is a community-based public radio network with multimedia presence.
• MidWestOne BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducation Sponsor supporting The Englert Education program. Their sponsorship helps make educational engagements, workshops, and experiences more accessible to the community.
• Blick Art MaterialsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorkshop Sponsor providing notebooks, pens, stickers and supplies for nonfiction writing workshops and educational programs.
• MergeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic label partner for ICSF workshops and artist engagements, contributing to the songwriting conference programming.
• Think ICminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal organization partner for ICSF artist workshops and engagements.
• The Graduate HotelmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeason Sponsor and lodging partner for ICSF Scholars (provides 3-night stays). Located next to the university on the Ped Mall.
• Trumpet Blossom CaféminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal restaurant hosting ICSF scholar welcome dinner and intimate song swap events.
• Phoebe Martin RealtormajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle Sponsor of The Englert. Phoebe Martin is voted 'Most Trusted Realtor' in the CRANDIC area with over a decade of experience.
• Public Space OneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCreative community partner for coworking socials and artist feature presentations at The Englert Lounge.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• The Peace Center: Greenville, SC-based nonprofit performing arts center operating multiple venues at larger scale; comparable nonprofit presenting mission across music, theater, and dance programming.
• MASS MoCA: Massachusetts-based nonprofit arts complex presenting multidisciplinary programming including music, theater, and dance alongside visual arts; broader portfolio but a relevant nonprofit arts-presenting reference at significantly larger scale.
• Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM): Major nonprofit performing arts presenter with multi-venue programming; relevant broad-incumbent comparison for a nonprofit presenting organization, though operating at substantially larger scale and in an urban coastal market.

Direct peers

• Old Town School of Folk Music: Chicago-based nonprofit combining music education and presenting programming across multiple venues and a school program; the closest direct comparable to The Englert's nonprofit presenting-plus-education operating model in the Midwest.
• Cedar Cultural Center: Minneapolis-based nonprofit world-music venue of similar scale and Midwest geography; directly comparable as a nonprofit presenting venue serving touring and local artists on a similar operating model.
• The Ark: Ann Arbor-based nonprofit folk and roots music presenting venue of similar scale and Midwest college-town context; comparable mission of intimate, nonprofit presenting with a loyal membership base.
• Town Hall Seattle: Seattle-based nonprofit civic presenting organization offering music, lectures, and community events; closely comparable mid-sized nonprofit presenting model with a strong membership/donor base.

Regional players

• Hancher Auditorium: University of Iowa-affiliated performing arts venue in the same Iowa City market; overlapping programming footprint and frequent co-presenter, though differing in scale and university affiliation.
• First Avenue: Iconic Minneapolis-based independent music venue presenting national touring acts; comparable regional Midwest venue role with overlapping touring acts, but a for-profit operating model versus The Englert's nonprofit structure.

Emerging players

• Meany Center for the Performing Arts: University of Washington-affiliated presenting venue programming music, dance, and theater in a college town; comparable small-to-mid-size presenting scale with a university partner similar to Hancher's role for The Englert.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/englerttheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/englerttheatre
• Xx.com/englert
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-englert-theatre

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 The Englert Theatre